Run'nknit

Comments on this weekends long run...

2009-03-29T18:26:00.003+02:00

We have increased the distance of our weekend-run to 15 km from this weekend. There is 5 weeks to the ½Marathon - and I think, we are doing fine compared to what we had planned and what can be expected. But there is one concern: Liv is still ill and vomiting. A lot. So we have to make an alternative training plan for her, where she'll get some 'km's in the legs' without running long distances where she'll have to stop 10-20 times on a run to puke! It is of course not fun for her to vomit - but it also breaks her running rhytm. So we'll work on a 'plan B' for her this week - and the we'll see how it will work.

Something else on todays' run: it was the absolutely most fantastic spring weather and it was an increadibly pleasure!

Running again - now with joy!

2009-03-16T22:18:00.003+01:00

After having had back problems for approximately 6 months I have found it kind of hard to get back running again. It is partly because I haven't been able to exersize so my shape is... ehm...very far from what it used to be! So it is physically hard to get out and run again. Almost like.... the first time!? And then there is the psychological thing: My brain doesn't like me to be so slow, heavy and badly running, so it makes all kinds of tricks to prevent me from running. All kinds of bad excuses like no time, too tired, too bad weather, too cold, too rainy, too windy, too late, too little time, my back hurting... and so on...

But in the last two-three weekends I have been running with Liv and Frej as part of their ½marathon training, and that has reminded me about how fun it can be to run. The weather has been ok for the time of the year. Not that cold and only a little rainy. And as it is part of their ½M training - we have been running in a relatively slow tempo and have had time and air to talk and laugh... Suddenly I forgot all the thoughts and bad excuses and just enjoyed running, the great company, the weather and the early spring...

I think - apart from the great company - that running without thinking about speed/time/distance/planning it, but just focusing on the run - on moving - enjoying it - has been how I found 'my old love' for running again...

En ny weekend forude!

2009-03-07T00:01:00.005+01:00

Sidste weekend forsvandt, inden jeg nærmest havde opdaget, at den var der. Det får ikke lov til at ske denne gang! Jeg vil forsøge at trække den i langdrag og nyde den, og den skal ikke få lov til at forsvinde uden, at jeg har opdaget, at den var der!
Jeg startede egentlig weekenden med at købe blomster til mig selv på vej hjem fra arbejde. En lille urtepotte med blå perlehyacinther, der nu står på spisebordet og er sarte og fine i al deres blå-hed. Blå-hed - det var egentlig et godt ord for, hvordan de står der og er blå og lidt gennemsigtige og slet ikke ligner noget andet.
Jeg købte også en julerose - sådan en af den gammeldags type med sarte rosa-grønne blomster. Jeg var heldig at finde en med både mange blade og mange knopper. Jeg synes ellers nogen gange, at juleroser enten har blade eller har knopper og aldrig begge dele. Det virker som om, at de kun har kræfter til at lave en af delene... men altså ikke denne her. Den er rigtig fin!
Lige nu står den godt nok udenfor terassedøren og er slet ikke pakket ud endnu. Det var mørkt, inden jeg kom hjem, og da planen er, at den skal pakkes ud og plantes over i en lidt større krukke og så ellers stå ved hoveddøren og pynte, så gjorde mørket, at det må vente til i morgen.
I morgen står den i øvrigt på sykursus sammen med Liv. Det glæder jeg mig til, først og fremmest selvfølgelig, fordi det er smadderhyggeligt at have sådan en 'mor-datter' dag, men også fordi det er rart at lave noget, der er så forskelligt fra, hvad jeg ellers går og giver mig af med. Jeg tror, det er det der med at lave noget med mine hænder - noget, der kan bruges her og nu (eller ihvertfald om ganske kort tid) - og noget som også oftest er ret 'visuelt'. I hvertfald hvis man sammenligner med det at pipettere farveløse væsker fra et eppendorfrør til et andet, som en stor del af mit manuelle arbejde går ud på... Så er der nu noget ganske andet ved en frakke man selv har syet eller et par hjemmestrikkede mangefarvede og stribede strømper...

Endelig weekend - og nu er den allerede ovre?

2009-03-01T19:54:00.002+01:00

Jeg har virkelig længtes efter denne weekend - og nu er den allerede næsten ovre! Tænk - jeg synes, jeg har oplevet dette her før. Altså at god tid bare flyver afsted! :)

Men der er også bare sket en masse i løbet af weekenden. Alt muligt lige fra at fejre Birgitte's fødselsdag, bage rugbrød, være på sykursus, løbe med Frej og Liv (Åhh, det var så hyggeligt!) til at starte ny strik op.... Superdejligt alt sammen - og jeg er nu klar til en ny uge! :)

Men inden jeg vender tilbage til mit strikkeri et enkelt billede af gaven til Birgitte. Et filtet sjal i 50% morbærsilke og 50% merino uld. Det er super blødt, florlet og meget meget vellykket. Synes jeg selv, altså...

Yo - uventet fridag!

2009-02-22T23:30:00.003+01:00

Jeg fik en uventet fridag, og hvor var det bare godt. Jeg fik godt nok ikke løbet, hvad jeg ellers gerne ville - men til gengæld fik jeg bagt en syv-hulens masse rug- og speltbrød, bekæmpet nullermænd i ankelhøjde og snavsetøjsbunker, der ud over at være sundhedsfarlige også gav fare for laviner, når man forsøgte at passere dem i kælderen.... Nogle af de der ting, der bare trængte til at blive gjort, og som - nu hvor jeg havde tiden - var en fornøjelse at få gjort! Det gav li'som energi til andre ting at få de der ellers lidt kedelige ting af vejen.

Så lidt sjov med strik og lignende blev der også tid til, så nu er der 9 pinde tilbage af den kedelige del af sjalet!

Dagen sluttede med et besøg af min slovenske samarbejdspartner Milka, som skulle udsættes for en traditionel dansk frokost. Godt nok ved aftensmadstide, men ellers ret traditionelt frokostagtigt. Sild, æg, frikadeller.... den slags.... Rugbrød, snaps og øl. Jeg har næsten altid udenlandske samarbejdspartnere med hjemme til sådan en frokost på et eller andet tidspunkt. Det er noget de fleste synes er sjovt og anderledes - og Milka var ikke en undtagelse. Det var sjovt og hyggeligt. Hun gengældte så med at lære mig at lave slovensk kaffe, så nu står den på kaffe med grums de næste par dage! Det smager vældig godt, men gad vide om jeg kan sove i nat?

Til sidst et billede af Stella og Herman, som gør mig glad - og som jeg gerne vil dele med andre. 'Renlighed er en dyd' kunne billedet hedde?!

6 dage og 12 pinde

2009-02-21T16:23:00.002+01:00

Jeg er på arbejde, men holder lige en enkelt kaffepause. Så dette blogindlæg bliver ikke længere end hvad jeg kan nå at skrive, mens jeg drikker en halv kop halvkold og kedelig kaffe (det kan på den anden side set godt tage lang tid, for den smager ikke særlig godt!).
Den sidste uge er gået med arbejde, arbejde og atter arbejde. Heldigvis har det egentlig flasket sig rigtig godt. Instrumentet har virket, konstruktet (mit hjertebarn!) fungeret - og forsøgene er gået upåklageligt! Så jeg er træt og mast af at arbejde meget og holde meget lidt fri, men også glad og lidt stolt. Det er fedt, når det går godt.
Men om 6 dage er der atter tid til at holde fri i en weekend, og det glæder jeg mig til! For nu er jeg ved at trænge til at være hjemme. Og om 12 pinde (ifølge sidste masketælling!) er jeg klar til at lukke sjalet af og begynde på en flæsekant, der - håber jeg - er mere interessant end den variation over glatstrik, som jeg har dyrket de sidste uger i min sparsomme fritid.
Indtil da: fuldtidarbejde kombineret med dagdrømning om hjemmefarvet og -spundet garn, filtede tørklæder, syning af tasker og af hjemmefiltet jakke.... dejligt nybagt brød.... frisk og varm kaffe....

Tanker omkring at kede sig

2009-02-18T15:43:00.002+01:00

Jeg blev jo færdig med min elskede aran sweater - og begyndte så at strikke ret intensivt på en gave jeg fik til jul af min søster. Det drejer sig om et 'blomstersjal', som hun har købt mønster og garn til på Læsø. Garnet er blødt og sart æblegrønt. En meget fristende farve (og læsere af Ulla Andkjær Olsen kan sikkert genkende citatet - andre burde se at finde den nærmeste bog-pusher og købe en af hendes digtsamlinger!! De er skønne!), som jeg egentlig holder meget af. Og de udendørstemperaturer, der er pt, gør også projektet til ret relevant. Jeg fryser simpelthen hele tiden og konstant. Men tilbage til strikkeriet: jeg er simpelthen ved at dø af kedsomhed. Der er så lidt variation i mønstret - farven er jo - ja - æblegrøn, dejlig og ensfarvet - og hvor kan man dog nærmest sidde ret op og ned og falde i søvn. Så vidt jeg kan tælle mig frem til, så mangler jeg lige nu at udtage '21 masker' før jeg er færdig (altså med selve sjalet - bagefter skal der laves en flæsekant, men det bliver dog væsentligt mindre kedeligt, for der er ingen gentagelser!) - og da jeg udtager i gennemsnit 1,5 per pind, så svarer det til 14 pinde.... 14 pinde a ca 280-300 masker. Det er helt uoverskueligt lige nu.
Og så er det, at jeg begynder at overveje om det virkelig er sundt at kede sig? Altså - det er jo et udsagn, som jeg har hørt gentaget ofte og tit, men er det virkelig rigtigt? Og hvad er det lige for noget 'sundt' der er ved det?
Foreløbigt strikker jeg jo videre. Det ville være fedt at have sjalet færdig, mens det er så koldt, for det er jo nu jeg har brug for det - og ikke når det lige om lidt bliver forår og solen skinner og jeg skal ud og løbe og passe haven og alt det andet... Men hvor det dog bare trækker i mig for at finde på en eller anden ting at lave, der var sjovere. Rigtig overspringshandlingsagtigt!
Og jeg har faktisk siddet og dagdrømt om både filteprojekter, syprojekter og andre strikkeprojekter, der kunne laves og som jeg lige kan se for mig, mens jeg sidder og strikker den ene pind i glatstrikning eller blomstermønster efter den anden i mit ensfarvede garn. Faktisk er det så kedeligt at jeg sågar har dagdrømt om arbejde, der også lige kunne klares sådan en aften.... Jeg er dog ikke kommet så langt ud, at jeg er begyndt at gøre rent i stedet for at strikke. Der er åbenbart stadig grænser for galskaben... :)

Men om 14 pinde, så skal jeg noget andet.....!

Endelig blev aran sweateren færdig!

2009-02-08T22:43:00.003+01:00

Den har været meget længe undervejs. Først fordi den blev strikket i garn, som jeg ikke var tilfreds med, og det skulle skiftes, og så kunne jeg ikke få nok fra forretningen og måtte bestille mere hjem, og det var længe længe undervejs (Er der virkelig så langt til Norge? Det er ganske almindeligt Per Gynt garn). Og bagefter fordi ting bare tager tid (T3) og der var mange andre projekter og arbejde og familie og marathonløb og dårlig ryg og dårlige undskyldninger, der altsammen skulle passes... Aran'en lå der og lå og stirrede anklagende på mig, hver gang jeg var i nærheden, for den kedede sig dernede i kurven. Der skete for lidt!

