Monday (Thursday) morning star count

I'm currently packing up half my flat for the central heating instalment next week so progress has been limited.  I suspect this may also be the case next week.  :(

However, I have managed another 2 flowers bringing my total to 12 I think.  I've also ordered some new fabric....should be arriving in a few days.

However, a lovely surprise this morning was a comment saying I have won some fabric from Jess@lifeunderquilts,   Thank you!!! and I hope international shipping is included.

Anyway, best run as now in work. Fingers crossed I get something done over the weekend and that I manage to pack the rest of the kitchen up

Ax

so tired

So tired.  Normally I feel bouncy and full of energy but my to-do list both in and out of work is making me tired and I can only carry on only crossing things out rather than taking a break.  Exercise has dribbled down to not much and I am worrying about the 10K obstacle race, I'm costing a grant at work and I think the total cost will mean a lot of refining studies, central heating is installed in a couple of weeks and I need to clear a lot of cupboards, I'm triple booked one day (central heating, trip to London and dog sitting) and I am dreaming of sleep.

On the bright side, I have an anniversary dinner tomorrow evening at a lovely veggie place and hoping for a cheeky cocktail after.  Until then, I have work, cat cuddles and a random mix of store cupboard food to eat!

Ax

Monday morning star count

Busy busy week so not much on here.
However - I did sew!!

I have managed 4 hexagon flowers this week and am quite pleased with this.  I have laid them out on a blanket to see what they would look like as a finished quilt:

progress

I think they are looking good.

So far I have

total flowers: 10
basted hexies: 10ish

Feel quite motivated by this weeks work :)

As always linking up with: http://lifeunderquilts.blogspot.co.uk/

Ax

monday morning star count 10 feb 2014

It's been a normal week on the hexie front.  I don't know how this week will bode as I have just failed at science!  Grrrr!   I should see staining on my slides but I have beautifully clear slides with no hint of a background (normally that is what I aim for but with some brown/red staining as well).  Alkaline phosphatase - I spit on you and your rubbish protocol!

Ok so back to fun stuff now that is out my system.

First off, the BF surprised me with this!

A selection of fabric bundles. He didn't realise what he was buying and for some reason thought each bundle was 8 x small 2.5 inch squares (roughly what I cut out and he sees lying around). As that didn't seem like much he got 6 lots and a surprise when it arrived last week.  However, I love that he knows me well enough that this was much better than flowers or chocolate.  and I adore the tie dye style fabric.

Hexie counts this week are 2 more completed flowers and some fabric cut.

 total completed flowers

Cat is extremely interested every time I take photos or perhaps want to be centre of attention (you can spot the paws above).  This leads to cat 'fun'.......


Balancing act

Being a useful prop

Makes me smile at least!

Total counts are now: 6 hexagon flowers
Basted hexies: ~ 10ish

I've been thinking about finishing it (planning ahead), and am thinking that a dark blue solid around the flowers and as a border so the reds really pop out.  I'm also looking at sewing machines.  Buying one is a few months off as I save up but I'm looking online for ideas and suggestions.  Anyone got any advice for a beginner sewing machine that can cope with quilting?  I just want sturdy and I doubt I will need fancy stuff even in the future.  Any advice would be appreciated or recommendations.  I think John Lewis will be visited so I can see them in action and then friends ones as well.

As always on a Monday, linking up with http://lifeunderquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/monday-morning-star-count-20146.html

Ax

exercise update 9th Feb

Phew, I have exercised this week but maybe not enough to please Mr Polar.  After trapeze on Friday, I am bruised and missing some skin on my hips - right where my jeans lie - ouchy!  It turns out the move we are learning - I can do.  The basic move that we do right after - I can't do.  It's the same with silks, the routine that I had learned and could do has gone all wrong after adding a new climb to the start.  I have no idea what is going on but I'm trying...

This weeks stats were:

• Monday - metafit, walk into and out of work (1 hour each way)
• Tuesday - morning run (short)
• Wednesday - 5.8 k morning run, spin class then pole
• Thursday - bums and tums
• Friday - trapeze
• Sunday - short run

Mr Polar says

Zone 1: 228%
Zone 2: 34% (FAIL)
Zone 3: 760%

Achieved 5h 26 min (target 3 h 10 min) woohoo!!

I'm considering getting a foot pod to track my distance but the main thing is that I need to build up distance and include hills.
Next week, I'm aiming for 2 long runs.  I can do this.......

Ax

Monday Morning Star Count

Technically a day late but I did the count and photo yesterday!

This week my totals are:

hexagon flowers: 4
basted hexagons: 20.

hexagon flowers (also realising how old my carpet is!)

This week I have made startling discoveries in the world of quilting:

1. It's very easy to incorporate your fingers into a hexagon
2. Duvets make excellent pincushions as long as you remember where you stuck needle/pin
3. sewing in bed - good!
4. sewing at lunchtime at work - good!
5. sewing when tired - not good (sewed fingers)
6. addiction to looking at fabrics when stuck at science - rising!
7. cats wearing hexagon flowers as hats/decoration - funny and deserves a photo next week :)

Steady progress I think and a lot of fun

Ax

monitoring exercise

As I have mentioned before, I started late in life to exercise (late in life being 30ish to me) and it's on-going progress.  In order to help me, the BF gave me a heart rate monitor for Christmas. 
 





Personal trainer 

 

Now this just isn't any old heart rate monitor, no this also tells you what you should be doing.  You set it up with your details and tell it what you want to do. I chose increase fitness.  It tells you what zones you should be working in and for how long.  Zones are measured by your heart rate output. zone 1 being low and zone 3 high.  Every Sunday at midnight you get a message telling you how well or bad you are doing and what you need to do the following week.  If you do well, you get a trophy!

 

Well, I'm falling out with mine.  This week despite doing 5 hours and 6 min of exercise, have I achieved my goals for this week? NO!!!!!

I have done 290% zone 1 (which it did tell me to increase for this week), 455% in zone 3 and 29% zone 2.  I have failed zone 2 this week.  I have no idea how I did this as normally I get there in zumba and by walking.  Obviously both were a bit slow this week but its so infuriating.  I'm dreading the feedback as I feel I have let it down.  I also think I am weird for feeling this way towards a watch.

In part this is due to signing up to a 10k which is more like 10 miles through mud and up mountains and I'm panicking about it.  The watch needs to help me!

 

It will be fine though and next week I shall start again.

 

This week I have managed:

 

• Monday: metafit, walked in and out of work (1hr each way)
• Tuesday: 20 min run
• Wednesday: spinning (but was sick half way through so second half was not good - virus still hanging around and I was hemmed in so had to swallow :(   )
• Thursday: zumba
• Friday: trapeze
• Sat: nothing

Sunday: 33 min run through mud and up hill

 

More planned for next week and it will be better!

 

Ax