Resting on my laurels.......not!

So, why would I be resting on my laurels? Who wants to sit on a pokey leaf wreath?

The answer, of course, is that like most old time sayings, resting on your laurels is not to be taken literally. It seems that in ancient times, laurel leaf wreaths were given to athletes and other notables to celebrate their accomplishments.

The laurel leaves were most often fashioned as a crown to be worn by the victor at sporting events and the like. Ouch! Didn't that hurt? The laurels were representative of the accomplishments of the particular individual being honored or rewarded.



I always thought I should be
wearing a crown

Now we know what laurels are. They are leaves from the bay plant, which are made into wreaths to rest on the head of accomplished people like myself. Thank you very much!

I've actually been very busy but then why should anything change out of the norm". I haven't been running at all this week, or the later part of last week. That's because I am a good friend and when my partner is injured, I take sympathy with her and keep her company! I've been crocheting up a storm as usual but I've also been playing with Fimo clay and Sculpey, trying out ideas for buttons, and hook adaptions, like in the previous post. Not as easy as it looks that is for sure. I tried a simple polka dot handle grip to start and it turned out pretty good. But I only had a extra hook in one size so I need to collect a few others before I go hog wild on any of them. I thought they would make a nice gift for my fellow yarners!



I like how the color of the clay matches
the color of the hook

My thoughts are turning to Spring and Easter decorating, I think this weekend, since it is the beginning of March, I can bring out the bunnies and eggs.

These little guys are pretty cute and better to have around than the real thing. Otherwise, they could be missing ears!

Dollar store ornaments spray painted
 chocolate brown

Then I found this adorable bunny pillow........who wouldn't want to give him a home........

He is made from burlap
 which I just happen to have but since burlap is soooo "stinky"
I think I will make him out of drop cloth
 and stain it with coffee......

Also, I am on a bit of an owl kick at the moment but this next pillow is for my niece's new baby when
he or she decides to make their appearance! I think I will make of family of them for her.

Meet Henrietta, cute isn't she?

So I think I have a few things to keep me out of trouble for a few days......and there's still the question of what to do with the guest bedroom.......I'm leaning towards..............

Benjamin Moore's Chelsea Grey

Maybe on my next days off I will get around to tearing apart the room.....have an excellent week! And remember ~~~~~~~~

“Good things come to those who wait… greater things come to those who get off their butts and do anything to make it happen.” - Unknown -

A Lot of This and That

Well I am back in the swing of things this past week, doing a hundred things and only some of the things that I want to do! My attention deficit was flow blown and I was running in all different directions, doing some crocheting and getting a few more coffee cozies finished, and a pair of boot cuffs, then I found a easy peasy pattern for bracelets, that are very cool. And a very good use of that left over yarn that you hate to through out. Yikes! Who would do that!

I've ran a half marathon in two days, and started the body sculpt program, which I think is going to be a good one, it has a little strength training, yoga, Pilate's, and stretching, and being a runner, being flexible is very hard. But I am sure this will be good for us.

My crock pot (slow cooker) has been busy making soups! I love soups, meals in a bowl.

I made a pea soup last week, and this week it was a Curried Vegetable Lentil-Chick Pea Soup. Quite the combination but its healthy and delish! I love using my slow cooker because it frees up time to do other things instead of being in the kitchen all day making dinner. Between the slow cooker and the bread  machine, I am complete!

Blue Jay enjoying a tasty treat

One of the 10 bracelets I made, a simple chain, and

a button, pattern found on Ravelry, and adapted to

some of the clay buttons I made.

 

 

Its very hard to take pictures of your own arm, so I gave up with the other ones. I need find an arm mannequin! Must visit Tracy......

At Christmas one of my girls gave me a Runners desk calendar with tips each day.....here are just a few.......

1. "Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter: long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform our best." -Michael Johnson, American sprinter and Olympic gold medal winner

2. Packed with protein and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, lentils are a nutritional gold mine. they possess a strong ability to neutralize free radicals, thanks to their high concentration of phenols. These compounds may help improve muscle recovery and play a role in reducing a risk of chronic diseases. Lentils are also high in soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and blood sugar..

3. "Running is a lot like life. Only 10 percent of it is exciting, 90 percent of it is a slog and drudge." -David Bedford, An English distance runner who sometimes ran 200 miles a week in training.

