Writing Wednesday: ROWing Back On Course

So, I got a little off track with just about everything over the holiday and following weekend. Part of it is probably because my husband and daughter were home when they usually wouldn’t be. And that seriously throws me off my routine. And when I don’t stick to my routine, I tend to be a lot less productive. And even Monday my daughter was home, because here in PA(or at least my corner of it) the first day of hunting season is like another holiday. But, we are back to the normal routine now, and I’m back to my usual level(or even above it) of productivity.

Writing:

Still moving along with my NaNoWriMo WiP. Earlier this month, I figured I’d be at 50k by now. Then, I fell behind. Catching back up now, but not quite there yet. According to the nanowrimo site, I should have 46,666 words by the end of today. Right now, I’m sitting at 45,818. I woke up at three yesterday morning, and after trying to fall back asleep for an hour and not succeeding, got up and started writing. And managed 2000 words before the kids got up. And ended the day with a little over 3300. So, that got me close to catching up. Didn’t get up as early today(even though I went to bed earlier than I had the night before), but still managed 1500 words this morning. I’ll be writing more throughout the day and am hoping to get at least a total of 3000 again today. That would leave me with a little less than 3k to write tomorrow and Friday. It’s definitely manageable, but we’ll see if it happens.

Social Media:

I did my Sunday check-in on Monday and I got my knitting post up yesterday. Nothing else done here though really.

Reading:

Finished reading Hidden Gifts Monday night. And started reading Soul of a Vampire yesterday. About 10% through it so far.

Health:

Almost left this one off today. This is one area I still have not gotten back on track with. Haven’t exercised yet this week. And need to start keeping track of what I eat again. Feel like I’m getting out of control with my snacking again. Need to get a grip on that.

Knitting Tuesday: Empty Needles

Almost titled this post “Clean Needles” then thought that just didn’t sound quite right. 🙂

Finished: Everything! For now, anyways.

2×2 Folded Rib Beanie:

I finished this first back on Wednesday. Since I made it in the smallest size, it was pretty quick to knit up. Of course, that also means the only “model” I had was one of my daughter’s dolls. But, at least that is more cooperative than my other “models”(aka, my kids)

2×2 folded rib

A cooperative model

Mickey Mouse Hat:

I actually just finished this one this morning. I had all the knitting done yesterday, but still had to attach the ears and buttons. In total, the hat took me about seven hours to finish. I realize the buttons could be a choking hazard for a really little one, in which case I can always knit up a couple “buttons” instead of the other ones.

Mickey Mouse

my not so cooperative model

got a picture before he yanked it off or ran away from me

Cup Cozy:

I finished this last Wednesday as well. And then I realized I had sewn the buttons onto the wrong side which made buttoning it a bit awkward. So, this morning I took them off and resewed them onto the right side. This was a pretty quick project. Only took me about 4 hours total to finish it(not counting the extra time to redo the buttons).

cup cozy

around a cup

In Progress:

As you can probably tell from the title of this post, I have nothing in progress at the moment. That will probably change this afternoon though. Or tonight.

Coming Up:

I am planning on casting on stitches for a new hat pattern I found a while ago on Ravelry.

Also planning to start a garter stitch bib design by Elaine Fitzpatrick. This is the same designer of the cow and monkey bibs, among others, that I’ve done before.

And I’ll be doing another cause hat of course. This one is going to be a rolled rim slouchy toque. The last time I attempted a slouchy toque, it didn’t turn out very slouchy. Hoping this one is better.

If you see anything you like or there is something you’d like me to try, you can send me a message at brownsnovelknits@gmail.com or visit my Facebook page. I also have some ready to ship items listed on my Etsy page. The cozy here is one of them.

Late Row80 Update

I never got on to do my check-in yesterday, so I’m doing it a day late now.

