For some reason I just can't seem to get my act together on Mondays….have you noticed?  Today's Ten On Tuesday is 10 Things For Which I Am Thankful. Because I covered that in this post not too long ago, I am going to go with what I did this weekend instead. (even though I still have so many more things to be thankful for!)

It's been a while since you have seen one of my cuties here.  Sunday was bath day here, so all 5 of the Cavaliers were bathed and prettied for the holiday….my English Setter will have to wait until this weekend however.  She is a bit more work, so I like to give myself and her one full afternoon for her trim.  Even though she really is just my wonderful pet, I do like to keep her in a show coat, which is a lot of work.  I will post a picture of her next week….she is so pretty after a clip. 🙂

This little one is the youngest one whose name is Goose, but she actually prefers Puppy and because she is pretty small, she looks like a perpetual puppy, so we go with that. She is totally convinced that my Setter, Maggie, is really her mother..LOL

The other thing I did was to attend the Saco Valley Fiber Artist's fair which was held on Saturday in Scarborough Maine.  I work with a lot of these ladies at Fryeburg Fair, so it was fun to visit them and support some fellow fiber artists with a little spending. 

The beautiful woven towel and goat's milk soap was created by Kelly Labbe of Dreamweaver Alpacas and the bracelets….ah…..the bracelets, were created by my good friend Val Sullivan.  The pretty blue one and the mahogany colored ones were purchased at Freyburg Fair.  I loved them so much I asked her if she could make me a silver one with lovely swarovski crystal buttons she usually puts on this type of bracelet.  It gave me an excuse to go to this fair to pick it up. :-)  Normally I am not a glitzy kind of girl, but some how that sparkly bling just made my heart sing.  The red and silver ones aren't too fancy, so I can were them almost every day and smile….thanks Val!

I had a lovely weekend and I hope that you did as well!

Those who consider their path superior are condescending.
A parrot who speaks of the totality of the self is absurd.
Many paths lead to the summit,
But it takes a whole body to get there.
Deng Ming~Dao

It's been a little while since I have visited here hasn't it?  It's been a challenging week here for me.  As you know, I have been dealing with the never ending back issues and they have been particularly bad these last 2 weeks.  It was suggested to me last week after my second PT session that I might want to use a cane.  Me….I say "WTF?"  No, that is not going to happen, but after 2 days of almost being unable to walk, I started to wonder if the PT lady was right. Just as I was about ready to give up hope and get that cane, the work the PT woman, Karen, along with the neuro massage I had with an amazing Massage Therapist, Tamara, on Monday started to kick in and I started feeling much better and hopeful.

I don't like to talk about this stuff here on the blog, because…well….I don't like to be that person who complains and this is not what this post is about if you continue reading. 🙂

As I was flipping thru my little Tao book to find a passage for today, the above one just jumped out at me.  I belong to a very supportive group of knitters who are trying to stay fit.  A lot of them have become runners by using the C25K program (which is a great app btw)

As much as I want to run, it's just not a reality for me right now.  I had started the program and had to stop when my back flared up, but I stayed with the group to cheer on those who were making milestones in their progress and to stay motivated to get back to it again someday.

The above pictures were taken today on my 3.2 mile power walk.  I will admit that I had to limp the last 10th of a mile home, but it was huge for me to be able to do this just a week after being told I might consider getting a cane to hobble around with. 

Soo….last night I signed up to walk a 5k race in December.  It's called The Hot Chocolate Run.  It's a fund raiser for Safe Passage,the organization addressing domestic violence in Hampshire County. I actually signed up for the 2 mile walk, but I plan to walk the entire 5K.

One person who has been a real inspiration for me is Cate.  Running didn't come easy for her either, but she has hung in there and is doing great now.  She inspired me to sign up for this race and she is actually trying to raise money by running the 5K sponsored, so if you would like to help her along, you can sponsor her here.