Men i efteråret kom der lidt gang i aran projektet igen. Så blev det afbrudt, fordi jeg kom til at love Frigg en sweater i julegave og pludselig var det høje tid og alle andre hobbyprojekter måtte lade livet for at jeg kunne få Friggs lilla 'Munk' færdig til juleaften... Og endelig blev der igen tid til at strikke på aran'en. Den nåede næsten at blive et helt år, inden den blev færdig, men nu er den det. Monteret og blokket og meget meget varm og dejlig! Se selv:

I gang igen

2009-02-08T22:05:00.002+01:00

Vejret på den nordlige del af Fyn i formiddag var noget af det smukkeste! Der var næsten ikke en vind, der rørte sig. Solen stod højt, og landskabet var en blanding af vinter og spirende forår på både mark og skov. Der var is på vandpytterne, men solen gjorde at man havde forårsfornemmelser. Og vinterbyggen stod sart forårsgrøn på markerne...
Og det var stort for jeg kom ud! Tullede en 10-12 km i et adstadigt tempo. Forsøgte mig med at spurte op ad alle bakkerne (og der ER bakker i området ved Røjle skov!) - og det gik egentlig godt. Jeg løb uden ur. Det ville have været for deprimerende med ur - og formålet var jo klart nok: at komme ud og at komme igang med at løbe igen ovenpå tre måneders stilstand. Og faktisk havde jeg en meget bedre løbetur idag end jeg havde frygtet på forhånd. Ikke noget med at syre totalt til op ad bakkerne - og ikke noget med at gå kold undervejs, men pænt regelmæssigt tempo hele vejen rundt. Og med det vejr - og det smukke landskab med udsigt både over Lillebælt, Føns og Båring Vig undervejs - og diverse skove, ja, så var det godt nok skønt!

Selvfølgelig er der et minus (det er der jo altid), og det er sådan et 'selvforskyldt' et: jeg glemte at strække ud bagefter. Jeg har aldrig tidligere haft brug for at strække ud efter løb, men nu hvor jeg har iskias problemer, såeh ... Ja, så skal jeg have strækøvelser ind som ren refleks efter en løbetur, for det gør s'gu ondt bagefter, når jeg glemmer det! Gad vide om det kan løbes væk?
:)

IN løbet - and the rest of the week

2008-09-14T19:55:00.003+02:00

Today I participated in the annual IN løb, arranged by AK73. This time they held it in Valby parken, and that was a completely new place for me to run, but it will not be the last time I'm running there! It was a beautiful place - and less crowded than the normal round in Fælledparken. The small gardens were filled with flowers - and the huge trees in the alley were gigantic and gave me associations to the 'ent's' in Tolkiens Lord of the Rings.... They didn't speak to me or move, though... :)

The rest of the week has been very busy and I needed this weekend badly... Unfortunately is the weekend already over, and I still need a break! Tomorrow I'll pack for a week long meeting in Cambridge. I love Cambridge, but I wish I had just a bit more energy. There will be a lot of networking and socializing with collaborators in the evenings after the seminars. Not what I need the most after last week. Guess I can sleep when I get old...? :)

Bellatrix socks

2008-09-07T18:06:00.004+02:00

I have finished the first Bellatrix sock and hope to finish the second tonigth.... As shown on the picture is the first one already in use. The picture does not show the user, but it is Liv....
It is really nice to have a daughter who likes what I'm doing. I quietly wonder if I'm allowed to use them myself? ....and if not... what will I do about that? ...life is full of tuff questions sometimes...
:)

Strandvejsmarathon

2008-08-25T11:18:00.003+02:00

Yesterday approximately 200 runners joined Sarah and Jesper for one day in their World Run II Project. We ran from beautiful Helsinore to Østerbro stadium in Copenhagen along the coast on a day with sun, very little wind and autumn colors starting on the leaves in the forests...
On a route like that and on a day with so beautiful weather, I think it is 'easy' to run a marathon... Thinking about it, I actually believe that to run one marathon no matter the weather, here in europe, will be easy compared to running marathon distances every day for three years through all different parts of the world....

Regarding the run. It was a 'social marathon', so no competition, but all running together as one group. It was a good experience, the relatively low speed (approx 6 min per km) made it possible to both have conversations going with new friends plus to enjoy the beautiful surroundings (I can understand why the houses in that area are amongst the most expensive in Denmark!) and view to Øresund.
On beforehand I had many speculations about how the sprain of my right food (which I got during the running week three weeks ago) would react on a marathon... My physiotherapist didn't recommend, that I did the marathon, and I normally follow his recommendations. But not this time. This run would never be repeated, so it was a now or never....
To my relief I have no problems today! I am a bit sore, but so little that I think it will be gone after a few days relaxation. So good news for my Berlin Marathon on the 28th of September! :)
:)

Herman 2

2008-08-20T18:28:00.003+02:00

En lille updatering på Hermans ve og vel.
Han blev undersøgt af dyrlægen, der heldigvis ikke kunne finde noget på ben eller hofte. Hun mente, at han måske havde pådraget sig en virusinfektion. Tilsyneladende kan katte få en infektion, der sætter sig i led....
Han fik antibiotika og er blevet tvangsmadet med special kost til syge katte - og nu to dage efter spiser han selv, er vågen en del af tiden - og kan selv stavre rundt. Måske ikke specielt yndefuldt, men dog bevæge sig fra A til B.... Så vi er lettede og glade!

Han er meget meget savnet af Stella, der simpelthen keder sig enormt. Hun mangler sin legekammerat....

A short update on Hermans health. He was examined by the veterinarian, who could not find anything wrong with his leg or hip. Luckily! He has now got antibiotics and a special food for sick cats (he has been FORCED to eat by injecting the food in his mouth by the use of a syringe - repeatedly until he swallowed it). Now two days later he is able to eat on his own. He is more awake. And he is now able to get from A to B - not in any very athletic way, though...
But it is such a relief for us all! :)

He is very missed by Stella who really really needs him to be ok and ready to play. She is so bored without him....

Herman

2008-08-18T11:36:00.006+02:00

Sidst jeg bloggede, havde jeg selv en dårlig dag, men kunne dog slutte indlægget med 'men kattene har det godt....' Det kan jeg så desværre ikke længere, for Herman er blevet syg. Han har ikke spist siden lørdag, har feber - og så halter han på venstre ben...

Han ser jo ret nuttet ud, når han ligger der krøllet sammen på sofaen.

Men der er intet der kan 'vække' ham. Han vil ikke lege eller kæle - og selv yndlingsspisen torskerogn lader han ganske urørt. Vi har i dag forsøgt at give ham bare en lille bitte smule vand med en fem ml engangssprøjte. Det er sådan et godt børnetrick, når de er små og ikke gider tage deres medicin - men man kan ikke få en kattekilling til at drikke på den måde. Man kan få den til at springe ned fra sofaen - og så gør det ondt på den og den humper fornærmet væk. Så det prøvede vi kun een gang...

Nu har den gemt sig inde mellem havehynderne, hvor den tror der er fred. Hvad den ikke ved - eller måske? - er at den om lidt skal indfanges og køres til dyrlæge. Hele familien håber og ber til at det er noget den kan komme sig over. Frigg græd på vej til skole - og de to store er lige så rystede, men endnu fattede. Jeg tror måske vi alle græder indeni i dag....

Followed by bad luck...

2008-08-12T17:00:00.003+02:00

Brokke, brokke brokke....Jeg er forfulgt af uheld disse dage.

Sommerens 'finitis' har gjort at jeg kun har to strikkeprojekter igang, og begge driller! Jeg fik snoet en snoning forkert på min aransweater, opdagede det sent, så jeg har trævlet et pænt stort stykke op og lige nu er jeg bare træt af den. Som om det ikke var nok, så har jeg nu en maske for meget på min cirkeltrøje og kan ikke finde ud af hvor jeg har fået den fra. Jeg har talt og talt og kontrolleret i en uendelighed, men uden held. Og hvad gør man så?

Jeg tror nok begge projekter får lov at ligge et par dage eller to og så starter jeg noget nyt op. Noget der ikke kræver tælning! :)

Som om det ikke var nok, så har jeg hold i nakken, og dagens besøg hos en fysioterapeut har ikke gjort det bedre. Og så slutter dagens klynke-blog-indlæg med at jeg også har en overbelastningsskade i højre ben. Det er trælst når der venter et marathon om 12 dage!

Men.... kattene har det godt! :)

I have had a lot of unluck the last days. I've made mistakes in both the two knitting projects who survived this summers 'finitis'. I made a cable 'the wrong way' on my aran sweater and realised it very late. So I have frogged a large part of it and I am now sick and tired of the aran. On top of that I have one stich too much on the circle cardigan. I have counted and counted and counted and can't find out where it comes from. And I don't know how to continue on that...???

So now they will both be 'hibernating' and I'll start something new which doesn't include a lot of counting stiches and following patterns!

On top of that I have a neck problem and todays visit at the local 'fysioterapeut' didn't improve it at all. Todays 'whining-blog' ends with stating that I have also injured my right leg. Very simple: I have been running too much lately. Annoying when there is a marathon planned for August 24th...

But.... the cats are fine.... :)

New family members....

2008-08-10T10:48:00.006+02:00

I går fik vi familieforøgelse. To vidunderlige katte - Stella og Herman - er flyttet ind. Stella er en smuk ung dame på ca 1 år, der allerede færdes meget hjemmevant i huset - og som har tilbragt natten i Livs seng. Hun er selskabelig og kælen, men også en lille smule aristokratisk reserveret. Trefarvet på den smukkeste måde og en dygtig jæger, der bekæmper både fluer og edderkopper. Sidstnævnte er jeg ret glad for....! Kan ikke li' edderkopper....

Herman er kun ca 4 måneder og er lidt genert. De første mange mange timer gemte han sig. Han fik hverken mad eller drikke - og vi endte med at være lidt bekymrede. Men pludselig kom han snigende - meget meget forsigtigt kiggede han ud fra skjulet og drønede så ind under en sofa - og derfra har han gradvist undersøgt det meste af huset. Han mener nu at have fundet sig et godt og sikkert sted hos Friggs elskede Tiger.... Der er der trygt!

De er heldigvis gode venner. Aldersforskellen gør nok, at der ikke er tvivl om hvem der bestemmer - samtidigt med at Stella ikke er for gammel til at lege....

Yesterday we got two new family members: two wonderful cats - Stella and Herman - moved in.

Stella is a beautiful young lady (approx 1 year) who has already made the house HER domain. She slept in Livs bed tonight - and is a very social and loving cat. She has three colors and is a great hunter - hunting my spiders in the basement! Great as I dislike spiders....!

Herman is a young (approx 3-4 months) hansom man, but more nervous and scared. He started hiding the first 6-8 hours with no food or water and we became a bit worried. But suddenly he came sneaking out - just to speed run into a new hiding place under a sofa. But he has now - slowly - investigated the house and believes he has found a new very safe and secure hiding place with Friggs most beloved Tiger!

They are - luckily - good friends. The age difference makes Stella the sole emperor (emperess?) of the kingdom - but she is at the same time not too old to play with him...

Count down

2008-08-03T15:06:00.002+02:00

My weekend is disappearing.... don't know how?!

I've finished the oil treatment of the windows, have painted two of them for the first time - but two huge are still to go. And it has been raining today: no windows = no good!
Knitted like 18 cm on the last sleeve on the abotanicity dress. 12 cm to go!! OK - I can almost see the finish line on that project. Very nice feeling when everything else is not even close to be finished!
Done three machine's of laundry.... Kids can come home from grandmother now. There are clean clothes ready...
Baked the weekly rye bread. Uhm.... smelling great!

I haven't been out running this weekend and I'm getting restless.... and I've read far too little compared to what I wanted to do.... Where did my weekend go????

What now?

2008-08-02T10:55:00.003+02:00

Løbeugen sluttede igår med 10 km rundt om Bagsværd sø. Det var en meget meget smuk tur med kæmpemæssige egetræer, skovlysninger og bakker (mange bakker - så er det at man kan mærke sine ben!) - og så søen ved siden af på en stor del af ruten! Hvorfor er det dog jeg aldrig er kommet på at cykle ud til rostadium og så løbe rundt selv? Længere væk er Bagsværd jo heller ikke - og der er alt det man ikke får som løber i 'flade' Rødovre!

The running week ended yesterday with a 10 k run around Bagsværd sø. It is a very very beautiful trail with huge old oak trees, hills (a lot!) and a fantastic view to the lake on most of the trail. Why have I never got the idea to bike there to run around the lake on my own? In the end Bagsværd is not that far away - and there is all what 'flat-like-a-pancake' Rødovre hasn't!

