Left leg. Lazy lion licks a lollipop.

I know. That's a weird title. And why is my first picture a pair of shoes?

Well, let's back up the train a little...say, about 6 weeks. Wait, let's go back even farther.

Do you remember when you learned to read? The first time you looked at a book, without your mom, or dad, or brother, or teacher...you opened that book, and YOU read the words...and it was MAGIC! Or, at least, that's how it was for me! I even remember that most of my first books were of the Dr. Seuss variety, and I have clear faves from my childhood...like this one:

That Marco had quite the imagination! 

I LOVED that book, with it's simple and colorful illustrations, and I often wished that I could see such spectacles on my way to and from school! I still own my childhood copy, and while my children didn't love this classic as much as I did, I am holding out hope that perhaps Peanut and I will share it as a favorite someday...I've even bought the app!

I read a LOT as a kid, and I had many favorite books. Some might even say that I was a lazy kid, much preferring a quiet corner and a good book to a game of tag, or kickball, or a bike ride, or anything that did not include reading. The adults in my life were all so impressed that I loved to read, none of them insisted that I just go out and play sometimes...so I didn't. I grew up "fluffy" and uncoordinated, and I've been pretty content with that for most of my life.

Another of my favorite Seuss books (which became more of a favorite as I taught the kids to read) is Dr. Seuss's ABCs...but it's not just a favorite book, I have a favorite letter, the letter "L." It stands for "Little Lola Lopp. Left leg. Lazy lion licks a lollipop." Wait! That's me! I'm lazy and I LOVE lollipops! Little Lola Lopp should be my BFF!"

When our own kids were small, Sweetie would handle all the playtime. I was often there, even if I was on the sidelines...after all, someone had to be there to capture the fun on camera, and be ready with a band-aid, just in case...but I am decidedly play-challenged. It's never good when Mom knocks the toddler over with the ball or frisbee, or if she can't remember what "ghost man on first!" means.  Mind you, I do know how to have fun, but I would never be mistaken for a "player," not in any situation! I'd still usually rather sit and knit, or read, or do something quiet than go outside to run and play, or bike, or even play corn hole. Severely play-challenged.

So, imagine my shock and surprise when I decided that I'd like to be a runner. Whaaat??? But I'm the lazy one...that's my whole identity! And, if you think I was shocked, you should have seen Sweetie's face. As a matter of fact, we were out running one day, and a neighbor spotted us. She was shocked beyond words for a moment, then asked Sweetie, "How did you do it? How did you get Pretty to run???"

He answered, "Well, I planted a tiny seed 25 years ago..."

But seriously, I just want to be healthy. To that end, I have recently (in the last 3-4 years) overcome my aversion to the out-of-doors, with its dirt and bugs and uncontrollable temperatures, and I have even started to enjoy long walks in the park. Our walks are usually somewhere between 3 - 7 miles, depending on the time we have and where we walk. But lately, I've noticed that my whole family runs, and I guess I was feeling left out, so I started a C25K (Couch to 5K) program for beginner runners six weeks ago. I bought good shoes (pictured above, with neon green laces) and some breathable running clothes, and I stepped off (with the coaching of Sweetie, Snake and Dollface).

In week 1 of the nine-week program, I was running in 60 second intervals, walking in between the runs, and it was hard. Every step and every breath was hard, but I've kept at it, and yesterday I ran for 25 minutes without stopping or walking at all! I'm not sure how far I ran, but I think it must have been a tiny bit over 2 miles...pretty impressive for someone who couldn't run to the end of her (very short) driveway without passing out 6 weeks ago! (Thank you here, to Dollface, Snake and especially Sweetie, for your encouragement and advice...without you, I would have quit long ago! I love you guys!)

So there you have it. Am I still lazy? Mostly, I suppose...my favorite hobbies are still yarn and craft related, with little to no exercise involved. But, like a lazy lion with a lollipop, I know I could drop that sucker and run...if I want to. You know what? Don't tell anyone, but I think I am even starting to like it a little. I mean, about halfway through my run yesterday, Sweetie asked how I was feeling. I think I barked at him, "Like crap! How do you think I'm feeling?," between my huffs and puffs. But then I started to pay attention to how I was really feeling...and I don't think I really felt that bad. I mean, for the last 5 minutes I was really struggling, but up until then, I think I did feel ok. And afterwards...well, there just is no describing how I feel after I run (and after I catch my breath)...then I feel AMAZING! I felt so amazing after last night's run that I celebrated with some knitting!

