Kiss My Knits!

Almost two weeks ago I injured my foot. I was running laps around the outside of the house with my daughter when I landed badly on the side of my foot. I finally saw a doctor a couple of days ago, and it’s not broken. However, I haven’t been able to run for two weeks, and I’m only just starting to get over limping like Quasimodo everywhere. I rely on running not just for physical fitness but also for my mental well-being. Exercise is a very effective counter to depression, so not getting my usual dose has really put me in a funk.

When I saw the doctor for my foot, I think I picked up a bug in the waiting room. Yesterday I developed a sore throat, and I have an occasional low grade fever along with it. No sneezing or other symptoms, so I don’t think it’s the flu, but it has knocked me down. Add to that the usual stresses of life and I have not been in a good mental place.

But darned if this video didn’t make me smile. It’s a nice reminder that this is an amazing universe we live in, and an amazing time to be alive. No matter what else is going on, I am grateful to be here.

P.S. – thanks, Dad, for calling and telling me that story. It really made me smile. 🙂

A little cheer for a dreary day. Always dance like nobody’s watching. You never know what may happen.

I always have to have at least one non-Jayne project on the needles. I have to have something to turn to for a break or else I’ll go crazy. Stopping briefly to make something else keeps my enthusiasm high for knitting the same hat a thousand times in a row.

Everyone else in the sock knitting universe has made Grumperina’s Jaywalkers, but I’m only now getting around to it. It’s fun, though. A good nearly brainless pattern that I can stuff in my purse.

Actually, I don’t have to stuff it directly in my purse, thanks to this cute little pouch that Turtlegirl brought me back from SAFF. It’s a lovely little thank you for feeding her cats while she was gone. She’s so thoughtful.

This is a great size for a sock project. It’s from 2buttons who don’t seem to have an etsy shop or online storefront. This was a very unique little gift, and perfect for my needs. Thanks, Turtlegirl!

I didn’t want to go running this morning, but it was absolutely perfect weather. About 58 degrees, overcast but not threatening rain, not too much humidity… just perfect. So really, I had to admit to myself that even though I was tired and didn’t feel like it, not going running would just be me finding excuses. I need exercise. We all do. So on days when I really don’t feel like going but know I should, I tell myself it’s like a prescription from the doctor. It may be a bitter pill to swallow, but I still need to swallow it.

I got out to the Greenway and started to stretch. As I was warming up a bit, I noticed something on the ground.

Coolest. Penny. Ever.

I’m guessing it was dropped in the nearby grass and mangled by a mower. Or possibly it was carved up by whoever smoked that homemade… uh… mostly smoked cigarette which was also nearby. Either way, it was so unexpected and fascinating that my mood immediately lifted. As a result, I had a great run.

How does it go? Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck. Or possibly tetanus, but I’ve had my booster, so I’m sticking with good luck. Hope your day is full of unexpected good things!

This morning on my run, I brought my camera. I wanted to take a few pictures of the Greenway before I got started. This picture was taken from the bridge on the section behind Park Road Shopping Center. You can see how peaceful it is, and why it’s pleasant to run or walk there. Note also the turtle. This was taken about 9:30.

I put my camera away and went running. On my way back over the bridge, I noticed that the turtle had been joined by a second turtle. I thought that’d make a better picture, so when I got back to the car, I got my camera and came back to the bridge.


Holy turtle soup, Batman! Two turtles had turned into at least five. Clearly, this rock is the happening place to be if you’re a turtle along this stream. It rained a bit last night, and the stream was higher than usual, so I have to assume that’s why they’re all crawling on top of each other. It might be some kind of “Shells Wide Shut” kind of situation, but I think it’s probably just about having a prime sunning spot and not wanting to give it up to anybody else.

What I want to know is, why this rock? There are plenty of others. This one must have some kind of cachet with turtles that I as a human cannot see.

Just after I shot this, the little one on the right slid back into the water. I guess it didn’t have a reservation.

I am very fortunate to have some really fantastic people in my life. Many of them, I’ve met through knitting. One of the coolest is Turtlegirl76. We clicked pretty quickly when we met. We’re both quick-witted, we’re both geeky, and of course we both knit. Turtlegirl turned me on to Deadwood (which I highly recommend) and I turned her on to Firefly.

Behold! The Jaynetrelac socks!

We got off to an earlier start this morning, allowing me to put Em’s hair up in four braids as she requested. On the way to school, the sun was just rising as it began to sprinkle, and a beautiful vivid rainbow arced all the way across the sky. One end looked like it touched down about where my father lives (that’s him with me and the squirrel in the previous post) and the other landed right behind Em’s school. It was gorgeous, and all the teachers were excited.

Hopefully it’s a good omen of a great day.

ETA: Now it’s stopped raining and is still cool enough to run. I feel like if I talk more about how great this day is going then something ironic will have to happen, like me getting hit by a bus. Watch this space for me in traction!