Men hvad nu? Løbeugen er overstået, og jeg har pludselig en masse tid og energi, som jeg skal have brugt på noget andet end at løbe! :)

I dag kommer jeg nok til at gøre noget ved det der træværk og vinduerne der skulle males. Det projekt er jeg ikke færdig med endnu og der er lovet regn! Men mon ikke der bliver tid til at få gjort Abotanicitien færdig?! Der mangler så relativt lidt - ca 25-30 cm af et ærme i ribstrik.... og så må jeg jo bruge tiden med malerpenslen til at udtænke nye planer! :)

But what now? The running week has ended, and I have suddenly a lot of time and energy for my self! :)

Today I have to finish the painting of the windows. The weather forecast promises rain, so it is about time to get the windows back in place! But hopefully there will be time enough to finish the Abotanicity in between the painting?! There is only 25-30 cm left on a sleeve in rib.... and then I can plan new knitting/felting/sewing projects while painting! :)

Oops...

2008-07-31T23:34:00.003+02:00

I survived the beach run. My legs didn't cramp - that much - and got a blue toe nail - again. Yesterday I didn't participate in the daily run. Needed a break - and my blue nail needed a break too.
Today I was back - this time running in Jonstrup Vang, where I have never been before. It was actually a beautiful and peaceful wood - and fun, and I think I'll go there again. Best wood for running relatively close to where I live which I have discovered yet!!! :)
Tomorrow is last running day in the 'Bornholm-lookalike-etapeløb' in my running club. We're running around Bagsværd sø - and will celebrate with dinner afterwards... We have been around ten people running together and I think we've had a good atmosphere despite the exercizing and I believe the 'celebration dinner' will be fun too..... :)

Now to the 'Oops'...
Oops I did it again: signed up for one more marathon....
Not at all sure it is a good idea one month before Berlin, but I'm looking forward to do it. And sometimes I think it is important to follow what you would like and not just do what would be clever.... (Remind me when I'm whining in a month)

When 10 = 20....

2008-07-29T11:36:00.002+02:00

I denne uge deltager jeg i et etapeløb arrangeret af Novo's løbeklub. Det kaldes 'Bornholm-look-alike' fordi vi efterligner etapeløbet på Bornholm, hvor deltagerne løber sammenlagt 42 km fordelt på fem dage - og i alle slags terræn spændende fra løb på stranden til løb i skov/bakker/klipper....
I går foregik det i 30 C varme i Dyrehaven. Ruten var annonceret som en 10 km, og jeg tænkte lidt naivt, at så kunne jeg da løbe derud og tilbage til HRI igen - det ville give tre ekstra km hver vej - og det var jo ingenting....
Så jeg luntede de tre km til start og var allerede godt svedt, da jeg kom frem. Så begyndte vi at løbe, dvs først løb vi knap fire km som opvarmning.... Så da starten gik til min 10 km, havde jeg tilbagelagt næsten 7 km - og altså i 30 C varme....
Selve 10 km'eren blev tilbagelagt i selskab med en kollega, som jeg faktisk ikke kendte på forhånd. Men vi løb i ca samme tempo - og jeg følte det som at vi støttede hinanden, når det indimellem blev hårdt. Dels det der 'konkurrence agtige' med at man ikke vil give op, når den anden stadig kan fortsætte, men også bare det at have selskab, så man lidt glemmer at have ondt af sig selv fordi det går opad, er varmt, varmt, varmt.... og der er langt endnu.
Så stor tak til Tamara for godt selskab! :)
Tilbage er vel bare at nævne at jeg kom igennem - og også helt hjem til HRI, selv om de sidste tre km blev tilbagelagt i et meget adstadigt tempo! Havde måske nok taget cyklen, hvis jeg havde vidst at de 10 ikke var 10, men 14.... :)
I dag venter endnu en etape - dennegang noget der på papiret hedder ca 6km - men da det er et strandløb, og temperaturerne nok er ca de samme som igår, så lur mig om ikke det vil føles som det dobbelte.... Pyh, jeg tror jeg vil kunne mærke mine ben bagefter...

This week I participate in a run arranged by my running club at Novo. It is arranged in the same way as a famous danish run at Bornholm, where the participants run a total of 42 km on five days, with tracks on the beach, in the wood, with hills etc....
Yesterday's run was announced as a 10 k in Dyrehaven, relatively close to my work. I was a bit naive and decided to run from work to start - and return. That would give me three km both ways - and that was 'nothing'.... Well, I would prove me wrong later....
So i ran the three km to start and was very warm when I arrived, just to find out that we started with a four km warm up run. So at the starting line I had run seven km and was almost boiling in the sun...
I ran with a colleague I did'nt know on beforehand and had a really hard, challenging run. I think sometimes running with another can be really benefitial. There can be a lot of support in having company when it starts getting hard e.g. up hill.
So a big thank you to Tamara for good company!
Left is to say that I managed to get back to HRI, although the last three km was in a slower speed than the first. If I had known the 10 was 14 km - I would probably have taken the bike!

Today is waiting a 6 km track on the beach. The temperature is still very high, so I expect the 6 km will feel like the double!
Phew, I think I can 'feel' my legs after this....

A Confession....

2008-07-24T13:13:00.004+02:00

Jeg har en tilståelse. Ikke noget man som sådan skal skamme sig over eller som vil stemple en som en paria, som naboer, venner og bekendte fremover vil forsøge at undgå i den lokale fakta.... næh, det er egentlig ret fredsommeligt, men ikke desto mindre irrationelt, og som et menneske, der ynder at opfatte sig selv som værende logisk, fornuftigt, rationelt, så er det en hurdle at erkende dette: Jeg er bange for højder....

Udover det erkendelsesmæssige problem, så er det også ret upraktisk, når man skal male træværk på taget.... Det må jeg nok til at arbejde med....

I have a confession. Not something to be ashamed of, or something which will make neighbours, friends and family avoiding me when we meet in the local store... no, it is something very simple, but nonetheless irrationel, and as a person who likes to see myself as being both logical and rational, it is hard to accept this: I am afraid of heights....

It is not only a problem about self realization, it is also a practical problem when you're going to paint the wood at the roof.... Guess I have to start work on this!

Busy thursday....

2008-07-20T00:23:00.006+02:00

Jeg havde dejligt besøg af seks skønne kvinder - og en stak børn - i torsdags. Brygmesteren (også kendt som Mr. RunNOTknit) stod for at forkæle os med mad og hjemmebryg, så vi kunne koncentrere os om at strikke, hækle, filte, farve garn, male, lave smykker og spinde.... nå ja - og snakke....

Jeg blev forkælet med en masse gaver. Blandt andet et strikkekit fra By Kaae, som jeg har ønsket mig i lang tid! Nu må jeg så hellere få lært at strikke med to farver. :)

Jeg fik også nogle rundpinde til et 'strandet' projekt, så nu er der ikke nogen undskyldning for ikke at færdiggøre min cirkelfrakke fra Feminin Strik.

En af de ting jeg nød mest - udover det fantastiske selskab - var at se ungerne muntre sig. Det er sjovt at se, hvor kreative de er, når de får lov. Inge havde uld med - og Liv fik lov til at bruge løs. Det resulterede bl.a. i en 'strikketaske' som hun nu bruger til at opbevare sit strømpestrikketøj i....

Apropos strømpe strik, så inspirerede Charlottes gave (Hufflepuf strømperne) de store piger til at lave Harry Potter inspirerede tasker. De afslørede også et vist handelstalent, da de lavede aftaler med Heidi og Charlotte, hvor de byttede tasker for strømper!

Katrine er nu gået i gang med at lære at strikke - simpelthen, fordi hun vil have et par strømper fra hvert af de fire kollegier på Hogwarts. Og det kan vist kun gå for langsomt.

Thursday six fantastic women - and a bunch of children - visited. The Brewmaster (aka Mr. RunNOTknit) spoiled us with food and homebrew so we could concentrate on knitting, felting, dying, spinning, and other crafty things... and not to forget talking....

I was spoiled with very nice gifts - e.g. a sock kit from By Kaae which I have wanted for a long time and also some very needed needles for my hibernating circle coat project from 'Feminin knit'. Good for my 'Finitis' - no excuses for not getting the coat done now! :)

A very fascinating thing thursday was to experience how creative the old girls were. Inge had brought wool, and Liv was allowed to use some of it for a felted 'knitting bag' for her sock project.

Apropos socks, the 'sock gift' from Charlotte inspired the girls to make Harry Potter inspired felted bags. The girls also showed talents for trading as they managed to trade the Harry Potter inspired bags for handknitted socks from Heidi and Charlotte!

And Katrine has now started learning to knit. She simply wants a pair of socks from all four college's at Hogwarts! A strong motivator.... :)

Finitis attack

2008-07-15T10:36:00.005+02:00

I den første uge af ferien, hvor vi var i sommerhus, blev jeg angrebet af 'finitis'.... Jeg klarede at holde mig vågen igennem sidste del af Kafka's Processen! Det er godt nok en bog jeg har det ret dobbelt med. Den er godt skrevet, ingen tvivl om det. Den har egentlig ikke megen handling og er heller ikke svær at læse, men til gengæld gør den læseren små-paranoid og deprimeret. Og meget søvnig!

Efter den læste jeg 'Nora' færdig. Den har jeg også været i gang med i lang tid, så det var rart at gøre den færdig. 'Nora' er en biografi om James Joyces' kone Nora. Man får en masse information om deres liv, men jeg fik sådan en fornemmelse at at 'snage'.... Måske jeg er lidt sibbet og i virkeligheden ikke bryder mig om detaljerne om deres sex liv?

På håndarbejdssiden fik jeg strikket hulmønstret på 'Abotanicitien' færdig og hæklet Friggs striber helt færdig!

Først Abo'en....

Og så et billede af Friggs striber på tørresnoren! Det var blevet meget tungt at sidde med til sidst, så det er rart, at det er færdigt nu!

In the first week of my vacation I had a serious attack of 'finitis'.... I managed to keep awake long enough to finish Kafka's 'The process'. It is a book I have very mixed feelings about. It is well written, no doubt. But it makes me paranoid and depressed -and very sleepy!

After that I finished 'Nora'. Another book I have been NOT-reading for a long time. It is a biography about James Joyce's wife. I learned a lot about their life together, most of it very interesting but also almost to much. I could have been without the details about their sex life! I'm growing old....!

On the craft side I finished the lace pattern on my 'abotanicity' - and last but not least I finished Frigg's ribble! Yay, done it in less than one year! It had become very heavy to work with, so it is nice it is done now. And the result is good, I think!
:)

Hjemme igen /Home again

2008-07-15T10:26:00.003+02:00

Efter en uge i sommerhuset ved vestkysten, kom vi hjem lørdag aften. Desværre havde vi haft indbrud, mens vi var væk, så det var lidt trælst at komme hjem til. Faktisk temmeligt irriterende! På den anden side fik det Mr. RunNOTknit til at sortere alt sit tøj og rydde op i det, så det var da godt for noget.... Måske man skulle forsøge at simulere et indbrud i kælderen?
:)

After one week in the summer house at the west coast, we returned back saturday evening. Unfortunately someone had broken a window open and searched through the house while we had been away. Annoying! On the other hand it made MR. RunNOTknit to sort and organize his clothes, which was good..... maybe I should simulate a 'break-in' in the basement?? :)

Ferie planlægning/Vacation planning....

2008-07-04T14:20:00.003+02:00

Ferie, ferie, ferieeee.... den sang har kørt i mit hoved lige siden morgenmaden. Gæt om jeg glæder mig! Jeg har også planlagt - lidt i hvertfald....

Pakkeliste til een uges afslapning i øde sommerhus....

Kafka: Processen (mangler mindre end 50 sider, så selv om jeg sover efter fem sider, så bli'r den vel færdig nu?)
iPOD
Løbesko og -tøj (til min marathon træning... Endurance on the beach - lyder lidt som en fancy drink!?)
Kortspil til revanche over sidste ferie's forsmædelige nederlag i FISK til Frigg
Dostojevskij: Forbrydelse og straf
Hækletøj (mangler 10 striber på Frigg's sengetæpe)
Strikketøj (mangler ca 25 cm hulmønster på 'abotanicitien')
Hvidvin
Chokolade, chokolade og mere chokolade
Badetøj (man er vel optimist?)
Dankort (til besøget i 'Strikkefeen' i Thisted - meget dyrt sted fordi de har så meget lækkert man bliver nødt til at eje....)

