Friday Fill-Ins

Fridayfillingraphic2

1. Two of my favorite ingredients in a drink are ice and water!
2. The ability of the body to heal itself often amazes me.
3. You can keep doing that forever, the dog is fetching.
4. mashed avocados, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, and chopped serranos, mix it all together and voila! You have guacomole!
5. If I had a yard with a garden, I would love to grow calla lilies.
6. swimming is best au naturel.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking a nap, tomorrow my plans include running 6 miles, cycling 30 miles, watching Made of Honor, and Sunday, I want to sleep!

Sleepless in Utah

LittlebennyLittle Benny has been sick since last Friday which means one thing for everyone in the house: no sleep! The no sleep unfortunately turns us all into crabby monsters. Today, I woke up tired, crabby, sleepy and frankly I was ready to throw in the towel so into the doctor's we went. Thankfully they had an opening at 9:20am which gave us enough time to get Wonderboy to school and then into the doctor's.

The verdict: Little Benny has ear infections (on both ears) right one not so bad but the left one is about to go pop! Uggh, just what I feared. No wonder she has been so crabby and crying non-stop for days.

We got medicine and now we just need to wait it out and hopefully it will start working by tonight...maybe tonight we can all get a good night's sleep.

Zzzzzzzzzzz

The farthest I have ever Gone!

I changed my long run days to Tuesdays as I will be going riding/cycling on Saturdays and I know that my legs cannot handle a long run and a long cycling on the same day (I am a wimp!).

Stats:

Distance: 12 miles

Time: 124minutes

Fluids: 30oz (Refilled at the Milville Park)

Weather: Sunny but not too hot--around 60 degrees. Wore SPF80 on my face and arms...safe is the word.

Ran alone with my iPod to keep me company. I love this town! It is perfect for outdoor activities. The mountains, the quiet neighborhoods...just divine for the run.

I felt really great all during the run, I was going a good pace, my legs didn't cramp. My shins didn't hurt and when they did all I had to do was change the way I was stepping and the bothersome ache went away.

Change to implement: If I am going to wear a tank must put vaseline under my arms! I got chaffed due to my chubbette arms! Dude, no fun!

On the Road Again...

Thetwoofusframed When the sun shines and the kids are out on a sleep-over, what do we do? We take out the bicycles! Saturday morning met us with a beautiful sunny day, a little chilly but not so chilly to deter us from climbing on our bikes and going out for a little ride. A group of eight roadies got together in our cul de sac ready for a morning of adventure. Checking tires, pumping some air into the tubes, checking shoes and filling up water bottles is part of the routine. It is a moment that I really enjoy as we are all together and the excitement of the upcoming ride just passes like electricity from one to another until it converges and it explodes as we roll out for the day's ride.  Iselaandmomber_2

25 miles out and about, despite the nice bright sun, the day was still a bit chilly, especially for our hands and ears. Hubby and I had our "winter" cycling gloves on but we were still freezing! At one point, it got so bad that Momber and I drafted off each other so that we could keep each other warm by finding the "sweet spot" which is usually a little warmer. It worked like a charm! A few minutes behind there drafting off and getting warmer was enough to keep us happy. Heck, we were on our bikes we were definitely happy. All eight of us were stoked just to be out there cycling away...even if we were little icicles!

Our little ride took us out on a route out to Mendon, which happens to be also the very first route that I went on last year on my very first ride Roadiesever. The specific route has a little hill entering the Mendon town and I remember last year I had such a hard time climbing it. I remember clearly, how Jo and Dom made it to the top with hardly any effort and I kept swerving from side to side trying to make it up...huffing and puffing, I finally made it up. However, this year it was a lot different, first of all, the hill is not really a hill, it is more like a little bump on the road, and if you just pedal and stop swerving from side to side it is actually pretty easy to go up it. A year sure makes a huge difference!  Also where before I was about 10-15 minutes behind everyone, this time, I was right behind...and by golly at times I wasn't the last one! I haveIselacycling_2 improved...I am so happy!

