What to do when it's so cold outside...

Go Skating!

I don't know about you but around these parts this winter season has been a cold one. Like -50C with the windchill cold. Too cold to do much but fight for a spot in front of the fireplace.

Fortunately (or not depending on my mood) I made a resolution to be more active this year and cold or not, I really mean to make this one stick. So my family has been taking advantage of the ice rinks in town, one is outside (the temps were a balmy -20C that day)...

And the other is indoors. Mr. Man is playing his first year of hockey and it's a hoot to watch his practices. They do lots of stretching and drills and games. This one I call hockey yoga...

Our rink also has a family skate time on Sundays. We were there on the weekend so the Superstar and I could test out our new skates (the temps were so cold I don't even want to talk about it, it was way warmer in the rink)...

skating selfie, no one on the rink! Crazy!

When it's cold I also knit... Ha! Who am I kidding... it doesn't matter what the temperature is, I knit all the time! I've been working on a sheep pillow by Purl Soho called Bobble Sheep Pillow. It's a free pattern and the bobbles are fun to knit. I just need to knit the head, legs and tail and stuff it.

I'm working on the first of my Year of the Shawl 2014. It's Windward by Heidi Kirrmaier (PiPiBird on Ravelry). I'm using some yarn I picked up at Michael's because the yardage is right and the colour is pretty. I'm not an acrylic fan but so far this is knitting up really well. And it's uber soft! I'm a lot further in the pattern than the picture shows. The construction of this shawl is so strange, it changes directions and stitches in every section, fun to knit.

I'm also working on my 12 pair plunge for 2014. The first pair of socks is the Katniss pattern by Rose Hiver (free on Ravelry). I got past the gussets and knew all the while that they were too small. I thought I'd be all smart and take out a bunch of stitches on the cast on because Rose said in the pattern that they fit a ladies medium/large. I have small feet. Apparently my feet are only small in my mind because this sock was so small I couldn't get it on properly. I think these socks will fit me just fine if I cast on the correct amount of stitches. Gah, sometimes it's just better to knit the pattern and not try to modify everything... So I've frogged these and plan to re-cast on tonight at Mr. Man's hockey game.

The yarn is on old skein from Tanis Fibre Arts Colour Club from 2 years ago called Spice. I think it suits the pattern and I'm excited to have an orange pair of socks!

As for reading, because I'm linking with Ginny's Yarn Along... I'm on a magazine kick this week. I got the latest Shape magazine when standing in line at the grocery store (hopefully I'm not the only one that does this!) and the latest seed catalogue came in the mail the other day (so excited!). I love seed catalogues, they're like porn for my gardening soul... The last magazine is the Clean Eating one which I've subscribed to for 2 years now. I love this magazine for it's recipes, they're really good and clean, which is how I like to eat.

So there you have it. When it's cold I say, get active, knit and read...
Happy Wednesday!

Yarn Along

Well on the weekend I was productive and knit Mr. Man a hat.

I love Space Invaders, don't you? Those old school video games were the best.

I'm currently knitting some mittens for a friend. To be honest I'm finding them tedious. I love knitting mittens (especially colourwork) but whenever I have to knit for someone else and have a deadline, I end up hating the knitting. What a super snobby knitter I am!

I've had to impose some discipline to get them done. Everyday I have to knit 10 rounds before I knit on anything else. It sucks, but it's working...

As for reading, I have a few really interesting books on my night table. I'm reading the Mabigoni and other Medieval Welsh Tales, and Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist.

These books will have to take a back seat to my text books though. I started an online course this fall. I'm excited to be taking a university class after so many years of being out of formal education. At the same time, I'm nervous...

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny today for a wednesday yarn along...

I've been reading the Fellowship of the Ring and thoroughly enjoying it. There's honestly nothing like a high fantasy adventure story in the summertime.

My knitting has been a bit on the backburner this summer. Too many things to do. I have been crocheting a hexagon blanket and it's such a joy to make. I love using up more of the acrylic bin.

I also started a wrap last weekend that's going to be one of those I'm-so-glad-I-made-this projects. It's Wheaten by Anne Hanson, published in Wool People Vol. 5. I'm using Palette yarn from Knit Picks in the Pennyroyal colourway. It's a soft dove purple/grey. I love it already.

Yarn Along

It's Wednesday again and here I am joining Ginny for her yarn along.

I got my book in the post last week. I'm only a few chapters in but so far it's making me itchy to get on the water. Unfortunately winter is hanging on with a icy cold grip and that won't be happening for at least another 6 weeks.

The knitting part of this post is actually crochet. I'm making another granny square blanket using this pattern. It's a gift but it isn't due until next month. I think if I get half a dozen more squares done, I'll have enough to start seaming...

Ahh, the joys of granny squares... : )