Almost a New Year!

Happy, Happy New Year!

I wish to reflect on all of the things that have made up my personal perception of 2007. However, I don't know where to exactly begin. I have stumbled and even landed flat on face this last year. I stood up from those falls, sometimes with skinned knees, and sometimes with nothing more than a little dust to brush from myself.

I have learned more about myself in this last year, than I can remember. I have learned to keep my mouth shut and not blurt out the first thing that comes into my little pea brain. Thinking first is a very good technique for me to practice. Sometimes even not taking any action on some of my thoughts is the best technique for me to employ.

I have learned that if you don't think about where you want your motorcycle to go; sometimes it will go where it wants. Not only will you bruise your ego, but your skin can take a lickin' too! I learned that an old dog can learn new tricks and be pretty darn good at those tricks too. I remembered this year how MUCH I love to ride motorcycles, and that I can have my own Softail Harley to ride. I named her 'Mariah' (that's the name for the wind), from the old movie Paint Your Wagon, with Clint Eastwood. I even rented the movie and watched it again what a crack up!

I have realized that life is tenuous at best and that I need to live for today. I know I want to be a better person today. I want to look for the joys in the moment, not the complaints. See each moment as the real gift that it is and not worry about what is going to happen next to screw it up.

Resolutions? Not really, I just want to live, laugh, love and be grateful I woke up and take it from there; everyday. Of course I would like to loose weight, win the lottery, sell millions of knitting patterns, have a housekeeper, cook, gardener (oh well I guess that all falls in line with the lotto), travel, go to Sturgis (I think?), take a class with Kathryn Alexander, um, well you get the idea.

I guess the bottom line is I am just plain grateful for everyday I get to be here with my family and friends. I wish everyone a year full of whatever you need to be complete.

Happy New Year!

All things wonderful!

Happy Holidays to all!!

I am loved...

I am Loved....



I am loved, even when I bark. I am loved even when I'm not loveable. I am loved even when I forget and whine that I'm not. I am loved which is a surprise to me (I have a hard time accepting that I am worthy). I want those that love me to know that they are loved in return and I know I don't say it enough. Remember I am that crusty old broad, but I love you all, so much I think my heart will burst.

I am blessed and at times not grateful. I have health, comfort, love, smiles, creativity, beauty around me; my blessings are too many to attempt to name them all. I don't feel I deserve them, but I am living an abundant life and today will remember to be grateful. I will be extra patient at work, with those that may be stressed by the Holiday pressures. I will remember to take extra time driving, so that I won't take on others stress behind the wheel. I will smile even if the smile isn't returned. I will pet my cat, take my dogs for a walk, tell my family how much they mean to me. I won't wait until a special occasion; today is the day that I have! Carpe Diem! Seize the day! I will hold the door for someone; no matter if they are grateful or not. I will look at the sky and remember God is the most amazing artist! I will look at myself and attempt to be humble; seeing my gifts and detriments. I will take joy in the simplest of tasks, being grateful that I have the ability to do whatever is in front of me. I will sit still and hear the quiet, remembering my lost family and friends. I will rejoice at the sound of my husband saying good morning and always getting my coffee ready for me, even when I don't do it in kind as much as I should.


I will attempt to not wait for my turn to talk, but really listen and hear what is being said to me. I will accept others choices and not impose my will on to them.



In short I will live my life today; to the fullest and not complain if someone was less than grateful for some kindness I may have done. I am grateful for my life and wish everyone a wonderful day, today, tomorrow, and always.



I wish everyone only SWEET Pickles! Thanks so much Ashley...Merry Christmas!

2 Askew Design's

Presenting Fish Scales Socks available really soon at http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/Wahoo! We are finally off and running! 2 Askew Design's has sold 2 pattern's and I am rapidly printing more as I write. My spectacular partner in knitting/business, Allison, has just finished her 1st pattern for the company and that will be available real soon! I can't wait it is such an amazing hat pattern; naturally I want to start knitting it right now.

We do have one other official pattern, which is online at Jimmy Beans Wool, called Elegant Easter Eggs. This pattern is one of the shops free patterns, but 2 Askew Design's is given credit! Thanks Jimmy...you are the best!! http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freeKnittingPatternElegantEasterEggs.asp

I didn't know that writing knitting patterns could be so arduous, and while it has been a lot of work; I am proud of the product and look forward to working on more ideas.

The ideas are so many that at times I feel a bit paralyzed and not able to move forward. However, I will get there with such an awesome partner, and so much support from all of my family and friend's! I can't thank everyone enough.