Hubby pointed out that I actually keep a really good cadence, my problem stems from not knowing how to  shift and also the fact that my seat was too low, he raised it already and hopefully this will make a difference on the next ride. At times, we were right next to each other and I kept pedaling and pedaling but not moving while he only pedal a couple of times and moved quite farther than I did--not fair!! I must learn how to shift! It is a bit difficult for me due to the triple composition of my bike (Specialized Ruby Comp) and the fact that I have zero knowledge of how a bike works. But, I'll learn as I go on...so much too learn, so little time!

In the afternoon, when the kids came home from their sleep-over at uncles, we planted the garden and then I went out for a little 6 mile run and had yummy Chinese food for dinner..that's what I call a perfect Saturday at the Phelps' corner.

Last of the Cotton Destash

It is time to face the facts, I have way too much yarn and I am not knitting it fast enough. Not to mention, every Spring I have this crazy idea that I want to clean my stash room and have a clean page (sorta).

All yarn has been kept in a smoke-free, pet-free environment.

Terms:

  • Paypal only.
  • Price includes shipping within the US via Priority Mail.
  • Drop me a note if interested, with subject line: Yarn Destash

Cotton Yarns First: All Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton

Description from Blue Sky Alpacas website:

Weight: 100 grams
Approx: 150 yds / 137 meters
Needle Size: 7–9 US / 4.5–5.5 mm
Gauge: 4–5 sts per inch
*A suggested gauge only. Works beautifully with large or small needles.

Bsk616_2 

Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton

Color 616: Sky

Quantity: 12 hanks

Price: $99..includes shipping within the US

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Buildingthewall

That's what Grandpa Phelps would say. My boys are putting their heart into our little garden spot. What was once a mound of dirt, it is now becoming the little corner that will provide fresh vegetables for our family during the Summer months. As the economy gets worse and worse and prices just keep going up, we are putting an extra emphasis on our little garden patch.

When we moved into the house, we didn't have a spot for a garden, the entire back yard was landscaped which was nice, except for the fact that hubby grew up having a garden and I have gotten it my head that we need to be a little self-sufficient. Consequently, we started planning a way to get a garden. In one of the backyard corners, we had a huge downhill that was a pain to mow, then new neighbors moved to a house behind ours and they started to dig a hole to extend their basement patio, divine! The dirt they were getting rid off was what we needed, so we moved it over to our downhill corner and thus our garden patch was born.

When we moved the dirt last year, we didn't have a chance to plant a garden as it was a bit late in the year, but this year we have started a little early and whenever the weather permits, hubby goes out there and works on spreading the dirt and getting the dirt ready for planting. We have Grandpa's tiller and we are almost ready to to plant...now if the weather cooperates this Saturday we will be planting peas.

Sidebyside

Besides getting a little bit of produce from our garden patch, I have seen that the best part of it all is the relationship that hubby and Wonderboy are building. Wonderboy eagerly waits for dad to come home so that they can work together on the garden. With a little shovel and "normal" side shovel, side by side they work. If bricks need to be moved to build the retaining wall, Wonderboy puts his muscle, heart, and soul into the job and brings daddy a brick. Hubby always talks about the lessons he learned while helping his Dad work on the garden, my dream is that one day my son has the same type of memories about his time with Dad.

The retaining wall that they boys are building is sure cute! We are going to plant the peas and beans around the outer edge so we do not have to bend down to pick them, pretty neat (hubby thought of that). My farmer boy is sure happy working on his garden...now we just need a cow in the backyard and a few chickens and we can definitely be self-sufficient...alright, not really!

More pictures of our garden patch...little Benny is happily dancing around moving her tush for the pictures. I'll have more pictures of the finished project by next week...the wall is almost complete, 40 more bricks and we should be set.

