Come visit at Joi Designs

Well it's been a crazy life, but I have surfaced again. Here is the last post on this blog.Please visit me at Joi Designs to see what's happening.

http://joidesigns.blogspot.com/

Toe Up Socks - 2 at a Time

I had to start the toes over a few times, but I'm on my way now. Increasing 12 stitches per side to 32 stitches per side. These size #1 needles are very tiny but I really like this kind of knitting.

I wound the ball the other night (wish I had taken a picture of the tangled yarn). I'm knitting from both ends, just a little patience and it's not too difficult to keep it from becoming tangled. I prefer this to having two balls of yarn.

Un-knitting, tangled yarn and motorcycles

Well I've been busy since December. I still ride my bike and catch the bus everywhere and do not want a car. I actually get car sick now, the roof is just too close to my head. I love being outside. The whole idea of making another car payment, plus insurance and repairs - close to $400/month - not even counting gasoline. I want one of these new trikes, to ride outside for longer distances and into the mountains - camping and fishing!

I have been knitting quite a bit, and un-knitting even more. Now I am a semi-pro at socks and just finished my 2nd pair. I will get some pictures up soon, as I find myself un-knitting and unraveling tangled masses of yarn all the time. Such a simple life.

So last night I opened a skein of "Socks that Rock" in Raspberry Moose, placed it around the base of my laptop instead of having someone hold it for me, and started rolling my ball.  At some point while I was rolling and watching Green Wing, the yarn slipped off the computer and landed on the floor in a tangled mess. This is a 360 yard skein - that's 1080 feet!

I finished winding the ball around 4:00 am this morning - it's gorgeous!

The sock pattern is called "Tangled Faeries"


Now I am casting the toe stitches on a size 1 needle and am on the 4th try.

If you find yourself stressing about the time and your anal perfectionism, you really should consider taking up bike riding and knitting. It' absolutely impossible for me to hurry anymore, nor be perfect. What a change and what a relaxing relief!

Knitting Serenity will start weekly knitting get togethers by the end of the month, and the Sock Knitting Classes will come soon after.

No posts?

I have not posted in a month!

I have been SO busy at work, created a 5' x 3' poster for a big seminar, mastered Adobe Illustrator to accomplish this. Got a roommate, but on the day the space was viewed the basement flooded, so have been really busy there.

Riding bike like crazy, maintaining weight loss, and coming up with a new business.

Still dealing with sciatica, can't wait until Friday night, come home and take meds and a glass of wine. Can't do this during the week as it messes with my bike coordination. TGIF!

Will write details soon . . .

Week 3

I just love my bike! Walking actually uses less calories and it's harder. I can almost make it up the hill when I take the long way home. I have to walk about 1 block, but I've been finding out that if I just stop and catch my breath, which can take a few minutes, I can get back on and continue.

It's starting to get cold and wet. Rides are offered so I don't have to ride in the cold and rain, but I really want to. I am not stuck in the wilderness and if it's just too much, I can take the short way home, or duck into a shelter and call for a taxi. I have a very heavy jacket and boots, so when it's just too much for the bike, I'll walk. I really enjoy being outside.

Week 2

Oops - should have taken just one more bike ride,  but my sciatica was just too bad, drugged up and resting on Saturday and Sunday, although I did ride 6.5 miles to the pharmacy on Saturday to get pain meds.

Week 1

 

Direct Life Activity Monitor

New Plan

I had several plans to choose from, and I've chosen the one that starts where the other one ended.

The purpose of DirectLife is to make you aware of your activities, and to increase your activity level in a comfortable manner. I'll keep increasing my work bike route as I need to.

Yeah - I completed my 12-week Direct Life Plan and hit my goals!

Knitting

I've been knitting this whole time, the white shrug needs seaming on the sides, I understand that there are many projects sitting in baskets all around the world waiting for seaming. Something I need to tackle head on and figure out!

I've made one white fingerless mitten, but don't like how it turned out, so I'll probably do it again. The ribbing is just too loose around the arm at K3, P2 like the shrug. I'll redo in K1P1 and make two this time.

My maroon shrug is almost done too, and I've almost completed the first fingerless mitt for this one. I also need to make ear warmers for each.

Walking to the bus to the bus the other day, my ears got so cold they were very painful. I rode the bus with my fingers in my ears for about 10 minutes trying to warm them up. The rest of my body was hot from just wearing a sweater in the 35+ weather. Walked a mile that morning.

The Bike Saga is over - GYPSI is doing just fine!

Crazy isn't it? To be so possessed by one thing for so long? Well it's over, Gypsi is riding just fine, shifts really nice and I made it home.

I was instructed, yes instructed, by the guys at the bike shop to NEVER let Bernie near my bike again, and to come in right away even if I just hear a rattle. Never lay it on the derailleur and watch how I put it underneath the bus.

University Bicycles: Bohemia, Colorado

They showed me how to bungee cord the front tire to the frame after I turn it backwards so it's more manageable getting it on or into the bus. All is well!

Twitter

I added Twitter today . . . see it in the right hand column.

Library

Today we walked to the bus, bused to the library and I got several books on knitting and bike repair! I figured it couldn't hurt.

Greasy Hands

Yesterday I rode my bike finally to the bus stop, not a good exercise week as friends gave me rides (against my will I might add!) and I was a total sloth . . . All went well with the bike to the bus stop, and when I got off the bus to ride the short trip to work, the chain came off again! I didn't realize it at first, but I was really peddling and going no where fast!

So I put the kickstand on, and got the chain back on the bike. My new $10 sweater (cheap but looks nice) got stuck and ripped a thread or two but I made it to work. I walked in with a ripped sweather and very black and greasy hands. I personally think I should have a "Bike Reality Show" so someone  can capture my daily adventures.

I was wearing my new heels too,  what a sight!

A one mile walk in the rain - nice!

Haven't had time to check out bike yet. It's raining, will walk today.

Bernie: Day 3 [cont.]

Bernie came by today and worked on my bike. He took the plastic shield off and the chain came right out. He is used to working on "high end" racing  bikes, which have different parts. [He said the type that cost $1000 just for the frame!) I told him it was good though, as he can just figure out how to work on mine. If I ever get a flat tire, he will have to show me how to fix it. Really nice guy, spent 1.5 hours working on the derailuer as the chain kept slipping, and the brake is off center, and only charged me $20. He said it's not "perfect" yet and that I should ride it and report back to him. Well, car repairs used to cost about $400 at a time, so I feel fine about this.

It's also nice to know that he is mobile and will come over to help next time there's a bike problem.

Bernie: Day 3

It's 6:15 am and Bernie is due in about an hour. To be continued . . .

Stuck bike chain: Day 2

I've been sporadically working on my bike chain, trying not to break it and create a bigger problem. My hands are dark grey with grease. And I'm so patiently frustrated, as it's raining really gently today and there are many people out biking. We walked to the store and they were everywhere . . . except for me.

I looked up "Mobile Bike Repair" and found Bernie. He will come by early in the morning to take off the derailleur and rescue the stuck chain. I called the bike shop and they told me how to do it, but I would need a special tool. Bernie will cost $20-$40 for the house call. I could have bought the tools and a good repair book for that, but not this time.

The chain is stuck between the large gear and the plastic plate.

Stuck bike chain: Day 1

I've had a loose bike chain for the last few weeks, but haven't found the time to get to the bike shop which is deep in town. Well, it slipped yesterday and got stuck. Today I will try to figure out how to fix a stuck bike chain. I like the hands on aspect of this whole project, and would rather learn to fix this myself than pay someone. We'll see how far I get without breaking the chain.

For right now I'm grounded!