IF: Hibernate

There's nothing more comforting than retreating from the cold fall/winter with a nice steaming mug of herbal tea.
When I thought about hibernate I immediately thought of bears. Then i thought of our sweet turtle gammy. He hibernates in the winter - well, he would if he was in the wild.
I don't really draw animals - that's my husband's forte. I had this strong urge to paint a tea bag this week and so I did. When i was almost done i realized that it would be perfect for hibernate!
Love how it turned out :)

This Knitting Business! (Part 2)

Part 1
Fast forward a few years. Intimidated by more intermediate knitting, i dropped it entirely.

I found crochet and took to it immediately. I was a crocheting fiend!

I kept seeing amazing knitted items and a pattern for a cream coloured cable throw kept shoving itself in my face! Cables! How utterly, stomach flippingly terrifying!

IF: Ferocious!

Illustration Friday!!!!!!!
I haven't done illo friday in....hm...forever?
Quick fun fact - I met my sweet husband because of illustration friday!
Read on for our story:)

This Yoga Business

I like making stuff. That yummy pile of beads up there are stretchy wrist malas.

I may have left my mind here.....

Oh it was heavenly to lay on the beach and look at the clear blue-green water gently rolling onto the shore.

Mmmmm.

I should warn that it is VERY picture intensive after the jump. I definitely need to do more than one post.

P.s. i highly recommend that you click on the pics to see them larger :)

This Knitting Business! (Part 1)

(scarf i crocheted in 2009 i know it's not knitting but...it's yarn!)

In 2005 (ish) I decided that i just HAD to learn to knit.
I had an online friend who did some amazing knitting and she sent me needles and yarn to get started with! Cuz seriously? Where was i going to find THAT in Trinidad?! Maybe now a little more as people are opening little shops but just a few years ago - really hard to find.
So i took that baby pink yarn and those white plastic needles and I played around.

I watched knitting videos I tried, tried, tried and it just wasn't happening!
It took a week for me to get past casting on and to knit a row.
It was the wonkiest, ugliest, saddest little row ever. I was frustrated but not discouraged. My friend told me to keep trying and there was no way I was giving up - i wanted to make fun things to wear on trips! Back then I had no idea that i'd meet a boy, fall crazy in love, get married and end up living where i'd actually need knitted items!

Summer Goals!

These pictures are all spring flowers at the Ida Lee Park Wedding Garden

Mmm Summer Goals! Where to start? I've been composing this post in my head for a few weeks and I should really take notes. I've forgotten most of my thoughts on the subject.

I really enjoyed doing the Spring Goals even though most of them were a struggle throughout the season. There were times that I did really well and times that I got too relaxed about doing well and I struggled.

I do know that i kept them attainable, I worked at them and I kept going even when it was tough or even when I outright failed at them and I came out better at the end of it. So I definitely look forward to adding on and expanding on those goals to include the Summer.

Summer is such an energetic time. You can be outside climbing rocks, taking hikes, swimming, walking and just enjoying the warmth of the sun and the feel of soft fresh grass beneath your feet.

I think this Summer i'm definitely going to really try hard to be present and to enjoy it no matter what.

Work hard (and smart) AND play hard. PLAY. Hm what a concept!

Permission to just play. Like a child. Permission to have fun and enjoy your downtime/ off time. 

I have trouble enjoying downtime. I beat myself up so badly over the things that I really should be doing instead, that I never fully enjoy just being present in that moment and doing whatever it is that i'm doing right then.

Summer Goals 2011

Be Present

Whatever i'm doing, wherever I am, I promise to Be Present.

Play

I promise to give myself some time to just enjoy doing something/ anything without feeling guilty.

Work

I promise to be there and do what i'm there to do vs thinking about the dishes/laundry/gardening etc that needs to be done at home.

Craft

I need to be crafty for ME. Not because I promised to do or make x y or z. I want to work on my knitting again and knit up a shawl for the fall.

Mind and Body

I want to meditate. Every. Single. Day. It doesn't have to be a long drawn out meditation practice where I end up running through days events in my head and making my to do list for tomorrow (yea, you know you do it too). A simple short meditation and longer ones if i feel like it.

I want to continue with yoga and zumba. I would love to add a second zumba class but it would involve paying a gym membership which i don't really want to do but we'll see.

Walking. More walking with my husband. I love walking earlier in the day. Evening....not so much. But he loves to walk as late as possible. Not happening. If i go on a walk at 8pm  I will never wind down till 2am.

We'll just have to figure that one out. I'm good with Saturday mornings for now.

So there is my short list of Summer Goals.

I basically want to keep on keeping on and enjoy it. Be present. Enjoy my now.