Building a garden

Out of the blue into sunny skies

I am soooo psyched, I had to share. The day started out really crummy...dull, grey, and just wet and nasty, then everything changed, about one hour ago, the sun came out to greet us all. There is very little wind, toasty sun caressing us with its lovely rays....do you know what this means? I am taking my bike out for its first ride of the season! I am so thrilled! I wish I could go right now but I need hubby home to watch the monkeys.....soooooo tickled pink I am! Is it 6:30pm yet?

Woohooo! I am back from my ride! It was a beautiful short little ride. It felt so great! There was this little hill and I just went up it and gave it all I had....it was fantastic! For a moment there I felt like Queen of the world!

I am in such better shape than last year, I am by no means super fast nor fast but I am a little faster than last year and I wasn't winded (like last year). It felt really, really great to be doing so much better than last year. My spinning class definitely has paid off. At one point, on the flat I was pedaling and I was going 21mph....never before have I been able to do that on a flat...maximum 15 but never 21! Of course, the trick is keeping it up for long periods of time.

Must do's before next ride:

1. Get a little mirror for my helmet. I have a hard time looking back so a mirror will help. I will look dorky but it is better dorky than road kill!

2. Put my biking shoes together (meaning, Sam puts the clips on my shoes). My sneakers kept slipping off and it was cumbersome getting back on track after slippage.

It was a superb, awesome, fantastico, fabuloso ride!

Wednesday: Inspirational Quote

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

My wheels turning: It reminds me of the turtle and the hare story. Many times, I think of being on the right track and yet I am not really progressing. I can adapt this quote to my religious life, my personal life, and my exercise.What do you gather from the quote? Find a quote that inspires you this day and post it on your blog. I am going to make Wednesday, Inspirational Quote day on my blog. Keeping the positve energy going around.

Quote: Brought to you by SparkPeople.com

Loom Destash: All Proceeds go to the MS foundation

Fgkb_2

ALL SOLD

12" long, Fine Gauge Knitting Board (Double sided rake) can be used as a dishcloth rake. Each side has 44 pegs.

Specs:

  • Nylon pegs
  • Birch base

I have 12 All sold of these, ready to ship.

Condition: New

Price: $25 includes shipping within the US

Terms: make a donation to the MS Foundation, to Sam's page in the amount above.

Email me if interested in the item.

Inf60rk

60 Inch, Infinity Rake Extra Small Gauge Spoken

(Makes a flat panel that is about 60 inches in width, depending on yarn and stitch used)

Specs:

  • Nylon pegs
  • Birch base

I have 1, ready to ship.

Condition: New

Price: $45 includes shipping within the US

Terms: make a donation to the MS foundation to Sam's page in the amount above

Email me if interested in the item.

A Giggle for the Day

Conversations at the Phelps Table

Hubby and I sat down yesterday to plan what we want in our little garden spot. Little Benny was still having her dinner and Wonderboy was downstairs.

Me: So what do we want?

Hubby: Let's plant the potatoes and corn by the shop and let's plant everything else here.

Me: So, we'll have onions, zucchini, peas, green beans, carrots here

Little Benny: Bright eyed and super excited jumps out of her chair really excited and says, I have a great idea!! Let's plant chocolate chips!

Both of us just giggled and explained that chocolate chips do not grow on plants, to which she replied, my pumpkin seed grew, why not chocolate chips!! Gotta love that little one!

My Other Blog


2007 Needle Knits

  • Pixie Bell
    Some of my favorite knits

loom knits

  • Candy Corn Felted Bag
    A small sampler of my loom knitted items

PocketKnitter Tutorial

Looms I Love & Use

Kool Stuff

WorkOut Log

  • Starting 1/1/08 to 5/06/08

    Swim: 16 miles

    Run: 201miles

    Spin:41 hours

Copyright

  • All the information on my blog: pictures, graphics, charts and written material is copyrighted. Patterns, free or for sale are for personal, non-commercial use only. Please contact me to obtain a license to use my intructions/patterns in a classroom setting.