How Did I Do

It's the end of the year and time to reflect on 2012.  Let's take a look at the goals I set for the year and if I actually accomplished any of them.

1. Keep schedules better. With all the apps I have downloaded to my Iphone such as Toodle Do, Informant, Springpad, Evernote, Organizing - you would think I had it all together. I guess I do - it's just spread out all over the place and needs to be streamlined.

I did very well with this.  I put all my reminders on my phone and it seemed to keep me on track.  I am still in search for the perfect calendar app, but I find I get too overwhelmed with some of the options out there.  Keep it simple works best for me.  

2. Take more pictures with my camera. I was looking to get a DSL camera after Christmas but I couldn't justify spending the money if I can't even operate the 3 simple digital cameras correctly. I am carrying my camera with me all the time and I plan to go online and find some helpful tutuorials.

I made some good progress with my picture taking but I will admit that I take a lot on my phone since getting the new 5 a couple of months ago.  I have become a bit of an Instagram junky.

3. Read more. I have my Nook Color and I love it. I just have a hard time reading these days with knitting calling my name. I think I can manage both at the same time if I am knitting simple socks now. 

I have definitely read more.  Like I actually finished some books.  For me that is huge.  I have a lot more progress to go in the reading department.

4. Speaking of knitting - I want to knit most of my sock yarn stash. It is not huge. I'm guesstimating that I have maybe enough yarn to knit 20 pairs of socks. And socks make great gifts. 

I think this was my biggest accomplishment.  If memory serves, I only bought 1 skein of sock yarn all year?  I used up a bunch of my stash.  I still have a decent amount of yarn to go, but overall I put a dent in the stash and refrained from purchasing more.  

5. Card and spin that awesome fleece I got last year. I am hand carding it (yes, I do have access to a drum carder but I like to hand card in small amounts and I think I can do this). This fleece will become a sweater for me and my daughter next year sometime. 

I got some of this done, but not nearly as much as I had planned.  I may bring this with me on the Spinning Retreat in a couple of weeks.

6. Publish one of my patterns. Even if it is only on my blog, I will feel like I contributed something in exchange for all those great free patterns I use on Ravelry. 

I only published one pattern on my blog but I am happy with that. I have another pattern to publish and some people have been nice enough to offer the test knit.  I am going to try and work on that soon.

7. Explore the vegetarian lifestyle. I never thought I would say this but I have met quite a few people lately who have made the change and they look and feel great. I think they may be on to something. 

Nope - did nothing towards this.  I have cut down on meat but I don't count that.

8. Take Country Line Dance lessons. I went to Tobie Keith's "I Love This Bar" a couple of weeks ago to see a friend play in a band and was in awe of all the people line dancing. I think I convinced Lisa to do this with me. 

Didn't get to that either....

9. A place for everything and everything in it's place. I can't count the hours that are wasted in my household on "straightening up". Bottom line - we have way too much crap for one household. Bottom line problem - some people, who shall remain nameless, refuse to throw anything out. I am afraid I will have to resort to drastic measures to make them see the error of their ways. If anyone has any helpful hints, please pass them on. In the meantime, you will find me sneaking big black garbage bags into the dumpster at 6:30 AM. 

Small progress was made.  I can only control myself.  I refuse to fight over it.  As long as I can find my own things, everybody else around here can do as they please.

10. Change up the blog. My blog has had little attention, let alone not many entries. It has been neglected and I plan to spruce it up a bit. Stay tuned.

I haven't done much with the blog look.  Hubby did get my domain name secured and a new website should be up and running in a couple of months.  Very exciting!

While I didn't accomplish as much as I wanted I think I did fairly well and feel good about it.  I will have a list of 2013 goals up soon.

The Holiday

Last time I blogged I was in the middle of the holiday craziness of shopping and knitting.  Then we were moving the office (in the most disorganized way possible I might add).  And then I got the flu.  That was the final straw.  And then everything stopped.

I must admit that I take it for granted when I feel well because I am very blessed.  I am generally healthy.  I barely get sick.  I never got a flu shot because I had never gotten the flu in my adult life.  I can tell ya I am getting one next year because I don't ever want to be this sick again.  It's been over a week and I am still feeling like crap.  I can at least function and get out of bed, but I am far from feeling good.

Despite it all the shopping got done, some baking happened, packages got mailed and I was binding off the last project Christmas Eve 10 minutes before leaving the house.  But it all got done.  And we enjoyed being together during the holiday.

I will spend the next few days catching up on everything.  Including reading my favorite blogs.  And enjoying the holiday season.  Hope you are enjoying yours.

