29. yoga 30 day challenge,

The 30 day yoga challenge is where I will do a complete yoga class / DVD everyday for 30 days
* to kick start my yoga and fitness,
* see show me good it makes me feel,
* and make it a habit so I continue to do yoga regularly again.

The yoga DVD I'm doing is one I've had kicking around since I first moved to Canada in 2005. Despite its title, it's one of my favourites, especially when I'm getting back into yoga after some time away.



The instructor is very thorough in her explanation of the postures the first time around - correct alignment, energy direction, correcting common mistakes - holding each posture for a number of breaths. After this first round, the sequence is repeated several times, one breath in each pose.

A kind feature of this DVD is that each pose is shown in the beginner's version. The details are given in the beginners version. This makes it clear what I'm doing NOW, and also where I'm going. Often DVDs cater to the intermediate poses, with a side note to "rest in downward dog if it's too much". Not very useful!
Harder versions are also shown, from beginner, to intermediate, to advanced.
There is also a detailed breakdown of the poses at the end of the DVD.


Day 1 was great.
Day 2 I ached so much I put off doing it again until the evening. My hamstrings felt a little looser, my arms/chest a little more tired!
Day 3 I ache even more, but will be doing it again tonight.

45. knit a gift,

I knit Doug a pair of fingerless mitts to wear under his big winter gloves. That way when he takes his big gloves off to fiddle with his equipment in the field, his hands won't completely freeze instantly.
We'll see if he ever uses them.....



(Modelled by me...)

11. banoffee pie (Thanksgiving),

This year, thanksgiving was sent at the cottage. Me, Doug, Doug's mum, Auntie Marie and Uncle Dave, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Kevin. We had visits from Cousin Terry and John, but they didn't stay for dinner.

There was A LOT of food, and one of the deserts was Banoffee Pie, made by me!! I used a store bought pie case, I didn't make my own!! Cathy gave me a few pointers for next year. Warm the dulche de leche up to make it easier to pour, and make nutty fudge out of the leftovers!

This is the second time I've made this kind of English desert for Thanksgiving - a new Family Tradition is Born!!

8. call dad once a month for a year, (1/12)

I called my dad last week, but he wasn't in. This is pretty usual - it's hard to get in touch with my dad most times. I call and he's sleeping, or working, or on holiday, or about to go out... Whenever I call I ask When is the best time of day to call you? and get the sweet, but not so useful answer of "Whenever you call, it's a good time!"

Anyways, this time he was on holiday. He called when he got back and got my message. It was so early when he called that it was still dark out!! I guess he got his own back and called me when I was sleeping, instead of the other way around. It was a quickie 30 min conversation, bacause he was on his way out. October call is done!!