Happy New Year, my friends. I’m having a lazy day here at Casa d’A.K. – Husband and Baby have gone to visit our favorite hangout while I get an hour or so of quiet. No better time to get my resolutions together (but in no particular order):
- Raise my knitting to the next level. It’s time to try out some lace and cable patterns already.
- Get my finances in better shape. How the heck am I gonna pay for yarn if I’m mired in credit card payments?
- Go on more dates with Husband. Since Baby A.K. came into the world (and I know all my Mom/Dad readers can attest to this), we just don’t get enough “alone time” anymore. Even if it means sitting at our favorite hangout, reading and knitting, so be it.
- Get back to the gym. I know, how boring – everyone has this one on their list. I fell off the wagon around November when I started my holiday knitting, and actually, I’ve missed it. My goal is to work up to running at least a couple of miles 3 or 4 days a week. And hey, it’s a great way to catch up on my knitting podcasts.
- Do more for me. Children create a huge money vacuum, and just as your parents probably did, you end up sacrificing for them. You forgo that cute dress hanging in your favorite store window and don’t even bother looking for a new pair of flats so that your little one can have something new and sparkly. But after 2 years of this, it’s really getting to me. I deserve nice things sometimes, and dammit, I’m gonna get ’em this year.
Well, that’s all I’ve got. And what timing – Husband and Baby A.K. have returned with fantastic tales of their reading adventures. Ahhh, more reading… that’s another resolution…
yarnyMarni 
Ah, resolutions. I have a few myself. I too have exercise on my list though I do stuff at home rather than the gym. I’m going to France & Italy in June so will be doing lots of walking. Have to get in shape for that!!
Yep, kids can be a money pit. Just wait until they’re driving and you’re forking out more for car insurance. And for me, in two more years it will be college expenses (YIKES). But don’t worry, I’ve been treating myself a little bit recently as I found some great sales at Kohl’s. My wardrobe is shaping up nicely.
Have to tell you that now I realize why people have UFO’s. I’ve been making blocks for a quilt my cousin and I are making. I need to make about 35 blocks for the project but thought I’d make double that so I can make myself a little something. And I am bored, Bored, BORED with only about 25 blocks made. So, now they are on the back burner until I work on something else. After all, I’m not seeing her until the spring or summer to layout the quilt so I have plenty of time … right?
Congrads! I had hoped to be there this year to watch it up close & personal but can’t get away. The TV coverage is only from 3-4:30 and then the auction at 6:30 so I am glad we will have first hand reports. I can’t wait!
Yaaaahoooooooo! I didn’t think it was going to go through, since we didn’t have much positive news — but I’m so happy for you that it did!
My own Sheep-to-Shawl plans are up in the air; too many other things trying to also happen on Wednesday. Staff meeting at work, other meeting at work, washer/dryer delivery to home … argh. At least I’ll have somewhere to keep tabs on the competition now, if I can’t get there myself!
Congrats, good luck and have fun! Hope you see you there…
I read that the PA show is adding a youth competition, Fleece to Shawl, and hope that you will include some coverage of that as well!
Thanks for the updates!
I’m slogging away at work today. Looking forward to sneeking peeks at your blog this afternoon and visiting the show vicariously through you. Hope your baby is feeling better. Have fun at the show.
Thanks again for all of your hard work and efforts to bring information about the contest to the blogosphere!
Did you happen to get any information on the ages and location of youngsters who entered the Fleece to Shawl event? And how many of them participated….
thanks again…
Thanks for taking the time to put all of this out there. As a participant it was nice to see what we missed. Gandolf the sheep also wishes to thank you for all of the free publicity.
And in the fullness of time the socks were finished; lo, left and right created she them. And she saw that it was good.
Congrats on finishing, the sock looks good (they looked good in person half-done, even better fully finished!) In other news, I discovered tonight I have to frog my current 2/3 finished sock because it’s too small. Sigh.
I remember that boucle, and the wrap it’s turning into; awesome that you finally get to start it!
I’ve been thinking about starting a sweater too, my FIRST REAL sweater … considering patterns for the moment. Right now the “Placed cable aran” from Interweave Knits fall 2007 is a strong contender. I want something that I really like the look of, but which doesn’t seem too scary for a first attempt.
Looking forward to seeing how the cardigan develops! Have a good week!
Get the ball winder. I got one for Christmas, along with a swift, and I love it. Gauge is a mighty fickle thing at times! 🙂
I hear ya, sister. I spent a large portion of Saturday getting yarn for the sweater pattern I wanted to try … and after finally picking out some yarn (really pretty yarn, too), I spent the rest of the weekend discovering it’s completely unsuitable for this sweater. I can’t get gauge, and if I did I’d be very unhappy with the fabric. I was looking for a fun, inspiring new thing to work on, and ended up with a pile of unhelpful yarn and a bigger pile of frustration.
I pitched the whole aggravating mess into my spare room where I can ignore it; I’m sure one day it will become something lovely, but right now it just needs to be out of sight.
Sigh. Well, I hope you are more pleased with the results of your shopping, and maybe some time will give you knitty-ideas about things to go with your new wardrobe. And today I’m reminding myself, winter can’t last forever!
I am in the dulldroms too. I chalk it up to all the Christmas knitting. Right now I am just knitting a plain pi afghan just to have something in my hands. Boring! There are things I want to make but I just don’t have the mental capacity to go to work on them just yet. Actually I should go spin till this phase passes. Good luck in your quest for inspiration!
Hi – So I’m confused about getting gauge too! I thought you have to wash and block the swatch (in the same manner as the garmet will be washed) before you count? No wonder I just knit things that have no shape!
I’m afraid I’m no help here, cause I never wear hats! 😦 I always have a scarf in the winter, but never a hat. Hopefully someone more helpful will be along directly; or perhaps the ever-useful Ravelry can turn up some good ideas?
Sorry to hear your house-ful were all sick, I hope the current ICK is moving out smartly!
Hope everyone’s getting better and sorry about your loss.
We read a really good children’s book yesterday called Archy the Flying Dolphin. It’s such a good book, my son wanted to read it right after we finished. I said only this once, and then after that we can only read it one time. He was a little pouty about it, but loves the book and tries to read it over and over by himself! Such a cutie!
It’s a really great book, hope you check it out!