MY NEW TOY

Actually it is not a toy. . .more a lifeline. Walking is still a chore except for short chores and of course, shopping.  But this is a dream. It has 21 gears and can go like the wind as long as I power it with my legs. Therein is the key. I have been trying to ride every day.  But I have a long way to go to be able to ride with John.  I can manage 5/6 miles per hour. . . he can average 18. But I really enjoy it. How it will be when the winter winds blow, I don't know. But I am going o find out.

Some can walk on a treadmill and knit. I can not knit while biking .  only drawback!

I'M HOW OLD?

I have always been delighted when people say " You don't look that old!". But how do you know if they are telling the truth? Age has never bothered me, basically because each age brought new adventures. I also worked for 21 years with a group 20-25 years younger than me, so I  never related to my actual age. NOW, suddenly it is time for my 50th year high school class reunion. It can't be!!

 I graduated from high school in Morehead City, NC. My father was the commanding officer of the USCG cutter Conifer at Fort Macon and we spent 2 1/2 idyllic years there in Morehead City.  While we were there an opportunity came up to become a disc jockey after school and I took it. I also broadcast from a glassed in booth at a drive in on the oceanfront. What fun!! I had a class of only 70 some so I should know everyone at the reunion.

I looked up the top 50 from those days and some immediately made a memory. Some must have been from an alternative universe. Remember 45's? Careful, you will tell your age! So here are some immediate thoughts. 
1. Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu), Domenico Modugno-I remember the Bobby Rydell version
2. All I Have To Do Is Dream/Claudette, Everly Brothers-great brother act
3. Witch Doctor, David Seville- drove me crazy
4. Catch A Falling Star/Magic Moments, Perry Como-"put it in your pocket", oh yes!
5. It's All In The Game, Tommy Edwards recorded by some of the greats
6. Return To Me, Dean Martin I can still sing this one
7. It's Only Make Believe, Conway Twitty  he never stopped singing this
8. The Purple People Eater, Sheb Wooley-don't play this again
9. Get A Job, Silhouettes- "get a job, get a job" classic lyrics
10. Little Star, Elegants an original do-wop
11. Stood Up/Waitin' In School, Ricky Nelson
12. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands, Laurie London still hear this today
13. Twilight Time, Platters - I love to  listen to this one
14. At The Hop, Danny & The Juniors my head starts bobbing with the beat
15. Yakety Yak, Coasters-" yakety yak, don't talkback" more classic lyrics
16. Poor Little Fool, Ricky Nelson didn't think much of him but a #1 hit
17. Wonderful Time Up There/It's Too Soon To Know, Pat Boone oooh those white bucks
18. Just A Dream, Jimmy Clanton not the same one as Carrie Underwood
19. Sugartime, McGuire Sisters  be my lil sugar and love me all the time
20. Rockin Robbin, Bobby Day Jackson 5 sang this also
21. Tom Dooley, Kingston Trio - I became a fan of folk music that lasts to today
22. Sweet Little Sixteen, Chuck Berry rockin on the bandstand
23. Topsy II/Topsy I, Cozy Cole what a drummer
24. Looking Back/Do I Like It, Nat King Cole the dreamiest of voices
25. Book Of Love, Monotones - I love this sound
26. Tea For Two Cha Cha, Tommy Dorsey Orch. & Warren Covington
27. Tears On My Pillow, Little Anthony & The Imperials - same with this one
28. Short Shorts, Royal Teens who wears short shorts??
29. Great Balls Of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis could not stand the man
30. Lollipop, Chordettes  oh, lolli, lolli, lolli
31. Splish Splash, Bobby Darin - "I was taking a bath" 
32. Who's Sorry Now, Connie Francis debuted on American Bandstand and straight to #1
33. My True Love/Leroy, Jack Scott you can hear this on you tube
34. Do You Want To Dance?, Bobby Freeman yes, yes, yes I do
35. To Know Him Is To Love Him, Teddy Bears oh my
36. April Love, Pat Boone- I think we all swooned 
37. Rebel-'Rouser, Duane Eddy-don't remember this
38. Oh Julie, Crescendos
39. The Stroll, Diamonds- danced to this many a night
40. Hard-Headed Woman/Don't Ask Me Why, Elvis Presley
41. Shared - Peggy Sue, Buddy Holly and Oh Lonesome Me, Don Gibson

so there are a few rememberances, I know I'll have more, lookup your year and indulge in some sweet memories.

I' m off to go back in time to some really fine days!

Fruits and Vegetables

A book found its way into my hands 3 1/2 weeks ago. It was put there by the nutrition NAZI that has taken up residence in my kitchen. No that's cruel, she is a newbie nutritionist with all the zeal of a crusader. I had often wondered what prompts someone to become a vegetarian but I never thought it  was as easy as reading a book.

