For this week’s challenge, explore the classical elements of earth, air, water, and fire.
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Earth

Air

Water

Fire

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/elemental/
For this week’s challenge, explore the classical elements of earth, air, water, and fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Earth

Air

Water

Fire

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/elemental/
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Tagged earth, fire, Photographs, postaweek, water, waterfalls, weekly photo challenge, wind
Yesterday I did something out of the ordinary. I took some time off.
I have a history of trying to work something productive into every moment of everyday. I am constantly cooking or tidying (not that you’d notice), writing, reading, knitting, etc. I don’t sit still very well. It’s part of the reason yoga is such an important part of my day. It’s the only time I try to decompress, and most days, I don’t do that very well.
Since Felix was born, and especially since we had Rufus, I haven’t been away from my kids (outside of work) for more than a couple of hours at a time. Mostly, I didn’t want to be. I like my kids, and I don’t like interrupting their routine, but since January, when I became a stay-at-home mom, I have been with my kids All. The. Time. And I needed a break. So did Brock.
For our fourth anniversary, Brock and I made it happen. We left the kids at home with grandma went out. We drank our coffee hot, we ate too much Indian food, we saw a movie. Then, after all of that, instead of going home and putting the kids to bed, we went to a hotel for a little peace and quiet.
It might have been too quiet. We’re used to the hubbub of 2.5 boys and the near constant sounds of traffic and sirens and neighbors. And even though this hotel is probably less than two miles from our house, there was none of that. The suite was a cocoon of silence and privacy. I have had a baby living in my bedroom for the last three years, I don’t get a lot of privacy. I was so out of my element, I was unnerved enough to dig out my white noise app and think about turning on a thunderstorm just to have something to listen to–because apparently the music we had playing wasn’t enough for me.
While the quiet was surreal, having an evening with my husband without a baby waking up in the middle of the movie and then again just as we’re going to bed was just as magically restorative as I wanted it to be.
Helping Felix make the transition to starting pre-school no longer feels so daunting, even though it means establishing a new daily routine for everyone, and dealing with some intense three year-old emotions. And there are other things I have been putting off (writing synopses, querying agents, finishing drafts, etc.) that don’t seem so scary today as they did yesterday, even though yesterday they felt a helluva lot more doable than they did six months ago.
I want to hang onto this feeling. I want to capture this sense of renewal and invigoration and seal it into capsule somewhere inside me where I can open it up whenever I feel bogged down by endless to-do lists, or when the baby wakes up an hour after I finally got to sleep, or when I have to be an extrovert at my service industry job and all I want to do is sit in a corner and read a book.
I know I can’t. But I can be better about taking care of myself. When I feel peaceful, it’s better for my family, it’s better for my writing.
Even though Felix’s school doesn’t start for two more weeks, tomorrow morning we’re all getting up early so we can practice getting out of the house by 8. That means my alarm goes off at 5:45. Despite opening the coffee shop for years, I am still not good at getting up in the morning. But I am getting up this early so I have time to do yoga. Because if I take care of myself first, maybe I can maintain a little bit of this energy.
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Tagged anniversary, Around the House, mom, mom life, self care, vacation, writer life
In the present current world, magnificence means a considerable measure. With the prettiest countenances to spellbind the overall population, from magazines to TVs to sites, each young lady needs to know a certain something. What does it take to wind up noticeably the following “IT” young lady? What’s a definitive delight mystery?
Carrying on with the life of the rich and acclaimed is very simple in the event that you elegance the fronts of the excellence magazines. All it takes for a young lady to live in the fab path is to just be lovely. A definitive mystery to accomplishing magnificence is wellbeing and wellness preparing.
Being solid and fit is your ticket to progress. Be that as it may, it comes with a cost! It takes diligent work and persistence to accomplish it. It doesn’t occur without any forethought, in this way, you need to prepare yourself. How about we begin!
Tip # 1 Pump your Heart
The heart assumes a key part in your body. It pumps the blood which conveys oxygen and supplements required by your body. In this way, your heart dependably should be fit as a fiddle. To accomplish that, ensure you pump your heart. There are many activities which encourage cardiovascular molding. The most fundamental of all activities is strolling or running. In case you’re simply beginning, it’s best to begin your activity by strolling no less than 30 minutes for every day. You can plan your strolls at the season of your accommodation. You can do it at your subdivision, at the recreation center, or anyplace else you need to. Do the strolling administration for around a month and after that progress to running. You can begin running little separations at that point run longer ones as you come. Once you’ve made this a standard, you’ll unquestionably run your way to a superior heart!
Tip # 2 Strength is Beauty
Quality or resistance molding is dependably a critical piece of preparing. You need to practice your muscles so as to keep your body conditioned. Additionally, it stimulates you. Most ladies may fear building up in any case, you’ll just beef up on the off chance that you enable yourself to be! The preparation is intended to take care of free muscles. It additionally diminishes hazard for damage and by being physically conditioned, you’ll be more sure!
Tip # 3 Food to Feed your Soul
Eating regimen is essential in Health and Fitness Training. It’s awful to practice when you’re not eating right. You may lose certain calories by consuming them out, in any case, what’s simply the utilization in the event that you discover eating excessively fat the following moment?! Consequently, keep an eye out after your nourishment admission and ensure you practice good eating habits. Pick natural products over desserts. Additionally, supplant carbs with high fiber-unhealthy eating routine. Rather than eating a smooth of cake, why not eat an entire wheat bread?! It would in any case be a heavenly goodness yet a more beneficial one!
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Tagged Health and Fitness
This week, focus on the tactile element of the objects you shoot, whether it’s one distinct quality — softness, smoothness, graininess, or any other texture you find interesting — or a combination of several within one frame.
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My daughter’s straw hat with roving in it which she then spun and turned into beautiful yarn.
From freshly shorn from the sheep, to roving, to spinning, to yarn.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/textures/
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Tagged Photographs, postaweek, sheep, weekly photo challenge, wool/yarn

