The Current Knitting Project HAHAHA (from 2021)

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I am pretty much digging through the archives of my Ravelry entries, photos that have amassed to an unacceptable number, and sifting through the large number of posts that I never finished writing. I need to pick up somewhere to re-organize and catch up so I’m choosing this! Ten or so years, ago I was gifted this beautiful yarn as a thank you, 4 years ago I chose the pattern, the following two years I knitted sporadically, and waited another year before taking photos. Talk about turtle speed. But they do say, the turtle wins the race!

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Knitting Year in Review ~ One FO

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Ravelry allows one to organize number of FOs (finished objects) per year. The data immediately exposes the truth, as data does. It said I completed one project this year. Now, it is true, I am not a speed demon when it comes to knitting, but this suggested relatively no knitting this year and upon further investigation I only two completed projects in 2021. So, what have I been doing ? I suppose, in a word, everything other than knitting . . .

Bowled my highest game ever with the ladies on a women’s league. Biked most Wednesdays and Saturdays with local groups through the Spring and Summer.

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Happily Home for the Holidays

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I am writing to extend a warm holiday greeting here in my new home. ‘Tis true, the last post I wrote was quite some time ago and of the extensive kitchen remodel project of the Danbury house. I would like to think that the inhabitants of the house are not so much what matters but rather ‘we’ did the old house proud. With that thinking, and knowing that the house was ready, I prepared for a change. New home, new community, new environment ~ perhaps this move could be considered a symbolic landmark of my own life timeline marking my past and my future.

Significant also is the fact that this year, I participated fully in the Christmas gaiety for the first time in five years. I am looking at this as evidence of my moving forward from facing grief. To cope with loss during the holidays one learns to edit the activities of the season knowing that when the body and mind are ready, the festivities will be there waiting.

I love baking and look for opportunity to do so. This Christmas I made red and green sprinkled snowflake cutouts to take to a group gathering.

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On the Other Side, Kitchen Remodel

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I remember the day we purchased our home. It was with great anticipation and excitement, of course. Thrilled to have moved from our ‘starter’ home to the next, I looked upon this house as the next step. I was very aware of the needs of the old dwelling and figured in the next few years, we would tackle those obvious eye sores one by one. Then, of course, life happened. Now, all of a sudden it is twenty-five years later, year 2022, children long moved away living with their loves, hubby has passed away, a world pandemic continues, retirement/employment gigs underway and many of the projects around the house are clearly still looming.

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A Break

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Even our hobbies/passions can get the best of us. Or, shall I say, can get to me. My knitting has been almost non-existent. It has happened to me before and will likely happen, again. There have been times when I haven’t knitted for years. Some knitters talk about this thing called, “getting your knitting mojo back.” Some suggest changing up what you typically knit. They say knit different items, perhaps easier items, or ‘brainless’ knitting oftentimes referred to as TV knitting. To me that translates to MORE knitting! Ugh I find the best way to get my knitting interest back is to take a break away from it. So, to replace knitting temporarily? An invitation to ‘puzzle’ came at just the right time and I jumped at the opportunity.

So, here was the set up . . . comfortable chair, warm fire, music playing softly off to the side . . . 1000 piece puzzle called Mixed Nuts. Perfect.

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Christmas (Stockings) of Past, Present, and Future

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It’s getting to look a lot like Christmas says the song and friends as they post their newly decorated holiday trees and assorted decorations on social media. Every image is beautiful and encouraging to begin decorating. I like deciding whether to be sentimental (hang the antiques from yesteryear) or crafty (make a few), or to consider purchasing new ornaments for the tree. Whatever the case, decorating for the holidays brings on excitement . . . but also the emotions. So it is for me.

My challenge is the Christmas stockings. Seems so silly. For me, it is real and began the first Christmas after my sister and hubby passed away. You see, the knitted Christmas stockings are personalized.

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Simple fix of a hand knit

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I wanted to wear this when I went out the other night. Knitted years ago, it is a comfortable, fun piece with the colors of the season. I wrote about it, HERE.

When I put it on, the vest-dress didn’t look the way I wanted or the way I remembered. Hmmm So, it was a quick wardrobe switch for that night and a mind left wondering what/why I wasn’t happy with what I was seeing. I do have a habit, in this case a good one, to fix what is bugging me when I find myself less than satisfied with something I have made. Trying it on the next day, I quickly noticed what I didn’t like.

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Indiana Amish

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I call it a sabbatical. Sounds educational. Sounds important. For me, it is personal.

My self-prescribed sabbatical away from the familiarity of WNY, non-stop schedules, teaching, employment gigs, and pretty much anything and everything familiar to me continues. It has led me to some pretty interesting places, which of course was its intention. Currently, I am in Bedford, Indiana with MG, in a very comfortable camper complete with internet, overlooking beautiful country, adjacent to corn fields, and on a rolling road lined with pines and deciduous trees preparing themselves for winter. On this particular day, adventure was calling and its name was the Amish. On the way, anything was game.

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