Right Now

Right now:

--My 366 project is still going strong

--I'm working on B's winter 2012 hat in my very first self-dyed yarn

--I'm reading a newly discovered Laura Ingalls Wilder book that I found on my bookshelf at work, its full of articles from her Missouri Ruralist days about life on the farm and in the country, making a home, and the ways of the world...its wonderful.

--I'm planning ahead for this years garden...I think I've got it just about figured out...now I just need to cut my dried bean wish list by 3/4....they're all so pretty its hard to say "no."

--I'm trying to make peace with the fact that this might be the winter we've been given this year...one with more rain than snow and more days above 40 degrees than below 0...it's strange...I'm working on it.

What are you up to these days?

Learning Colorwork

I made these little socks in an attempt to learn colorwork.  It was easier to make it look like something than I imagined, but on the other hand my finished product leaves much to be desired as far as tension goes.  I also forgot to knit through the back loop on the 1x1 ribbing for sock number one, making the ribbing a disaster, but once they're on chubby little legs, I figure it won't be so noticeable.  Either way, I think these are pretty sweet and they were a good project to learn on. 

Anyone have any tips or resources on colorwork/stranded knitting?  I'd love to hear them!

Here on Rav.

2012

Since the new year I have been trying to breathe deeper, smile often, laugh louder, linger longer, wander more, bake more, appreciate more, worry less, notice and celebrate more, make good habits, and make less excuses.

There has been a birthday celebrated (his not mine), lots of trips to the farm for milk and eggs made, and projects that have been on the to-do list far too long have been crossed off.  I'm feeling good.  I have high hopes for 2012, my resolutions this year were completely cliche, but I hope to be healthier, get the house organized, and work on as many home renovation projects as I can stand (and afford). 

I'm also attempting my first 366 project...a picture and a few words a day, kind of habit-esque...I plan on sharing some of the photos here, hopefully increasing my number of posts...I haven't given up on this blogging thing yet...(On a side note, I'm planning a change or two on the blog in the next week or two...mostly in the form of the name, as we are no longer in our little apartment...)

I hope your 2012 has gotten off to a good start!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Wishing you a wonderful holiday filled with lots of peace, joy, and love. 

-Erica-

On Solstice...

Over the past couple of weeks I have been trying to be mindful to take advantage of the darkness instead of wish it away.  There have been slide shows with my grandfathers slides, turning into bed early with a bowl of popcorn and a movie, and lots and lots of candlelight.  It's really been quite nice...though I also find the fact that today is the turning point towards more light quite nice too. :)

Happy Solstice!

Long, Cold Winter Kicking Bag

Just another summer knit that never made it to the blog or Ravelry...this was made on a whim in August when things were more than a bit stressful with buying the house...all of the mindless stockinette was exactly what I needed.  I chose to switch out the cables for a 2x2 rib and added an i-cord. 

Rav details here.

Darkness and Light

I haven't been handling all the darkness as gracefully as I would like this year.  I'm leaving for work in the dark and coming home in the dark.  I feel like I'm missing out on so much living.

This week especially feeling bogged down by endless to-do lists at work and home, migraines, and everything that seems to be breaking and needing money to be fixed (dishwasher, car, cat), I was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.

So tonight I went out in the yard, on the edge of the river bank and sat.  Just sat.  I practiced listening to all of the sounds of the river, first upstream, then downstream, the water swirling around the big rock, the high pitched chuckle and the deep, soothing swoosh.   I looked at the bark on the old sugar maple next to me.  I watched the moon rise over the hill.  I took deep breaths of the cool, damp air.  And with that everything felt just a bit more manageable. 

Tonight I'm going to finish the Christmas cards and plant those narcissus I've been meaning to plant for a week now...and tomorrow who knows...I'll worry about that when the time comes.