Mystery knit-along giveaway...

It's been an incredible journey with ~80 fellow Healthy Knitters during the first ever mystery Knit-along AND walk-along. The last clue, "Finale" will be posted on Monday. This cowl is rich with symbolism and meaning but it's all been a "mystery". I've enjoyed reading comments on the Ravelry group as well as some blog posts here and there...much to my surprise it still remains a mystery.

A March through Time...

On Monday, the finale will be posted. The finale provides finishing information as well as an explanation of the theme for each section of the cowl.

I thought it might be fun for those that participated in the mKAL/WAL to post your interpretation of the theme. Everything is connected…the title, the stitch patterns and the names of each section.

Post your interpretation in the Ravelry group here by Sunday 10 pm (central time in the US) and I’ll send some yarn from my stash to the person with the best description.

I'm working on my plans for next year and have decided to offer another mKAL and WAL in April in addition to November. April and November are tough months to be active as the weather can be nasty so I thought it might be perfect timing.  I'm designing right now for the April project and am soooooo excited about the project and theme.  More on design hints to come in the next few months. So, mark your calendars now for April 2016. Walk on this winter but tread lightly if you live in an icy area.

It's not too late to join the Peace-along. While there is a knitting project involved the emphasis truly is on infusing your life with more peace. Simple little reflections that arrive each morning. If you are still interested, please join us. Just purchase the pattern Knit Your Peace and you're automatically enrolled. I really want world peace so this is my contribution...one simple choice at a time.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

— Mahatma Ghandi

Peace-along...

Now, maybe more than ever, we need to infuse the world with peace. Ok, I'm not sure if it's more than ever as many bad things have occurred in the history of the world. But maybe now, if we collectively join together and strive for peace in our own lives we might "pay it forward" so to speak.

How can we have world peace if we ourselves can't choose peace each day?

Let it begin with each one of us...

To foster more peace in our lives, I've created 21 days of peaceful tips. A Peace-along so to speak. All of these tips have been developed to honor your own life in a peaceful way. What a perfect way to reflect on peace as we approach the end of our year.

Purchase the pattern "Knit Your Peace" a delightfully simple cowl to knit yet elegant finished product and as a thank you, I'll send you via Ravelry a peaceful message each day from December 1 through December 21, winter solstice.

Knit. Peace. Walk. Peace. Repeat...

A healthy treat...

It's nothing elaborate.

It's tasty, satisfying and well, healthy comfort food.

It's creamy.

It's spicy.

It's spiked or it's not.

As a child, my parents always made homemade egg nog during the holidays. The only thing I liked about it was how much my parents seemed to enjoy it. I wanted to like it but I just never liked the thickness of nog, homemade or store-bought.

Then, years ago, I discovered an alternative to egg-nog.

That's right...Silk soy nog. Give it a try. I have introduced 100's of people each year to this special treat and many like it...many more than expected to like it.

The bright side...

As many of you know we are in the midst of the 1st ever Healthy Knitter mystery knit-along and walk-along. So far, it's been amazing, inspiring, and beyond my expectations.  I've been walking LOTS and able to fit in lots of extra mini-walks throughout the day. It's been good.

But then something happened...

Something unexpected...

...and it wasn't a good thing. Yup, really put a damper on my walking.

See these steps, these beautiful grey textured steps. I was late for a meeting, locked myself out of my office, ran to get the spare keys from a distant office and jumped off these steps. I knew when I pushed off that my calf was...well, let's just say "toast".

I slowly made my way back to my office (someone else finished my run to get the spare keys) and waited for a ride home. I sat in my office, feeling a bit nauseous from the pain, thinking about all the ramifications...what about my walking?

The next day I saw the dr. He provided me with the "boot". He referred me to the podiatrist where I received my "marching orders". Wear the boot at all times except sleeping or showering and come back in two weeks.

You may be wondering why this is titled "the bright side". Honestly, it took me a few days to find the silver lining in this situation. And then it came to me.

For the past year I have worked hard to find an approach to being physically active that was sustainable. In the past I have prioritized my activity which led to over-doing and I would ultimately get injured. I made a vow to myself that I would find a way to stop the yo-yo pattern of activity (aka gung-ho for several months followed by very little activity for several months).

This is the first injury that I've had that was "just cuz". And to me that was progress.

Weird, fluky things happen. We get hurt. We get back up and carry on. I'm motivated to have my calf heal. I have big plans in the upcoming year that involve a lot of walking. I must be patient.

Perhaps your walking or activity plans have been influenced by unforeseen circumstances. It happens. Make a plan for how you can get back on the trail.

Knit one. Walk two.