Month: September 2013

In my last post I may have mentioned how excited I was about an upcoming yoga retreat.  Well, I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed!  It was awesome. It was exactly what I needed.  The perfect balance of alone time, yoga and social time.  I met some really fun people (mostly women but a few men too).  I found a little BLISS while I was there.

I don’t even know how to start describing this place. Shanti Retreat.  Go check out their website.  I fear my little photo gallery will not do it justice.

This is a pic I stopped to take while I drove down the 1000 Island Parkway.  It’s so beautiful down that stretch of road.

This dock is the first spot that called to me.  It was between the Adirondack chair and the hammock.  The chair won.

Doesn’t this just take your breath away?

This was my bed for the weekend.

Found these… had to photograph.

The view of the red chairs from the Bali Hut.

The yoga yurt.  I’ve only ever heard of these and have never been inside one.  Very cool.  Makes me wonder if I could have one of these at my house for something.  Rent it out maybe?  Hmmm.

This is Hali.  She was our “leader” for the weekend.  She lead yoga, meditation and chanting.  She is a beautiful soul with a voice as soft as baby alpaca.

It rained all day Saturday but I still managed to get a few pictures.  This is the main house.

So happy!

I did some knitting by the fire during our downtime.  The rain and chill outside made this spot the best in the house!

I’m guessing this is where they have yoga when it’s too cold to have class in the yurt.

This is the buffet.  The food was so spectacular.  I’m far from being a vegetarian but after last weekend, I’m giving it some serious thought.  I felt so great, and surprisingly full, after every meal.  Hmmmmm.

This picture is random but I had to share.  I love these little things.  I think they call them chimes.  Either way, I love the little “ting” sound they make.

Since I’ve been back from my retreat, I’ve finished my Annis Shawl and ripped it back.  Because I went down several needle sizes, it turned out so small it would have been a great doll shawl.  Not suitable for a grown woman.  Sometimes, it’s good to just follow instructions.

I worked on a new baby hat.  I started following the Roxy Hat pattern but it really wasn’t working out for me so I winged it.  Turned out adorable.  Sorry for the really horrible pictures.  I’ll try to get better ones later.

The rest of the order is mittens that match this hat, then a newborn hat and blanket.  Piece o’ cake!  I’m working nights all weekend – something to keep my eyes from those loooooonnnnnngggg  sloooooow blinks.

Last night, I used my blending board for the first time and made these rolags.  Can’t wait to spin them!

These are BFL and mohair.

These are very fine alpaca (like the finest hair you could possibly imagine) and pulled silk.  This will be an interesting spin.

I need more TIME!!!

I have to admit that after the yoga retreat last weekend, I’m homesick.  I miss my space, my house, the openness when I look out the windows.  I know this will pass in a few days.  I just keep focusing on the reason for this year and on the fact that the next month is jam packed with awesomeness!

THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO:

• My birthday on Monday. (I’m secretly dreading it.  I’m not a fan of getting older.  But as long as I feel this great, it’s just another number right?)
• Workshop on Super Foods on Monday and Steve’s coming with. 🙂
• Birthday dinner with my sister on Tuesday.
• Knitting on Wednesday.
• Yoga with my dad on Thursday.
• Weekend at Michelle’s in Waterloo.  Knitting, spinning, sipping tea, yoga, girl-time.  Ahhhh.
• Jacob’s 19th birthday dinner on the 9th!  Can I say Holly SHIT!?  19!!!
• Leave for California for two weeks with Nancy.  San Diego.  LA. The Coast. Big Sur.  Hearst Castle. San Francisco.  Yosemite.  Napa.  Sacramento.
• New York City, again, for 5 nights!!!  It’s going to be awesome!!!

I’m a lucky, LUCKY girl.

Second Sock Syndrom. If you knit socks one at a time and you know anything about the Yarn Harlot, you know what this means.

I’m really not sure what came over me last night but I searched YouTube for “knitting socks two at a time”. I came across this video:

I’m super-excited to try this. Next pair of socks will be an experiment.

First, I have to go through my “leftovers” bin to pick yarn to make my friend Tina a yoga mat bag. I’m going to crochet it. I’ve made one of each so far – a knit one and a crochet one. The crochet bag is much faster to make. I think it will be pretty regardless.

Last night, I went to FitCamp for the first time. I’ve been going to that gym for yoga for a few months now. Some of my friends have been telling me about this FitCamp thing but honestly, if someone is going to vomit as a result of a workout, it’s just not my thing. So, last night I went with Tina and an open mind. I did, however, tell the instructor that if I threw up, I would not return. As a first-timer, she modified my workout a bit. I did what she told me and a little extra. Turns out I’m in better shape than I thought. And it was fun. So, Tina and I are going again tonight. I’m not so sore that I can’t do it again. Then yoga.

I’m thinking of modifying my budget to include a gym membership. 🙂

Here’s what I’ve been working on:

I’m on a dill kick.  Scrambled eggs with garlic and dill!  Yum!

Yoga retreat in a week from tomorrow.  I can’t wait.

I’ve been back from Chicago for about 5 weeks now.  It’s been a period of adjustment but I’m enjoying this experience so far.

Here’s what’s been going on:

This is the mileage I got on my first tank of diesel with the new car!  I’m very impressed.

I took a corespinning workshop at the Twist Festival and all I want to do is spin now.

I started a pair of socks for Steve.  I used 2.25 mm needles at first but they were too tight.  I switched to 2.75 mm needles and I hated how loose the stitches were.  Now I’m using  2.5 mm needles and although I’m not a fan, they will do.  One sock down, one to go.

Jacob had a show at a bar in Downtown Ottawa – which was awesome as usual.  I’m always so proud of him when he’s up there.

I stumbled on this project: No. 41.

Go read about it.  It’s really cool.  Love the bag.

Spent the day in Gatineau Park on Saturday at the MacKenzie King Estate.  Funny how these amazing places are all around us, yet we don’t know they’re there.

I’ve gone a little crazy this week.  I found out I can’t carry any of my time off over to next year.  So, I’m off this week, took an extra week at the beginning of November and another week at the end of November.  I booked a weekend yoga retreat for two weeks from now that I’m super-excited about.  It’s so close – only a few hours’ drive near Kingston on Wolf Island.  Yesterday, I booked an apartment for five nights in NYC for the beginning of November.  I might get to finally see the leaves in Central Park!

I’ve got a lot of adventure coming up.  It’s awesome!