Quiddity

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It’s just a little less than an hour until midnight and the start of 2018, so while waiting for the ball to drop, I figured this would be a good time for a knitting recap of 2017.  

First of all, I finished all four of the knitted gifts I wrote about last time, despite being thrown the curve ball of two additional projects!  The four original items were two kid size pullover sweaters, a toy cat, and a scarf, the last of which was for Jim and was the project I didn’t feel too much pressure to finish. That one was the last and was completed at 11:37pm on Christmas Eve, so I got in just under the wire.  The two extra projects were both hats, so they didn’t take too long to finish, thank goodness.  The sweaters fit the kids, the cat found a good home, and Jim is happily wearing the scarf as the temperatures here continue to plummet, as are the recipients of the hats.  I won’t bore you with all the photos - you can find all of my projects on my Ravelry page - but while I like them all, I’m most proud of the cat.  I even knit her a little lace collar.

Awww!  So, here’s the final tally of what I knit this year.  It’s a nice list, but I think I should definitely make a resolution to knit less and do other things more in 2018.

1 baby blanket / 6 baby hats / 2 child sweaters / 3 Christmas trees / 4 coasters / 3 cowls / 1 pair fingerless mitts / 29 adult hats / 11 pussy hats / 1 lace scarf / 5 lace shawls / 7 jar covers / 1 tiny lace collar / 2 scarves / 4 shawls / 1 pair socks / 4 toy Dala horses / 1 toy cat

Not finished: 2 lace shawls / 1 pair socks - but soon!

All that knitting, and yet I still managed to find time to ride horses six days a week, read a whole bunch of books (I’m on GoodReader if you want to see my list), do a tiny bit of sewing, and fritter away many hours on the internet.  

Overall, except for that whole getting turned upside down in my car thing, it was a good year.  Husband, son, and daughter-in-law are all healthy and working, cats and horse are doing fine, and I finally got myself a vacation outside of the United States!  Really couldn’t ask for much more than that.  I have plans and goals for 2018, and like most years, I’m sure I’ll make some and miss others.  But no matter what happens, it will be interesting in one way or another.  

My very best wishes that your 2018 will be just as full of wonderous things as I’m sure mine will.  So, on behalf of all my family, human and animal, I wish you a very very Happy New Year!  2018, bring it on!!

 

I’m Nuts

Ok, so you all already know that, but I seem to have ramped it up a notch.  There are, let’s see, approximately 20 days until Christmas.  20. Days.  And yet, I have taken it in mind to knit four projects before the big day.  Four.  Knitted things. Obviously, I’m not going to tell you what they are becasue people who may be getting them read this thing - or at least I think they do - so I don’t want to spill the beans.  On the other hand, I’m already negotiating with myself.  Such as, one of these projects can go into a box...on the needles!...if need be.  And wouldn’t one of them be more fun if I got some fabric and sewed it instead of knitting?  Much faster, too.  The others, well, they are going to have to be knit, blocked, and wrapped in time for the big day. 

Now, having committed, more or less, to this schedule, I should also mention that I have not yet begun to Christmas shop for my family, decorated the house, or basically done anything for the holiday except gone to the nursery and obtained two big wreaths, which are now gracing the front of the house.  Sans bows, however, because as has become apparent to me the last few days, there has been an inexplicable run on large outside wreath bows and none are to be found.  Make one you say?  Hahahaha hahahaha!

So, this past Saturday was the culmination of all the knitting and crafting I’ve been doing, as well as hours of practice for our annual mounted quadrille performance.  Both the bazaar and the performance were successful.  It was, in fact, a perfect day for both.  Sunny and warm, with the temperature near 70.  Despite the warmth, people bought wooly hats and cowls and scarves.  Thanks everyone!  My silly holiday trees sold, as did the Dala horses, and a couple of the candle jars.  I did not fall off my horse during the performance and managed to mostly follow the pattern.  So, not a bad day at all.  Here’s a photo of my booth.

We also had a very nice Thanksgiving here.  Not a big crowd, but we had a enjoyable day and everyone seemed to enjoy the food.  I actually don’t care a whole lot about most of the traditional food.  Turkey to me is just, well, meh.  I usually make fresh green beans (ok), mashed potatoes (YUM!), sweet potatoes (ick), a green salad (eh), rolls, and one more veggie.  This year, that other veggie was a really delicious corn casserole that my friend Doug brings to our annual knitters holiday party (coming up this Sunday!!)  I don’t claim mine was as good as his, but everyone, including me, liked it.  I also made a killer chocolate pie, which is my favorite part of the meal, of course. Pumpkin pie is also provided for those that like it.  I don’t.  Picky, that is me.  I hope your meal and your company were as delightful as mine.

Now, it’s on to Christmas.  It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, so that seems a good time to stay in and decorate. And, what else, KNIT LIKE THE WIND!!!!