Knitting 40 shades of green

November 10: blogging

I must find the camera cable as the challenge of blogging is that much more difficult without pictures.  There have been times when I have had so much to say and share and other times that I have no idea what to put out there.  At least with pictures I could share a recipe or two, share some knitting...

November 9: Ten on Tuesday

Carole's Ten on Tuesday Topic for 11/9 is 10 Dream Vacations.


 

1. A long weekend at a beautiful place with great food like Blackberry Farm. The county side is beautiful, the oppertunities for outdoor entertainment varried and the food looks wonderful.
2. A month in Italy with farm stays and wine and pasta and history and cooking lessons.
3. Biking and wine in Northern California wine country.
4. The Greek Isles
5. An apartment in Spain
6. I'd love to go back to Ireland as there is so much we didn't get to the first time
7. Russia still holds intreague to me having grown up during the cold war when it was still the Soviet Union.  It holds so much intreague.
8. A cabin just off the Blue Ridge Parkway
   
9. British Colombia
10. Anywhere I haven't been
    

November 8:

Cheers, I am off to bed after the hectic weekend.

November 7: celebrations continue

picture borrowed from Narmada Winery

I would love to post for you today but I have a very busy schedule that starts with a visit to the farm fresh market at Dupont Circle, followed by chocolate brunch at ACKC, a visit to Narmada Winery,  then to a Washington Capitals Game.  All things I love to continue this great birthday weekend...see you when I get back.

November 6: plans change

Old Rag Mountain, April 2010

I was going to hike Old Rag Mountain the most strenuous hike in the state of Virginia on this day after my birthday.  It is an old Virginia tradition and  Harry F. Byrd, who worked for the founding of Shenandoah National Park was known to hike it or one of its neighbors every year well into his 70's.  It was the best laid of plans but it wasn't supposed to get above 45 degrees and I couldn't find any good gloves for hiking and suddenly sleeping in seemed like a better plan.  Instead I took the day easy and ended the evening with a little Medieval Madness.  Nothing like eating with your hands to make you feel like a grown up.  And in a typical small town fashion, I had gone to high school with the knight.

Our Hosts for the feast the Duke and Dutchess

November 5: Birthdays

I was bit melodramatic as a child.  I may have perfected the the pout and the snit at an early age.  I set impossibly high expectations for everything and then they weren't met.  So I remember quite a few morose birthdays.  I can't usually remember why I was sad but I associate my birthday with tears.  By high school I would always wear black on my birthday -- a sort of mourning -- although I am not one of those people who lies about my age or has a problem getting older.  I am more than willing to tell everyone my true age (but maybe that is because due to great genes I look younger and people rarely believe me.

So, as I started to get older I adopted the concept of the "birthday month" allowing time to spread out the celebrations and if you are sad and morose on your birthday, you get a "do over" for the rest of the month, instead of having ruined the thing for another year.  So, here is to the start of the birth month celebrations.  Oh, and hold old am I?  40.

November 4: Donating Blood

Let me just start out by saying that  I hate needles as much as the next person, probably more.  But I believe in giving blood and give it every chance I get.  The first time I gave blood, I lied about my weight to be able to donate.  They got their pint of blood and I spent half my day on a cot at the blood drive and while unfortunately I am no longer even close to the 110 pound minimum, I still feel just as strongly about the importance of this selfless act. 

• Every two seconds someone in the US needs blood
• When an emergency occurs, blood needs to already be available.  Hospitals can't wait.
• To meet the current need, 38,000 donations need to occur every single day.
• Share of the US population elegible to give blood:  less than 38%
• Share of that elegible population that donates:  less than 5%
• More than 25% of people will require blood at some point in their life

I gave blood last Saturday and will be giving it again in January.  So, if you are eligable to give blood, sign up now.  You can do it with Red Cross online or on the phone or if you prefer find a local collection center in your community.  But the important thing is that you do it.

November 3: PSA

If you are interested in eating local and you are interested in making it a challenge, Laura over at Urban Hennery has set up the 4th annual Dark Days Challenge and has posted the details at her blog.  The challenge runs form December 1st until April 15 and sign ups end November 21st at midnight.  Hope you will join me in this cooking and eating challenge.

November 2: Ten on Tuesday

Carole's list of ten for the week is Ten Things to Simplify your Life.  We are all looking for a little less stress so here are my ten suggestions to make life more enjoyable.

1. Do things You Enjoy Knitting, cooking, spending time with friends and loved ones -- whatever it is that you really enjoy, amke time to do it.  So much of life is spent doing the things we should do or that we have to do and we forget to schedule the things we like to do.  Oh, yeah and if you can enjoy the things you should and have to do, all the better.
2. Get some Activity Every Day  Exercise has been shown to decrease stress levels and stimulates brain chemicals that leave you feeling better.  That being said, find something that is fun.  Maybe it is hiking, or kayaking, zumba class, or dancing to your favorite tunes.  If you can't find something you love find someone to do it with you.  Anything is more fun with company you like.  Additionally, don't run a marathon your first time out.  Take it slowly and add a little each day.
   
3. Eat Well  Eat real food that is well prepared.  Eat slowly and enjoy with wine or beer if you like.  Don't feel guilty about eating and don't label food as good or bad.  Eat with good company, not behind the wheel of your car, or in front of the refrigerator, or the TV.  Let the food nurish you and be nourished by it.
   
4. Learn to Say No  Don't fall into the trap that you are the only one who can do something.  If someone asks you to do something and it won't be enjoyable, say no.  You don't need to be on every committee, you don't need to do things just because you were asked to.  Choose how you spend your time and you will enjoy it more.
   
5. Buy Less Stuff  This will keep the clutter from taking over your life.  It will also keep your bank account happier and avoid money worries plus it is great for the environment.  
   
6. Follow Routines  Having simple routines will help get the things you must do every day done without thinking about it.  This will free up your time and your worrying so you can do the things you really enjoy.
   
7. Spend Less Time in Front of a Screen  No matter what your choices is, the TV or the computer, turn it off every now and then and have a conversation, read a book or simply enjoy the silence.
   
8. Plan your Meals  Having a meal plan allows you to stop worrying about dinner.  It allows you to avoid the grocery store after work when it is busiest and that keeps you from buying ice cream and candy because you are super hungry at the grocery after coming from the gym (or is that just me?)
   
9. Get outside every day  Fresh air is good for your psyche, feeling a connection with nature keeps us grounded.  Take a walk in the rain.  Go outside and sweat in the summer.  Trust me, you will feel better.
   
10. Breathe  When everything seems too much to handle, stop and breathe.  Really concentrate on your breathing and let go of all the stress you have been carrying around with you.
    

November 1: NABLOPOMO

November, being my birth month, has always been special to me.  For this reason, I like the challenge of posting a blog entry every day for this month.  It makes me think about things differently and to share some of my writing and life with anyone who might be reading.  I have never had much of a blog following but I think the practice of writing daily makes me better able to teach wrting and relate to the timetable and deadlines that I give my students and therefor has a value even without the readership.  So welcome to 30 days of blog posts at Knitting 40 Shades of Green.