I Wouldn't Call Myself a Runner, Yet

    To benefit sick kids with an "orphan disease."

     Back about six years ago, I decided to train for my church's spring 5K.  Non-athletic me, I couldn't even run from one house to another in my subdivision, so I decided to start inside.  I jumped rope many mornings from November to February to build stamina, and then in February I started running outside in the dark early mornings or dark early evenings. 
     I took me a while, but I got up to three miles on pavement in the dark and cold.
     Less than a week before the April race, I got a stomach bug.  Still wiped out on race day, I ran some and walked some.  It was hot, it was daylight, and I was weak.  I found I wasn't up for running after that.
     Bounce ahead a few years to when Brad and I acquired our treadmill, and I acquired another decade.  I decided last summer, 2010, to try running.  I used the Couch to 5K program, got to 5K, and then school got the better of me.
     Disgusted with my couch potato life, I decided this summer to again do the C25K program, or at least a version of it, with the date of October 2nd in my head.  A run/walk to benefit the Histiocytosis Foundation.  One of our students has just started his fifth remission year, free of this cancer like disease.
     Here's what I learned yesterday.  Running on a treadmill watching lame, distracting TV is much easier than running on hard pavement hopping curbs, assessing tilted walkways, avoiding walkers, and being grossed out by spit bombs.  My shins hurt before I reached half a mile.  Though I used to love running in the cold, I hadn't yet run anywhere but my basement, and the 40 degree morning hurt my lungs.
     Verdict?  My body wasn't ready.  I walked much more than I ran.  I walked about as fast as I run.
     I am not a runner yet.
     Solution?  Keep working on the treadmill.  Do some real rope jumping (on cement).  Run outside on weekend mornings in the daytime until the snow falls (ours is not a safe neighborhood to run through in the dark--mostly due to traffic).  Sign up for another 5K.
     I have a healthy body. It's essential to push.

Definitely Done Do's and Go's

     In the last few days I've planted more flowers (a do), gone on another nice bike ride along the Fox (a go) with Brad, completed sewing my tote (a finally do), made some ridiculously bright sugar cookies for Brad to bring his grandkids (a very tasty do), and booked my flight for my August trip to see Mackers in Baton Rouge (a big going to go)!

     This tote is a major big deal to me.
     Simple as it was, I ran into lots of problems and solved each one with patience.  That isn't a quality I usually find in myself. Little Lizard King said I have "tenacity," and boy did I love reading that!  I have many people in my family who are artistic and creative, and I'm only just now beginning to tap into any creativity God may have blessed me with. (It is buried deep, let me tell you.)
     Three things that worked for me:  going to JoAnn's on a Saturday evening with my husband for supplies (the store was empty of customers, full of helpful employees, and Brad helped me make swift decisions), my seam ripper (enough said), and Little Lizard King and "likers" on facebook!  (Particularly Ms. Johnson and Ms.Labasan, your encouragement and advice touched my heart and helped so much.)
     I could make another list of things that didn't work for me, but I don't want to be too self-deprecating.  One post was enough!
     I can't wait to see what's next...my knitting needles are back out, but I also have a party to plan. Mac comes home tomorrow night!
     Thank you God for this simply good month and summer!

"You're Not Very Domestic, Are You?"*

     Know this about me:  At some point in my thirties, I swore off anything to do with a needle and thread.  I wouldn't have even considered needles and yarn.  So it's really weird to me that I'm trying to learn to sew and giving knitting a try.  Anyway, back then, any time I tried to sew anything, I'd put the needle through the fabric and it would knot immediately on one side or both.
     Sewing = frustration.
     In the past few years though, I've softened toward creating.  This past fall, we bought a sewing machine.  In March, I took it out of the box, and I made a pillow.  I invested in a few patterns from Little Lizard King, a children's dress designer, but I've yet to sew any dresses. (After ordering from her etsy shop, she and I exchanged a few emails.  She is delightful and encouraging.)  This spring, she created a tote bag pattern.  When she posted on facebook about needing people of different skill levels to give the pattern a try, I jokingly said, "Could someone with no skill level do it?"  She thought I'd be perfect to try it out.  Gulp.
     Too much time has passed since she sent the pattern, a stressful time I now refer to as the end of the school year and  "sick June."  I felt horrible for not giving it a go yet, so on Saturday when Brad was out showing houses, I got all the supplies together and got going.  Or so I thought...
     The machine kept jamming.  I swear, it's not the sewing that freaks me out, it's that infernal machine!  I threaded and rethreaded, and I kept coming up with this mess. (Hey, look the needle goes through the fabric and instantly knots up...)

    I gave up after an hour of trying to figure out what was wrong.  Last night I had another crack at it.  I used two different colored threads to help determine where the problem was (so logical, I can't believe I came up with it).  I brought in a better light.  I recalled advice I'd gotten from a sewing friend (who unfortunately lives in Paraguay) and researched tension. I read the owners manual.
    It took a while but I noted my error--it had to be me, right?  When threading I went behind this silver knob instead of under the white clip. I guess you could say I followed the dotted directions and not the solid line directions.  Le sigh.

