As The Yarn Turns

Reflecting on 2004

I've had some years recently where I wanted to rush to the end to get the old year out of the way and start fresh with a new one. Not this one. Oh, this year has come with its set of hardships, but overall it has been a good year. I've had a few "firsts" this year - my first spinning wheel, met my first Buddhist monk, and "met" a lot of knitters and spinners through lists and blogs. I felt that things got better as the year progressed rather than getting worse. Both of us have this underlying sense of things getting better even when they take a temporary turn for the worse. So I'm optimistic.

From a knitting and spinning perspective, it's been a very good year. I may not have produced much in terms of quantity but I have enjoyed every minute of the things I did produce. I've learned a lot. I've had a lot of fun experimenting with spinning, dyeing fiber, and knitting patterns. I got my first spinning wheel. Reading blogs has been a blast! I love the diversity among knitters, in the way they live their lives, their personalities, and the things they choose to knit. There are lot of patterns that I wouldn't have found if not for blogs. They've given me ideas and inspiration for my own creations. I'm looking for inspiration, creativity, and more "firsts" in coming year.

So tonight we're going out to eat at a local restaurant, then we'll come home watch a Harry Potter movie and bring in the new year with a bottle of champagne. As you can see I'm ready for tomorrow's New Years day feast.

Yes, that's blackeyed peas and collard greens, or in my case it will be my own somewhat spicy version of Hoppin' John (rice, blackeyed peas, and pork) and collard greens. And if you're not familiar with collard greens, yes that batch really is almost as big as I am. There is no such thing as a small batch of collard greens around here.

Happy New Year!

by Sydney  |

The Holidays Have Been Good

I've enjoyed the holidays so far. Not much in the way of big happenings. We've just had a pleasant time at home, relaxing and eating. Usually we're traveling at Christmas but this year we stayed home. It has been a very nice change. Well we've been organizing too. It's amazing how much stuff a person (or in this case, two people) can accumulate. Right now we're at the tossing stage, sorting through stuff that we don't want. We've actually uncovered floor space that hasn't seen the light of day in a while. Of course right now a lot of that stuff is sitting in the hall until it goes out the door. Even with all the stuff in the hall, it just feels better.

I've also had some time to do some leisurely knitting and spinning. I'm actually making some progress on the Riby Cardi back. The green color of the yarn doesn't quite come out right in this picture.

If you've ever received a truly strange Christmas present, these ski masks should make you feel better. They kind of started growing on me after a while, which is scary in itself. I wouldn't be at all surprised if someone digs out the pattern and knits some up.

Wonder Why My Neck is Stiff?

Well I'm off to do some knitting while I leave you with one of Katie's favorite sleeping spots when I'm on the computer, especially if I happen to lean over.

by Sydney  |