This is my wall of Vineyard counted cross stitch projects. The Vineyard map in the upper left hand corner was the first one in 1993. Tisbury in the bottom middle was the last one in 2011. There were other non-MV projects done in between the Vineyard ones and I also did eight more of the Vineyard maps during that time too.







These are not the only Vineyard counted cross stitches I’ve done though. The one closest to my heart is the Tabernacle designed especially for me by my daughter Deb. (please excuse the glare).

The Tabernacle is my favorite place on the Vineyard for many reasons and so this picture means more to me than I can ever put into words.
This is my counted cross stitch masterpiece. My daughter Deb took a photograph of the Tabernacle… blew it up to an 8×10 and charted it by hand on graph paper. There might have been computer programs for that but this was the early 1990’s and she didn’t have one and I’m not sure we even had a computer!. She also bought the material and my daughter Patty bought the threads and that was my Christmas gift that year. All I had to do was sew it. People always ask how long it takes to do projects so I kept track. Over the course of 3 months I sewed a total of 138 hours… every inch of the picture is counted cross stitches… even all the blue sky… and there seemed like endless amounts of that. After it was finished we took it, along with the original 5×7 photograph and had it framed. For a couple of years I just wasn’t happy with the frame though so when I had my other MV counted cross stitches framed I gave this picture a new one. I also added a little plaque at the bottom that says The Tabernacle, Oak Bluffs – Martha’s Vineyard.
But I had said I couldn’t do it… ever… I would never be able to do counted cross stitch. Too hard. Too boring. I had too many excuses. Then my daughter Deb saw the counted cross stitch of the map of Martha’s Vineyard and the rest is history. We figured if I was ever to do counted cross stitching surely something Vineyard related would get me started. She even said that if I hated doing it she’d finish the map for me. Sounded like a good deal and so I began. One X after another… counting, counting every single stitch… but then it started looking like MV and I was pretty impressed and proud of myself.
We even got written up in the Vineyard Gazette… June 21, 1996

❤
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Tagged churches, crafts, decor, Edgartown, Lighthouses, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, New England, newspapers, Oak Bluffs, Photographs, West Tisbury
I’m so excited to release In Love with the Night Mysterious! This lovely laceweight shawl, worked as a triangular wedge / vortex, incorporates an Aran lace and geometric side edging, with a textured body. The versatile shape can be worn a variety of ways. The Hat Box yarn, one of my favorites from Mrs Crosby, makes it sumptuous and decadent. I love the moody, dark richness of the Squid Ink colorway (but you can see examples of different colorways, all lovely, from my test knitters!).
Both charts and line by line instructions provided.
One Size (Easy to alter size)
Finished Measurements
Height (from cast on to last row, along edging): 49” / 125 cm
Top Edge: 24” / 61 cm
Yarn
Mrs Crosby Hat Box, 75% superwash merino / 15% silk / 10% cashmere (317 yds / 290m per 3.53oz / 100g), 2 skeins of Squid Ink. As shown shawl used approx 613 yds / 561 m.
Needles
US5 / 3.75mm needles or size to obtain gauge
Gauge
20.5 sts and 28 rows over 4 in / 10cm in Wildflower Repeat
Gauge is important. Alterations in gauge will affect yarn requirements and finished size.
Notions
yarn needle
cable needle
2 stitch markers
Skills
lace knitting
cabling, to include novel decrease cable stitches
twisted stitches both RS and WS
both charts and line by line instructions provided

