Number 86

 This is my 86th completed project for this year. I really like the colors. The pattern is They Stash Dive Scarf by Summer Lee Designs.   This scarf is over 5 feet long. It’s meant ti be folded in half which makes it great for my knitting guild project. It’s going to northern Arizona where it gets really cold.  This also brings up the question: can I finish 13 more projects by December 31st?   This year I might not make my goal of 100 completed knitting and weaving projects in 2021. 

Over Achieving

 Today is January 28th.  I might need to rethink my knitting goals for the year.  I have already hit 11% completed. I am only knitting a few hours a day, no all day marathons in deference to my hands. Maybe it’s time to pull out a really if project to slow me down. 

Happy 2020

This is the first morning of 2020.  This year I will put a few goals in writing.  They are in no particular order.

1. Teri would like me to read 100 books this year.  A more realistic goal is 12.  So I will strive to read 12 books and any extra books read is a bonus for Teri and Bookman’s.

2.  I will try to finish 100 craft projects this year.  With a minimum of 5 dozen hats, to be knit over the summer.

3. I will try to publish 4 patterns this year. I hope that this is not too ambitious for me.

4. I will try to enjoy my retirement and get out more.

I could add more, but this is all that I am willing to commit to this year. I have not set goals since so last century. This list is doable if nothing major happens this year.

Scattered Knitting

I think that John has it right. I am a very scattered knitter. How did he come to this conclusion you might ask.  Well it occurred tonight during Super Bowl 53.  I was working on the remake of a pattern do to a lack of copious notes, see yesterday’s blog post.  I got up to get my last Yarn Butler not in use, I have 3 for the record.  They are now all in use.  Plus I have various baskets and bags most filled with multiple UFO’s.  I also have knitting projects in more than 1 room of the house.

I think it might be time to finish all my UFO’s in progress before I start any new projects.  Then sell off some of my soon to be extra bags and baskets. I need to learn to focus.  Being focused, squirrel, is not one of my fortes.  The exception to this would be hats and scarves  for the clothing bank, that is my take along project and a device I use in restaurants not to eat chips or bread before a meal.  It’s just a way to keep my Carib count down.

Wish me luck.  Since this is a short month my goal is to get 3 patterns written and posted to Raverly. Then finish my sweater.  Hopefully there will not be to many squirrels this month.

*Squirrels is a term use to say a distraction in a somewhat funny way.
*UFO is short for unfinished projects or objects.

Happy 2019

I would like to wish everyone a happy new year. May your year be happy, healthy and prosperous.

As many of you know I personally gave up New Years resolutions years ago. This year I am making an exception. This year my goal is to stash bust all craft projects in he house, including jewelry, yarn, roving and fabric projects in other words knit, spin, weave, sew, and play with beads. My goal is to finish as many projects as possible. A project will be considered completed when finished, ripped out to repurpose ,thrown into a dog pillow, passed on to some else. Basically just getting it done no mater how. I promise to post as many pictures as possible so you can join me on the journey.

This is the last project I finished in 2018. Row count will be added later.

5 Day and Counting

My ankle has recovered enough to start walking again.  If I can maintain my 8,000 steps per day for 25 more days I will increase my step count goal by a slight increase in steps.  I have even starting walking around my neighborhood. This means that I can walk up and down small hills. It is still easier to walk down hill than up hill. I have also found that it is easier to warp the small loom too. I will try warping the larger loom later this weekend.

Eric was up to his old tricks today. He faked sick at his program.  When he found out that daddy was going to pick him up he instantly got better.  His aide tonight and I figured out his con job.  In some ways I am very happy that he got his point across.  That he was bored and wanted to go home  In some ways I had thought we had left this bad behavior behind us.  Some days I just want to throw up my hands and say enough of this Eric and hide out in my local yarn shop.

Journeys

I really think that I like my doctor's office scale much better than the scale that I have at home. It shows that I am 2 pounds lighter than my scale at home.  With that being said, I have lost one sixth of the weight that I want to lose. I have only 2.5 pounds to lose before I reach my 1st goal of losing 5% of my body weight. I know it is all about baby steps and moving more. With that being said I have exceeded my daily step goal by over 2,000 steps today.

I have finished knitting another hat today and am closing in on 4 dozen hats knit for the year. I was lucky to be able to book my Stitches West 2019 classes and hotel today. I only had to live through 2 computer server overloads. Thank goodness I called and entered my classes when registration opened this morning. By this afternoon the hotel was booked and 1 class that I am taking is filled.

Well it is time to call it a day. Have a very productive day tomorrow.

La Shana Tova

As this year of 5770 draws to a close it is time for introspection in my life. It has been a year of very high highs and some lows. The hours have been long and unpredictable. Some of the things I have learned along the way have enhanced my life while conversely some of the time I spent "learning" I will never get that time back.

Some of the most important things I have learned include that it is not necessary to use an 8 to 10 quart pot every time I make soup. Yes I have conquered the 4 quart soup pot. I can also now make a 9 by 9 inch pan of kugle (noodle pudding) and the world has not come to an end. Learning to cook for just 2 of us has taken a while. Eric does not eat much of my cooking anymore, which is fine with me although I don't mind using the magic bullet when he wants what we are eating.

It is really OK not to be a pack rat. It is easier to keep the house clean with less junk. This has been a long process for me as I come from a long line of pack rats on both sides of my family. The less accumulation of just stuff is very hard to do; but after having to clean some houses of a life time of clutter I want to make the process easier for Teri.  So I am starting the process while I am still young enough to do most of the work myself. It does really feel good to de-clutter. Just don't tell that to John.  But it is still a very hard process for me.

I have learned that if I don't like a particular yarn I do not have to knit with it no matter what. I can still find a good home for it. It is also OK to knit for me. Everything does not have to be for charity or for sale.

The things I need to work on for 5771 is to have more patience when I am tired. That it is OK to say no. It is OK to have me time. To find more couple time with John. To continue the work of 5770 by de-cluttering more. I also hope to be more available to Teri and to try to understand her new life better.

I hope everyone will join me in putting family first.  They are our very core. Keep in close contact with good friends and try to make amends for past failures.

I know in my heart that world peace will not come easily as we need to over come many millennium of hatred and miss understandings. I hope for a year of more understanding, education and corporation in the world.

I leave you this year with wishes of health and a good life.  May you have a sweet year. La Shana Tova.