Jeg har sikkert glemt noget, men mon ikke jeg klarer mig med ovenstående?

Åh - ferie, ferie, ferieeeee....

Vacation, vacation, vacatiooooonnnnnn.... has been going on and on in my head since breakfast. Guess if I'm looking forward to my vacation! I have also made some planning - a bit at least!

What to bring for one week in a isolated summer house:

Kafka's 'The proces' (Only 50 pages left, but I fall a sleep for every 5 pages. But I guess I'll be able to finish this vacation!)
My iPOD
Running gear for my marathon training.... endurance on the beach? Not the name on a new cocktail! :)
Cards for my revenge over last vacations humiliating lost games to Frigg in FISH!
Dostojevskij: Crime and punishment (don't know the english title, but this is a good guess!)
Friggs bed cover. Only ten colors more - then it is finished! :)
My favorite knit at the moment: abotanicity. Approx 25 cm left on the lace.
White wine
Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate
Swim wear (I'm an optimist!)
Visacard (For visiting the local yarn shop: 'Strikkefeen' in Thisted- very expensive place to visit for people linking great yarn!)

Hmm, I've probably forgotten something but I guess I'll manage without...?

Vacation, vacation, vacatiooonnnn....

D. 28 September kommer nærmere!

2008-07-01T11:53:00.004+02:00

Jeg er ved at planlægge sensommerens løb. Berlin Marathon d. 28. September kommer tættere på, og det er nødvendigt at få flere lange ture på programmet.

I Juli bliver det mest til hyggeløb på 'privat' basis, hvor planen er at løbe to gange (hver tur omkring 10 til 15 km i pænt tempo) i løbet af hverdagene - og så lægge en lang og langsom tur i weekenden. En lang tur er i denne sammenhæng længere end 20 km... Og langsom - tja, det er et sted mellem 5 og 6 min per km. I alt kommer jeg op på 120-130 km i Juli på den måde.
I uge 31 har jeg planlagt at deltage i løbeklubbens 'look-alike-etape bornholm-løbeuge'. Dvs at vi løber hver dag efter arbejde - i alt ca 42 km - og i forskelligt terræn. Det skal nok blive både sjovt og hårdt! Bakker er jo altid en udfordring for en 'adapteret fladlandsløber' som mig! :)

Planen for august er at fortsætte med to ture i løbet af hverdagene - nu på 15 km hver gang - og stadig en lang og langsom tur i weekenden. Lang er nu 30 km +. To af de lange ture er 'navngivet' - nemlig Strandvejsmarathon d. 24. august - og Esrum sø rundt d. 31. august. Jeg har tænkt meget frem og tilbage omkring at deltage i et andet marathon een måned før Berlin Marathon. Jeg har lidt besluttet mig for at smide al forsigtighed over styr og kalde dette for det sidste lange løb inden restitutionsperioden op til Berlin. Da Strandvejsmarathonet er et 'socialt marathon', dvs vi løber i samlet flok og i et relativt beskedent tempo (6 min per km, hvor jeg håber på en tid omkring de 4.45 min per km i Berlin), så tror jeg godt, jeg kan forsvare at inddrage det i min træning.... Ellers er det altså 'learning the hard way'!!! :)
August vil på denne måde ende på ca 160 km...

September er restitution, dvs ingen længere løb før d. 28. hvor det går løs i Berlin....

Det er planen. Jeg har stadig lidt sommerfugle i maven mht deltagelsen i Strandvejsmarathon'et, men måske jeg bare skal lade være med at beslutte det endnu og så lade tiden vise om jeg har 'ben til det'?!

Training in June

2008-07-01T08:42:00.003+02:00

Hurra! Jeg nåede Juni's løbemål - og det var rart ovenpå et par måneder, hvor jeg bare ikke fik løbet så meget som jeg gerne ville. Og nu er årets rejseri i det store hele overstået og jeg kan forhåbentlig begynde at træne lidt mere jævnt i stedet for forårets 'klumper' af intensiv træning blandet med perioder helt uden løb... :)

Hurray! I reached June's running goal - and that was very nice after the last months with little training. I have also finished most of the travelling for this year, so I hope to be able to train in a more 'even' way for the rest of the year... :)

Snow in June...

2008-06-23T21:52:00.003+02:00

Jeg er lige vendt tilbage fra et møde i San Francisco. Hjemme venter så en slags overraskelse - nemlig at vejret har været så godt at alt det forårsagtige og forsommeragtige er forsvundet... Jordbær, rabarber og hyldeblomster. Og med det også næsten muligheden for at lave den traditionelle hyldeblomstdrik! Oh ve...

Jeg nåede det dog, men det var godt nok i sidste øjeblik. Sjældent har jeg oplevet et så fantastisk snevejr, som da jeg forsøgte at plukke de sidste u-afblomstrede hyldebær skærme (hvorfor sidder de altid i toppen?)!

Jeg fik plukket nok til en enkelt portion hyldeblomssaft - mere kunne det ikke blive til, men det er også nok til at jeg er glad.... Hyldeblomster dufter bare vidunderligt!

I have returned from a meeting in San Francisco just to find out that while I've been away, the weather has been fantastic at home. So fantastic that all spring and early summer things have disappered! Strawberries, rhubarb and almost also the elderberry flowers! I was lucky and got the very last elderberry flowers from the top of my elderberry tree. It made a fantastic snow storm when I did it... very beautiful.... but only enough flowers for one single portion of elderberry flower 'juice'. I'll hide it for special occasions! :)

Dyrehaven rundt

2008-06-11T16:36:00.004+02:00

Jeg har ville løbe en lidt længere tur den sidste uges tid, men er hele tiden blevet 'forhindret' - så har jeg været for træt, det har været for varmt, det har været for tæt på spisetid/for tæt på at jeg lige har spist... alt muligt har der været i vejen.

Men i dag blev det til noget. Jeg fandt en pause i bygerne og kom afsted. Kursen blev sat mod Dyrehaven - og det holdt tørvejr hele vejen rundt! Det var dejligt, selvom jeg godt kan mærke at jeg ikke har løbet så regelmæssigt den sidste tid. Det må jeg til at gøre noget ved. Berlin marathon kommer nærmere nu.....

I have wanted to run a longer run for the last week, but there has been so many things preventing it: I have been too tired, it has been too late, too warm, too close to dinner, too close after a meal... everything...

But today I got out. I found a break between the showers (first rain in weeks!) and got out. The course was set for Dyrehaven - and it kept dry all the way! It was great to be out again, but I can feel I haven't been running regularly for the last month or two. Have to do something about that! Berlin marathon is getting closer now.....

She is fine...

2008-06-05T14:23:00.003+02:00

Liv har det fint igen. Hun har tilbragt en hel del tid den sidste uges tid som vist på billedet - men det er vel heller ikke den ringeste måde at være syg på??

Liv is Ok again. She has spent quite some time this week like shown at the picture - but that is probably not the worst way to be ill??

A bit of knitting on my aran sweater

2008-06-04T22:02:00.004+02:00

Nu fik jeg jo pludselig en uge forærende, hvor der ikke var planlagt noget (nå, jo det var der - men altsammen noget der skulle have foregået i Bruxelles!) - og så kastede jeg mig over min Aran sweater, der ellers har ligget lidt stille fordi sådan et tungt og tæt strikketøj ikke lige har været egnet til de mange og lange rejser jeg har haft de sidste to måneder.... Så nu skulle det være!

With this 'unplanned' vacation, I suddenly have had enough time to finish the back on my Aran sweater.
It has been 'left home alone' during my travelling in the last two months as it is too heavy and warm for being carried around in different air ports.

Jeg holder meget af at strikke den slags mønstre. Kombinationen af at der aldrig er to pinde i træk der ligner hinanden - og så det meget grafiske i skyggemønstrene - tiltaler mig meget.
Jeg har forsøgt mig med et nærbillede i håbet om at man der bedre kan se hvor skarpt mønstret står.

I like to knit that kind of patterns. The combination of never having two rows with the same - and the very graphic in the 'shadow' pattern appeals to me. I have tried to catch it with a close up picture....

Things to do when not in Brussels....

2008-06-04T20:58:00.004+02:00

Vi skulle have været på en uges ferie i Bruxelles denne uge. Men aftenen før afgang fik Liv 40 i feber og kraftige mavesmerter. Vi havde en vagtlæge til at undersøge hende - det kunne jo være en blindtarmsbetændelse, men det var det heldigvis ikke. Og heller ikke andet rigtigt seriøst. Men rejse kunne vi ikke.

Så denne uge er helt uventet gået herhjemme i ro og mag - og vi har med glæde studeret vejrudsigten og set at det storregner i Bruxelles ,og at vi har sol herhjemme. Så selv om det er synd for Liv, så er vi andre glade for, at vi ikke skal gå rundt i regn, men er hjemme i solen....

We should have been in Brussels on vacation this week. But the night before departure Liv had 40 C in fewer and strong stomach pain. We had her checked by a medical doctor - and luckily nothing serious was found, but she was not able to travel. At all.
So this week ended up - unexpectedly - in Denmark - and luckily - here we have nice sunny weather where it is raining cats and dogs in Brussels!

Og hvad har vi så brugt tiden til? I flæng kan nævnes:

Brygmesteren har brygget tre øl....
Frigg og jeg har fået syet Maj færdig.

Og de to store rødder har spillet computer og sovet. Sådan lidt på skift.... begge to. De har nok haft godt af det....

And what have we all done this week?

A few examples:
Mr. RUNnotknit has brewed three different beers....
Frigg and I finished her doll. She is named Maj.
And the two old ones have slept and played pc games. I think they needed it. A break I mean....

Hvad der manglede i 'Paradis'....

2008-06-01T12:10:00.005+02:00

Da jeg sidste uge var til møde på Maui, oplevede jeg en ø der var 'paradisisk smuk'. Der var alt fra kridhvid sandstrand til bjerge, palmer, vandfald og regnskov.
Men min morgenmad bestod af kage. Min frokost af hvidt brød med en eller anden form for mayonnaise. Og selv om aftensmaden blev indtaget på fine og dyre restauranter og maden var veltilberedt, så var det også småt med noget der kunne minde om fibre i den mad, der blev serveret der... Så mig og min mave længtes hjem til familien og hjem til mit eget hjemmebagte rugbrød!
Derfor får I nu en lovprisning af hjemmebagt rugbrød!
Min karriere som rugbrødsbager startede for ca 20 år siden. Min ene nabo på kollegiet hed Lena, og læste historie. Hun vidste de 'særeste ting' (Delvist den klassiske forskel mellem humaniora og naturvidenskabsfagene. Og så var hun nok også nogle år ældre og betydeligt mere moden, og jeg ikke særligt gammel eller moden - hvilket nok også var med til at hun fremstod som MEGET klog!). Men tilbage til rugbrødet. Lena bagte sit eget rugbrød af en surdej, der levede sit eget liv i kollegiets køleskab. Altid ceremonielt overdrysset med groft salt - en ting der fascinerede og undrede mig dybt. Hvordan kunne der komme noget spiseligt ud af noget der måtte være SÅ salt??? Og hvad gjorde det salt egentlig godt for???
Efter bagning blev hendes brød altid omhyggeligt pakket ind i rene viskestykker og lagret en dag inden der blev taget hul på dem - og nu ved jeg ikke om min hukommelse spiller mig et puds, men jeg husker det som om hun opbevarede dem indpakket i viskestykkerne og at hendes rugbrød kunne holde sig lang lang tid uden at blive hverken tørt eller 'mulet'...
Jeg fik hendes opskrift på rugbrød. Og også noget af hendes surdej, men hvor opskriften har overlevet og danner grundlaget for de forskellige varianter jeg bager i dag, så er surdejen gået til for længst. TIl gengæld er en surdej meget nem at starte op, så hvis jeg kan inspirere nogen til at starte på at bage rugbrød selv, så kommer 'opskriften' på en rugbrødssurdej her:
Tag et krus groft rugmel og et krus hvedemel, 1 tsk honning (eller lidt sukker, hvis du ikke har honning i huset) og gær på størrelse med en ært (eller - en skefuld fra en forhåndenværende gærdej!) - og rør det op med så meget vand at det bliver grød-agtigt. Tilsæt en lille smule salt og lad det så stå og boble ved stuetemperatur en dag eller to. Mere skal der faktisk ikke til at lave en surdej - det tager ikke meget mere end fem minutter at komme i gang og kræver ingen mærkelige ingredienser eller redskaber. Den bliver bedre med alderen, så man skal være lidt tålmodig de første gange man bager med den.

