Day 96 of  #tracywearswool, and this mama does dance!

And if you don’t believe me, you can check out my Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging page.

I signed up for a class, after a free trial on Facebook.  And it had some interesting side effects.

Not only did I learn the physical steps and routines — which I admit, were a bit of a challenge for me — it changed something else: I find myself dancing at random times. My feet just start to move to the music at the grocery store.  I figure out the time, and sort of bippity bop through the aisles.  And I don’t care if people see me.

For me THIS IS HUGE.  I have spent most all of my life as a non-dancer, and was ashamed of the way my body moved to music.  I felt awkard and embarassed.

Now, I love it… and i just don’t care what others think. So if you are like I was… consider taking a class.  It will change your attitude on life!

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Intermittant rain showers, and bursts of bright sunlight.  Spring weather in the Pacific Northwest. I’ll be heading to Portland, stopping to pick up some kale and Brussels Sprouts along the way, courtesy of a neighbor on the Buy Nothing Facebook Group.

If you are considering the challenge – beware.  It WILL change you.  I can only speak for myself — and I have changed so much, my attitude towards clothing and how I see my own presence in this crazy world.

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

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#tracywearswool day 81 out of 100, and for me, the times are a changin’!

This whole dress thing has been a game-changer for me.  I am not quite sure exactly what I was thinking when I signed up.  I didn’t think it over that much.  Just saw an ad on Facebook… and thought ” how cool is that”.  I thought that the people I saw looked like people I would want to know.  Real people, from a hugely diversified group, all brought together by a single item: the dress.

And that was it. I was in.  Ordered the dress — which I named Woolamina — my iron-gray Rowena  And I haven’t regretted one moment of it.

Although the deal is — you photograph yourself in the dress and take a photo every day, and post on social media.  That seemed pretty easy… so I upped the ante.  I decided to write a blog post every day for the same 100 days — as a way to get back into a good blogging routine (OK… to start a good blogging routine.)

And along the way, I have started some other challenges, too…. entirely made up by myself — the 12 sweaters in 2021 knitting challenge, and an Appalachian flatfooting and clogging challenge — to become a dancer in 8 weeks.  I am currently working on sweater #4, and have a newfound appreciation and sense of humor regarding my dancing skills.

I feel centered, and grounded, and like I have accomplished some things during this incredibly strange time.   I have started listening to more audiobooks, and worked on personal growth.  I have made life changes, like cutting off two feet of hair, dancing every morning, and wearing a dress every day.

And, I think I have become a better me.

And today’s inspiration came from the following version of an old favorite:

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Another day in the 40’s with hail in the morning, but sun in the afternoon.  Crazy, changing every 20 minutes!

Knitting, singing, and blogging.   Had a little drumming and laughing out by the campfire tonight (socially distancing, of course.) Always good to connect with friends- old and new.

Since it was still chilly, I wore my Fleece Lined Leggings

and my favorite older-than-dirt wool boot socks with my Keens.

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

JOIN ME ON TWITTER!

 #tracywearswool day 72 out of 100, and I have just finished up sweater  #3 of 12 for 2021!!

I have to admit, I knit this for my dress.  Not the dress that I am wearing for the challenge, which is the long sleeve Rowena.  But I thought that this lightweight sweater would go really well with the sleeveless Sierra tank dress… which just happened to arrive this past week.

When this yarn came — it is silk & raw silk mix… I just knew that it would be perfect.  So I designed this little cropped, 3/4 sleeve raglan sweater to go with it.  Not too heavy, but for times when I don’t want bare arms.  Hopefully….for travelling in the warm months of fall.

Who knows, maybe I’ll make it to the Bayou!

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Heading back to the coast, and taking some flowers to plant.  The nursery had Fuschia starts, ao I bout some and a hanging basket.  Also picked up some geraniums — because the deer seem to leave them alone.

Still working on publishing my last hat pattern. Sign up on my mailing list for GYPSYWAGONKNITS and I’ll notify you when it comes out.