Well time to get a move on, many things to do today, because this work week is going to be a little different as we have a project going on and Tracy and I are splitting Wednesday and Thursday this week. I hope you have an excellent day and the sun is shining wherever you are.......ciao!

Happy Valentine's Day!



February 14th, a day to remember all the lovely things that are a part of your life and to remember not to take for granted your family and friends who make you, you!

 

What plans do you have for today? My plans include going to work and painting, and then its Thursday so its HIIT class tonight and then a quiet evening at home, making a few more coffee cozies and boot cuffs for a friend. I'm not to sure how many of you frequent Facebook, but I came across this amazing lady who makes thee most incredible Fimo embellished crochet hooks, knitting needles, and stitch markers. Her sight is called " Day by Day Crochet", you could try through this link www.facebook.com/Daybydaycrochet

 

I love all her ideas and I really think I need to buy a few of her hooks and stitch markers. So I thought I would just show you a few today and give you something "sweet" to look at besides chocolate!

 

 Coffee and cake knitting needles, too cute!

Valentine's crochet hook

 

 

Coffee cup and donut

stitch markers, who doesn't need these!

 

 

I absolutely have to have one of these!

 

 

And if I have the hook, I have to have the stitch

markers, because I always loose my spot!

 Well time for me to get a move on, so I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day, and you get to spend time or at least hear from your loved ones. Please go check out Day by Day you won't be disappointed! Ciao for now!

 

Life in the Baja

I'm not sure if this will work but we'll give it a shot! We are into day four of our week vacay in Cabo San Jose and its a wonderful reprieve from the rain let me tell you. Although I think I'm getting old because laying in the sun for hours just about does me in. I know.......being the sun worshipper that I have always been, its a little strange for sure!

We've been having a great time and our friend lives here so we've been given the royal tour! I don't know if I can upload any photos but I was watching the grounds people trimming the coconut trees and it is a sight to behold let me tell you! Safety goes right out the door! But there were no accidents thank goodness! I have photos but I haven't figured out how to get them from the IPad to my laptop! Any ideas?

Well........ as you can see I did try to blog when I was away for the week in the Baja but to no avail I could not successfully upload photos on the IPad, so here we are a week later and we are back home and all is well.

We had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect for the whole week and on the day we flew out it clouded over and started to rain......

 

 Pool area of our boutique hotel, a fantastic place, small

but everything you could possibly want and right downtown.

 

Beautiful, colorful buildings

 

 

Pottery in black and white that I haven't seen before. It was quite pretty.

Padro the house parrot.....didn't have much to say, unless he only understood Spanish!

Nora, a wonderful little girl, daughter of the owners.

Hibiscus, plentiful everywhere!

We visited with our friends while we were there, and also another couple arrived from our own town which was pretty funny because they live a stones throw away!

So its back to the grind this week, trying to get caught up on the laundry and get a few meals ready for the week. Back to classes and bumping up the training with some body sculpt, I think I am in for a rude awakening!

My car is in getting fixed finally from the accident, and imagine its only been two months! Well time to get back to my chores and figure out my next project(s)!

Tenga un buen dia mis amigos! Have a good day my friends! Adios!

 

Just another week being MIA>>>>>>>>>

Well needless to say, its been another one of those weeks, when time just gets away on me and before I know it, my life has been pushed fast forward X60....but life is good and much has been accomplished......the Hubs is on the mend and I escaped the plague.

I've been wanting to get rid of the fluorescent lighting that hung in the kitchen and finally thanks to our handyman electrician, we have new lights in over the island and a light finally in our bedroom on the ceiling. Who builds houses without room lights? Mood....smood...I say! When you're trying to find clothes in your dressers, it would be nice to see other than by the light of the silvery moon or flashlight!



Bedroom light fixture



New kitchen lighting by Martha Stewart

Now by the looks of things I will need to fill a few holes in the ceiling and paint the ceiling.....but that's okay it needs a lift. But not till spring.

You know how I like to start new projects........Even when, I've already got 184,739,532,111 projects already on the go! Even when, I don't know what the project is even going to be. And I usually don't ever feel guilty! Crocheting is an absolute obsession with me and it kind of goes in seasons but it makes my world a whole lot happier....must be the wonderful colors and textures of all the different yarns. It almost makes me dizzy when I go into a yarn store! The shawl I had made for a special someone, was a total surprise and one which is loved, so that makes it all the better.

