Happy New Years Eve!

Wow--another year has passed, as always leaves me saying "where does time go?" I guess I've been so busy taking life day by day I forget to look back till we get to this point. I know I've been a bad blogger, I'll try to do better but as always I really don't like "resolutions"--they always get broken. So I choose to have "intentions" for the coming year. No, I won't make them here but instead on a day by day basis, also known as my "bucket list."
As my bucket list increases one of those will be achieved tomorrow morning at 9am...I WILL begin my year running! This run is a challenge put before us by our local running group--Here's the Route if you are curious or want to join us!

In 2011 I added swimming to my already busy schedule, which adds another "item" to my bucket list...if I can conquer the stupid bicycle I may give a triathlon a shot! Training has begun for my next 1/2 marathon in March. I'm helping to coach the 1/2 marathon/marathon training team at the Y...let's see what else I can add to the mix!

While 2011 didn't start out so well with the loss of my Uncle the year has come to a close on a good note as we welcomed 3 new members into our family. DS#1 got married, I have a new daughter and 2 granddaughters out of the deal!!

A BEAUTIFUL Family!!!

There was a lot of knitting this year, though it seems I didn't post a lot about it here...again--'cause I'm a BAD blogger!
Christmas knitting was all about "hats"--each of the girls got an earflap hat. I used a great, FAST pattern from Juniper Farms called Sluggy Bonnet.

Sorry for the crappy pics but I forgot my good camera and had to use my phone to document them...yeah, I also forgot to photograph them BEFORE wrapping them!!
I think I need to make one of these for myself!!

MY project had to be put on hold with all the gift knitting going on. This is sort of the icing on the cake for my 2011 knitting!

I will use a Gaelic word--crìochnaichte--EVERYTHING about this sweater means Highlander!

From the fiber I spun called "Highlander" to the place where I spun it while on vacation--Grayson Highlands State Park--to the pattern named Highlander....to the North Ronaldsay ram horn buttons sent to me as a gift from my Shona in Scotland!! I LOVE THIS SWEATER!!!

Well...with that I'll get on with preparing for the rest of the day. Rudy & Milo are pooped from all the "busy-i-ness" of the holidays--Santa was good to them...and they deserve it--they have been really good boys! Hubby has been SUPER busy making his dulcimers. He is SUPER talented!

My Wahoos play in the Chick-fil-a Bowl tonight...My Cowboys play a BIG game tomorrow--hoping for the BEST!!

I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!! See you NEXT YEAR!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

In Awe and Inspired!

I sit here knitting and watching the Atlanta IronGirl competition on TV with tears fill my eyes and joy in my heart for the courageous stories that are being told about several of these ladies. There were professional triathletes involved and MANY-MANY ordinary ladies each with a story, though they only told a select few...and boy were they emotionally moving to hear.

This is just TOO awesome to not post...**taken from the Iron Girl website**

Iron Girl's mission is to empower women toward a healthy lifestyle.
Grace, also the name of the symbol used within the Iron Girl logo, is within us all.
It's what makes women heroic, charming and limitless. Grace is with us in difficult times and happy times, silly times and sad times. Grace is with us physically, mentally and emotionally.
Grace is what makes us special, unique and strong. Grace acts with truth, beauty and spirit.
Grace is within you and you are Grace.

I had really hoped to find some of these ladies stories on the website...I'll keep looking but to give a few examples:
One young mother fighting cancer and living life to the fullest, another mother who was running for her son that's been battling leukemia (I started crying when he was cheering her on during her 5K run), another lady who has type 3 diabetes--simply amazing and then there were 3 women, 2 sisters and their mother, who challenged each other to enter this race. As I stated before I'm sure there are MANY-MANY more stories to be told.



I may be sitting here feeling like crap (Ole ToM is here to visit..but better this weekend than next) - as much as I've been telling myself I don't feel like it going for a run, I have no excuse not to go for a run knowing what these women can do.

I'm not saying that I'm going to go out and enter a triathlon, but then again you NEVER know...and I've learned to "never say never"! I'm simply sharing, yet again, some of my feelings about my new found fitness/hobby/mindset! Next Saturday is my anniversary race...and I'm so psyched.
I really don't know that I've told you all this before, but I was NOT, let me say that again...I was NOT an athlete in school. Far from it...I didn't hang with the popular, cool, athletic, brainiacs or the nerds. I was like one of the "misfit toys"--I simply didn't fit in anywhere. Running for me came as a way to find good health, fitness and lose weight. It all started with walking, then I started walking and running for a few steps and then I heard about the "Couch to 5K" program! I have a few friends who are giving it a try. I just hope they find the satisfaction I have found...and if they don't...well at least they gave it a shot and I'm SO proud of them for giving it their all. All you can do is try.

I can add one more reason to my post about "Why I Run"---because of GRACE!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!