Holidays are hard for several reasons: They get me out of my routine, I sleep late, it's too hot to do the full outdoor component of the workout, and then I don't accomplish as much as I had intended. I really need 6AM accountability, and holiday weekends are just not conducive to anyone holding me accountable to a 6AM workout schedule. It's not that big of a deal, BUT I like my Monday swim and I kind of missed it today.
Holidays are great for several reasons also: I slept late, I made eggs and sausage and a monster fruit salad with coffee and tea, which I ate at my leisure while I perused the internet and watched a bit of the Today show. I took a nap. I watched ridiculous television while I worked out the kinks in my needlepoint project. I went for a run without my watch, just ran for the fun of it. I rode my bike for a negligible amount of time. Other than my work out, I didn't leave the house. I never got in my car. We ordered take out for dinner, and it was really a perfect day.
Anyway, about my needlepointing: Needlepoint is a sure thing. With my knitting, I have a one in four project success rate. Knitting projects do not always turn out well, based on gauge, weird patterns, and the fact that everyone knits a little tighter or looser means that not every project turns out looking like the fabulous picture of the project you selected. My last knitting project was a great tragedy that has left me with no choice but to distance myself a bit from the craft.
Sewing is the same way. Patterns are notoriously difficult to follow, my machine is not great, and there are MANY variables that mean that your project may never turn out correctly.
Needlepoint, however, is a sure thing. I think it is a sure thing, because, as a general rule, the canvas is uniform, and you are following a pattern stamped on a canvas, and your stitches are always the same, sometime they are variations, but basically the same.
I currently have three of my grandmother's unfinished needlepoints, which I am going to finish. They are quick and thoughtless and easy to do while I fritter away time in front of the television. Now, my grandmother used penelope canvasses, which are slightly different from the starched stiff canvasses that are used today. They are looser and bendable and lend themselves to some shifting about of stitches and holes. I had to run by the local needlepoint establishment (Nashville Needleworks), and get a bit of help in terms of which holes to use, since it was my first time with a penelope canvas, but now I know.
Anyway, pics of my past needlepoint projects, and my current one, the stocking!! Track workout tomorrow at 6AM.
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