Dang!  I thought I was doing so well… 

My little cousin had her baby early.  Now, I will rush.  Except that they keep calling me into work.  I was dedicated to spend the day working on the blanket but I’ll be working 12:00 to 8:00 pm.  I’ll probably get on animal down tonight. 

Here’s my progress so far:

I hate the bird!!!  He’s totally ugly.

I’ve got the turtle, monkey, elephant, boat (the Arc) and the little house.  (I’ll never be done!!! SNIFF.)

In the meantime, my Wurm Scarf has taken a back seat.  I hope it’s not mad at me.  It’s been in the car for over a week.  I keep wanting to work on it but, the blanket is more important at this point.

I also have another mini-project on the go.  I want to see if it’s going to work before I show you guys.

Gotta get ready for work!

Yesterday, I spent the day with Diane Moody, a member of my knitting circle.  She’s also a spinner.  She offered to teach me.  So, I headed over there yesterday around 10:00 a.m. and didn’t leave until 4:30. 

I made this!

It’s not perfect.  Actually, I spin too fast.  Makes for really tightly spun wool.  Diane told me I have to slow down.  (I get told that a lot….)

It took me about 5 hours to make this (lunch break and helping Diane with winding up her silk) but I made a whole skein of wool.  I think I cheated a little ’cause I used pencil roving.  It’s already all even and ready for spinning.  You don’t have to draft anything, just let it take the spin and attach the ends every so often. 

I think I plied too fast too.  Some bits are loosy-goosy and some bits are wound really tight.  When I remembered I had to slow down, it was ok.  Sometimes I would forget though.  Hihi.

I can’t imagine what I’ll do with it.  Maybe I’ll just put it in the bowl on my coffee table with the other hand-spun my friend Michelle gave me.

It’s a start.  Am I a spinner?  No way Jose!  I need a lot of practice.  AND, I have to get good before I even think of getting myself a wheel.  They’re not cheap those puppies!

I’m gonna go work on my Noah’s Arc Blanket.  I’m on a deadline! I think I have 7 days before the baby comes.  YIKES!

I only have one word to describe today:  BLISS!

As you all know, I haven’t had a lot of time off in the last four years.  The minute Jacob left on the buss this morning (back to school), I cranked the music (I love living in the country) and just started on my list of million things I’ve been wanting to do around the house.

Let’s see… what have I done today so far?

1. dishes (in dishwasher)
2. dishes by hand
3. regular laundry
4. laundry – sheets & towels
5. clean up living room
6. pork loin in crock pot
7. pork chops in apple sauce, onions, garlic and a dash of paprika in the oven
8. burn two Linkin Park CDs for France & Berto
9. clean tupperware cupboard
10. merge bottoms of conditioner bottles and skin cream bottles
11. bottom shelf of linen closet (had to make room for new package of toilet paper)
12. clean toilet
13. shower
14. started reading knitting accreditation paperwork (for the second time)
15. put away Christmas stuff
16. mentally planning out my next knitting article
17. e-mailing France and Kim
18. search the IKEA and Sears web-sites for flannel sheets and a duvet for Jacob
19. look up patterns  for men’s mittens (for Brian)
20. put an extension cord in Jacob’s room so he can plug in his phone (which doubles as his alarm clock) (I need to vacuum under his bed – yuck!)
21. listened to a lot of music!

Not necessarily in that order.

I LOVE being at home.  I didn’t have to do anything today, which is likely why I got so much stuff done.  It’s fantastic!!!

I was thinking of writing my New Year’s resolutions down but, I only really had one.  I was a little quick on the draw though.  My plan was to only work one job this year.  My goalwas to have more time to do the things I love without starving to death.  Things worked out for me even before 2010 started.  I quit my office job on Monday, December 28th.  I’m scared shitless but, sometimes you have to take big chances to get what you want.

Ok.  So, I guess I have some new goals now… on account of my new-found freedom. 

1. knit more (that’s definitely the first thing)
2. work on my knitting accreditation
3. learn to spin
4. learn to weave
5. perhaps work on my photography course (I started it years ago and didn’t finish because I didn’t have time to do the assignments)
6. teach some knitting classes
7. spend time at home (which I hadn’t done much since I bought it)
8. go cross-country skiing
9. go snow-shoeing
10. go shopping out of town in the middle of the week
11. buy a really nice new pair of jeans
12. paint my upstairs bathroom
13. write knitting articles
14. write knitting patterns
15. Go to Le Nordic with my sister on a weekday
16. SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE PEOPLE I LOVE!

I might have to carry some of these over to 2011.

I didn’t get my Christmas knitting done on time.  I sewed the buttons on France’s February Lady on December 29th.  She said she wore it on New Year’s Eve.  I only have a pics of it when I was blocking it and then when she tried it on the night I gave it to her.

I don’t like the buttonholes in this pattern.  I don’t know if it’s because I’m not doing them right or because they’re just sort of sloppy.  I’m not doing those anymore… if I ever make another February Lady.  (I think I might – shhhhh).

My bro-in-law got his sweater.  I was so nervous I was sweating when he started to unwrap it.  What if he didn’t like it?  What if it doesn’t fit?  What if he hates the color?  Well, it fit like I actually measured him.  He loved the color and my sister said he’s been wearing it every time he goes out.  It’s like a coat I suppose for people who have that kind of blood.

I never got Brian’s mittens done.  Sorry Brian!  I found some patterns at least!

 

I started my little cousin’s Noah’s Arc baby blanket.  She’s due on January 17th I think?  Better move my arse.  And, YES, it’s acrylic.  I’m not thrilled about that but… what can you do?

I now have 52 items on my Ravelry queue.  Maybe I can knock off a few dozen this year.  Do-able? For sure!!!

You know?  I still don’t have pictures from our Lake Placid Annual Family Christmas Vacation.  Mom!  Get on that!  First time I go somewhere and don’t bring my camera.  I’m fired!

I also get to look forward to another vacation with Jacob this month (or next – to be determined).  We’re going to Panama if it kills me.  I’ve been dying to go there since Year Two of my travelling adventures.  Might cost me a toe and an ear but I’m gonna make it happen.

Then, when I’m done my training in the records department at the station in May, I’m hoping to take another vacation with Scott.  Maybe Cuba.  I’ve already been but, I love Havana and he didn’t come to Havana with us last time we were there.  I think he would like Havana.  Or, at least, he would get a kick out of my reaction to Havana.  I would like to stay in the Hotel National de Cuba.  It’s the hotel from Dirty Dancing:  Havana Nights.  Johnny Depp stayed there too.  Woohoo.

Ok.  I’m rambling.  I’m just so excited today.

Edith Piaf was a knitter!!  How awesome is that???  Did you know that?  I had no idea until I watched “La Vie en Rose”.   Then, I doubted whether she was really a knitter or they just put that in the movie for effect.  So, I googled it. 

I found this picture of her knitting in a hospital bed.

I found the movie a bit confusing.  I’ll have to read her biography.

It’s Christmas Eve and I’m off to work.

Merry Christmas everyone!