Selve rugbrødsbagningen foregår over to døgn, men sammenlagt tager det måske 15 minutters arbejde. På dag et rører man flg. sammen i en skål:
Surdejen
6 dl groft rugmel
3 dl kerner (Jeg bruger en eller flere af flg. af følgende - alt efter dagens humør og hvad jeg har i huset: rugkerner, hvedekerner, hørfrø, solsikkekerner, sesamfrø (de kan ristes - så bliver smagen af sesam endnu tydeligere) blå birkes, valnødder, fennikelfrø, kommensfrø. Mest bruger jeg rug/hvedekerner - de øvrige ting er mest 'for sjov' og for at give variation fra gang til gang)
1.5 dl hvedemel
7 dl lunkent vand
1 spsk groft salt
Jeg måler af i et litermål - ialt bruger jeg 1 liter kerner og mel. Det er meget hurtigere end at bruge en vægt.
Det hele røres sammen med en ske - det tager under ti mimutter fra start til dejen står klar.

Så står dejen tildækket - enten med et vådt viskestykke eller lidt husholdningsfilm til næste dag.

På dag to rører jeg flg. i:
2 dl vand
3 dl rugmel
3 dl kerner (igen - hvad jeg har og har lyst til)
1 spsk honning (eller sirup eller muscovado sukker eller farin)

Når det er rørt i, så tager jeg et par dl fra til ny surdej - dette gemmes gerne i et syltetøjsglas eller plastikbeholder med låg - og drysses over med groft salt (der gør at det ikke mugner fra gang til gang) - og stilles så i køleskabet.
Resten af dejen fyldes på en rugbrødsform, hæver tre-fire timer gerne tildækket med vådt viskestykke eller husholdningsfilm. Nu kan det pyntes - hvis man gider - og stilles derpå i ovnen. Det skal stå på nederste rille, og bages ved 200 C i to timer. Den sidste time plejer jeg at lægge lidt staniol over, for at det ikke skal blive for mørkt og hårdt. Tag brødet ud af formen straks efter at det kommer ud - ellers bliver det klægt - og lad det køle af på en rist.

Jeg plejer - sådan lærte jeg det jo i sin tid - at pakke det nybagte brød ind i et viskestykke det første døgns tid, men derefter opbevarer jeg det i en plastikpose ved stuetemperatur. Det mugner ALDRIG! Måske fordi vi spiser det for hurtigt?

Det færdige brød kan se sådan ud....
Det er Frej, der har stået for dekorationene af dette eksemplar.

Velbekomme! :)

May running...

2008-05-31T15:21:00.003+02:00

May has been a strange mixture of ups and downs. I started May 1st with a 10 k in the traditional Eventyrløb in Odense. Great run as usual (there are often a reason for something to become a tradition - for this run it is something with very professional service, a beautiful route - and the 20.000 people running, walking, and laughing together - it is one big party in many ways) and I got a new PR too! Next the Lillebælt1/2marathon, for which I hope they manage to make it an annual event! I'll be there again! It was a great running experience and I can only recommend it!
In the week following the Lillebælt 1/2M I ran as usual, but then I had the "blue toe incident" and I became unable to run for more than a week until the inflammation under one nail disappeared. This was followed by the never-ending-travel to Maui which was followed by one stressfull too-much-work-too-little-time week after I returned home - all this with almost no running. So the month started so positive and uplifting - but ended with a running total of 83 km's which is the lowest for this year.
I don't think I could have done much different. The blue toe nails came due to the unusual warm weather combined with a lot of running in one single week. I could have run less, but as blue nails are not a result of over-training as such I don't think I could have foreseen the problem in any way. And the inflammation was definitively not a thing I could have foreseen.
So I think I can't really learn a lot from this poor running month except trying to remember wearing the thinnest socks I have, when running longer distances in warm weather for the future!
And now to the future: To get started on running again (three weeks with this little running actually makes it a bit hard to get started again!) I did a 8k run this morning in a not so fast speed -and will try to increase distances and speed gradually in the following weeks. As a 'carrot' for myself I have signed up for Ørestadsløbet (another 1/2 marathon - see more info on: http://www.amageratletik.dk/). That will hopefully get me motivated to get out again... :)
My goal for that run is more or less to participate and be able to finish - but no plans about being able to do PR's! Just participate!!

Regarding a new running goal for June...
Well, I almost don't dare to commit to a goal in public after last month (-50 km from a set goal is not fun), but I'll try: I know I'll do a 1/2M (this is a +) - and that I'll have to travel to US for one week too (major minus for a running goal! as I get jet lagged and tired - and have less time than normally). I think a conservative goal would be 100 km for June!
So cross your fingers for me...!

Gamle ønsker opfyldes....

2008-05-26T22:58:00.009+02:00

Frigg har ønsket sig, at jeg syede en dukke til hende i mange mange år. Nu hvor min bagage - og med den alt det jeg strikker på for tiden - forblev et eller andet sted i USA, så var der pludselig et uventet tomrum... Og hun var der straks, at så kunne vi jo sy den der dukke....

Jeg stillede dog eet modkrav. Nemlig at hun skulle lave noget andet håndarbejde samtidigt, sådan at vi lavede noget sammen. Så sådan gik det til at vi startede på henholdsvis at sy en 'Waldorf dukke' og strikke en 'garden gnome' (se hvad Strikkemarie laver og bliv inspireret!).

Som man kan se på det første billede, så arbejdede hun meget koncentreret. Dukken fik også navneforandring, for hun mente, at det var en drillenisse! I hvertfald drillede de første pinde hende en del. Men jeg synes det er flot at hun kunne koncentrere sig så længe - og jeg kunne i hvertfald ikke have strikket sådan et stykke som otte årig....

Selv havde jeg lidt problemer med at få modelleret hovedet, så det fik bare en nogenlunde 'dukke agtig' facon.
Måske jeg er blevet lidt 'rusten'. Det er trods alt ti år siden jeg syede en dukke sidst?

Men delene blev syet færdige - og der er blevet hæklet en 'hovedbund..

Her til aften er det hele blevet samlet - og der mangler nu kun at blive syet hår - og øjne og mund. Håret bliver nok det vanskeligste, for dukkemor'en synes det skal være 'sådan lidt krøllet som mit eget'. Så kan jeg så spekulere over hvordan 'sådan lidt krøllet' skal fortolkes..

Men nu er det slut for i dag - og dukken skal ind og sove hos sin mor...

Juhuu - jeg er hjemme!

2008-05-25T16:43:00.004+02:00

Sidste weekend drog jeg afsted til Maui, hvor jeg skulle deltage i et møde. Den rejse endte med at være noget, der føltes som uendelig. Og uendelig besværlig! Bøvlet startede med at flyet fra Kastrup var 3 timer forsinket.
Denne forsinkelse gjorde, at jeg allerede inden jeg forlod Kastrup vidste, at jeg ikke ville kunne nå forbindelsesflyet i Atlanta. Så jeg fik en uplanlagt overnatning på et hotel i Atlanta. Derpå sendte flyselskabet mig over Salt Lake City til Honolulu. Så morgenmad i Atlanta, frokost i Salt Lake City og aftensmad i Honolulu på en og samme dag! Meget kosmopolitisk! Faktisk blev det til mere end aftensmad i Honolulu, for da jeg ankom dertil viste det sig, at flyselskabet ikke havde fået ombooket mit fly til Maui - så jeg strandede fordi der ikke var ledige pladser... Det var på det tidspunkt, at jeg var så udmattet, at jeg gik i seng med alt tøjet på og uden at børste tænder - noget jeg såvidt vides ALDRIG har gjort før - ikke i ædru tilstand ihvertfald!
Jeg glemte at fortælle at undervejs mellem Salt Lake City og Honolulu havde en medpassager sat sig på mit strikketøj og knækket en af pindene. Det var ikke med til at gøre mit humør bedre!

For nu at gøre en lang historie kort, så var mødet ikke det mest spændende. Hotellet lå til gengæld umådeligt smukt, og maden var dejlig. Hjemturen gik uproblematisk - eneste ting jeg kan klage over er at jeg kom hjem, mens min BAGAGE blev ude. Så lige nu nyder jeg at være hjemme. Helt vildt! Og jeg kan holde fri, for vasketøjet er jo ikke kommet hjem endnu. Det er strikketøjet så heller ikke, for det lå i kufferten, men da Frigg plager om at jeg syr en dukke til hende, så ved jeg jo godt hvad jeg kan få eftermiddagen til at gå med.... :)

Last weekend I left for Maui, where a large international meeting was held. This trip FELT never-ending. It all started with a 3 hour delay in Kastrup. So before leaving Denmark I already knew I could not reach my connecting flight in Atlanta. So I got first an unplanned night in Atlanta, lunch in Salt Lake City (Why did they send me there?? The view from the airportto the mountains is BEAUTIFUL though! ) and then dinner in Honolulu - all in one day. When I arrived in Honolulu I learned that Delta by mistake had forgotten to rebook my last flight to Maui, so I had a night in Honolulu before I finally made it to Maui. The night in Honolulu I slept with all my clothes on and without brushing my teeth as I was so tired. I can't remember ever to have done that before - not sober at least!
I forgot to tell that someone at the flight between Salt Lake City and Honolulu sat on my knitting and broke one of the needles. That didn't improve my mood a bit....
To make this long story short: the meeting was not the most exciting, but the hotel was placed in a very beautiful place and the food was great. The return travel was problem free except for the fact that my luggage didn't make it. So right now I enjoy being home! A LOT!! All my knitting is in the luggage, but Frigg is begging for a doll, so we'll start on that - and relax!

Tillykke med fødselsdagen!

2008-05-10T16:56:00.005+02:00

Tillykke med fødselsdagen, bedstemor!

Jeg tester lige din fødselsdagsgave....

My WoW class!

2008-05-09T18:04:00.001+02:00

Hunter
Take What WoW Class Should You Roll? today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.

Spring fashion....

2008-05-08T12:56:00.002+02:00

Jeg løb på arbejde i dag - solen skinnede og det var simpelthen fristende! Så på med tøjet og afsted. Jeg plejer at tage den mest direkte vej, dvs langs ring 3. Underlaget er jævnt og stabilt, men ellers er det svært at sige meget positivt om den rute - uinspirerende er nok det ord der falder først ind. Men hvad - det er jo god motion!!
I dag skinnede solen jo så og lokkede til noget andet end ring 3. Så kursen blev sat mod Utterslev mose. Meget smukt og grønt og dejligt.... gæs og gæslinger overalt, dagplejemødre, der fodrer ænder, blomstrende buske og træer... og en tur på 15 km ad mere naturskønne stier end den asfalterede ring 3.

Det var en dejlig tur. Og som en uventet sideeffekt (pga varmen?) har jeg fået meget fashionable blå tånegle på tre tæer! Det må simpelthen være forårets nye modefarve! :)

I did a morning run this morning inspired of the great spring weather. Normally I run along a ring road with heavy trafic. Most positive thing to say about it is that the surface is very even!
But due to the sun I felt tempted to run another route today, and the course was set to Utterslev mose. It was very beautiful, goose families, daycare motheres feeding ducks together with their children, trees and flowers.... everything very spring-ish! And on top of it a10k run in very boring surroundings exchanged with a 15k run in beautiful surroundings! What can you wish more? Well, I got one unforeseen thing more in this run: three blue toe nails (due to the warm weather??), which has to be a fashion hit this spring! I'll go and buy a blue nail polish to get more blue nails! :)

Pollen attack!