Writing:

Fell behind on my  words for NaNoWriMo over Thanksgiving and the weekend. I only wrote 8232 words last week, so a little short of my 10,000 word goal. I did write every day but some days just not very much. Like yesterday morning when I only wrote 70 words because my computer decided to die on me. said the battery was dead even though it was plugged in. And by the time I got it working again, i had no desire to write. So tired of fighting with it. Hopefully will be able to replace it soon.

I have written over 1000 words so far today. Still have just under 11,000 left to go to meet the 50k goal for NaNoWriMo. Don’t know if I’ll make it, but even if I don’t, I’ll at least the first half of this story written. So, it won’t really be a “failure” or a “loss” if I don’t officially win. And I’ll still keep working on it next month and until it is finished.
Social Media:

I haven’t posted to my blog since Wednesday. I’m sure I’m behind on reading blogs and haven’t commented on any in a while. Definitely slacking in this area.

Reading:

I finished reading S.M. Reine’s Seasons of the Moon collection Friday or Saturday, I think. With the holiday my days are all messed up now.  I kept thinking Friday was Sunday. Anyway, I’m about halfway through Elana Aitken’s Hidden Gifts now.

Health:

Only worked out twice last week. And won’t mention how much I ate Thursday or Saturday when we had my husband’s mom and grandma over for another turkey dinner. Time to get back on track though.

Goals for next week:

• Finish NaNoWriMo
• Keep up with blog posts this week
• Finish Hidden Gifts
• Read Soul of a Vampire by Lauralynn Elliott
• Workout 3-4 times

Writing Wednesday: Happy Thanksgiving

Well, tomorrow, that is, for those of us living in the United States. Thanksgiving this year means going down to my sister’s, eating lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, hopefully pumpkin pie and homemade applesauce. And probably not a lot of writing. But, that’s okay too. I’ll probably still get up early like I always do and try to get some words in before everyone else wakes up. And I may take my notebook to write in on the drive down at least. So I’ll still get some words written, I’m sure.

As for my progress for this week:

WiPs:

I am up to 35326 for NaNoWriMo as of right now. So far this week I have written 5292 words. I think today’s official count for NaNo is 35000, so I’m a little ahead. Wasn’t sure I’d get there after falling behind over the weekend. Would like to have more of a buffer, but that’s okay for now. Am planning on working on it some more during today’s sprint on twitter.

And I only have 3 more chapters to take notes from for my research for the other WiP. So even if I don’t work on that tomorrow(almost definitely won’t) or Friday(probably won’t), I can still get through it by the end of next week.

Reading:

I have finished the first 3 books in S. M. Reine’s Seasons of the Moon set. Just started the last one today. Should definitely finish it this week.

Health:

Did boxing workouts on the Wii on both Monday and today. Don’t know if I’ll get a work out in tomorrow before we head down to my sister’s, but will definitely try for it on Friday. Which will still get me at least 3 days this week.

That’s it for so far this week. How is everyone else doing?

Knitting Tuesday: Bibs, Cozies, Hats

Finished:

Like I figured, I finished the bib last Tuesday. I only had the one shoulder and I-cord tie to finish, so I knew it wouldn’t take me long.

Cow bib

In Progress:

I started another cause hat. This one is a beanie with a 2×2 folded rib brim. Since the brim is folded, it is also about the longest section of the hat, and usually it’s the shortest. So, I have just started on the main part of the hat.

beanie with 2×2 folded rib brim

I also started another cup cozy. The pattern is pretty simple, but it’s turning out nice. I just have a few more rows to go until it’s finished and add on a couple of buttons.

Cup Cozy

And I had also started a scarf until I looked at the pattern againand realized how long it was. And was pretty sure I did not have enough yarn to finish it. Thankfully I was only six rows into the pattern. So, I ripped it out and decided to wait until I had the yarn it actually calls for. Instead, I decided to work on another of my original ideas, a Mickey Mouse hat. Making this one to fit my son, but I only have the brim done so far.

