Stitching, Reading, and Stuff

Stitching

25 Million Stitches.  Still working on panel #3.  I seem to be spending all my spare time on this panel.  Which is a good thing for my blood pressure as I avoid as much news as possible.

Christmas bags finished.  Both of these were started a year or two ago,  and it took very little time to finish them up.  When I get a chance (after finishing the last panel for 25 Million Stitches), I'm going to select some fabric from my stash for making more bags, not necessarily for Christmas, but for gifts of various sizes.  It will help cut back on my stash and be useful for avoiding wrapping paper for birthdays, etc.  

Well, Darn--I discovered multiple tiny holes in one of my favorite cotton sweaters;  evidently I was backing up to close to the fire when more logs were thrown on at the camp.  Sooo...I decided to try darning.  

Books/Reading
Just finished these two mysteries.  I enjoyed both of them.  

















Goals--another week done.   Shortest yoga practice 26 min.; longest 55 min.  At least 2 miles a day.  A visit to an Antique Show for my "get out of the house" goal.  :)  A third week checked off!  I may get all the way through January after all.

There were some beautiful things at the Antique Show, but I didn't need anything and was happy to walk the aisles, view, and appreciate all the interesting booths.  I did find a couple of gifts for the girls.  

Love these ceramic thimbles

which will go to Erin at some point.

Two of these coffee cups in Desert Rose for Amelia.

She has my mother's Franciscan Ware in this pattern,

but the cups are different.

It's cold and rainy here, and my internet connection has been off all day.  It just came back on, but slow, slow, annoyingly slow.

January Week Two, Done and Dusted

Recently, I've been reciting this mantra:  Time to adjust my crown and get to work.  (I don't remember where I saw the original version, but I've been using it several times a day.)  

This morning while I was making an organizing effort, I spotted my real crown, which sits on the head of a papier mache cat, and decided to actually wear my crown for a bit.  

Outgoing Mail

Week 2 Goals:  daily yoga (shortest practice 7 min.; longest 50 min.), walking (as long as I make two miles, I'm pleased), and out of the house (twice this week!)-- all accomplished.

25 Million Stitches:  Panel #2 mailed; panel #3 started.  This is the longer panel and a much more open weave.  I'm using pearl cottons and making bigger stitches.  Still a long, long way to go!

Books/Reading: 













I loved Welcome to the Pine Away Motel and Cabins by Katarina Bivald.  Review scheduled for Jan. 16 on my book blog. Another win in reading was The Hollows by Jess Montgomery.   Just posted the review.


Interesting podcasts:  
The Power of Words to Save Us
Tell Me a Story:  What Narratives Reveal About the Mind

I'm pretty new to the podcast thing.  Do any of you have favorite podcasts or sources?

Endings and Beginnings

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas season and that the New Year will be full of good things!  

I'm behind again with correspondence, but loved all the Christmas cards that arrived in the mailbox this year.  Beautiful cards and funny cards and photo cards (it is always fun to see the yearly changes in kids!)  

Outgoing Mail in late Dec. and early Jan.

some happy New Year thank you postcards

 letters to grands

 the back of Max's letter with his pun.

  

Darn, I failed to scan Bryce Eleanor's before mailing.

2020

 It is easy to overwhelmed when beginning a new year.  Sometimes I actually make New Year resolutions, but more often I just think about any changes I might want to make.  Most of us do take time to reflect on the past year and think about the possibilities of the new one.  This year I have narrowed my goals down to three very simple ones that are important to me and can be accomplished incrementally.  I've written them down, making a commitment, and I'll check on Jan. 31, to see how I've done.

Of course, I have a long list of things that I'd like to do, and I want to check in on them on a regular basis:  be kinder, be more appreciative of the small things that make life worthwhile, to keep in mind what is good for the earth--recycle, reuse,and pay attention to packaging, more to "do" instead of talking or thinking about doing, to travel more, etc., etc.  Pretty much the same intentions I have each year, but reminders help.

But...only 3 goals that I've listed for the month of January and hope to carry on through the year:  5 minutes of yoga each day (knowing that I only need spend 5 min. helps me get out the mat and almost guarantees more than 5 min.), walk more, and get out at least once a week.  These are easy to check off, aren't overwhelming, and feel manageable.  

I am an introvert and tend to be a hermit.  I love reading, sewing, crafting, gardening, and I will use any excuse to delay necessary errands.  Unless we need cat food.  No way to put off the need for cat food!  Or toilet paper.  

Because I have many things that interest me and keep me busy, I have become less likely to visit local events, museums, go to a park to walk,  visit art galleries  or other interesting places.   I may rejoin the local gym which would definitely get me out of the house and combine with other goals.  So only 3 resolutions/goals--fingers crossed.

And now, I need to clean out the fridge because cleaning and clearing out is part of the new year process.  :)