August, besides a trip to NM to revive some heart and brain cells and a full absence of Facebook presence besides one day to post pictures about such, has been dedicated to catching up on missed work hours/clients, house chores, and knitting frenzy. And by knitting I mean trying to a) reduce general amount of my 2-bin stash of yarn, and b) utilize yarns that were purchased in either small weird quantities not enough for anything, given by someone, or left overs from previous projects. And no yarn shopping!
That idea of yarn match-up game had lead to a number of cute items. Well, first of all, I used 2 balls of linen from Sedona, AZ store that I bought when we went to see Amy and John, and made a simple tank-top in a style that is, apparently, "in".
Then I had unwound one of my previous vest half-way and from that made a shawl as a gift for a friend and a new vest with different yarn - part given to me by Monika, and part is a 1 skein I bought when visited Tucson, AZ.
- These two, which I like much more from the one on the right - totally worth the effort!:
My next project included 2 balls of hemp yarn from Austin's "Gauge" store and 2 balls of linen from who-knows'where (see what I mean? I don't even remember where I got it from, my guess is CO, and I hate that I forgot, because one of my "things" is to buy yarn and tie it to a memory!). I actually used 2 different patterns - from a knitting magazine and from a website, not "knit as you desire"! I think it came together pretty well.
Then I also finished up ALL the silk yarn - a little left from Japanese silk collection (in blue) combined with a little left from Arizona raw silk (brought from Phoenix since MM100 race and what was used for a dress). This is super-airy, even if super-simple!
The last big piece used up 1 ball of 100% organic cotton and 1 ball of cotton with 10% cashmere that I stumbled upon in, yet again, local Austin's Gauge store, when they had sale - just for the sake of the sale, I think, so I am happy I found use for these two random balls. I also managed to add last thread of cashmere left from my previous top - literally, to put a line on the bottom and to separate two yarns in the middle. Using it all to the last inch!
Of course, a lot of "finishing up" was used to make 2 gifts for upcoming birthdays for a couple of girlfriends and also to finish the first "batch" of hats for sale I delivered to Austin Trail Running store.
Between all this work and knitting, we both got back on track with our training routine. I actually really love training, even if I don't have events ahead. Not only I dove in to a serious weight training with vengeance like I have another through-hike in the making, I went back to running and added some swimming. I may not have a name for my swimming style (with my head bobbling above the water, arms doing a variation of a breast stroke, and legs doing God knows what), and I don't even own a swimsuit (using my yoga shorts and bra), but I can kick butt of a guy in the next lane doing free style! Yeah, it happened! Ironman, beware!!! We also both curbed out eating habits and are now happily enjoying the fruits of all this hard work: me - keeping off the fat that I lost behind on PCT, Larry - moving into a healthy direction as the big 50 turned the corner. We are determined to be the healthiest ever and be ready for our future life in a paradise of a place, mountains, fitness, and many years included!
In the midst of it, we made a dash to one of Tejas Trails events - I guess we can call it our "annual", a.k.a. once a year, visit to old stomping grounds. It was the last race in the night series, and under new management (not that it's bad, but different) we didn't see much appeal to go more often (not to mention I work weekends as my biggest pay-out days). And this visit proved what we thought: life moved on. The parking now being charged (per person!), food is for purchase, out of some few hundreds of people we only recognized a dozen - and of those a mere half would be considered friends - and the buzz of friendship, family affair and camaraderie (even among those "new" trail runners) was not present. Nobody hugged, kissed, talked ears off - more like a road event, show up, strap a chip and a bib on, retrieve to your chair, then get to the starting line. Oh, well, life goes on, and, obviously, those very new comers all love it as is - it IS for them, after all, not for us, anymore.
August was also a month I celebrated 6 years since getting my official LMT licensing in Texas, and 2 years working at Myo Massage downtown (which comes with its own perks, ha!).
It is September 1st, and in Russia it is celebrated as a First Day of School (across the country, not changing from year to year, or from state to state), and it is also a Teacher's day (duh!). So, I called my sister, and we talked - about kids at schools now, our own kids, and other not-so-fun things related. In a few days I'll be off to Home-Land, Mother-Russia, for a quick visit of my family, to help them sort things in the garage of my passed away Dad, to clean up Mom's apartment, to keep my sister soulful company, and to be where the roots are. It's getting more and more difficult to travel abroad, especially now that in the last 3 years with aging and sick (and passing) parents I had to do it twice a year, but this is the price I have to pay for living so far away, and so it goes.
Once I am back, somehow the month is filled with so many social obligations (meeting friends), I might be sorry to ever complain of being lonely, again:) And Larry - with rebuilding our fence (he will never seize to amaze me).
On that note, I think summer is officially over, well, at least by Texas standards. It hasn't been above 96F in a couple of weeks, and I don't sweat buckets in the 2 minutes I walk from work to my car parked outside (or other way around). The water in the pool is getting cooler not heated up by the sunshine and the obscene temperatures (while it is heated, not enough for me, seems like), and my swimming days may be soon over (which is might as well, time to run, do some steps and plyometrics, and other "local winter variations"). I survived my Summer #7 - 2 more full summers to go (and a piece of a 3rd one, hopefully very tiny).
