Tiny Needle Tuesday

 Good Morning!

It is early - still dark outside.  I'm betting it takes a bit of time to get light as today is supposed to be grey and overcast all day long.  Again.  At times I find days like this utterly calming.  At other times they are just so tiresome.  I'm hoping for calm today, but we've had so many overcast days that tiresome may win.

Meanwhile, it has been awhile (like a month?) since I posted a TNT post.  It has also been that long since I picked up a needle and stitched.  Life got busy - work and holidays - and trying to finish up knitted gifts, etc., etc.  However, last night I picked up my needle once again and a little bit of progress has been made.  First up, an overall shot of the Quaker Autumn Sampler:

There is still quite a bit of open space and the border has a way to go.  Here is a close up of what I managed to stitch last night:

The letters O, B, T and A and the little copper and green leaf to the left of the A.  One of the features of most Quaker samplers is the random placement of letters all over the place.  There is no real rhyme or reason to it, rather they are just out there.  At first I thought I would leave the letters off, but then realized I really do like them.  They are all stitched in the same dark green color, but I am planning to use a different color (maybe the copper?) for my initials.  It was definitely fun and relaxing to pick up my needle again.

My morning at the office was relaxed and productive yesterday.  My car was the only one in the parking lot when I arrived.  About 2 hours later I saw one person come in (and we waved at each other from a long distance).  Before I left I noticed that my boss Bruce's car was in the lot and I walked down to his office to say hello but couldn't find him!  So, that was it - only one person seen from a distance.

When I left I stopped at Staples and picked up a new book for keeping track of my knitting, stitching and reading during the year.

Initially I was just going to get a composition book, but when I saw the cats on this I had to get it!  Plus the spiral spine is so much nicer.  It is just a book with lined pages.  Nothing fancy.  For the knitting record, I print out a small picture of the finished object and tape that to the page along with a small sample of the yarn used.  Typically I make a note of when I started a project and the finish date along with any comments on the pattern, yarn, needles, etc.  And a note of the recipient if it is a gift.  On the reading side of things, I just list the title, author, my rating (1-5 stars) and the date finished.  Once in awhile an extra note - like gorgeous photographs, or extraordinary writing, etc.

Today is an "at home" day.  I hope to do a little yoga later in the morning (after more coffee).  Like so many of you, I have signed up for Adrienne's "Breath" program - 30 days in January.  I have missed my yoga class and for sure my body has as well.  Everything is tight.  I'm taking it easy and not forcing myself to do every single day, but rather letting my body wake up to doing yoga again.  I have an awful lot of pain in my wrists (and some in my elbows and knees) when doing yoga, so I'm being gentle.  Kym had a fabulous post yesterday with many links and I plan to order the "yoga jellies" to help with my wrist pain.  I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions or goals, but I definitely need/want to get in better shape.  My weight has gone up since I quite smoking almost 2 years ago.  Not unexpected (I used to smoke instead of eat/snack), but not what I want either.  My body is also more bothered by cold and dampness than it used to be so that I don't really enjoy walking when it is not nice outside.  We have one of those Gazelle type glider machines in our basement, so I've been using that a bit.  But BORING!!!  The view in my basement is of my washer and dryer and a bunch of junk...not inspiring...but I will keep at it.  I need to remember to take my phone down and listen to a pod cast or something.  I enjoy listening to "Fresh Air" and "99% Invisible."  If you know of any other programs like those, please let me know.  I find knitting podcasts annoying and I have not (in the past) enjoyed audible books (may need to give that one a try again).

Time to pour another cup of coffee.  Wishing you all an enjoyable Tuesday!