Spring is definitely here – cool in the mornings, but up to 70 in the afternoon — about a 35-degree fluctuation.  

Almost time to get the garden in.

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

Did I mention my Appalachain Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge?? Check it out:

JOIN ME ON TWITTER!

 #tracywearswool day 71 out of 100, and let’s talk about playing.

So where do the children play these days.  When we were kids, you got on your bike after breakfast and came back for dinner. You went to your friends’ houses, or the beach, or the park, or met in an empty field, or mountain top… or wherever.  AND… I’m not that old.

But this pandemic has put a twist on things. Kids can’t get together like they used to.  And that is a shame. bt even without the pandemic… times are changing.  Around here, the parks are filthy.  In the street in front of the house, people toss their trash in the gutter. It blows into my daughter’s yard, plastic bottles, papers, food wrappers, fast food containers.  You name it.  I wondered if it would help to put a trash can there.  I wouldn’t want my kids playing in that.  Horrible.

About a year ago, I gave up single-use plastic and paper goods ( except toilet paper.)  I know it is not much, but I hope it helps.  And I really don’t miss them.  Saves space, money, and the environment.  And Sustainability is one of my reasons for doing the Dress Challenge.  Might not work for everyone, but it works for me.

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Working on knitting and knitting patterns here in Portland.  And I joined a Meet and Knit Zoom Event held by a local yarn shop tonight — over ZOOM, of course. 

 Still working on publishing my last hat pattern. Sign up on my mailing list for GYPSYWAGONKNITS and I’ll notify you when it comes out.

Here are the socks I am doing now:

It got up to  70 here in Portland, Oregon today.  And we made a lot of progress on the garden.  Make sure to check back tomorrow, because I will for sure be posting photos of the progress.

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

Did I mention my Appalachain Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge?? Check it out:

JOIN ME ON TWITTER!

Black Coffee…but you can skip the cigarettes!

You see, I quit over 10 years ago… haven’t had one since then. 

I started knitting about 40 ish years ago and used to make little baby sweaters and hats when the kids were little. But single motherhood… with 4 kids took a bite out of free time, so knitting was set aside.

But I started back up again, about 15 years ago, and when I quit smoking, I really started knitting… it became a great replacement habit.

Knitting has gotten me through some tough times and sleepless nights, and I am grateful for that. And it has given me a wonderful creative outlet, and a way to make personalized gifts for people.

I started designing my own patterns about 5 years ago… and you can find them on my Ravelry page… or go to my Gypsywagonknits.com for ideas, resources, and some free patterns.

This #100daydresschallenge has made me look at my life differently. ANd it has made me wonder, how else I can challenge myself, and do better.  So this year — I am going for 12 sweaters. And this is sweater #2 for the year.  It is for #1 daughter… and she picked out the yarn, Cloudborn highland wool in…espresso.  I will be testing and publishing a pattern, at some point, and will call it Skylark.

For those of you new to this blog …I am involved in a 100-Day Challenge, put on by Wool&  —  Same dress.  100 days. (And yes, you can wash it!) Part of my reasons for deciding to do this was to simplify my life, especially with my lifestyle.

What’s in store today:

Knitting and blogging, and some dancing thrown in… but that was after the gloriously long shower I had this morning… after coffee and podcast time.

And I made a little movie starring the new sweater — so I could send it to  #1, and she could see her new sweater.  Although she promptly called and said I could NOT keep it!  Here is the video…

It’s 100% silk… and I think it’ll be perfect for summer… especially If I get my Sierra! Yarn info HERE! Code TRACY15 gets you 15% off.

And larger needles mean a faster knit — just love it when it get’s hard to put down!

I think this length goes really well with Woolamina.

Hmmm, what color shall mine be????

As part of the challenge, I will be posting my daily outfits on blog posts as well as social media with the hashtag #tracywearswool — please follow along — and see all the creative outfits that I can come up with!

SOME OF MY RECENT POSTS:

Did I mention my Appalachain Flatfooting and Clogging Challenge?? Check it out:

JOIN ME ON TWITTER!