Making things

Well I still haven't made myself anything but I did eventually get around to finishing up the Monster Moggy (another pattern from 'Knitted Cats and Kittens' by the fabulous Sue Stratford- www.theknittinghut.co.uk ). Here he is:

He's a bit bigger than I expected- about 20cm tall- so he's turned into a kind of household familiar and guards the front door. I'm on the way to finishing up another of Sue's cat patterns, a crazy stripey creature and great for helping to get through a stash. I think I'll be making quite a few in a variety of colourways so watch this space...

The last week or so I've also turned my hand to a spot of jewellery making. Fabric brooches to be exact. They've been a lot of fun to make and are another stashbusting project as you can use up all those bits of felt, old t-shirts and random buttons and beads. Here are a few:

 



So much still to do but it's almost the end of the summer holidays. Next weekend I will treat myself to a last session of sewing before life gets too hectic and the table has a permanent covering of the kids' homework and resources for my work.

Been a Long Time

At last! Blogspot will let me post something! To be absolutely truthful, I've only had problems trying to write and post something this week; before then life has just got in the way.

I got very busy leading up to the end of term and also went through another (lengthy) bout of insomnia but it didn't stop me running. Now I am almost at the end of my get fit again training and although I didn't quite make it to running 10 miles I can do 7 miles in an hour which is pretty good going consdering the state I was in 6 months ago. So it would seem that I am a stronger, faster runner than before. After the coming week running will take a back seat while I focus on strength and flexibility for a couple of months. Then, well, I have a challenge in mind...

It's been a strange summer. I have hugely enjoyed the hot unlike many of my fellow countrymen. My heat-induced euphoria has been tempered by the fact that the garden has of course wilted and it's not been easy to get things to grow well. Salads have bolted, the heat came a bit late for the beetroot, and the broad beans were disappointing. But the basil that survived slugs is flourishing and we've had some fantastic homemade pesto. I'm not holding out much hope for the tomatoes though. I think the hot and dry weather came a bit late for them- but you never know. It's always fun planting seeds and seeing what happens.

Knitting, like blogging, has also taken a back seat over the last couple of months. But I have got a bit of sewing done and come up with some lovely things for my girlies. A couple of t-shirt dress projects and a fab skirt inspired by a photo seen on hideousdreadfulstinky.com

T shirt dress for youngest

 



 

8 panelled skirt inspired by hideousdreadfulstinky

A-line dress made free-hand. It's a bit untidy but youngest loves it!

I think it's time I made myself something now!

Steady progress

I'm trundling along with training. Visits to the gym have lapsed a bit and I'm only making it there once a week to do some resistance training and once a week for interval sessions on the treadmill. Outside it's been mostly warm and humid and often breezy so road running has been hard work. Still, on Monday I did my longest steady run yet- covering 5.5 miles in 45 minutes! Perhaps I pushed myself a little too much as I've been a bit sore and achy since. It's strange though, that although I'm the same weight as this time last year I feel heavy when I run. Maybe that's down to doing light weights once a week- although I don't bulk up resistance training does make me feel bigger. I'm reluctant to stop all resistance work though since I have to keep my future health in mind: the thought of being a feeble old lady with multiple spinal fractures is a sobering one so I'd better keep my musculature strong so as to place less stress on the bones.

What else? Nothing. Life is a treadmill of work, running/training, kids, housework and neglected knitting projects. O, and trying to keep a bit of yoga going too. I need some fun...

17 June

It's been a while since my last post- I've just been too busy. Trying to take regaining my fitness seriously means the afternoons are a crazy rush of training, school run, sometimes work, all the usual domestic and kids stuff. Days have been too long: 14 hours of non-stopness is usual at the moment. Yoga, sewing and nearly all knitting have disappeared from my life as I just can't do everything and those are things I need to do when not exhausted.

I did my longest non-stop run today since all the injuries and illness started last September. 4.6 miles in 40 minutes! I'm acutely aware of the lack of muscle tone compared to how I was 9 months ago, but I seem to be a stronger runner even if a little flabby. It's not easy sticking to the letter of my training plan- I always want to push myself that bit further- but I know I really must do things by the book if I'm to stay injury free.