There definitely are different ways to get to the same summit and I am climbing along in my own limited way, but I am so fortunate to have a whole body of people who have supported me along my journey….emotionally and physically.  They have lifted my morale when I needed it, given me a push when I needed that too.  I am one lucky lady and I hope I can always pay it forward.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Pattern:  Biscuit
Yarn:  Woolen Rabbit ~ Pearl
Colorway:  Spiced Cider
Needles:  US 4

From the moment I saw the picture of Bonnie's finished Biscuit, I knew I wanted to make one asap.  It typical Kim fashion…you know that Kim who is a tad ADD and doesn't always read directions slowly…yep that Kim.  Well, I missed the part after the first round of lace to repeat rows 1-6 again….aggh!  There was no way I was going to pull out all of that ribbing, so I decided I would just add another 6 rows of ribbing and purling, but as I was doing just that I realized that I had done 5 rows of ribbing in each panel instead of 4, which was going to make up that width difference.  I ripped out the 3 rows I had completed and just ended with 3 rows of purling.  For the bind off I went up to a size 8 needle, because I was seeing that my first bind off attempt was going to be too tight….this worked perfectly!
Thank you Bonnie for a lovely pattern!

This weeks Ten on Tuesday was: 10 Items Your Local Food Pantry Can Use
I have never worked or donated to a food pantry, so I couldn't honestly participate this week.  Having said that however after reading Carole's and Margene's page, I had a better understanding of what is needed and why.

I always look this time of year for a place to give a donation to as we near Thanksgiving.  This year it will be the Red Cross and our local food bank….thank you ladies for sharing!

Instead of my usual Eye Candy Friday post I am going to do a little something different.  I am dealing with a couple of difficult things right now and one of the things that has always helped me find perspective during times like this,is to put down in writing 10 things I am happy/grateful for…kind of a redirection, so here I go:

1.  A very kind, gentle and compassionate husband who always makes me happy.

2.  5 Amazing kids each so special in their own way with great senses of humor.

3.  So many wonderful and caring friends…you know who you are. 🙂

4.  The ability to work at home at my own pace doing something I love.
(most of the time anyways…LOL)

5. Being surrounded by things that make me happy and keep me sane; spinning, knitting and sewing stuff.

6. The beautiful mountain that I see every day that I drive into town.

7.  Friday night martini's and nachos.

8.  Music…it always makes me smile.

9.  The yummy pumpkin chai candle that is always burning in my studio when I work.

10.  The many wonderful friends that I have made through this very blog.

So many things to smile about this weekend….I hope you smile all weekend too!

~

It's been pretty darn chilly up here…cold enough that this is what I saw when I went to the fitness club this morning that is at the base of Cranmore Ski Mountain.  SNOW!  Now mind you, this is snow that the mountain has been blowing over the last 2 days, but we will be seeing some of the natural stuff by tomorrow.

This mountain has been a winter home to my children over the years….and one of the reasons why I stayed up her as long as I have.  Part of the winter gym program during elementry school is an afternoon every week skiing.  All of my kids have become accomplished skiers or snowboarders, which is a skill they will always have.  Even Hannah who HATED ski program enjoys skiing now.

Me….I learned out to ski when I moved up here at 32 years of age…and let me tell you, every chairlift was an adventure as I almost always fell off of any new ones the first time encountered, but eventually I got the hang of it.  Slow and steady, that was me.  I haven't skied in many years now and probably never will downhill ski again because of my back, but I think I would really enjoy snow shoeing and maybe cross country skiing.

The winters are long up here, so it helps to have something you enjoy to help pass the days, right?

Today's Ten On Tuesday subject is: 10 Things On My Mind Right Now.

1. Seeing this day come to an end so we do not have to listen to any.more.political.ads.

2.How much I love Kensiology tape.

3. Caring for one of my children's friends whose life is upside down right now.

4. Having to go mostly carb free again in order to take of this last round of pounds off since nothing else is working.

5.  Making new kinds of soap…mmmmm!

6.  Healing for myself, my friends and our neighbors who are picking up their lives again from Sandy.

7.  Finishing up 2 knitting projects so I can start a sweater I am going to LOVE.

8.  Scrubbing out my dye pots……groan….most dreaded job here at TWR.

9.  Enjoying this amazing day and pulling up the last of the carrots before some snow comes in tomorrow.

10.  Spinning on the most wonderful spinning wheel in my house. 🙂

Of course there is always so much chatter in my brain that I could go on and on and on…LOL. 
What's on your mind today.

