TRI-ing again!

It's official.  I signed up for my 2nd Triathlon.  July 2nd is the big day.

It was about this time last year that I signed up and started training for last year's event.  As you know from previous posts, my effort was good, but not good enough to hit my timing or fitness goals.

A Tri-in-the-Buff, July 2010 - NEWBIES!

2011 promises to be different:
I'm able to run a 5K almost non-stop (unlike last year when I was learning how to run and could barely run for 60-seconds straight)
I'm back to swimming every week (and the "new pool" shouldn't close early this year).
The bike is in the basement on my indoor trainer (so I won't have to worry about weather or darkness).
I'm ready.

Oh yeah.. and I'm motivated!
I want to do well this year.  No breakdowns.  No injuries.  Just a solid time to complete my swim-bike-run.

If that's gonna happen, I better be off to get to my Saturday morning workout.

For baby one and baby two...

... one in pink and one in blue!

Yep... more babies on the way!
These are for my friend who's expecting twins.

The shower is in two weeks... babies should be here in about about eight.

These should help keep these little ones warm and snugly.

Can't wait to meet them.

Making pretty things

SUCCESS!

I can finally post a picture of my first completed crochet project... 

a shawl for my Mom-in-Law.

This was an excellent project for a newbie like me - 

and it was a FREE pattern from Lion Brand, the Lavish Lace Shawl.

I used Vanna's Glamour, Onyx.

12-of-12: February 2011

I love when the 12th falls on a Saturday... I can take my time and enjoy snapping away throughout the day.  I had LOTS of plans for the day, some happened, some did not.  All-in-all it was a great day... and as soon as I'm done posting, I'm going to finish it off with a snuggle and a movie.  (Better hurry.)

But first, thanks, as always, to Chad Darnell for thinking of this fun project.  It's been a blast.

9AM - Time to make the muffins!
I've been looking forward to these yummy treats for a week... Raspberry-Lemon Muffins that use yogurt & cottage cheese instead of milk and only 1/4 cup of oil. Mmmmmmmm!

All ingredients - ready to go!

Goldfinches share their morning with us

LOTS of snow - the bar across the door is 3' tall

Muffins are ready!

1:30PM - Time to play outside!
My sister and her kids were supposed to come out to see us this morning... but the falling snow made the roads too nasty for her to make the trip.  The dogs still needed some running around, tho.  So we played in the BIG snow in the yard.

Awww... poor little grill, so sad that it's all covered up for the winter.

HAPPY GRILL!

I made the kids a Puppy Habi-Trail (yes, the snow is THAT deep)

Using the trails to get to Mom...

... and puppy treats!

5PM - Time to finish chores!
I was going to try to make this a "theme" month... Fe-blue-ary - where all the pictures are of something blue... but, alas, I failed.  I got a couple blue things, like this...

Boring... I know... but I needed squirts in my car

... and this beautiful shot of the evening sky... (if you look closely, you can see the ski slope in the distance)

Much better!

7PM - Time for dinner with my Valentine!
We celebrated Valentine's Day tonight instead of waiting till Monday... more YUM!

Now it's time for me to go snuggle with my Valentine... and fuzzy Valentines, too.  Hope you're snuggling with yours.

See ya next month!

Turn the Page... Tuesday

It's February folks!
Tuesday, the 1st!
So, as you all know from Adrienne's blog at Some of a Kind, it's Turn the Page... Tuesday!

Not much to report today... I haven't finished any books and I've barely started the one I'm on.  BUT, I have met the two main characters and I'm looking forward to reading more.  My only real problem is (awake) time.

I'm almost done crocheting a gift for my mom-in-law (more on that once it's finished and delivered), so any waking moment not spent at work is taken up by my H-hook and yarn.  As soon as that's done, I'm back to the book.

What book, you ask?
Well, I'm following Adrienne's guidelines and picking up a book on my shelf.  It hasn't been there long.. maybe 4-6 months... but it's calling me.  It and it's two mates.

I started Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy in late-January and met The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I'm getting to know Lisbeth and Blomkvist now... she's barely a character at the moment, just a caricature, but from all the hoop-la, I'm sure there will be much more to learn about her.

I'm doing my best to resist watching the movie before I finish the book.  That shouldn't be too difficult since my Netflix queue is pretty full.  But, BOY, am I excited to know what's so hot about these books.


Guess I'll have to keep reading to find out!

just a little ripple...

Many thanks to my good friend, Elizabeth (for demonstrating), and a perfect stranger, Lucy (who has an AWESOME tutorial on her blog), for helping me learn to crochet a ripple.  

I'm two days into working on this blanket and already I'm LOVING IT!

12-of-12: January 2011

I just visited my 12-of-12 set from January 2010. 

Then I checked out January 2009.

Seems the 1st month of the year is snowy, dark, and either lazy or sick.

This year isn't much different.

6:30am

 Well, except one thing...

A NEW JOB!

Today was day-2 of my new adventure.  Here's what my new digs look like....

outside...

and inside...

... now I know things look VERY sparse at the moment. 
It's only my second day, so I haven't brought any fun personal stuff in yet. 
But I will.  And then maybe I'll retake some shots in a future 12-of-12.

It's been pretty snowy the last couple days.  

I think we've seen about half a foot so far this week with more on the way.

7pm:

Finally home from work (the snow really slowed things down).  

Dogs are fed and now it's my turn. 

I got my favorite salad - Fuji Apple Chicken! 

Jammie time!

For a bit of irony, I give you 'The Biggest Loser' Show & dessert

Kids are just as lazy tonight...

And finally... my newest project... I'm crocheting a blanket/throw... with fun little ripples!

Not a very exciting Wednesday, I know.  But there are other 12-of-12ers out there... 

you should visit Chad Darnell's website to see other (more exciting?) submissions or to learn more so YOU can join in next month.

Stay warm!  See ya in February!