Positive changes

It's finally starting to look like something! We hired a professional landscaper to come in and create our own private little oasis in our backyard. While we love to travel occasionally, we also love spending time at home, so we figured why not take that step and make our space a place we will enjoy spending time and entertaining in. I've been telling friends and family that I am feeling like a grownup now with a landscaped yard, something I've never had before. It's going to be beautiful and I can hardly wait to get the types of plants/flowers in that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This is also our way of helping to conserve water, since we have taken out a large portion of grass. The plants we put in will be semi-drought tolerant. We have always loved spending time in our yard together, and now it will not only be beautiful and fun, but meditative at those times when you long for calm and peace. There will eventually be a water feature of some sort, but just not sure where for now.
The blocks aka stone wall, aren't in place yet...Eric (the landscaper) just dropped off supplies yesterday in between other jobs so he will be ready to go this afternoon and this weekend. The area behind the wall is actually larger than it looks in this picture, which makes me so excited! I can't hardly wait to "decorate" it!! The area on the far edge to the left will be extended patio, and eventually will be home to a new hot tub (that we've been talking about for at least five years!) First, we want to get the front yard done too...it's all coming together.

 

Lately, I've been in such a peaceful place in my life, my heart, and mind. I've noticed it's coming through in my knitting, spinning, and designing of my landscaping. These days, I'm really attracted to softer colors, as many of you who follow me on Facebook and Ravelry already know. I have needed more neutrals in my life and my wardrobe, and I know I am the only one who can make that happen. Don't get me wrong...I still love the louder, vibrant colors and will still use them wherever and whenever I think they fit in, but for the most part, you will probably see me using more grays, pinks, pastels, etc. Especially the grays...I'm loving it! Of course, like I said, all of this is subject to change, but for now, the grays are what's appealing to my feminine side...or at least, that's how I see it. This is the Swedish Spring Shawl, by Maria Montzka. I found this to be a very quick knit, and so much fun. I followed the pattern exactly, and while I wish it had a longer wingspan, it's still absolutely a gorgeous piece Maria designed for you to wrap around you like a soft hug!

 

 

 

My pink capelet I've been working on is coming along very nicely. I'm just hoping it doesn't end up too big for me, but I've already decided if it does, I'll just pick something else to wear to the event I needed this for. See what I mean? no more stress! Life just isn't worth sweating the small stuff, you know? Yes, given the amount of hours I've spent working on this piece, it would be disappointing, but at the end of the day, I'll just consider it more practice for what I love to do the most!!

 



 

Spinning generally takes place for me in the mornings with coffee, and again in the evening before going to bed. It's my zen, so it makes sense to me to start and end my day with it. I'm still working on Felix, my Lincoln X roving I bought last year at Retzlaff. I'm enjoying it so much, and it's GRAY!!! I've completed my first two bobbins and have begun turning them into a 2-ply yarn.

 





The combed top I just wanted to be done with, is a superwash BFL from Fat Cat Knits, in the Falling Leaves colorway, and while I thought it was pretty at the time I ordered it last year, I'm not sure it appeals to me any longer. It spun up beautifully, and more than likely, it will get knitted up into a hat, or some such accessory. For now, it's going to live in my stash and we will see what next Fall brings. It's beginning to grow on me...

 

My 'journey to health' is continuing and I'm finally nearing that 40 pound loss mark. It has been so long since I've felt this good! I'm still setting goals for myself, albeit small ones, but goals all the same. For example, I found myself using too much coffee creamer in my morning coffee. Then, I began having a cup of coffee in the evenings as well...more creamer. Before I knew it, I was probably packing in an extra 200 calories or so per day...empty calories at that. There are 35-40 calories per two tablespoons of creamer, and if I had to guess (I never measured), I was using at least 3 tablespoons per cup of coffee. Most days, I was having 3 cups of coffee. Ok, well, my coffee mug is quite large, but even still, doing the math, that's probably more like an extra 300 calories per day. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that there is no nutritional value whatsoever in those flavored coffee creamers. In order to achieve more of my goal, I needed to wean myself from those preservatives, i.e., chemicals. They are quite yummy, my favorite is the York Peppermint Pattie one, so I savor ONE cup of it in the morning, with TWO tablespoons of it, and the rest of my cups of coffee are black. It's surprising how if you really want something, you can get used to the change.