Did you have a good weekend?  We did here as well.  Saturday I spent a good part of the day helping my oldest daughter, Stacey clean her new place.  They are renting the cutest house which is twice the size of the one they just moved from which is great. It definitely needs a woman's touch however, given that the last tenants were 2 guys in their 20's.  Nuff said, right?

Sunday I took the morning to rest up my back and decided to pull out my soaping equipment in the afternoon.  Ken had taken an order from a co-worker for a soap blend that I didn't have on hand…darn. I had been dragging my feet over pulling all of the soaping essentials out, but after seeing the fun soaps a good friend of mine has been making fired up my enthusiasm. 

I spent the morning sitting on ice and watching different technique videos and got lots of ideas.  Because I needed this batch to be ready quickly, I used my usual Hot Process procedure.  It's a bit harder with this method to be creative because it sets up so quickly, but the up side of it is that it is ready to be cut and used within a week, whereas the Cold Process method needs to rest for a few weeks.  These bars will be cut tomorrow.  I think I will call the blue/white bar…Blue Moon.
(it really is blue, not gray)

I have some fun ideas floating around in my head and now that there is no immediate need for it to be ready quickly, I will go back to my CP recipes and maybe try some glycerin recipes as well.  It will make fun Christmas presents. 🙂

I apologize for the quiet week.  It was hard to find chatty words after watching the devastation from Sandy…so sad.  I will leave you however with a picture of a piece of beauty has come to live here at the Woolen Rabbit.  You know how much I love my little bird friends…….

Have a wonderful week and many healing thoughts and cyber hugs to my friends and family who are dealing with the aftermath of Sandy.

Sun and Moon divide the sky,
Fragrance blooms on pear wood bones;
Earth awakens with a sigh.
Wanderer revels on the path alone.
Deng Ming~Dao

I can't say that these are the prettiest sneakers on the block, but they are something new that I am trying.  I have so many issues with my feet that I can't even begin to bore you with, but finding sneakers that are comfortable for me to work out in has always been a challenge.

Lately I have been doing a lot of reading on body mechanics when walking and running and have found some interesting information on what is referred to as a minimalist sneaker with a zero drop heel.  As a beginner runner/walker I know for sure I am a heel slapper which causes discomfort at times.  The theory behind the sneaker without the built up heel that we see in most sneakers is that it helps to align your body more naturally and helps to strike with your midfoot instead of your heel when running.

I have gone out twice now with these, Altra Instinct 1.5 and found that the running part of my C25K was much much easier, but the walking part felt a bit different and not quite as easy.  I know that this type of shoe really needs to be eased into as it makes you use different parts of your muscles than you usually do, so I will alternate shoes for a while until I get used to them.  I can tell you for sure though that they are as light as air and feel so good on your feet. 
I will give you an update in a few weeks to let you know if they help or hurt. 🙂

This past weekend was a very relaxing one here, which was so nice for a change.  With the large yarn club mailing behind me and being where I should be on WR orders, I was able to take the entire weekend off.  Saturday morning Ken and I walked 3 miles to get the day started and then we had a leisurely morning.  Saturday afternoon, Hannah asked if I would take her out for some pictures for her Senior yearbook, so we wandered around the lovely village of Jackson, NH and took some shots.  I am not a professional by any stretch of the imagination, but I think some of these are pretty good.

To you photographers out there….what types of lenses are your favorites and what websites or books did you find helpful in really learning and understanding how to use aperture, shutter speed and ISO.  Right now I am just guestimating and would really like to completely understand why and when to use which settings.

Sunday morning I headed to the gym for a workout and then I did not do a blessed thing for the rest of the day…well, nothing work related that is.  I spent the morning working on some of Hannah's pictures (still more to do) and the afternoon watching football and knitting Biscuit.  I ended up going with the Spiced Cider colorway as you can see.  Even though I love Chili Peppers more, my next sweater is going to be that color, so I figured it's better to switch it up a little.

So that was my weekend…..how was yours?