Yarn Along

It's time to link up with Ginny for the Yarn Along.  There has been lots of knitting going on amid the holiday activities.

More sock knitting.  Same Kroy yarn.  It's nicer than I first thought.  Soft but I think it will wear well.  I liked the blue shade better than this green one.

I'm thankful that the people I am knitting for have little feet!  It makes the job go faster.

Reading?  What's reading?  I plan to catch up on some of that when I'm on vacation over Christmas.

So what's on your needles?

10 on Tuesday

This was perfect timing  Carole - I am starting on my list of cookies to make this year. I have a feeling after today that my list is going to grow! I have slacked a bit in the last few years due to just plain being busy, but I plan to fit it in this year for sure.

10 Favorite Christmas Cookies

1.  Struffoli.  These are Italian honey balls.  My grandmother baked hers instead of frying, which I like much better.
2.  Butter Spritz Cookies.  These are my moms specialty each year.  She even takes some and dips them in chocolate and sprinkles.  Some even get put together with raspberry jelly.  Those are Nicole's favorite variety.
3.  Almond Crescents.  One of my hubby's favorites.  His mom would make them for him every year.
4.  Linzer Tarts.  My hubby's aunt would make these every time he would visit.  His cousin tried to carry on the tradition after his aunt passed away.  She is a great baker, but these cookies do take some time.  And his cousin said "I don't love you THAT much!"  She was only joking, but these are a rare treat.  My mom now makes them for him for Christmas each year because she knows how much he loves them.
5.  Vanilla Nut.  These are so simple.  You just mix the ingredients and roll it into a log, refrigerate and cut when needed.
6.  Sugar cookies.  I will admit to buying the slice and bake if we are under the gun and want to make pretty decorated cookies!
7.  Sesame Cookies.  Harry's cousin is a pro at making these.  Just a hint of sweetness make these a great cookie to go with coffee.
8.  Cream Cheese Snow Caps.  I don't make these quite as often as I used to simply because their shelf life just isn't that great. But they are yummy and just melt in your mouth.
9.  Wine Biscuits.  I'm not sure if these qualify as real cookies, but they are sweet and addicting!
10.  Meringue Cookies.  Another simple one.  But oh my gosh are they sweet.  My best friend Lisa and I would make these on Saturdays while we watched her brother.  There would be none left by the end of the day.

Sorry these don't have links, but most are family recipes that are on index cards.  I'm happy to share if anybody wants, so just let me know.

Happy baking!

Weekending

The holidays are fast approaching.  With that in mind we
got our Christmas tree
attempted to get the lights and decorations
went to the Christmas party at the RI Spinners Guild
purchased some yummy yarn because I like to support our guild members

I'm not sure if I will use if for socks or maybe something else
did lots of Christmas knitting
and now I prepare for the big work move this week

How was your weekend?

A Social Bore

December 6th.  Wow!  We are almost one entire week into December.  Where is the time going?  My computer time has been little these days.  I haven't posted on Facebook, haven't talked to anybody on Plurk,  haven't taken any photos on Instagram and have barely Tweeted!  Almost no social networking whatsoever.   One big reason is that we are moving my office.  Not just an office.  An entire factory.  It is consuming.  And I hate it.  In some ways I like the idea of a new start in a new place.  The new place is only about a mile away and I will have a larger office with large windows which makes me happy.  So we focus on the positive while trudging through the packing and eventual unpacking.

In the meantime I have been knitting.  It's been keeping me sane.

Again - using sock yarn stash.

I bought this as an alternative to Trekking.  The price was crazy cheap.  I must have gotten like 8 skeins of it for less that $25.  The quality - eh, not so much.  It seems to stretch too much.  It's definitely not as warm as my Trekking socks and I have a feeling it won't wear as well.  But I like how the colors are changing and I'm using it up.

I'm finishing the first sock and need to move onto the second one today.

I still have a few more pairs and at least one cowl to knit before Christmas.  Along with the big move, and Christmas shopping, and decorating,......

Week Ending

Literally - WEEK ending.  Life got in the way and no blogging was done.  Bleh.  Hate it when that happens.  We did have a real nice weekend though.

There was quiet time for me.  Alone.  In. My. House.  That NEVER happens.
I used that time to catch up on some podcasts and
Do some knitting.  LOTS of knitting.  And that made me happy.  So did staying in my PJ's all day.
Sunday was spent getting some shopping done.
And checking out a craft fair.
Then going to the tree lighting to watch Nicole sing.
We ended it with Chinese food with my parents.
Then some more knitting and a wee bit of eggnog.

And now Monday is here.

How was your week AND weekend?