    Yep, that's was it.  After fixing that, I sped through two seams.  Both sides of the lining were sewn!  Then I took the outer part of the bag and sewed the top shut!  Yeah, it took me from one side to the other to figure out my boo-boo.  I laughed though, and it allowed me to use this...

      My vintage (circa late 60s, early 70s) seam ripper.  That's right, I took home ec, but that doesn't mean I learned anything.  Truth be told, my mom tried to teach me to sew even before that.  I piqued at seven.

     I ironed the seams open (can't tell you how I had to think about the logistics of that one), ironed flat and marked the corners, sewed them, cut the excess off, ironed my vinyl tape measure (no photo available, suffice it to say the one inch mark will never again be legible) and here's the bag in all it's inside-out glory so far:

      The designer's directions are great, but the fact that it even resembles a bag is astounding to me. I'm going to save the glamor shots for when it's all done.  Give me 48 hours...I will finish this tote!

*The title of this post comes directly from Brad's mouth.  After he listened to all my issues and successes, this is what he said.   Friday is our second fourth anniversary, and he's just now figuring this out?

    

Quiet Weekend

     Since neither of us has family nearby, and our friends are ensconced in their own traditions, we had a quiet--but utterly lovely--holiday weekend.  Brad did have to work on Saturday, but then I, truly we, got going on my "do and go" list.
     Saturday night he was out showing houses, so I attempted to sew. My machine kept jamming, so no pretty tote bag to show you today.  I have to get back to it.  It's not the sewing, it's the mechanics of that Singer that have me flummoxed.
      On Sunday we went to church, great message and music.  Then I dragged Brad to the Kane County Flea Market.  I love the flea!  We had a crappy lunch, walked around a lot, people watched, and we bought some candy and perennials. 

 Insert bald guy joke here.

 Lots of colorful yard and patio art.

Even Jesus loves the flea. 

(This artist painted on reclaimed "canvases," in this case a floor mat.)

     Yesterday, we got up early enough, strapped our bikes to my car and drove a wee bit north for a scenic ride on the Fox River.  We had breakfast at a cute little place in Geneva, and then we rode through their historic district.  We came upon a nursery, and when we were done riding we went back for more perennials.

     Some views of the Fox:

   

     It was a perfect day for a ride, though by the time we left it was crowded, and people were doing stupid things, so I was glad we did this early in the morning.
     We came home both days and planted our perennials.  If you're wondering where those photos are, well, I didn't take any.  We were really hot and sweaty, it's hard work breaking up clay.  Our teeny tiny yard is full of really horrible soil, and so the plants haven't been doing all that well.  Just last week, I planted a carnation plant that seems to be coughing out it's last breath as we work to save it.  So, perhaps in time some photos of the plants that survive...I hope to work more on the soil quality.
     Fireworks last night.  I'm no artist with my point and shoot, so I just sat back and enjoyed the show.  Our Canadian friend who went with us said, "You really know how to do fireworks in the States."  He's right!
     Back to reality, Brad's cleaning house (yes he really is Mr. Clean), and I'm off to tutor three of my cuties today.
     Happy Tuesday!
    

No "Whiz Bang!" Plans

    This summer has started off kind of rough, and except for the fact it means the hastening of time, I'm okay with it being July in less than two days.  As I look ahead to the rest of the summer, I have to say, we don't have anything huge taking place. Brad is working hard to get his business going, and I'm so proud of him, but he needs to be by his laptop a lot.  That means he's always working. This is not a complaint!  This is a praise!
     But...that and cash flow do restrict our traveling.  (I am going to Baton Rouge for Mac's 25th in August.)
     So, nothing "whiz bang!"
     Still I have to get moving.  I have been soooo lazy for the past 2.5 weeks, and it's driving me crazy.  I have decided that July is going to be "do and go" month.  I have many things to "do" and places (nearby) to "go."  Except for tutoring days, I'm going to do or go somewhere every day.  I'm going to get things done.
     For example, I'm going to turn this...

     into a tote bag.  Must get over my fear of that machine.

     I'm going to use more of this:

     to make more of these (the light blue are mine):

     for our RMH/Warm Up America throw.  (And BTW, a High School Musical pencil is an essential knitting tool.)
   
     I hope to get started on another knitting project using this stash:

     and plans from this notebook:

     I'm all organized, I'm just not moving enough!

     I'm going to bake more, trying these pretzels (Thank you Brenda!):

      I'm going to cook more using these resources:

I also hope to:

go canoeing

visit the Art Institute

hang out at Brookfield Zoo

see the Sox win in person

take Brad to the Chicago Historical Museum

bike ride along the Fox River

run again

hill climb for fitness

visit my friend Dori

take a girls' trip to Lake Geneva

throw a party for my son

     However, my holds keep coming in at the library (six more to pick up tomorrow). So I will also be spending some time with books:

July is my favorite month of the year!