2008-05-07T00:04:00.002+02:00

Jeg er ellers ikke allergisk for birkepollen. Er blevet testet adskillige gange og altid med negativt resultat. Jeg plejer heller ikke at have gener på dette tidspunkt af året.... Alligevel sidder jeg her med alle tegn på høfeber - alt lige fra dryppende næse, sviende øjne, kløe i halsen (når jeg cykler til og fra arbejde!) og hovedpine. Solen har skinnet i mere end en uge og pollentallet er sky højt... De lover sol weekenden over... Tror hellere jeg må et smut på apoteket i morgen, så jeg kan få mit liv tilbage.... Helst lidt hurtigt. Der er jo dejligt derude!

I am normally not allergic to birch pollen. I've been tested several times, always negative. I have not had any symptoms this time of the year in other years. Despite all this I am sitting with all symptoms of hayfewer - everything from the running nose, itching eyes, sore throat (when biking!) and head ache. The sun has been shining for more than a week and there is pollen in the air. A lot. The weather forecast for the weekend is: SUN! I think I better go to the pharmacy tomorrow, so I can get my life back. Fast, please. It is lovely out there!

End of a busy week

2008-05-04T20:48:00.005+02:00

Det har været en travl uge, som jeg sidder og ser tilbage på. Først tre hektiske dage på arbejdet, to træningsture og et kontaktforældremøde....
Onsdag aften kørte vi til svigerforældrene på fyn. Der var kø på motorvejen, så vi nåede 11 km på den første time.... Heldigvis havde jeg Friggs sengetæppe med, så jeg fik hæklet en del på turen...
Torsdag løb vi Eventyrløb. Det havde regnet, så det var lidt udfordrende at løbe igennem Stavis å dalen (tror jeg det hedder), fordi det var fedtet og mudret. Jeg syntes, det var hårdt undervejs og havde egentlig ikke fornemmelsen af at løbe stærkt. Mine ben føltes tunge som bly, og regnen tidligere på dagen plus det efterfølgende solskin gjorde, at det var lummert... Så da jeg passerede målstregen i 43.20 - hvad der er en ny PR på 10 km - så var jeg noget overrasket. Det stemte på een måde ikke overens med min følelse af bly i benene - men på den anden side, så er det vel ikke mærkeligt, at det føles hårdt, når man sætter en ny personlig rekord??? Vi fejrede - helt traditionelt - løbet med at alle løberne i 'Løberiet' fik al den is de kunne spise. Det er min største fornøjelse ved at fejre fødselsdag på den måde, at mine mange niecer og nevøer kan spise al den is de orker. Der bliver simpelthen ikke sagt nej den dag.
Om aftenen var der familiehygge med hele Brygmesterens familie. Halvdelen af os havde løbet Eventyrløb tidligere på dagen - og nogle af os skulle løbe halvmarathon igen om lørdagen, så der blev snakket lidt løb.... og strik....
Fredag blev der indkøbt nyt løbetøj... dejligt... og om aftenen kom mine forældre på besøg hos Brygmesterens forældre. Meget hyggeligt og dejligt!
Lørdag var så dagen, hvor Brygmesteren, Brygmesterens søster og jeg skulle løbe Lillebælt halvmarathon.
Det blev en fantastisk oplevelse, for igen var vejret med os, ruten ubeskriveligt smuk, og der var mange tilskuere og godt med opmuntring under vejs! Der er også en ting ved langdistance løb, som der er svær at beskrive for folk, der ikke løber, nemlig den indre kamp man har med sig selv under visse dele af de fleste løb. Altså at man ind i mellem får ondt af sig selv og får lyst til at stoppe - og hvordan man så på bedste schizofrene vis snakker sig selv ud af krisen igen. Det er ret underligt at man 'spalter' i to på den måde - og jeg tror en stor del af løbet bestemmes af hvordan man takler sine egne kriser undervejs. Jeg havde et par stykker og kom igennem dem, og her 'på den anden side', så husker jeg løbet som fantastisk - og det er ud over det smukke vejr, underskøn rute, og god support også fordi den der 'indre kamp' endte med at 'jeg vandt'. Jeg gav ikke op - og det var en sejr!
Nu har jeg nævnt, at Brygmesteren og hans søster også løb, så jeg vil lige nævne at de begge fuldførte i flot stil. Så det var en stor dag for os alle, og vi var enige om at får vi chancen for at løbe et Lillebæltshalvmarathon igen, så gør vi det!

It has been a busy week. First three hectic days at work, two training sessions and a parents' meeting.
We drove to my parents in law wednesday evening. We queued on the highway and drove 11 km in the first hour. Good that I had 'Friggs bed cover' with me in the car so that I could crochet.
We ran 'Eventyrløb' (a large run with 22.000 participants) thursday. It had been raining, so it was hard to run in the area next to Stavis å (a small river) because the soil was muddy and slippery. I felt my legs were heavy and that I didn't run well. The sun started shining and it became warm and humid.
When I crossed the finish line in 43.20 (a PR on the 10k) it was a surprice. It didn't fit with the feeling I had of being slow and not run well - but maybe it is natural to feel it is hard, when you are 'performing' close to the limit of what you are able to?
After the run, our team got all the ice cream we could eat. It is my way of celebrating my birthday that I give my nieces and nephews all the ice cream they can eat on this special day. Their happiness is my pleasure!
Saturday it was time for the 'Lillebælt halfmarathon'. Mr. RunNOTknit, his sister and I should run it, and it was a great experience. The weather was beautiful. The route was over two bridges and along coastline and in a small forest = beautiful. The support from the spectators very good.
There is also a thing which is hard to describe for people who are not running long distance runs: the dialogue you have with yourself when you have a 'crisis' during a run. That you once in a while during many runs feel 'pity' for yourself and consider to stop. Leave the run. Find an excuse to drop out. And then how you in a kind of schizofrenic way start to argue with yourself and are able to talk yourself to continue. It is kind of weird to be 'split' in that way - and I think the way you handle these 'dialogues' determinates how well you can run a certain run. I had a few crisis during that run, and managed to get through them and finish. I think that when I now remember the run as fantastic, it is partly because of the route, the great weather and good support - but also because I managed to continue running... I won my 'inner fight'!

I have earlier mentioned that MR. RunNOTknit and his sister also ran the halfmarathon, so I owe them to say that they both finished with style. We have also decided that IF there will be another LillebæltHalfmarathon, then we'll do it again!

Considerations about running a marathon - part 2

2008-04-29T11:03:00.003+02:00

After reading my post yesterday, Mr. RunNOTknit asked the clever question "Why does it have to be so complicated? Why are you not just continuing to run the way you run now....?"

I'll think about that.....

Considerations about running a marathon... in five months

2008-04-28T21:18:00.003+02:00

Berlin Marathon is in exactly five months from now.... And I have thoughts about the following:
I am in good shape right now, so how do I prepare for a run in five months? Five months feel like a long time right now! It is not fun to keep a 'staus quo' for five months - and it is not really realistic to increase the amount of training I do already, considering I have three kids, a husband, a full time work - and quite some knitting, which I would like to do too.... Not to mention friends to visit, books to read and all the other stuff making a life good....
I am back to the new years resolution thoughts about the balanced living again! And fighting a wish to try to train as optimal as possible in order to make a PR on the marathon distance too... Wish there were an easy answer....

The competitive cake baker.....

2008-04-28T20:43:00.011+02:00

It started with a letter inviting to a 'parents-coffee after school'. It included that the students should bake a cake and then there would be a 'competition' before we all could eat the cakes. If you have children this concept probably sounds familiar. Frigg signed up immediately. She also made a drawing of the cake she would make....

After the first draft she made another drawing. This time with more details and colors and I wrote down which kind of candy should be used to make which part of the animal.... She also studied a book with cakes and chose the recipe she wanted.

We did some shopping to get the right candy... And she used the next two hours sorting candy by colors. I made the cake - after her directions. It cooled down to next morning, where she was unusually early awake and ready to start the decoration...

That probably kept her busy for yet another hour. Look how concentrated she is....

The result looked fantastic (according to me), although it was not completely like the drawing (which was a problem according to her).

But in the end I think she was happy and pleased with the result.

She also won the price for 'Mest fantasifulde kage' (most imaginative cake), so her dedication payed of!

And we could skip the dinner that day as there were 19 cakes which we had to try...

Weekend fantasy

2008-04-24T22:34:00.010+02:00

I urgently need a weekend now! I can't get it fast enough - maybe because I was travelling last weekend - so I have spent most of today on daydreaming about what I will do during the weekend. (I fear I have plans enough to fill up something like four days!)

So to wrap it up:
This one needs another button and also to get some nice fabric inside to stabilise it a bit. If I'm able to, I'll try to make a zippered pocket for e.g. a purse or a mobile phone....

It is a gift for my sister-in-law - and she should have had it by now... almost a month since her birthday now :(

Another project is Friggs bed cover. I suddenly realised that it does not finish by itself! Surprice surprice! So I better get started crochetting again, so it can be finished before her birthday... Only problem is that to crochet a bed cover in that size (planned size: 140 cm x 220 cm) involves a lot of hours used on something which is tedious, boring, boring and tedious! The new plan is to do one 1/2 stribe every day - that is not that time consuming for a single day so hopefully is it not completely demotivating - and it will in the end get the bed cover done in time for her birthday. Let's see how the plan works out!

A third plan for the weekend is to knit on my Aran sweater... I just love to knit that pattern!

And then I have started on a new pair of socks... very addictive to knit socks! :)
On top of above mentioned plans, I'm home alone with the kids, so we need to bake pizza's for friday night (we have to spoil our self a bit when Mr. RunNOTknit is out!!), and as Heidi is visiting saturday we also need a good lunch - and to bake cake(s!), watch a video or two, and run, rest and enjoy.....

Uhmmm..... weekend NOW!

Lost and found again

2008-04-22T16:58:00.003+02:00

I have been working in San Francisco for the last week. Unfortunately did my luggage not show up before I was almost on my way home (less than 24 hour before leaving!), so NO knitting for a week. All my rúnning gear was in the missing bag too, but I managed to get a new pair of shoes, a t-shirt and some cotton tights and had a bit of fun running with some runners from the company I visited. It was challenging to run in the sun (worked in Palo Alto, where it is warmer than in windy San Francisco) - and then there was a nice steep hill up to the 'Dish' at Stanford. NICE for a 'flat-as-a-pancake' conditioned runner as me! Before my visit I actually considered to sign up for a Marathon later at some time in San Francisco. But after having seen the many hills in San Francisco I have got serious second-thoughts... It may not be a good idea at all - unless I start on some serious hill training, and where do I find a real hill around Rødovre??? Have to think about that!
I also found a really nice looking yarn shop in Greenwich Street, but as I worked from 8.30 to approx 22 - I didn't have a chance to do anything else than looking at the yarn. One thing to regret! Another thing to regret - also due to the long working days - I didn't have a chance to run over the Golden Gate bridge!
Now I'm home. Happy and ready for some serious knitting to remove the knitting abstinences!

New goal for the fall!

2008-04-15T00:42:00.004+02:00

This could be a goal for the autumn?! And I'm not sure if the biggest challenge will be to prepare physical for the running part or to keep on living in balance and avoiding mental stress and running injuries (two new years resolutions I made this year)....?

Felting, frogging and fun....

2008-04-15T00:24:00.003+02:00

Just a few words on last weekend. Liv and I participated on a felting course friday and saturday. It was great fun, and I learned a lot. We did nuno felting - but most of the other participants were into neddle felting. Both of us finished a 'lane' of cloth. She chose black silk chiffon - and mine was vanilla creme colored! I think they both can be turned into very wonderfull summer dresses! And hopefully we'll get some summer this year!

Later saturday, I enjoyed good company, food and movies with Heidi. This was very very nice after the hard work at the felting course (it is actually hard work to 'hand felt'!). But compared to normal I didn't knit that much this evening. I was frogging! :(
I had introduced a mistake in the lace pattern on my 'abotanicity' late friday night (when will I learn not to knit that kind of pattern when I'm tired?) - and had to frog. Not fun! But nice company can compensate from much! :) It will take a few days before I start on the lace again, though! I have had enough frogging for a time now!

