Bill, Little Man and I will be attending the Northern Michigan Lamb and Wool Festival on Saturday. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, seeing and touching lot of luscious yarn and having a great day. Last year was cold and rainy, but the forecast looks pretty promising for this weekend.
Here’s what I’ve been knitting lately. These socks are knit from Socks that Rock yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The colorway is Copper. I bought this yarn at my very first Michigan Fiber Festival.
I cast on 56 stitches and used a size 3 Addi Turbo with the magic loop method. The yarn is a little bulkier than what I’m used to for socks. I’m usually cast on 64 stitches with size 1 needles with Opal or Regia sock yarn. The extra bulkiness meant speedy knitting for me!
I created a diamond pattern with purl stitches just for something different. That’s the texture you kinda see in the picture. And the little guy is my adorable son, Sam.
I’ve been lacking in the workout motivation department for at least the last month. I decided it was because I was a little bored. I’ve been following Turbulence Training for Women for over 5 months (started April 2). I’ve seen some great results…I lost 20 pounds (went from 180lbs to 160lbs). Although the workouts change every 4 weeks, the basic structure has remained the same.
I decided it was time to change things up. Luckily, I joined the Turbulence Training Members site where I get a new workout every month. September’s workout is Turbulence Training for Abs and it’s different enough to get me fired up again. Plus, I’m REALLY sore, which I love. My abs, hamstrings, and back are all talking to me. And I’ve only got 2 of the weight lifting workouts in.
This plan is structured a little differently…3 supersets of total body exercises followed by an ab circuit. There are three different weightlifting workouts each week and one ab/interval circuit. Two of the weightlifting workouts are to be followed by intervals.
As usual, I changed things up to fit my schedule. I do the intervals on off weight days because of time constraints and my daily activities include either yoga or walking with Sam and Bill.
I started this new program on a Thursday instead of the usual Monday and I’m glad I did. I’ve committed to working out at home on Saturday for the next four weeks and the workout that would fall on that day can be done entirely with equipment I have at the house. Plus I would feel self conscious doing some of them…Bear Crawls come to mind. And let me just say…I suck at burpees. Saturday’s workout kicked my ass! I cut the # of reps down on some of the exercises and reduced time on others.
Thursday
Turbulence Training for Abs Workout A
Friday
Intervals - 30 Min total, 6 60/60 Intervals on elliptical followed by steady state to make 30 min
Saturday
Turbulence Training for Abs Workout B
Sunday
Rest
Monday
Turbulence Training for Abs Workout C
I woke up ridiculously early this morning. Like 3:30 AM. I lay in bed till 4 then I finally got up. I just wasn’t falling back asleep. So after I dinked around on the internet for a little while…and the coffee had a chance to do it’s magic I remembered I had a tank top just waiting to be blocked.
This is made from the no-name Ebay yarn I bought a couple of years ago. Anybody want my leftovers? I have 1 1/2 HUGE balls left. Probably a couple of pounds worth.
I am now going to Chicago with Bill on Sunday. His friend was supposed to go with him, but life intervened and he is unable to attend. Bill hates to travel alone, so Sam and I will keep him company. We have to leave by 5 AM! Now, that isn’t really a problem for me because I actually get up that early on a regular basis. However, Bill is a slow and late riser.
So, I think I will make some beer early Saturday morning. Then I’ll do my weekly cleaning and make apple crisp and jalapeño humus to take to a cookout. THEN, if I have time left I will try to dye some yarn.
Yesterdays Workouts
Morning - 30 Min Step Aerobics, Turbulence Training Ab Workout A
Lunch
DB Step ups - 16.25
Incline Press - 30
Ball Single Leg Extension/Curl - 8
Wide Grip Seated Row - 65
I didn’t get a chance to dye anything this weekend. Saturday we we’re too busy with the chickens and Sunday Bill had to work on his products for a martial arts tournament he is going to this weekend. Little Man wasn’t interested in entertaining himself so I didn’t get to do any dyeing. I got some books from the library and I’m just itching to get started!
This weekend isn’t looking good either. Saturday we’re going to a cookout and Sunday Bill is headed to Chicago for that tournament. Maybe Grandma will come over and help watch Little Man while I get my fibery groove on.
I’ve pretty much finished the Soleil tank. I have one last end to weave in and it desperately needs to be blocked before wearing. Too bad the weather has cooled considerably.
Workouts are going good this week. It’s a continuous battle to stay consistent with it, but boy do I feel better when I do.
Monday
Morning - 10 min pilates, 10 min stretching
Front Squats 55
Assisted Pullups (level 15, I forget how much that is)
Reverse Lunges 25
Pushups 6 Toes, 4 knees
Tuesday
Morning - 20 Min Yoga
Running intervals on the treadmill 6 60/60 Intervals, balance steady jogging
I got so inspired when I went to the Michigan Fiber Festival this year I decided to dye my own yarn. I ordered some skeins of undyed yarn from a fiber mill here in Michigan…Zeilinger Wool Co. and some acid dyes from Pro Chemical.
I got the yarn on Monday and the dyes today. Unfortunately, we have a wedding to go to tonight and tomorrow is chicken processing day. No dyeing for me until Sunday, it looks like.
Workouts were good today. I’m still coughing and congested, but otherwise feel fine.
Morning
1/2 Hour Yoga
Lunch
1/2 Cardio on Elliptical. 8 60/60 Intervals and the rest just steady state cardio.
I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I have been sick with a pretty persistent cold. It developed last Thursday afternoon and I’m still pretty congested. Made for a kind of crummy Labor Day.
I named the the company: TBS Web Solutions. That would be Tonya, Bill, Sam. Or Tonya Bednarick Services. However you want to look at it.
I am pretty much an introvert and am happiest when I’m knitting or working on the computer. In order to help make my new venture a success, I’ve hired a coach. Shann Vander Leek owns True Balance Life Coaching and is an amazing woman and friend. She led a very successful sales team in the competitive world of TV advertising sales for over ten years before starting her company. I think working with such a successful woman will help me come out of my shell and make the contacts in this community to have a successful web development company.
I pretty much didn’t work out much in the last week. Tuesday I did about 20 minutes of pilates and stretching. Yesterday I went for a 20 minute walk. Had to get back to it today, even though I am still congested and coughing. A week off makes my back hurt.
I took it easy today (kind of). Went a little lighter on the weights and didn’t push too hard.
This Morning
30 Min Cathe KickMax Drills + Abs and stretch
Lunch
DB Stepups 15lbs
DB Incline Press 25lbs
Wide grip seated row 60lbs
Single Leg Ball Curl