 

Many matching sets of boot cuffs, fingerless gloves, and headbands.

Boots cuffs with wooden buttons.....love!!!!!!

Ever since I started this obsession with crocheting, thanks Deb! I've found myself in love with hooks! They aren't fancy, or expensive ( oddly in-expensive actually), or are they special in any way. But I love them. A few of my hooks are vintage ( from my Aunt Ev) and I enjoy using most of them.

I had been storing my hooks in a fabric pocket roll but I like to look at them, because some are pretty colors. And we know I like "pretty"! I always (because I learnt that lesson) keep whatever hook I am using at the time with the project, but then I thought I have a nice little planter that I don't use for plants. I'll put my hooks in it! It's so darn pretty!

I like them where I can see them and I can already see I need to get a few sizes that I am missing....for what you say? Don't know yet! But I'm sure I'll think of something. Well I better not quit my day job!

So where do you store your hooks or needles? Do you have a special place for them, too? Bye for now, hope your week is going well. I see sunshine in my future!

Good start to the day........

Just back from a really superb run this morning with Sue and Janet. It was a very chilly morning but wonderful to run in, the cold crisp air and the sun just breaking through the fog makes you feel so alive and refreshing! We took Janet on a route that we normally do along the beachfront and a few trails. The only downfall of this run is the very steep uphill at the end. But its well worth it.

Although it was definitely not this sunny this morning, I think you get the idea of what a beautiful place this is. There is a great path that runs along the beach then it opens up to the Esplanade where hundred's of people come weekly to walk and walk their dogs.
The Hubs does this walk weekly down and back is 5km of sheer beauty.

I sewed the Arbutus branch buttons on a few of the boot cuffs, I gave them a little sanding and clear coated them with Sansins Purity Glacier Satin clear finish. It's a non-yellowing finish. It's meant to just bring out the color and rings of the wood.

 

 

 

 

My first attempt at making a stone looking button.

 

 

Boots cuffs to match my daughters

cowl, maybe I should make a headband

to match also...........

 

 

 

 The Fimo I was using for these owls was a little on the dry side so it wasn't as supple as I would like it to be, especially when you're trying to fold it over, so it tended to crack a bit, but with a little paint and varnish, I think it will disappear, and I thought I would attache a pin to them and put them on some toques. We'll see........

 

Well I've had my coffee and feel  ready to take on the day. Hubs is still suffering from the flu so he is down for the count for another day. I better not get it.....I do not want to waster any time being sick......have a great day and I hope you find something that will inspire you to be creative!

 

Lazy Sunday Morning.....

I love a lazy Sunday morning. Didn't run this morning, the Hubs has the plague and Sue was starting out earlier than normal as she starts the Learn to Run program this morning for the famous Vancouver Sun Run.......so I will run with her tomorrow. For today I have a few things I want to start and there's a laundry basket calling my name. When I went to the city Thursday, I needed a coffee grinder so that I could make coffee in our new coffee maker, I tried the other day but regular coffee just doesn't cut it. The lattes are pretty good though. I checked out quite a few espresso makers before deciding on one in particular and there are so many brands out there it was quite mind boggling.....but I decided on a Breville just because of the reviews and the cost of the machine. It's not like I will use it everyday, so I wasn't about to spend hundreds of dollars on one. But for the money this one will do what I want it to do, and that's make lattes.

These cups are a little small, but I guess you aren't suppose to have a bucket of espresso! I don't know, it works for me. But I do have a few choices now with cups so its all good.

I found a good hint on Pinterest the other day...... concerning bananas......I really don't like bananas when they start to go brown......they taste too banana-ey......yuck, I like them when they are still firm and green tasting.....I know weird.

 

These are only good for Banana Bread or muffins, and I'm not crazy about them either. But I will make them because they're good for the Hubs lunch.

Now I've tried this hint for the last few bunches I've bought and amazingly enough, I do think it holds off the ripening process for a few days so that you're able to get them eaten before they ripen too far.

 

 

You take tin foil and bunch it around the stem, and it works. They keep a few days longer. Who knew!

Well time for me to get a move on and start the day. It looks like it will be a nice day and with the Hubs under the weather, I will putter around the house, and make sure he's on the mend for work tomorrow. Do some baking, make dinner in the crock pot, buttons, fimo, laundry, some housecleaning.......jeez I'm going to have the devil behind me all week at this rate!

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday! Enjoy your day!