...And a Drumroll, Please...

...because I have news. 

So, from the last post, I know you can figure something was up. And it is. I'm moving to a new challenge. I'm going to be the Operations Manager for a chiropractic firm. It's part-time, and I can work on the yoga studio and my Young Living Essential Oils business too. 

I've never worked in the medical field before - but I've done a lot of other things. My "liberal arts" background comes into play here, for sure! I'll also be working on the social media aspect of the practice, blogging, working on connecting and expanding the practice. Once I get settled, I'll know more. He's willing to take me on, and we'll see how this goes. 

I start May 15. I'm envisioning my future as a path that I can forge. I have the tools, and I have the impetus to do this. I need to make the changes for myself, for my family. 

Knitting...

The layette is coming along. Apparently, according to my mom, the theme is "rubber duckies" and thankfully, I was able to find a card with a big ol' ducky on it!

The sweater turned out nicely, even though I had to do a little fiddling with the yarn because of the difference in weight. It's a slight difference, but enough to throw things off. 

The booties are done, and the hat is coming along. I think I'll finish by the end of the weekend. 

What I was thinking was, since I have extra of the other yarn used for other projects, I could throw together a couple more pairs of booties. Because the pattern literally takes an hour per bootie if I concentrate, I can toss together at least 2 pairs more, and have a bit of a "wardrobe" of booties for the new little one. I have the pumpkin orange and the black-and-white, and they're both Cascade superwash wool. That's what I'm going back to using. Even if it's a little more pricey - for this kind of thing, I'd rather stick with a yarn that's reliable and works well with the whole project. 

I will still use the Encore Worsted for the afghans, and I'll use the 8-hour afghan patterns. Are they as gorgeous as my granny's? Not really. I mean, they're not intricate - they don't call 'em "8-hour afghans" because of the complex patterns! But they're nice, the yarn is durable enough, and I can get it locally. 

I'm not sure how to finish the hat. Of course, since we don't know the gender, I'm staying away from anything "obvious." 

So -- a flat top, just a regular swirly decrease? Or an I-cord with a knot in it? Or, since I finish with 9 stitches, do I do TWO I-cords, so that I can EITHER tie them in a bow, OR knot them?

Hmmmmmmmm. 

I'll tell you one thing I'm not jazzed about, and I'm glad it's only on the hat, where it can kind of hide.... THIS... 

That little off-color brown bloopie thing has occurred in the rolled brim (where you can't see it) and here along the side. Dang. I'm not happy. It's in the yarn. And of course, far enough along where I don't want to frog it, cut it and piece it together. And I noticed a few other bits of the yarn that have this same problem. I'll take a photo of the finished project and email Universal Yarns. They need to watch this kind of stuff, and I'm not necessarily being a Grumpy Gail, but this is a baby gift. I don't want it to look like I've splashed tea on the hat!

I thought I took pictures of the booties. But I suppose I'll have to unwrap them and do that again.

At the Doctor's Office...

Recently, I had to go in for a physical. I needed a refill of a medication and they wouldn't do it till I saw a doctor. It's not like it was forever, but it had been two years. 

My doctor is thrilled at my "orthodontic diet" and weight loss. I'm hoping I can keep it off after my teeth are fixed! I think I'm down around 25 lbs., and it fluctuates a few pounds here and there. 

Anyway, this sign was right next to the scale. I love this sign. Absolutely adore it. 

Read it. Share it. Embrace it. 

Yes, I just talked about weight, and in the correct context, weight does need to be discussed. But only within the realm of "what makes you healthy" and "what keeps your life long and full." Not "how skinny can I get?" Or "I'm sooooooooo fat!" 

Our lives are full of possibility and potential. We need to live our lives according to our true selves and not try to make ourselves into something - or someone - we're not. 

My Big Move is an attempt to do that. I want to move my life more toward what I need to do to not only contribute, but feel balanced. Hubby is a long-range planner, and I am too - to a certain extent. He worries that we need to be financially "safe" - and that's not a bad thing. 

But - I kept thinking, "What am I doing to myself?" With the A-fib, even though it's fixed, it can come back. And my doc is trying to get me off my migraine Rx - which my cardiologist thinks is part of the issue with the tachycardia. I want to get my heart rate consistently under what it is now... which is pretty much usually in the high 90s, even while resting, AND on enough beta blocker to (according to my doc) put a large man to sleep. 

And still, my heart beats well into the high 90s. I want to live a long, full, wonderful life. And remaking my relationship with work and life balance is the first step to that. What's the sense in saving for a "safe" retirement if I'm not healthy enough to enjoy it?

Spring Has Sprung...

Even though we're going on Week Two of "Yoga In the Garden" actually in the studio (thanks, Mother Nature), you can't keep a good plant down. This is my nearly-30-year-old bleeding heart. 

As you can see, it's taken over the northwest corner of my front porch, and it just keeps on coming back. 

I was able to split the Prairie Blazing Star for my friend C -- and now, since she's in the U.P. -- she has to have weather that's slightly warmer than the "late winter" they're currently experiencing in order to plant that. It looks like the Icelandic Poppy is coming back yet again, yay! And the lilacs are lovely. I did lose a Bee Balm, and I'm not sure if anything will grow on the "north" side of the lilacs. 

We're not sure what we're going to do with the veggie garden, and we aren't sure which (if any) herbs we'll plant. But we have time, since the weather is still a little funky.

Random Picture...

Tippi was a little down at her last therapy visit. I'm going to have to work with her in the next several months. Not only are we going to work on getting her to go up a ramp to get into the truck, but she and I are going to be doing some "walkies" to get her to try to trim down. Her food intake is right where it should be, and treats (at least from ME!!) are limited. But she's chunking up and I know her hips are bothering her. 