And speaking of "another through-hike in the making" ideas...I surely have plenty, and already working on a few!
That idea of yarn match-up game had lead to a number of cute items. Well, first of all, I used 2 balls of linen from Sedona, AZ store that I bought when we went to see Amy and John, and made a simple tank-top in a style that is, apparently, "in".
Then I had unwound one of my previous vest half-way and from that made a shawl as a gift for a friend and a new vest with different yarn - part given to me by Monika, and part is a 1 skein I bought when visited Tucson, AZ.
- These two, which I like much more from the one on the right - totally worth the effort!:
My next project included 2 balls of hemp yarn from Austin's "Gauge" store and 2 balls of linen from who-knows'where (see what I mean? I don't even remember where I got it from, my guess is CO, and I hate that I forgot, because one of my "things" is to buy yarn and tie it to a memory!). I actually used 2 different patterns - from a knitting magazine and from a website, not "knit as you desire"! I think it came together pretty well.
The last big piece used up 1 ball of 100% organic cotton and 1 ball of cotton with 10% cashmere that I stumbled upon in, yet again, local Austin's Gauge store, when they had sale - just for the sake of the sale, I think, so I am happy I found use for these two random balls. I also managed to add last thread of cashmere left from my previous top - literally, to put a line on the bottom and to separate two yarns in the middle. Using it all to the last inch!
Of course, a lot of "finishing up" was used to make 2 gifts for upcoming birthdays for a couple of girlfriends and also to finish the first "batch" of hats for sale I delivered to Austin Trail Running store.
Between all this work and knitting, we both got back on track with our training routine. I actually really love training, even if I don't have events ahead. Not only I dove in to a serious weight training with vengeance like I have another through-hike in the making, I went back to running and added some swimming. I may not have a name for my swimming style (with my head bobbling above the water, arms doing a variation of a breast stroke, and legs doing God knows what), and I don't even own a swimsuit (using my yoga shorts and bra), but I can kick butt of a guy in the next lane doing free style! Yeah, it happened! Ironman, beware!!! We also both curbed out eating habits and are now happily enjoying the fruits of all this hard work: me - keeping off the fat that I lost behind on PCT, Larry - moving into a healthy direction as the big 50 turned the corner. We are determined to be the healthiest ever and be ready for our future life in a paradise of a place, mountains, fitness, and many years included!
In the midst of it, we made a dash to one of Tejas Trails events - I guess we can call it our "annual", a.k.a. once a year, visit to old stomping grounds. It was the last race in the night series, and under new management (not that it's bad, but different) we didn't see much appeal to go more often (not to mention I work weekends as my biggest pay-out days). And this visit proved what we thought: life moved on. The parking now being charged (per person!), food is for purchase, out of some few hundreds of people we only recognized a dozen - and of those a mere half would be considered friends - and the buzz of friendship, family affair and camaraderie (even among those "new" trail runners) was not present. Nobody hugged, kissed, talked ears off - more like a road event, show up, strap a chip and a bib on, retrieve to your chair, then get to the starting line. Oh, well, life goes on, and, obviously, those very new comers all love it as is - it IS for them, after all, not for us, anymore.
It is September 1st, and in Russia it is celebrated as a First Day of School (across the country, not changing from year to year, or from state to state), and it is also a Teacher's day (duh!). So, I called my sister, and we talked - about kids at schools now, our own kids, and other not-so-fun things related. In a few days I'll be off to Home-Land, Mother-Russia, for a quick visit of my family, to help them sort things in the garage of my passed away Dad, to clean up Mom's apartment, to keep my sister soulful company, and to be where the roots are. It's getting more and more difficult to travel abroad, especially now that in the last 3 years with aging and sick (and passing) parents I had to do it twice a year, but this is the price I have to pay for living so far away, and so it goes.
Once I am back, somehow the month is filled with so many social obligations (meeting friends), I might be sorry to ever complain of being lonely, again:) And Larry - with rebuilding our fence (he will never seize to amaze me).
On that note, I think summer is officially over, well, at least by Texas standards. It hasn't been above 96F in a couple of weeks, and I don't sweat buckets in the 2 minutes I walk from work to my car parked outside (or other way around). The water in the pool is getting cooler not heated up by the sunshine and the obscene temperatures (while it is heated, not enough for me, seems like), and my swimming days may be soon over (which is might as well, time to run, do some steps and plyometrics, and other "local winter variations"). I survived my Summer #7 - 2 more full summers to go (and a piece of a 3rd one, hopefully very tiny).
And speaking of "another through-hike in the making" ideas...I surely have plenty, and already working on a few!
3 comments:
full life - love it!! xo
Indeed, Erin, very full!
Frenzy indeed! You amaze me Olga.
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