Where In The World...
Sunday, April 22, 2012
is Sarah-Mae Pyndus?!
Running. A lot.
Updating my race log!
Doing a little bit of knitting.
And a whole lot of walking/training for the 2012 Nijmegen Marches!
I'm always amazed when I pop over here and realize just how long it's been since I wrote a blog post. I would apologize, but that would just be foolish, since I'm not really sorry at all :) The weather has definitely been feeling like spring, I am spending my days in the sunshine, and my hands have hardly been idle!
For a race report of Boston, check out this post, written by a fellow runner Michele, and which features little old me towards the end, as I cheered her on and we pulled each other to the finish line. Runners are a phenomenal group of people, and for such an individual sport, I have never felt so much comradery and support. I am already anticipating the 2013 Boston Marathon and have my qualifying time ready to rumble!
As for the Nijmegen Marches; whew! The MARPAC Nijmegen Team hopefuls (which includes myself) is now up to 35km marches, only 5km shy of our "full distance" and everyone is carrying full weight - an average of around 30lbs. The training has been ramping up and everyone is meeting the challenge with gusto! I'm not going to lie, it's tough to be on your feet for 6+ hours with 1/4 of your body weight added on, but my goodness has it been fun!!! The team will be cut mid-June from the survivors of back-to-back 40km marches and I will be sure to let you all know the results!
posted by Sarah-Mae @ 7:50 AM,
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My Stash
Monday, February 13, 2012
Today, while marching around in circles at work, I got to thinking about my stash - you mean most military members don't think about yarn to pass the time?!
So here it is, my stash laid out and all nicely put away in it's home. Because I know knitters really like to check out each other's stash ;)
[The stash - does not include W.I.P. yarn!]
[Random yarn closeup, this is primarily leftover single skein yarn]
[Fingering weight leftovers]
[Various leftovers]
My "craft nook" in the lounge room. Yarn stash contained in the "snake charmers basket".
So, I showed you mine, will you show me yours?
posted by Sarah-Mae @ 10:21 PM,
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Have you had enough snow yet?
Friday, January 20, 2012
It's been a fairly eventful week here in Sooke, BC. Between losing hydro for 10 hours due to fallen trees, getting a tow truck stuck on our property while it tried to rescue our car (which did not have the capability to leave the 45 degree incline of a road on our own), losing Westfalia keys in the snow (thank God we found them), and having to walk the hour into town in order to get to the gym because our vehicles were buried for four days, well, there's been a lot of sitting and knitting, baking, and long snowy walks.
While I was trapped, I finished knitting my Ugly Rotten Fish Socks for the Skew knit-along going on over at nook.
Knitting a toe up sock was on my knitting New Years resolutions, so I'm very glad to have cranked these out so early in the year.
Ry says they’re ugly, I say they remind me of rotten fruit, and one of the boys I look after says that they look like fish. Sometimes thale knitting Gods smile down on me, other times not so much. These socks, while definitely a fun knit and quirky on my toes, were not smiled upon. I can’t blame the pattern, as a self striping yarn with shorter pattern repeats looks amazing when Skewed; and I can’t blame the yarn, because it is beautiful, soft and wonderful to knit with. No, it was simply my prerogative to combine the two.
As for the pattern, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the way these socks fit; they are tight across the top of the ankle, don't fit my toes properly, and the heel "origami" sits awkwardly below my ankle bone. Nope, not converted to the Skews, I'm still a die-hard top-down, heel flap, DPN girl. I'll be giving toe up socks another chance in the form of Anastasia Socks later in the year, but for now... I've cast-on for my second pair of Hermione's Everyday Socks :)
So, are you top-down, toe-up, or Skewed?
posted by Sarah-Mae @ 6:50 PM,
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Quilts and Knit-olutions
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
As you may remember, back in September I took a beginner quilting class at my local fabric store, Cloth Castle. While the first quilt was rather cute, the lines weren't straight, the cuts were rough, and I decided that Ryan and I should keep this first one for ourselves - if only to serve as a distant memory of where my sewing/quilting skills came from.
Not to mention that those surfing monkeys are just so darn cute.
Well my friends, here you have it, my second and third quilts. Ever. These are also the first quilts that I have ever made without a teacher's assistance and with intended recipients. I told you I was busy elving this Christmas season!
While I do love the act of quilting, I'm afraid I'm still a hard-core knitter at heart; the act of confining myself to a sewing machine, having to measure the fabric oh-so-carefully, ironing... oh the ironing... well... it's just not my jam. Hand me some sticks and string that allow me to zone out, unwind and take with me everywhere and I'm in heaven. I'll likely end up making more quilts over the years, but for now, 'twas the season and now it's time to get back to my knitting!
New Years Knit-olutions
After knitting 27 pairs of top-down socks, I figure it's only time...
Ideally, I would like to be 'stash-free' by the end of 2012. Given that I also had this goal last year, I am well on my way to being stash free and think it can be done!
Last year I knit myself 11 pairs of socks in 2011, now with 18 pairs of socks in my drawer I figure it's only time that Ryan's measely 3 pair stash is substantially increased.
I am pleased to announce to you all that I'm already on my way to accomplishing my first knit-olution!
This would be Skew from knitty.com. I am knitting this sock along with Rebecca of nook. for a Skew KAL and I don't think I've ever been quite so motivated to knit a sock in my life. Curious? Head over to nook. and join us!
posted by Sarah-Mae @ 9:49 AM,
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Christmas Knitting Revealed!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Finally, I bring you the knitting spoils of my 2011 Christmas elving :)
Pattern: Wool Leaves by Jared Flood.
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool in colorway 0861.
Ryan's Mother
Pattern: Knitted Neck Scarf by Martha Stewart.
Yarn: Lang Yarns Fantomas Color in colorway 0020.
Ryan's Sister
Pattern: Cigar by Kerri Cadd.
Yarn: Sirdar Family Worsted with Wool in colorway 703.
Ryan's Sister's Man
Pattern: Cigar by Kerri Cadd.
Yarn: Sirdar Family Worsted with Wool in colorway 703.
Ryan
Pattern: Signature Monogram Socks by Hazel Needham.
Yarn: Sandnes Garn Sisu in colorway 3308.
Pattern: Hacky Sack Hoodie by Stef Pulford.
Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Wool in colorway 9465 and Noro Kureyon in colorway 263.
Mom
Pattern: Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder.
Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in colorway Denim Blues.
Dad
Pattern: Waffle Rib by Charlene Schurch.
Yarn: Zitron Trekking 6 fach 6 ply in colorway 1806.
I certainly was a busy bee this year, getting started in October!
Tomorrow I will show you the two quilts I created this year as Christmas gifts as well!
So, how about you? Did you complete all you wanted to for Christmas this year? Are you still riding a Christmas high and planning your elving for next year?
posted by Sarah-Mae @ 7:18 PM,
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