Mickey Mouse Hat

Coming Up:

Once I finish these projects, I’m planning on working on another baby hat, a bib, and another of my cause hats. Of course, that is always subject to change.
And, as always, if you see anything you like or if there is something you want me to try to make, you can send me a message at brownsnovelknits@gmail.com or visit my Facebook Page. I also have my Etsy page back up. Right now, I am just listing Ready to Ship items on there, but the more customizable items(mostly for color and size) are on my Facebook page.

Sunday Summary:

I have not written a single word on my WiP over the last two days. And I’m not stressing about it. I should still be able to finish NaNoWrimo on time without much of a problem. Tomorrow I will get back on my routine. Aside from November, I don’t usually write over the weekend anyways. And I’ve already written about 10,000 more words this month than I did last month. Even if I don’t “win” NaNo, this in itself is an accomplishment.

Writing:

I wrote 10,384 words since Monday. And that was only over 5 days, so that averages out to over 2000 words a day. Pretty happy with that since before this month, I was struggling to even get 1000 some days. My best day this week was Tuesday when I wrote 3090 words because I was determined to break 25,000. And I did. My lowest day was Friday when I only wrote 1422 words. And even that is a good day for me normally.

Still working through research notes on my other WiP. Right on track with that one.

Social Media:

Did my Tuesday and Wednesday posts, but didn’t do Friday’s, or Monday’s or Thursday’s.

Reading:

I have finished 3 books this week, Vampires’ Curse, Stalk Me, and The Jefferson Allegiance. Also started one and put it aside. I’m now reading S.M. Reine’s Six Moon Summer. It’s actually the collection of all 4 novels in the series, Seasons of the Moon. But, I just started the first one yesterday.

Health:

Worked out 3 times this week: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Not quite the at least 4 times I planned on, but it’s better than what I do some weeks.

Goals for next week:

• have at least 40,000 words on Healing the Heart
• have at least 5 more chapters of notes from firefighting book
• Finish Six Moon Summer
• Read All Hallow’s Moon
• Start Long Night Moon
• Work out 3-4 times

Writing Wednesday: Halfway

Not quite halfway through the month, but yesterday I hit the halfway mark for Nanowrimo. And I’m still liking the way the story is going, even if it has taken a few twists from what I had planned.

Writing: I have written 7171 words so far this week. Yesterday, I wrote 3000 words so I could break the 25,000 mark a couple days early. So, I have a 2 day cushion right now. I’m hoping to keep that or even increase it. Slept in this morning and haven’t written as much as I’d like, but I am ahead so it’s not too bad.

And I have another 3 chapters of notes taken for my other WiP. So, I’m still on track with that.

Reading: I finished Vampires’ Curse Sunday night. And had Stalk Me finished by about midnight Monday. It’s been a while since I finished a novel in one day. I started another book Tuesday, but took it off my phone within the first chapter or so. And started The Jefferson Allegiance by Bob Mayer. About 25% through it right now.

Health: I’ve worked out twice this week. Both were boxing workout on the Wii. The one I did Monday was a sucking workout. It had your feet with one pointing forward and the other back and pointing to the side. And then bending your knees to duck. Let’s just say my legs were very sore for the next couple days. Were still a little sore today, but I didn’t want to take another day off between workouts. Today’s was a little easier on me at least. Thinking I may just do a walk on the treadmill tomorrow though.

 

Knitting Tuesday: Another Cause Hat

Finished:

Yesterday I finished my latest cause hat. Did this one in the smallest size, as a sample, since that uses the least time and is the quickest to finish. Obviously, I can make it in bigger sizes as well. I did this one in read, so 50% of any sales would go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

In Progress:

I am still working on the cotton baby bib. Almost finished with it though. Just have one more shoulder/strap to knit and it will be finished. So, I should be done with it today.

Coming Up:

I have picked the projects I’m going to start once I finish the bib. I kind of like starting three at once and then waiting until all those are finished to start another three, since they all take a different amount of time. So, I think that’s what I’ll keep doing. Unless one is a really big project. Then, I might start others before it’s finished.

I plan on working on this Simple Cable Scarf pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. Also will be picking up stitches for another Cup Cozy. And will be starting another cause hat, this one a beanie with a 2×2 folded rib brim.