My daughter has a number of allergies and food sensitivities. You know, you've heard many speak of "can't eat wheat, corn, dairy, eggs, etc."  I am due for another knee replacement in late September. So at one of her friends urging she read "The Swiss Secret to OPtimal Health" .  My refrigerator looks like the produce section at the grocery. The coffee pot is unused, the bar is closed and the sugar is out of the house. I have never felt so good.  Vegetables that I never knew existed have appeared on the table. Vegetables I never thought of eating raw are now favorites. 

My Cuisinart and steamer are almost worn out from all the activity.  Wow!. I'll keep you updated on our adventures in nutrition healing our bodies  but for now  we are all proponents of this approach.  More to come.

Knitting, biking and all that jazz

Greetings,
I truly did not realize it had been so long since I blogged. I guess I had nothing to say!!

I am bringing you today my latest Finished Knitting for Ravelympics. A deadline sometimes is a good thing. It really pushes the finishing. My good friend Cheryl and I decided on Super Bowl Sunday, while we were at a yarn sale, to knit a pair of clogs with the bounty we found. Finally Ravelympics pushed us to cast on. These were so worth it.

The ones on the left are Cheryl's and the ones on the right are mine.  I had never felted before but I had the top loader washer. We started at 1030 and finished posting to Ravelympics at 4.

In between I smelled at lot of wet wool but was fascinated as all those lovely stitches disappeared.  My clogs are not nearly as bright as shown but it was a very sunny day. Since the photo was taken Cheryl put our clogs in the dryer to felt them a little more and it worked so well. I have formed them to my feet so nicely. It is almost worth wishing for cold weather, almost.

Now I have some lovely Malabrigo that is crying to be a felted bag. I am on my way!!

just a little drink

It was a happy, sunny, relaxing soak in the pool after a bike ride.

What is that noise?


It had better not be that dog in my Budweiser again!

Tour De France Kal entry

I am a hostess for the TDF KAL and we were all challenged to enter a contest to tell about our knitting, our cycling or our love of France. What a choice! I found myself dithering back and forth.
So simple but so difficult. I felt I fit all 3 categories !

I cycle and I wanted to knit some anklets for cycling socks for my TDF project. I have a red recumbent 21 speed with 3 wheels due to a balance problem. With my basket on the rear I look like a granny and I wanted to spice it up! My red, white and blue socks will look great. They remind me of riding in Norfolk with all our family on July 4, 1976 at noon as the bells all over town rang out and people came out on their porches to cheer America's 200th birthday.
I just happened to be reading JOHN ADAMS by David McCullough. Mr Adams had been sent to France to lobby for suport of men, money and ships when I found the 1776 yarn by Schoeller Fortissima. It seemed I was meant to knit these socks. The descriptions of the trials and successes with Adams and Franklin , their living arrangements and the language are very much on my mind as the Tour winds its way. It was boggling to read how these men labored to form a government that we take for granted, especially in light of the election soon to be upon us. Our forefathers had never had to think of starting a government. They already had one in the King. France was watching very closely to see how Adams, Franklin and jefferson worked the problems out.
I’ve always had an affinity for France and was very intrigued at the start, I am Irish with a little French. The Breton coast has long been a dream visit. When I first met my Mother-in-law I found she was a superb cook with French cuisine. Many of her recipes are our favorites. An early present from her was my dog-eared Julia Child and a love of spinach souffle.
SO there you are, Not all one option but a little of each. Win or loose, I love my socks, Mr. Adams and French cuisine. Bon Appetit!
And here they are on their way to the frog pond. Everything from the cuff down is being redone..better!

WWKIP

This is my first knit-in. I truly am excited because like bicycling, knitting needs a bigger audience to introduce people to the pleasures to be found.   I have often been accused of being very naive but I do believe if more people would just "try it"  we would have happier, healthier people.

However,  I am wondering about my mental facilities today.  Am I nuts? The smoke from the two North Carolina wildfires AND the fire in the Dismal Swamp are being blown this way due to a change in weather pattern.  The temperature forecast for today is 91. The lys we will be at will be in the sun until after 12 o'clock and I am taking a medicine that does not allow me to be in the sun.  So I have now applied the third coating of sunscreen. I have an umbrella, a construction-worker sized jug of ice and water and cannot find the fan. 

Enough!! We will knit, we will laugh, we will compare yarns, patterns, problems and joys.  We will have a great day and show the world (our little part) what enjoyment knitting can bring to our lives.   To that end let me share this joy with you . . .

This is fishing lure bag from the Bass Pro Shops in NewportNews. I kept reading on knitting people's blogs about these bags and had to go take a look. I am hooked.  See the plastic inside the lid. It is divided, zippered compartments that hold every little thing a knitter needs.  There is one on the the other side also.  The bags inside are the ziploc style on rings. Extras are available also. I have stored all my circulars in here.  But, but, but my hubby found a DOUBLE SIZE, that had a divider in the middle and the bags on the other side can hold dpn's!!!  Oh my gosh, I have it all together . . . I will have mine at WWKIP day. Come and see!