In between all the franticness I had to make a wedding present for a friend. It was a labour of love, sweat and tears but worth it in the end:

Isn't she beautiful? Thanks again to the wonderful Sue Stratford- the pattern is from her Knitted Meerkats book http://www.theknittinghut.co.uk/knitted-meerkats-book-169-c.asp

Spring at last!

There is nowhere as heartachingly beautiful as an English hedgerow in May. A froth of cow parsley, joyful buttercups, a haze of tiny speedwell. The grasses are tall, a few poppies dancing among them and the nettle flowers are quietly elegant. Bluebells late to flower struggle up through it all. The hazy sun has turned the dandelion clocks silvery, and unexpectedly I happen on a patch of knapweed, shocking almost in its blueness.

At home in the garden early this evening a blackbird is in his usual spot atop next door's chimney singing his heart out. None of the great composers of opera wrote anything so vital and beautiful as that song.

I love the sight, sound and smell of it all. I have lived on three continents and nothing can compare to this. The love of it is a physical pain yet also a comfort, like coming home after a long absence.

And I am really running again! For now I have a goal over the next 3 months of getting to a reasonable 10 miles. I saw the consultant today and she says I can run. My hips are ok, spine not so good. I'm living with the fear of a spinal fracture and cannot have that fear confirmed or allayed until I get scanned again in 2-3 years. That's not great to deal with but for now it is spring and I can run.

Quietly Getting On

It's been a little while since I last posted here. The dreadful news from Boston really shook me. Running for me is a fundamental expression of the joy of being human- what better way of rejoicing in having legs than going for a run? Runners do no harm so why hurt them.

I should be running my first marathon this coming Monday except I'm not allowed to. If I were to entertain the thought of just having a go anyway the last 8 months of injury, illness then more injury have had a huge impact on my fitness and I would do so much harm to attempt a long run. But I've now completed 3 weeks of training back at the gym and that feels positive. I've even managed 3 fartleks of an hour each. No sprinting though, just brisk walking and a gentle run when it's felt right. At a gentle pace running seems to be ok although so far I can't manage more than 5 minutes of it.

Knitting and sewing have had to go on hold- it's a struggle to be back at work, keep up my training schedule and look after the children and run the house let alone do any of the 'crafty' things I find so restorative. But I've spent a bit of time in the garden (for health reasons I need to spend time in the sun) and have some vegetable seedlings going- so far broad and purple climbing beans, carrots, beetroot and salad leafs are planted out. Waiting on the Swiss chard to get a bit bigger and we'll see if this year will be better for courgettes...

Time to get on

Valentino Cat has been knitted, sewn together and put in the post. He was a delight to make and I really enjoyed the little details in the knitting like the W&T in the tail to get the perfect shape. Here he is:

He's from the fabulous Sue Stratford's latest book 'Knitted Cats and Kittens'.

Today I returned to the gym after about an 8 week absence. It wasn't easy to make myself go but once there it was fine and I enjoyed training. I'm going to get some advice on the best sort of training I can do in order to get back into something resembling shape whilst avoiding impact and not overloading my body with weights. It's going to be hard work but once I'm back in the routine of training on set days it will get easier. Eventually I'll be in better shape too. Really important just in case I have to have a hip replacement.

On the suggestion of a friend I tuned in to the Sewing Bee program on iplayer the other evening. I have always been terrible at sewing (although as enthusiastic as I am terrible!) but now I am inspired to try a bit more than cobbling together costumes for whatever theme day is happening at my children's school. Yesterday I went and bought some lovely cotton fabric and I shall settle down this evening to make a couple of simple skirts. It's not cheaper than buying from the shops, but these days it's getting harder to find things I like or things I think are suitable for the children. I'll keep you posted on my sewing exploits!

...and then I made this. Found the instructions for this on the great interweb- from a blog entitled Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom. There are some great things out there on blogs by mums in the USA. I don't think I did too badly for a first attempt!