You are all so special to me!! Thanks, thanks, thanks!!

Inspiration!

I had the most wonderful day, beginning with some much needed house cleaning. I worked on my sock pattern; which I am 99.9% sure is ready for public consumption. Then my glorious friend Sandy came over and we went over to Allison's for a wonderful afternoon of snacks, spinning, and knitting! Absolutely GLORIOUS!! I just love going to Allie's house and hanging out. It is like a wonderful, warm safe haven in life's craziness! I'll come over anytime Allie, just say when...Amy was there too and it was so nice to get to know her better.

Now, I do need to insert a little sideline about my Tuba playing young man! On Tuesday night we got to see the award winning McQueen High School Band play for us in all their finery. We got a tuxedo for Chris and he looked so handsome, I was overwhelmed. He is not my little boy anymore...sniff, sniff.

Reality!

Well, I had one big dose of reality today. I had to make a quick executive decision about something at work that has caused me a bit of distress. I wonder how we all interact in life with each other. Do we have fateful relationships, or just random circumstance? How do we effect each other, or should I say affect? Do we react, or act?

I know that I want to act rather than react. I want to have the realization of the moment, so that I can make choices rather just ride the wave of happenings with no choices. I have choices about how my life moves through all of it's moments. The good ones and the bad. Now if this all makes sense to you, I wonder if you are as nuts as me. Think about it.....

Is anybody out there??

Well, I am typing away with my new stress relief gloves on and they may be alright. I have been a bit testy of late; as my hands have gone into some sort of rebellion! They just hurt, and hurt and hurt! While I hate to admit that it is knitting that has been causing this painful hand thing I will have to shout it out! It's knitting that is causing this pain! Ugh, I have been working on some smallish kinda things and it has taken it's toll on my poor old hands. Size 2 needles and the yarn that goes along with it is well, just a pain in the hand! Ok, ok well enough whining off I go to knit some more, take good prescriptions to help me keep knitting, and try to ignore the inevitable trip to the Doctor. Of course there is knitting to do! ;-p

Happy Halloween!!!

Ooooohhhhh, Lions, Tigers and Bears oh my! Actually here in Reno they are warning the tricksters to watch out for the Bears, we have had 6 Bears in town so far this year. Oh my! That's a bit scary to think that the little ones are at risk for a sighting. Everyone stay safe!

Everday life!

Well, here I am thinking about so much at once I feel like a simple hic up would make my head explode. What are you gonna do? Just put one foot in front of the other and knit, knit, knit! The smoke from the Southern California fires, is incredible today. I looks like fog here in the valley. I can't help but think of all the people who have lost everything. So, I think I will take joy in the mundane today and clean the house. Simplicity is my buzz word for today.

Blogging, frogging and well you get the idea...

Ok I think this blogging thing is pretty cool, and while I really haven't 'frogged' anything recently (knitting slang for ripping out your work) it just seemed to work with blogging. Things seem to be rolling along all around in my life, and I must be busy, because yesterday was my Dad's b-day and I didn't remember until I got my sister's email. He passed away four years ago. I am not sure how I feel about forgetting, but I do think about him regularly so, well I'll move on now. At any rate I am currently full of creative stuff, as my amazing boss has given us things to work on for knitting kits for the shop. I am currently working on some easter knits and will get them up soon. I will have the first bunch knit up this weekend and I am also, creating some fun Holiday stuff for her too! So many ideas and just not enough time to do it all. I think maybe I will try knitting with my feet and see how that goes. I could work on two things at once!

I am also, reading a book that is really interesting and a quick read; 'Bad Monkey's' by Matt Ruff. I did try to find it on audiobooks so I could knit too, but alas, it wasn't to be found in that format. I guess I am destined to sit a read a bit too!

Probably as all of us are, I am thinking of all the people in southern California who are now homeless. The smoke has reached us here in Reno, and while we are used to fires here; one this big is cause for some pause.

I am counting my blessings today, which are so abundant that they wouldn't fit on a page. I am a lucky person. On that note have a day to remember.

Ok, I'm gonna give this a try

Well, I am not much of a writer, but I thought I would give this a shot. This Blogging thing seems like a really big deal and I admit that I look at other peoples blogs, so I thought why not? Here I am typing things that might be interesting to someone else, maybe information about me, or my passion, knitting? I'm just not too sure what to say, but I keep typing anyway. Hoping it will come to me, or that I will be witty beyond reason. Not gonna happen, so I will say more later...