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Tagged Designs
First, the facts:
Title: Alterknit Stitch Dictionary: 200 Modern Knitting Motifs
Author: Andrea Rangel
Published by: Interweave Press, 2017
Pages: 164
Type: Stitch Dictionary
Chapters:
The In-Depth Look:
Like most knitters, I enjoy stitch dictionaries. For me, at least, it’s because they’re full of potential–so many possibilities for things to make! In this one, author Andrea Rangel (and her husband Sean) devoted the last year to colorwork patterns.
She writes in the introduction, “Instead of sticking to tradition, we wondered what would happen if we didn’t bother with the rules or with tradition. Could we introduce stitch motifs that knitters haven’t ever seen before? Could we inspire other knitters and designers to think about colorwork in a more expansive way? A big part of what made this work is that while Sean can knit, he doesn’t do it much, so he doesn’t think like a knitter. The motifs he created (all 200 of them!) aren’t all what you’ll usually find in a stitch dictionary or on a sweater because they come from his artistic background and imagination.”
Isn’t that an intriguing start? Two hundred stranded colorwork motifs that have never been seen before!
After some preliminary instruction (how to hold the yarn, what to do about floats, how to steek, some general colorwork tips), you get to the swatches. Colorwork charts and knitted swatches of every design. They are all unique, though some do resemble stitch patterns I’ve seen elsewhere (not exactly surprising considering how many stitch patterns exist in the knitting world. I don’t know that I’ll ever actually knit the sheep-filled “Counting Sheep” motif, but it’s adorable.
Along with the swatches, there are five complete patterns at the end to give a little more inspiration by showing some of the stitch patterns in action. A beanie hat, a cowl, a pair of mittens, a yoke pullover, and a cardigan (which I think is my favorite).
This last week, I’ve found myself opening this book to a new page and just leaving it open on my desk, rather than just randomly flipping through the different stitch motifs. Like I said, some are similar to things we’ve seen before (how much can one really do with a series of diagonal lines), but a lot of them are quite unique. And even the “familiar” ones have a new angle, something a little different to catch the eye or amuse the fingers.
I’ve been hearing buzz about this book for a while now, and am really happy to see it living up to the hype.
Also, courtesy of Interweave Press, you’ll be thrilled to know that you can WIN YOUR OWN COPY. Just leave a comment on this post to be eligible (U.S. addresses only, please).
You can get your own copy at your local bookshop or by clicking here and getting it from Amazon.
Want to see bigger pictures? Click here.

