LOST & FOUND

It's been awhile since I've laid eyes on this Kaleidoscope Cardi,

pattern by Knit Collage.  

I was searching for something else recently and found this instead.

I'd forgotten how much I loved it 3 years ago when I weighted 25 pds. less.

Ha!

So guess what,

I really want to finish it and loose the weight so I can wear it.

This last month I've been trying to loose some pounds,

even before I found this.

Now keep in mind,

I'm always trying to loose weight.

It's my life.

I've tried fasting, weight lifting, cardio, eating way better,

but nothing has been working like it used to when I was teaching 

and never, ever sat down all day.

So a friend at the gym who recently lost a ton of weight shared his secret.

Walking, counting steps and caloric deficient.

Well I was already doing all those things.

He simple said you aren't doing enough walking.

And he was right!

He said you have to do at least 15,000 steps a day,

everyday.

Eat all the vegies and fruit you want,

and cut back to only 2 meals a day.

Plus continue to lift weights at gym along with sit-ups and leg lifts.

I was averaging between 6000 to 10,000 steps in retirement,

so about a month ago I really picked up my pace.

My children set me up with Audible (books on tape) for my birthday,

headphones and a fanny pack.

And now I'm averaging between 12,000 and 15,000 steps a day

and have lost 6 pds. that I'm managing to miraculously keep off. 

I'm even trying to pick up the pace more by doing a little bit of jogging,

plus lots of hills.

People are starting to notice 

that my upper arms, butt and thighs are looking slimmer.

YES!!!!

But where I'm really noticing it is in my upper stomach,

right under my breasts which no one will ever see again.

LOL

I can't tell you how excited I am.

I'm even noticing that I'm standing taller and feeling lighter on my feet,

and it feels so good.

The down side is it takes a chunk of time from my day and evening.

And discipline,

lots of discipline!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Are you wondering if I allow myself a cheat day?

You betcha.

One day a week I get one scoop of ice cream

but I keep on truckin' on that day as well.

KALEIDOSCOPE CARDI

So this is the cardigan I'm going to attempt to finish before Xmas

for a gift.

I'm enrolled in a knit-a-long online class that I mentioned the other day out of Ojai, Ca.,

 at a new crafts shop called Cattywampus Crafts.

I never made it up there last Monday because I'd forgotten I had a previous important doctor appt.,

so I'm going to try to make it this coming Monday. 

The owners just got back from a 2 week trip to Japan and brought back many lovely things

both textile related as well as ceramic.

So excited to browse.

Something about some silk kimono bracelets, and hand dyed stitching threads.

Never have enough of either, right?

Ha!!

And yarn, lots and lots of yarn!

Whoo Hoo

Here are a few pix of the yarns I will be using in my cardi.

These are the base or foundation yarns.

Most are handspun by either myself or my spinning mentor Lori Lawson of Capistrano Fiber Arts.

And 4 of them came from the Amy who runs Knit Collage thru Caddywampus,

the gal who is doing the workshop.

And two of them are silk strips.

But I felt as if I needed a bit more pop to my color scheme,

so I added the red/orange at top (Manos de Uruguay),

and the stark black from Amy on far left.

Rolled most of the balls last night and checked my gauge.  

Of course it's off no matter what needle size I used.

15's were too small and 17's too big.

I've not seen size 16's before.

So I will knit tighter with the 17's, 

they felt better with all that chunky handspun.

I'll finish up the winding tonight and hopefully start knitting  before bed.

Nite.