I had a great start to 2008, and I hope you did, too. We had a day of gray skies, VERY cold weather and on-and-off snow flurries, but lots of fun and laughter, as well.


I like to try to have the first day of the year be a microcosm of what I want for the year to come, and if my year is a reflection of my day, I'll be a lucky girl. I got to sleep in and wake up with my guy and spend the whole day with him (a rare day when neither of us had to work). I didn't get my bubble bath or nap in, but there was lots of spinning and good food and even better company! My mom joined the two of us for a dinner at Buca di Beppo's and now I'm home in my pj's relaxing before returning to work tomorrow (*sob*). I've had a great holiday break, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to go back. Where's a winning lottery ticket when you need one :-)


Work and life were both getting a bit crazy before my break, but the time off has me feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the new year (well, almost ready--I wouldn't mind having a few more days off before I have to tackle the new year). Between the solstice, the new year and my birthday at the end of the month, this time of year is always finds me in a reflective mood. I haven't firmed up any solid resolutions yet (I usually try to have those together by my birthday), but overall I'm working on discovering ways to make this year a happier, healthier year. And, of course, I've been thinking what I want to accomplish in my craft life, as well. The first order of business, of course, will be the book projects and writing, but I have a few more goals after that (the projects are due in April and June and the manuscript is due in September, so it won't be the focus of the WHOLE year). So far, the goals I've settled on are:

1. Knit a sweater for myself. That fits. And that I'll actually wear.
2. Knit a cardigan for mom. That fits. And doesn't pinch under the arms.
3. Wash and process fiber from a raw fleece. Then spin it. Then knit it. Into a project bigger than a swatch! (Maybe a doily?)
4. Finish the spinning @#%$#^& silk I'm working on! And at least start designing an incredible new shawl.
5. Actually, finally, really, get the cojones together to pick out the cast off from the October in New York shawl, finish it and fully prepare the pattern for publication, either in a future book or as an independent pattern.

So far, that's what I'm shooting for. I think that's a reasonable list considering I have the book to work on. And of course, there will probably be a few new pairs of socks for my mom. Speaking of which, I did not finish the circus socks in time for Christmas, but they were done before the new year, so I think I may have broken my own record :-) Mom loves both pairs of Christmas socks, so I'm satisfied (and glad to be done with them!). I don't have pictures of either finished pair, but I'll have her model them for me this weekend. For now, I actually have NOTHING on the needles, a situation that I'll have to rectify immediately, if not sooner! Right now I'm totally in love with Ice Queen so I think I may go ahead and work on that while I make sweater-y decisions. I have the yarn in the stash (in three different colors--a rainbow of Ice Queens!), and I'm sure that I'll be able to find some suitable beads in the stash, as well.


And, as you can see from the pictures scattered through this post, Santa brought me some fabulous new fibers to spin, too. Seriously, where's a winning lottery ticket when you need one?!?!? Oh well, back to reality.

Happy New Year!