Yes, she's 9 now, but she's always had trouble with her weight and as she gets older and wants to slow down, we need to keep her moving. 

We're going to our last therapy visits for the semester next week, so we shall see how she gets on with it. 

How Do You Know When The Universe is Speaking...

To put it mildly, I've been frustrated recently. I try to tamp it down, and you can imagine how well that works. 

It doesn't. Not always. So I get snappish. Or I make mistakes. 

I complained to Hubby. Well, to put it rightly, I've BEEN complaining to Hubby. He knows that I've been in need of a change. I've talked to my friend. And I've cudgeled my brain trying to think of a way to make that change without too much disruption in our lives as they are right now. 

That's gotta mean something, right? 

Well...The Universe answered. I can't say a whole lot just yet, but this time, I'm listening to the Cosmic Thump On the Head. I can't afford not to.

Essential Oils...

I think I may have a problem. It's a good problem to have, but it's a problem! Anyway, so far, this is my collection of oils. I use 90% of them, and I'm learning about the other 10%. I enjoy learning about how they support your system, and support you even emotionally. 

I have looked into several different companies, and I'm working with Young Living Essential Oils because I'm convinced they're the best on the market. 

100% pure, therapeutic grade. So much research, so much quality control. They have a "Seed to Seal" concept that's amazing. 

I'm even using them on the elkhounds: both to quell their fears during thunderstorms and fireworks, and on Quinn's skin issues. So, once the Franken-elkie heals, we're back on our regimen. Right now, she's recuperating from the most recent surgery, though I'll still use a bit of lavender when the weather is dicey or people are shooting off boom-booms! She loves her Lavender ear/back rubs. 

Knitting...

I did put the socks in a bag, but I haven't had time to knit anywhere with it! I'm taking it tomorrow, to my Mom's house. Especially since the mom-to-be will be there, and I don't want her to see what I'm knitting. The shower is coming up fast, so I've got to get moving! 

I'm on the left side now, thank goodness! And it appears to be going well. I think it'll work out. Now, I need to find the pattern for the booties. I don't remember what I did with it. I'll have to go digging if I can't find it, and I don't want to waste time trolling through Ravelry. Not that it's ever a waste of time entirely, but let's say it's time I don't have right now!

If nothing else, I finish what I've got and do booties for Christmas. Either way, an afghan, hat and sweater? Not shabby. 

They're having a "diaper raffle" - which is kind of cool: bring in a pack of any kind of diapers, and you can be entered to win a prize. I may find some cloth ones...Always good for burp cloths, and other uses!

Easter...

So tomorrow is our "Easter." Yeah, I know - it's really Palm Sunday. But if you're a regular reader, you may remember that, except for Christmas Eve, we usually celebrate the holidays a week early. Let's just say: in-laws. And we'll leave it right there...

It's the "gathering of the clan" tomorrow, and we did the ham and deviled eggs. And we've got the potica. My mom's doing most of the other stuff, and my sister's bringing a salad. 

She called in a blind panic because she's apparently lost the only copy of my dad's vinaigrette recipe. I mean she's got the only written copy - or not... We're still not sure if she's found it yet. But apparently, we're all getting copies for Christmas IF she finds it!

I hit Pinterest for something I did a couple of years ago: dyed deviled eggs. This time, it was a different technique, but here they are, in all their neon glory. The colors should deepen a bit overnight, so they may be more vivid. I had Hubby boil 14 eggs - and we ruined at least 2 of them in the un-shelling. He did most of it, for which I was grateful. 

An $11,000 screw in my left thumb, and my egg-peeling career is essentially over! 

The ham has a nice pineapple glaze on it. It'll be room temperature, with "funeral potatoes" (don't make me think you don't know what I mean!), a salad, nadif (a Croatian dish that's incredibly labor-intensive), and rolls in case someone wants to make a sandwich. Oh, and the technicolor eggs! And desserts. 

Mother Nature's Glory...

Speaking of technicolor. This is an unretouched photograph of the sunset from this past Thursday. I got home from teaching my yoga class at my studio, Just Breathe Yoga, and this was what I saw. 

I walked into the house, dumped my gear and walked right out the front door (western exposure) with my camera. 

We're not often lucky enough to see this. And I stood out there for a good 10 minutes, watching. 

Breathing. Looking. Seeing. Feeling. 

Ties, Ties Everywhere...

My friend Wendy handed me a bag last week at church. I had no idea what she was thinking, but then she said, "Your son might like these." 


Apparently, she cleaned out her husband's tie drawer. Roy died at least 4 years ago. There are some amazing ties in there. 

The Kid loves oddball ties. He'll go bananas. 

Oh, and that purple one with the sailboats on it? Ralph Lauren. $115. For a tie. 

So there are a number of Christmas ones, some that look "vintage," and quite honestly? Some rather ugly ones. 

But they're all, for the most part, good quality ties, and he'll be happy to wear them and they won't go to waste.

And no. I haven't finished knitting the green one that I started. I need to pull that out of the closet, but I also have to find the directions. I suppose it can't be that hard: it's all linen-stitch but I know somewhere, there were decreases. Just not sure where. 

Ravelry, here I come!

Random Picture...

Tippi has been extra-cuddly lately. Some days, she snugs right up against my chair. 

Today we had an adventure. We took them all to PetSmart to meet with our trainer. She had a 5-month old male Elkhound who needed a little exposure to other dogs. 

So, our "robo-dog" was called in. Quinn and Raisa had their chance, but Tippi was the main dog to do the most interaction with the pup.

Then, on the way out, she decided she had to poop out her excitement. A large, large, smelly poop. 

She's a low-squatter, and it was muddy. Suffice to say, there was clean-up involved. 

Anyway, she came home happy and somewhat pooped out (literally and figuratively) and promptly took a nap. Alongside my chair.