As always, if you see something you lie or if there’s something you’d like me to try and make, you can send me a message at brownsnovelknits.gmail.com or visit my Facebook page. I’m also planning on getting my Etsy page back up and running at some point.

Sunday Summary: On the Go Weekend

Being on the go usually doesn’t have a good outcome for my writing, particularly during NaNoWriMo. And I know those times are going to come up, especially this month, with getting ready for the Holidays and all. Which is why I’ve been working on getting ahead on my word count. This weekend, we were gone both days. Yesterday, we had a Cooking for Crowds class at the fire department that we went to in the morning. My mother-in-law took the kids, and she kept our daughter for the rest of the day until the harvest dinner at the church last night. So, we just had the boy while we did a little bit of running around. Then, we were home for just a couple hours before the dinner. Didn’t take a notebook with me to the class(should have known better), but I got almost 200 words written up in notes of my phone(which is not a smart phone). Could only do 300 characters in each note, which is why I had to do a few of them. Got it typed up after we got home. And I had written just over 1000 words that morning, since I woke up early anyway.

Today we went with my mother-in-law and my husband’s aunt and some cousins down to Kranyak’s Santa’s Christmasland in Hermitage, Pa. My son loved the trains and tractors there. Even my daughter got into playing with the trains. She almost threw a fit about going in to look at the Christmas tree displays because she thought Santa was in there. Once she was convinced he wasn’t, she was fine. Still waiting for the day when she’s no longer terrified of him. It was a pretty long drive, and I learned my lesson and took a notebook with me. It’s a smaller notebook(pages are only 7×5 inches). I wrote about 7.5 pages which when I typed it up tonight, turned out to be about 1082 words. So, I was still able to meet my goal for today.

Writing:

Healing the Heart: Still going well here. Up to 19650 words so far this month. This week, I wrote 12879. Very happy with that number. Last month I only wrote a little over 20.5 k. Not even halfway through the month, and I’ve already passed that. My numbers for the week were: Monday – 2145, Tuesday – 2022, Wednesday – 2214, Thursday – 2070, Friday – 2060, Saturday – 1286, Sunday – 1082.

Flames of Redemption: Continuing to take notes from an Essentials of Firefighting book. Hoping this helps with some of the details for the novel I was struggling with. Doing 1 chapter a day is working so far.

Social Media:

Keeping up with my Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday posts. Not doing quite as good with Monday & Thursday, but that’s okay.

Reading:

This week I’ve finished reading Paradox, Flash Gold(a novella), and Playing Doctor(this was I think a novella or short novel), and I’m currently about 75% through Vampires’ Curse(a collection of 3 novellas) by Lauralynn Elliot.

Health:

I’ve put aside actually tracking my calories and all that for right now. Although I’m still trying to control my snacking, since that seems to be my weakness. But, I’m going to concentrate more on the exercise. Still didn’t do too great with that this week. Only worked out twice. Worked out on the Wii on Tuesday and walked on the treadmill Friday. Going to try to do better next week.

Goals for next week:

• Be up to 30000 words on Healing the Heart
• Have another 5 chapters of notes taken from fire fighting book
• Keep up with Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday posts
• Finish Vampires’ Curse
• Read Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd
• Workout at least 4 days

Family Friday: Nateasauros

That’s our new nickname for Nathan, Natasauros. Since he like to randomly come up to us and start roaring like a dinosaur. This started around Halloween, when he had his puppy costume on. And now when you ask him what a puppy says, he roars. Can’t seem to convince him that a puppy does not, in fact, roar. 🙂

And adding to his “monster-ness”, he had figured out exactly which of his sister’s buttons to push. Yesterday, she was trying to watch a cartoon. he kept running up to the TV and turning it off. Then, he would run back to the couch laughing. I don’t know how many times he did this, but it made her so mad every time. And the madder she got, the funnier he seemed to think it was. I have to admit, it was pretty funny.

But how can you get mad at a face like this?

love his fashion sense