We ended the evening seeing Monthy Pyton sketches. I liked the combination of biographic material/interviews with sketches very much! That was a great combo as biographic material alone can be boring - and too many sketches in a row sometimes stop being funny...

My aran sweater part II

2008-04-10T21:48:00.007+02:00

Earlier this year I started knitting an aran sweater in evilla yarn. It was my first attempt on that kind of pattern and I immediately fell in love knitting this kind of pattern! Unfortunately the yarn was not really suitable for that kind of pattern as it is quite un-even - in some places very chunky and in other places so thin you almost think it may break. This makes the stitch definition very poor.... It simply makes the aran sweater look so unevenly knitted that it looks like it has been knit by someone who has never knitted anything before.... :( My ego could not tolerate that - and my heart neither..... So after having knit 20-30 cm I decided to frog it all, order new yarn (Peer Gynt as the pattern actually prescribes) - and then start from the beginning again.

Last friday my yarn was finally at home - very appropriate for eight hours of bus driving to Berlin saturday - and home again monday!

After all this bus driving have I almost knitted as much as I had with the evilla yarn, and I have started on the funny part with the bombs, leaves, etc. All the stuff making aran sweaters fun to knit!

Bonus on frogging the first 'aran': I now have the evilla yarn for something else! Haven't made up my mind completely yet, but it may end up as a 'Karoline cirkel cape' as suggested by Charlotte...?? It is nice to have something to make plans for and dream about, so I don't mind not having plans for it. It is actually nice to day-dream a bit....

Running goal April....

2008-04-10T16:50:00.003+02:00

Just a very short summary of March - and a new goal for April.
Goal for March was ambitious 160 km. I finished in 130 km and despite the gap between goal and actual running I think the idea behind the ambitious plan (to run more than I would get from just doing the competitions!) was good and that March was a very succesful running month!
I did a PR on the 15 km.... Nice and a bit unexpected.
I participated in Hell in North (Helvede i Nord) and did my very worst 1/2 marathon time ever! But on hills, beach and in snow! So I was very happy just to be able to finish - and it was a great experience. Also that I was unable to walk on stairs several days after!

A new running goal for April?
I know that I have finished 61 km already....
But a goal on 140 km is still challenging (despite the finished 61 km) with the knowledge that I will be travelling a full week later this month - and maybe be unable to run during the travel? - this makes the goal a bit risky. But now it is set! :)

Treasure hunting for girls

2008-03-30T22:33:00.013+02:00

Charlotte has made three girls very happy this weekend! She has kindly given us a big bag filled with fabric, pearls, buttons, braids and zippers....

Everything any creative child can wish for.
Everything were studied in details.... - and then we had to negotiate who should have what for which projects.

I think this is a very good learning process into 'sharing treasures'. And fun too! Liv knew exactly what every single bit of her part of the treasures should be used for.

Her favorite was the metallic-looking fabric, which she is planning to use for gloves!

Even a lilac shiny "thing" with pearls could be used for something.... I actually believed her sister would have been fighting to get that, but to my surprice the 'princess' thing went to the big sister without any arguments.

She also took all kinds of smaller pieces of fabric. She has been inspired by a girl from our sewing course who started making a Kaffe Fassett bed cover last saturday. So now Liv has started a collection of fabric for a bed cover for herself. Not a Kaffe design, but a LIV design off course.

Her sister also found a lot of goodies. Among these a very blue, very shiny and also soft piece of fabric.

The young lady thinks it can make a very nice disco dress! I wonder where she got that from? A DISCO dress.... for an 8 year old girl!? Suddenly I feel very old and old fashioned too. On top of feeling old I also have to face the problem that she actually thinks I am able to make her a disco dress! ME - a running knitter with certain neurotic feelings for sewing machines! It is a serious challenge to her faithfull belief in that her mother can do everything! Guess that day would come anyway, but didnt think that soon!

And now to the last picture for today - and it is not a picture of me and my part of the goodies (that would have been too embarrasing as my pile was big!), but a picture from the garten. Showing me in the Normalerweize cardigan! (Camera has been fixed, hurray!)

And the last words for today: THANK YOU, Charlotte, for giving us all of these. There will be hours of fun hidden in that treasure bag for all three of us!

Frigg and Lillemusen (The little mouse)

2008-03-26T21:19:00.007+01:00

A while ago I told about a very creative weekend I had with Frigg. I promised to show some pictures of the result of our common trying to make her favorite toy a Jedi knight coat.....

She was really impressively concentrated and focused while sewing on the coat.....

And I forgot to mention: Quiet too!

The happiness when the coat was ready was as huge as the concentration had been.....

Birthday gift experiment

2008-03-26T20:56:00.003+01:00

Mr. RunNOTknit has a sister....A very sweet one actually.... And it's her birthday in a week from now. She visited during easter and told me that she would very much like to get a knitted and felted bag as a birthday present.... notch notch..... She also showed me which yarn from my stash she would like the bag to be made of..... notch notch....

As I like her a lot this left me with a certain pressure to make her a bag for her birthday, so right now I've jumped into bag knitting without a proper pattern. This has actually turned into a very challenging and also very fun experiment. Partly because felting something in an unknown yarn makes the result difficult to predict on beforehand! But also because I have got a lot of good (?) ideas which I could try.... There are so many color combinations, yarn combinations, possibilities for mixing knitting and crochetting - and to use my stash of regular fibers for felting! In any combo!
I can't show any pictures of the 'bag-wannabe' yet as the camera is still not working (and also! Who knows if she has found out I have a blog???? She should actually not have a chance to see the bag before her birthday!), but I promise to bring pictures in near future!

Helvede i Nord.....

2008-03-24T17:45:00.003+01:00

This morning started too early for my taste.... The easter vacation has done something with my bed time, so an alarm at 7:00 am is not fun....
Looking outside didn't improve my mood at all. It was snowing. Not a lot but enough to know that the planned 'Helvede i Nord' would be even harder. Mr. RunNOTknit and I was looking at each other and not saying a lot. I believe we at a point both secretly wanted the other one to cancel the run... But Mr. RunNOTknit turned into a real 'can-do-man' and dressed for running. I followed reluctantly. We drove up to Tisvilde, arrived in good time - and our first impression of the run was that it was really well organized. A lot of helpers showed to the parking lots - and the hand out of 'participants numbers' was done very smoothly. I was standing in the forest 20 minutes before the start and was not feeling stressed at any time (well, except when my alarm started at 7:00.... but that was something different).
The path in it self was beautiful and challenging. I never knew fully whether I should look down to be able to avoid branches and holes and mud... - or look up to know when I got the next branch in my face or to avoid the person in front of me when he/she was falling! The surface was really slippery in certain places - and you never knew when...
Next challenge was the many hills. Living and running in flat-as-a-pancake-Rødovre I'm not used to hills at all. Running in Tisvilde hegn is very very very different from running in Rødovre. Theres nothing flat or ordinary over that. In fact I had all the hill-training I could wish for! Mr. RunNOTknit can verify that I normally like hill-training. Almost loves it. But today I think I have had enough. ;)
So 'Helvede i Nord' turned out to be exactly what we hoped for: a challenging - and beautiful - run! (I have to confess that I didn't see much of the beautiful surroundings. I was busy running my 1/2 marathon.... surviving the hidden branches, holes, mud and branches in the face, but Mr. RunNOTknit tells me that it was beautiful and he is normally right!)
I finished the 1/2 M in my slowest time ever (1:57:10), but I do not normally climb hills or run at a beach during 1/2 marathons, so I don't think the times are comparable.

At home the kids had made a really nice lunch table for us - so despite the challenging run the day had some very relaxing and enjoyable moments! So in case you don't know how to spend the day after Easter next year I can only recommend 'Helvede i Nord'..... and there's a full year for preparing.... :)
Driving home we decided to try to make it a tradition to run 'HiN'.... so we'll be there.....

Too much to do, too little time, too tired....

2008-03-12T13:30:00.003+01:00

I have too much to do! That happens regularly and I would prefer to be without it! Who would not? But instead of complaining I'll admit that part of me being tired is not due to working too much, but rather that I have used my too little sparetime on both running and knitting a lot! And it has been great fun!
I can unfortunately not show any pictures as the camera is broken, so you have to trust me when I say that the Normalerweize is in good shape! And that the Abotanicity is too! The abotanicity has become my new favorite knit! Very relaxing pattern - and soft yet firm yarn and with good colours! Funny that knitting with multicoloured yarn can make you knit more than when knitting with mono-coloured. It works like this: I decide that I'll knit to the next stretch with yellow and then stop and do laundry, cleaning or whatever. When I reach the yellow stretch I make a new decision about finishing the yellow stretch before starting on the laundry.... And guess what happens when the yellow strech is finished....!
Back to the missing pictures: Actually the pictures I wanted the most to show you are with my youngest girl working hard on making a Jedi knight cape for her Lil'Mouse. They are just so cute - and really shows how much a 8 year old girl is able to concentrate if the project is interesting enough!
But to link back to the title of this: I believe that sometime is it possible to get things done despite time is a limit and you are tired - simply because you WANT something done SO much! And that is how I have worked the last week.... fighting too little time and being tired, but being happy too because I actually have had advances in my different projects on the little time available!

Putting the Normalerweize together

2008-03-03T22:31:00.008+01:00

First: I did manage to do more than just knitting last weekend! (I'm a bit proud over my own self discipline, but also very much aware that I normally only have this certain amount of self discipline for short periods. They tend to be released by a lot longer periods with no - or only little - self control!!!)

But I actually managed to get started on putting the Normalerweize together without being totally dragged into the total 'I-have-to-finish-this-and-I-dont-do-anything-else-before-it-is-finished!!

Now some pictures and a few comments:

First all the loose ends are nicely put to one side. Then taped - and on top of that I also put pins in the tape as the tape has a tendency to get loose.

Then I sew it on a regular sewing machine....

Twice, approx 1 cm apart from each other.

Then I can cut of the loose ends with a scissor.

It is actually incredible how many ends you end up with! I have to figure out something to use all these ends to. Maybe they can get feltet into a shawl?

After this I use a crocketer needle to make new stitches along the edge of the cardigan. There will be a knitted 'border' made to cover all the loose ends along the edge. This will also make the cardigan more 'form stabile'.

And that is where I ended sunday evening: making new stitches (which I find kind of boring)...

Goal set for March

2008-03-03T10:31:00.005+01:00

It is always good to 'sleep on a decision'!
The running goal for March will be: 160 km
I know there is a big difference between the normal running goal on 100 km/month and the 160 km/March, but I came to the 160 km this way:

March contains four working weeks = 4 x 2 x 10 km = 80 km running to and from work = 'business as usual'
March contains five weekends = five opportunities for longer runs = 20 km yesterday + 15 km next week at NIKE II + 21 km at Helvede i Nord on the 24th + two 'free weekends' with no running activities planned.
If the goal should make me run on the two 'free weekends', the monthly running goal has to reflect that = the monthly goal has to be larger than the 80 +56 km ! So the goal should 'motivate' to run a longer distance on the two 'free' weekends....

I know from own bad experience that it gives me knee problems if I suddenly start to run more than I do normally. So the increase in kilometers for this month has to be followed by a slight decrease in running intensity (or at least not an increase!) to avoid getting new knee problems!

It will be interesting to see if I can reach the goal for the month! Nice challenge!
:)

RG March

2008-03-02T15:59:00.004+01:00

Just had my first run in March. Great trip, great weather and great company. Did it together with Mr.Runnotknit and had an interesting debate regarding setting goals for running. For me a running goal is something which should motivate (or maybe 'challenge' is a better word?) me to get away from the sofa with its nice knitting, movie, book....
The goal is not something absolute, but more something which should be a reflection about my current running ability, my current health, and (not the least important factor in this!) my current time for running.
For a long time I have had 100 km as my normal running goal for a month. That fits with the time I normally have for running - and I can run 100 km in a month with no risk for getting knee problems. For March month I know that I'll participate in two runs:
NIKE II (=15 km) on March 9th
Helvede i Nord (=21.1 km) on March the 24th
That is a total of 36 km from these two runs. Together with my weekly 2x10 km (to and from work) that will bring me up on 116 km....
So what should the monthly running goal then be?
100 km as ususal ?
116 km as that is what I have planned to run (and will run without doing any extra efford) ?
Or something a bit more challenging which will bring me out of my comfort zone and challenge me to do that bit of extra which I believe the goal actually is ment to do? And how much is that ???

