Beauty abounds...

My heart was captured long ago by the mountains yet there is something so endearing about water. Perhaps it is that one could, in all honesty, live without mountains but not water. Spending time on the ocean was not anything we did with frequency during my childhood. Water time was about the swimming pool or a quick dunk in a river. Now with the opportunity to spend two weeks next to the ocean I find myself mesmerized by the beauty, the strength, the ability to be calm yet powerful.

I'll be brief today because my post is really to share my sights from today.  Enjoy...

The Edgartown Lighthouse

While my focus was on the water it wasn't until I got home and saw those amazing clouds!

Seashells by the seashore...

The Atlantic Ocean...north side of the island. Powerful, graceful waves.

May you have the ability to make time for yourself today. Put aside the to-do list and honor yourself. While I've always known the importance of this it's becoming apparent to me that I've not done a very good job of this in my own life over the past couple of years.

May the water be a source of inspiration to us all...life-giving, energizing, and courageous.

Peace,

Christina

An adventure...

Wow, where did the time go? April seemed to speed by with the Werifesteria walk-along and now it's mid-May. I can't believe it will be summer soon with hot days and my favorite beverage...ice water infused with lemon, cucumber, mint, and ginger. Oh so refreshing. 

In my day job as a professor of nutrition I write a lot of grants most of which never get funded. The funding line for most granting agencies is about 7%. I'm not sure what the odds of winning big money are in Vegas but sometimes it feels as if I would have more success at the tables. So, when my aunt sent me an announcement for a grant to the Turkeyland Cove Foundation I quickly dismissed the idea.

Turkeyland Cove Foundation based in Edgartown, MA provides grants for "A residency for the motivated woman". You can learn more about it here. I proposed to work on my content for The Healthy Knitter. Quite honestly when I submitted my application last October I never expected to receive the grant. Recall, my history of grant writing...I put forward my best effort but it rarely results in an acceptance. To my surprise, I was granted or more appropriately gifted, two weeks at this amazing place to focus on my projects.

I am moved beyond words to have received this gift. In this serene environment I am able to walk, knit, write, drink coffee, repeat.  I am able to linger in the woods and explore new places, capture thoughts on paper, take photos of the most amazing sites, and dream up new pattern ideas.  What's most gratifying is this will turn into material for all of you; more patterns that blend knitting with healthy living. So, while I'm working on re-energizing self and getting some things done, I've got all of you in mind. I can't wait to share the fruits of my labor with you. So stay tuned for more exciting ideas and patterns from The Healthy Knitter.

Appropriately named The Tree House as the view from the upstairs windows looks out into the tops of the trees.

Off to explore new places...

Hellloooooo Atlantic Ocean...

View from King's Point taken during an evening wander...

May your body be as active as your needles...

Christina

Announcing Werifesteria...

Last November I hosted the first ever mystery knitalong and walkalong. It was met with lots of enthusiasm so I thought we'd continue the concept. Here we are on the other side of winter (or summer if you are in the southern hemisphere) and it's time to regroup. I've created another adventure filled with some knitting and walking.  Once again, everything is connected, the title, the clue names, and each of the 4 sections. This time we'll be knitting a shawlette in 2 different colors of fingering weight yarn, 1 skein of each color. It'll be an adventure in slip-stitch patterns and some lace knitting.

The 4 sections of the shawlette represent some aspect of how you may feel while walking or an emotion you may encounter while making a lifestyle change. This shawlette truly tells a story…it’s kind of a poem in action. You might be interested in journaling to capture your thoughts as your proceed. Use the clue names as prompts for your writing. Abstract and geometrical terms/concepts will be used to name the clues.  The rationale for this will become clear at the completion of our “walk”.

The meaning of the word “werifesteria” will be revealed at the end of the month. If you know the meaning of the word, please don’t spoil the fun…let’s wait until the end of the month.

The pattern will be 20% off through 3/28.  It is appropriate for an intermediate knitter or advanced beginner that is extra-adventurous.

There will be two threads in the Healthy Knitter Ravelry Group.  Please use that group to support one another during this process. One thread will be dedicated for discussion about the process and to cheer each other on; a separate thread will be available to post photos (“spoiler”). Please use the illustrated cover page for “Werifesteria” on your Ravelry project page.

Giveaways: At the end of the month, there will be Healthy Knitter project bags given away for several different accomplishments.

1. Most active (walking)

2. Most active in the Ravlery group

3. Randomly selected

4. Most meaningful interpretation of the symbolism behind this project.

Creating this design has been an interesting process. I'm learning to listen to the yarn and not force my ideas...I suppose it's an act of patience. I'm always amazed how my original idea changes and grows into something quite different than conceived. While the final product is very different than where I began, I love the final product. I think you will too.

I almost forgot...there will be a special treat for all adventurers connected to the theme of the pattern and YOTH yarns at the end of your journey.  Remember there is no need to knit the project...just walk with us. Or if you prefer skip the walking and do the knitting (ok, maybe try to walk a little). As always you can do both.

Have a wonderful time with your stitches and steps!

Knit one, walk two,

Christina

A Healthy Knitter adventure

This year will be filled with adventures.  This week marks the first of several very special excursions. When our children were younger it was challenging to find the time for a vacation. Our time was limited as were our resources. My work scheduled followed the academic year calendar and my husband worked a sales job that peaked in the summer months. Our vacation became a visit to the family cabin in Idaho with the extended family whether it was 3 days or at the most a week. Although it was wonderful I often felt we should have a vacation that was just our family.  Over the years, the cabin became a place I cherish...my children know that we go to the cabin each year. They count on it. Our oldest is now 18 and a senior. Despite loving our time at the cabin, we wanted a trip that was just for the 5 of us. But what could we do that wouldn't cost a years worth of tuition?

We settled on a trip to Moab. We decided to rent a townhome instead of a hotel to provide us with a little more space and left the dog at home. We travelled from Iowa to Denver on Sunday. We stayed a couple of miles away from the house where my grandparents lived during my childhood. It was an emotional time for me as it was the first trip back to Denver since my grandmother passed away...and to be so close to their home. So many amazing memories came rushing back.

Upon rising on Monday morning, my husband and I decided to venture out for a little exercise. He on his run and I on my walk. We asked the desk clerk for ideas on where to go...she had none. It always catches me a little off guard when people respond with complete surprise that one would choose to partake in activity. We said "thank you" and ventured on. I found a little park called "Grant Tree Park" that satisfied my need for movement, solitude and a view of the Front Range on one side and Downtown on the other.

Oddly, spring is a little farther along in Denver than Iowa. There were more blooms and leaves on the trees. The dull roar of 6th Avenue was ever-present, just as I remembered from my childhood. Funny how certain sounds can transport us back to long ago. Despite my concerns of not being able to find a suitable walking place based on the reactions of the hotel desk attendant, I was pleased with my discovery.

Leaving Denver on I-70, we travelled through winter in the mountains, a wind storm in western Colorado and were met with rain in the desert once we arrived in Moab.

More tails of adventure tomorrow...