This review copy was kindly donated by Interweave Press. Thank you!
Other posts for this author:
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Tagged andrea rangel, Stitch Dictionaries
An effective muscle working with appropriate eating routine and exercise advances wellbeing and wellness. Individuals, who experience the ill effects of weight issues, receive distinctive sorts of activities in their every day routine with wellness hardware. It helps in mental concentration and teach. Yet, in the event that you don’t have legitimate sustenance eat less carbs then your body won’t respond to any kind of activity. Your body won’t go in muscle building state if your body needs in proteins, starches, water and fat.
A decent eating routine and customary exercise could prompt solid skin, sound body, solid personality and a solid life. As its is said that aversion is better at that point cure. So its constantly better to have a solid eating regimen and exercise at that point manage all the wellbeing related issues. These are the four components that are fundamental for appropriate wellbeing and wellness.
Protein:
It is the most imperative component of sustenance for working out. Your body needs to expend around 0.5-1 grams of protein for every pound of body weight. For instance: meat, egg, chicken or pork and so forth.
Sugars:
Sugars (carbs) help to keep up vitality level in your body. Absence of starches, devours the muscle tissue to keep up vitality levels. With regards to the perpetual utilization of it, individuals with low muscle to fat quotients take the favorable position. They can take all and pick up once in a while. Keeping in mind the end goal to fabricate muscles, you may require 4 grams of carbs per pound of body weight. Individuals with higher muscle to fat ratio ratios will liable to require just 1 or 2 grams of carbs per pound of body weight to pick up muscle.
Water:
Your body should be hydrated unfailingly. In case you’re got dried out then there is no motivation to concentrate on legitimate sustenance. Your muscles and stomach related framework require water to take care of business.
Muscle to fat ratio ratios:
On the off chance that the level of muscle to fat quotients is low, it implies that your body is not getting enough additional calories to deliver fat. Calorie utilization in body serves to building body muscles.
Research a long time before you choose anything identified with your wellbeing. Regardless of whether you are a novice or have just begun with your activity schedule, you can counsel a guaranteed fitness coach or a wellness master for more data. The most recent buzz is the Fitness gear that is helping a great deal in each age.
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Tagged Health and Fitness
This week, share a photo of something that brings you satisfaction.
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I thought about this for awhile and although there are quite a few things that bring me satisfaction on a regular basis I decided to post on something I did that brought me extreme satisfaction because I only did it once… and probably won’t do it again. It wasn’t anything exciting or daring, like skydiving, no, it was simply baking a cake for my daughter’s birthday a few years ago FROM SCRATCH. I’m not a baker even in the loosest sense of the word so this was to me a big accomplishment. Just so I had proof that I did it I took pictures along the way and turned them into a blog post.

I decided to make a pound cake in a bundt pan.
I mixed all ingredients, well, except for one which I couldn’t find in the pantry and figured it wasn’t all that important … how much of a difference could a tsp of baking powder make anyway. Whirr, whirr, scrape, pour… it was actually looking pretty good… I felt encouraged.
I even melted some chocolate to add to the pound cake… thought it would give it some oomph and who doesn’t like at least of dash of chocolate in a cake.
Got the cake in the pan and polished off what was left of my coffee…by then I was exhausted.
I only peeked at the cake once during the hour it was in the oven. It was rising and browning so I was encouraged. Tah dah… it was done… now to see if it would come out of the cake pan in one piece ! Tah dah again… yay… it did. Applause, applause.
Look at that, isn’t it beautiful…. see how happy and pleased I am with myself.
It was another hour or so until Debbie came home… it was hard for me to control my anxiety. I knew she’d be surprised but would she like it ? Time would tell.
She did look surprised. A beautiful cake yet to be tasted but certainly making a good impression. Looks like a birthday cake now that it had candles on it. And finally, the taste test ! The consensus was that it was good… maybe could have been a little taller but I like to think of it as a petite pound cake.
It was a success and, don’t tell anyone, but I might even do it again. I said might 
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/satisfaction/
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Tagged baking, birthdays, Family, food, Photographs, postaweek, weekly photo challenge

Are you excited about the Great American Eclipse? Are you lucky enough to live in the path of totality, or will you be traveling to see it?
Dave and I booked a super cute vintage bungalow in Bend, Oregon, through Airbnb (affiliate link! we love Airbnb) more than a year ago. His parents, Rosemary and Curtis, will be RV’ing from California to Madras, Oregon (Dave made them book their campsite as soon as the campground was taking reservations for eclipse dates). We’ll be meeting them at the campground Monday afternoon, and staying with them til Tuesday afternoon some time.
Regarding eclipse knitting: I did a quick search on Ravelry. There aren’t too many eclipse-themed patterns. Frankly, the search I did showed up a ton of patterns that had absolutely nothing to do with eclipses! Some were Twilight/Bella related: mostly striped hats, and a pair of socks that were inspired by the book cover.
Tania Richter’s Dragon Eclipse Blanket features a gorgeous dragon (and moon).
Eclipse by Shellie Anderson, in Shibui, is my favorite of the eclipse-themed patterns. The use of two highly contrasting colors (and yarns) in the sample really evoke the idea of an eclipse without being obvious or gimmicky.
I’m surprised no one’s come up with an idea incorporating this sort of image (stranded cowl, anyone?).
If you broaden your search to include sun or moon themes, you can find a ton more patterns, including my Under the Sun and Beneath the Moon shawls (shown above).
Other neat sun and moon themed patterns include:
Are you going to see the eclipse? Let me know!
If you’re interested in learning more about the eclipse, check out these links:
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Tagged Knitting