What happened? Sanity check 2!

2008-02-29T15:42:00.004+01:00

Two weeks ago I had a nice week of vacation. I used it for 'amok knitting' on the Normalerweize cardigan. I didn't run despite I had planned it. Actually I didn't do much else than knitting! I felt I had all the time in the world to finish my twenty-something kilometers in due time because there were two full weeks left of February - and only twenty-something kilometers left to run!
Then one week went with knitting. I knitted so much my arms and back started hurting - and my neck! Oh.... not fun!
I started working again, but only to be really really sick after one day and then sleeping for two full days. And suddenly February had almost vanished...
So yesterday I started back on work. I felt nausea and shaky all day, but ran home. Started this morning out even more nauseated and shaky and ran - or something closely related - to work again - only to try to get back on track with the running goal. I am now TIRED and my legs hurt (hmm, similar to my arms one week ago!)

And what did I learn from this? (Probably not enough not to do it again!) But if I should put some words on it: in an ideal world, I will never again do only one single thing for a full week and allow myself to get joint 'damages' by repetitive work! I will for the future try to MIX! (although not try to knit while running!)
I wonder how long time I will be able to remember this? Not long if I do as I use to! But maybe if I continue to try to be better to 'balance living' I'll in the end be able to live a life in more balance than I do for the time being...

Sanity check!

2008-02-24T18:11:00.003+01:00

Roll with D6.
Roll 1 = You don't recognize that you are tired and that your arms and shoulders hurt. Continue knitting.
Roll 2, 3, 4, or 5 = You recognize that you are tired and that your arms and shoulders hurt. Continue knitting, but do occasionally think about reading a book or running..... Takes a pain killer.....
Roll 6 = Take a pain killer and go to bed. Read a good book. Sleep. Don't knit before your arms and shoulders have stopped hurting.... Nahh, make a re-roll with the dice..... Repeat re-rolling until you get that 1 roll.....

Normalerweize update (=knitting break!)

2008-02-23T22:48:00.009+01:00

Just to show you the latest pictures of my soul eating project for today (and no - not asking for pity - I have made this a goal myself. I could just leave it!) - to finish the Normalerweize sleeves. As time is running faster than I can knit - and I still have 5 cm to go - it is likely to be 'tomorrow' before they are finished - unless I define tomorrow as being after I go to bed.... :)

(The pictures are from earlier today so length of sleeves is different now... Around 46 cm long - and according to pattern to be finished at 51 cm. I'll have to check that though. Hate sleeves too short!)

Sleeves under siege!

2008-02-23T13:25:00.004+01:00

I want to finish the normalerweize cardigan this weekend, so everything else is put on rest....

The body is finished - and has been for a while. Today I am fighting - not dragons or fluff - but sleeves. I knit both of them on the same circular needles at the same time in order get the same order of colors on the two sleeves. And also to avoid having used all of a single color on sleeve number one and then not have enough for sleeve number two....!

....do I need to say that this is boring? It is hard to be motivated for doing something which is mainly tedious (I know some people would question my running with the same argumentation, but it IS different! :) )

Stashing update!

2008-02-22T18:48:00.002+01:00

I believed that I could make a stash update in something like an hour. Now I have spent a whole day on counting skeins, measuring grams, investigating what old yarn bought ten years ago actually consist of (no acryl yet, Heidi!) - and which company made it? Why didn't I keep the labels for my left-overs????
Well, too late for regreats. And regrets don't 'work' anyway! Upside thing about having quite an amount of 'unknown' yarn is that there is room for improvisation - and I think I'll try to focus on that positive side of it!

Runners only!

2008-02-22T18:41:00.003+01:00

After a week without running (despite lots of plans for the opposite) I had a nice run on one of my favorite tracks yesterday. 11 km in mist and foggy weather was actually like lotion on the soul! I didn't run fast - actually did I purposedly try to run slow and ENJOY!! And it was very very nice! Also that the winter weather was that mild and - ok - wet - but I think wet weather is less of a problem than cold weather! And to have time to enjoy - and not be behind schedule too-late-for-something-promised! That was NICE!

Winter vacation!

2008-02-19T14:20:00.003+01:00

I have one week vacation with the kids - and I just love it. At this time of the year where it is dark, cold and wet, it is really nice to be able to relax. Before starting on my vacation I planned to do a lot of running as running in day light is a seldom thing here in february with a full time job. But.... until now I have stayed inside and enjoyed not to have to fight the danish winter weather every day!! I feel a bit lazy, but try to convince myself that it is probably very very healthy and a way of protecting myself from getting a cold! when I prefer to be inside and not to get out and get wet and cold! :)
I know I'm trying to cheat myself....

A new week awaits....

2008-02-10T23:36:00.000+01:00

I don't know what happened to my weekend?! Suddenly it is gone. But a short status - mainly to try to remember what I have spent my precious two days off doing - cause I must have done something????

I have finished procrastination sock no 1! Nice - and I'm a bit proud of the heel. Looks as I wanted it to!

I spent the saturday on a sewing course with my oldest daughter and a friend. Great fun - and we actually managed to finish three skirts for my youngest daughter and repairing a pair of trousers for my oldest son! We have decided that next time we will be self-ish and make things for ourselves! :)

Have also started thinking about what to make next time..... and it will probably be a dress in a green tartan, with short sleeves - and a 'balloon skirt'. Very trendy, but I have to get my hands on the right tartan..... Hmmm, I probably better try to get a plan B, too! Tartan may not be that easy to find in Denmark?!

After sewing and good company saturday, I think half of the nice sunny sunday was spent in the garden with my oldest, trying to clean up a bit. It was almost springlike (how comes that I wasn't out running???) and very very nice weather. Definitively better to clean outside than inside! :)

After the gardening it was nice relaxing inside - and here I started yet another knitting project:

This is going to be my first Aran sweater, and I am looking so much forward to it - despite that this project contains so many techniques I've never tried before! But maybe that is why it is so attractive to me?

So - actually a kind of busy weekend! Too short, but very nice with the combination of fun, good company, knitting, good weather and gardening...

But now - good night and bye for now. I better go sleep before the monday starts another busy week!

Great day! Very great day!!!

2008-02-07T19:23:00.000+01:00

This has just turned out to be a great day. Actually a very great day!
I escaped from work at time!!! (Sad that it is a seldom thing to be celebrated, and not just the normal thing!) I then biked into 'the inner city' of Copenhagen (working and living in the suburbs makes that strange and seldom too!) where I enjoyed half an hour of good company with Lisbeth in Bette Design. She exchanged the needle which was broken - just like that - no discussion or arguing! I exchanged her good service with buying great mohair for a new up-coming project (uhh - suddenly I remember my goals from yesterday about finishing the Normalerweize and the 'ferietrøje' before starting new projects!!). (Sorry - can't show you any pictures of that yet. It is dark dark dark - and I hate using the flash when trying to take pictures. So you have to be patient and wait for the weekend where I hopefully can make pictures of yarn and new projects...! :)
Then I returned home to happy children, spouse ditto and ready-to-eat dinner! My middle daughter has bought me white roses - and she is at the moment making pancakes for all of us.
Can a day be much more nice????

Time for knitting! First Normalerweize, then Abotanicity!

2008-02-06T12:54:00.000+01:00

Just realized that it is soon time for one week of winter vacation = time for finishing some knits!

I'll try to finish my 'Normalerweize coat' during the week (see picture to the left) - just to have the nice feeling of finishing and thereby freeing a pair of needles for a new project.

I have started both sleeves already but have been caught by the 'sleeve syndrome' and have in pure desperation started on a new pair of socks and I think I can continue starting up new projects to avoid the sleeves for a long time.... I know how I usually behave when I find something boring... I'm procrastinating a lot! Even cleaning, laundry etc can be exiting!

So as a 'carrot' I have decided to start on my long-time-favorite-project as soon as the Normalerweize is finished! And the current long-time-favorite-project is the 'Abotanicity' pattern found at http://www.knitty.com/ (winter 2007). I have the pattern (it is free and on the net!), I have got the yarn (see picture to the right)! - and also the needles. Only thing I'm missing right now is time - and then to finish the Normalerweize....

So goals are set for the coming winter vacation, and I can hardly wait.

NIKE I day.... and now hang-overs!

2008-02-04T11:00:00.000+01:00

Yesterday it was time for Sparta's NIKE I run in Copenhagen. The weather was great - sunny and chill at the same time - more than 3000 runners were participating - and I had all the usual pre-start thoughts about how tired I was, how little I had trained up to the run, how cold it was, how little I could breathe through my nose and how sore my throat was (due to the cold I have).... I had to bike on my sons bike to the start as my own bike had a flat tire, which didn't make it any easier to go there - as he is 20 cm smaller than I am - making my knees and tighs ache before starting to run! But ok all these thoughts about how to 'escape' are normal for me before a run. I know them and I normally ignore them pretty well! So I came to start, I ran a good run, but couldn't follow the strategy I had made - and now I am sitting with 'hang-overs' and considering if the strategy was too hard for the day or just too hard in general??? I cannot complain over the time as I've made a personal best on the 10k, but I still have the feeling that I could have done it better....
ANNOYING!

Hurray - it's done!

2008-01-28T17:28:00.000+01:00

Have finished the on beforehand so feared presentation, and I believe that it went well. I can - as probably most people fearing to present - find things which could have been prepared better or explained in more clever ways (easily!) - but I have now come to the state where I can accept that it was not perfect - and that what others see is not how I feel inside, but something completely different. I have sometimes wondered how they can not see how stupid I am inside - how I shake and how my heart is trying to get out of my chest. But no - most often I get nice critics on my presentations....

But it is just great it is over for this time!

I'll celebrate it with running home! The sunshine from yesterday is long gone - it is dark and raining, but I don't care.... the presentation is done and I can breathe again!

Waste of sunshine....

2008-01-27T13:29:00.000+01:00

I would like to run my favorite run (around Utterslev mose, an area close to Copenhagen with a path going around a few lakes, 18km from start to end) - the weather is sunny - almost spring like - and the last days storm has disappeared. It is the perfect day for a long run...

I would also like to find a nice sunny spot in the living room with a new knit, I have wanted to start for a month now. Yarn, pattern and needles finally at hand. You can find the patten at http://www.knitty.com/ - look for Abotanicity....

I would like to finish reading 'Nora'. Only missing a few chapters.... The book is almost calling out loud to be finished.....

I would like to make a nice sunday lunch for my family - and have time to enjoy their company and the food....

But....

Tomorrow I have to make a presentation at work. I have a severe fear for giving presentations. I dislike it to a degree making it almost pathological.

So what do I do??

I walk around in small circles, doing nothing, heart beating and fast breathing. I'm not making the presentation out of 'fear' - and I'm wasting this beautiful sunday, the great weather and the chance for time with the family on 'circling around being anxious'.

While writing this 'my brain' fully understand how stupid this waste of time, sunshine and love is. At the same time I am almost paralyzed of fear.....

And suddenly I go public!

2008-01-24T17:31:00.000+01:00

I have considered for a very long time to get my own blog... I think I have been too shy to really dare to get one, but now I have decided to try it out. To skip the shy-thing....
The goal is - as often in my life - a kind of egoistic and self centered: I simply need help to keep up my motivation for exercising!
And now you probably think that how can a blog help in motivation? The answer - for me - is that a public commitment to do a thing often forces me to do as said! It makes it more problematic to stay indoor where it is nice and warm - and not raining! - and more likely that I go out and beat the elements.... I also hope that others will participate with advices and comments in how to keep up the motivation and improve my training!

And now I think I'll skip the writing and go out for a short run... As the weather is as bad as usual in Denmark this time of the year - and dark not to forget! I think it has to be a short one...