What are you celebrating today? Even if it's just that you opened your eyes this morning, take some time to celebrate, and also to Knit in Good Health!

Christmas In Review!

Soooo, Pretty has officially made it through Christmas. . .whew! I hope that you did, too, and that you found something to celebrate along the way! I don't want this blog post to last clean into 2011, so I am gonna get right to the Christmas knitting:

First up, "But can you knit slippers?," said the brother-in-law to the knitter at the 4th of July picnic. Yes, Brother-In-Law 1, there is a knitter in the family. . .and here are your Christmas Slippers (P-p-p-poker Slippers, under a table for five after Christmas dinner):
"Well, I want Bunny Slippers," challenged Brother-In-Law 2, at the same summer picnic. So, he shall have fuzzy, pink bunny slippers. . .because. . .you know. . .bunny slippers have to be pink and fuzzy!
Brother-In-Law 3 did not chime in, perhaps thinking that he would like to wear his special, hand-knit by Pretty out of the house to show it off? (A knitter can dream, can't she?) Whatever the reason, there had to be a knit for the third BIL, so Pretty got going on a looooooong, double-knit scarf for the winter. These brothers are tall, very tall!
Once the BIL knitting was finished, I got right to work on College Girl and her friend, Snake. Confession - "Snake" is the Boy Friend. I figured that I can't call them College Girl and Boy Friend forever (especially since he is now technically the fiance), so one day I asked if he would like any particular blog name. He said Snake, and I warned that I would use that. Snake seemed unfazed, so Snake it is! And Snake has been knitworthy since I met him (Yay!), so he got TWO hand-knits this year! Socks. . .
. . .and slippers! College Girl said that Snake had seen the other slippers and LOVED them, so I was honor-bound to knit him a pair as well! lol
Of course, with such a knitworthy guy as Snake in her life, you know that College Girl is knitworthy as well, and so she simply had to have socks to match his, and here they are!
In the middle of all of this secret, Christmas knitting, you may remember that there were a couple of other things happening in my pretty life as well. . .the biggest of these was the Baby Shower. . .and you may remember hearing about some pink mittens and a scarf that the mommy-to-be requested. . .

While these were not secret, I thought I'd take a minute to let you know that the mittens. . .
. . .and the scarf (a takeoff on the Palindrome Scarf) are officially finished!

They have been packaged up and shipped off to Wifey-Poo, and not a moment too soon! She and Army Boy live in the southeast quadrant of the great US of A, and they got some very snowy weather this week! I know that she will be glad to see some more hand-knits in her sightly-more-southern-than-"home" climate this winter!

There has been other knitting as well, like the finished December Socks and a new Hat for Pretty, and I promise to tell you all about it in the next few posts. For now, though, I think I have adequately filled up the 2010 blog year. . .my first full year of blogging! Thanks for stopping by today, and for continuing to follow my Pretty Knitty Adventures! I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for us all!

Knit in Good Health!

PS - many of these items were knit with a pattern in mind, like the "Converse" slippers, but no actual pattern. I am hoping to write up patterns for items like these in the coming year. . .of course, if 2011 proves to be as busy as 2010, who knows when that will happen. . .just wanted to let you know! :)

From Top to Toes. . .

Or from Toes to Top. . .whichever way you look at it, this week has started out well! Let's start with the toes. . .actually the feet. . .which, by the way, are very happy. See the new shoes they got last week? They waited to tell you about them, because although the shoes are very pretty, when they arrived, the shoes were a bit snug. The feet, however, remained optimistic, and upon the third wearing, they are totally in love with the blue sandals that are on their way to being broken in perfectly. :-) The feet totally look forward to showing off in these all summer long!All the way up to the neck now, which is almost eager for the return of winter, that it might be graced by the beautiful and bulky, Malabrigo scarf in deep and rich purples and blues. The neck never felt more like singin' the blues. . .aaand the purples. . .in such a good way! Love this yarn, love the pattern (variation of the K1, B1 lace from last week's post), love the knitting, can't wait to wear the scarf!The neck hopes that summer goes fast. The rest of the Pretty Knitty self says, "Shut up, Neck!" The neck and head take comfort in the K1, B1 variation that has become a kerchief. The head looks forward to sporting this piece in the wind, to help avoid tangles and tame the tresses. It's made of wool, but very open, and the Kerchief's super power seems to be it's ability to keep the hair in it's Pretty Knitty place, while enjoying the open air!

Do you have any summer plans? I bet that you are anxious to get started on them! Pretty Knitty is ever hopeful that summer is on it's way, and that all of her readers continue in the meantime to Knit in Good Health!