31 December 2007

It's approaching late afternoon/early evening as I write this entry and the sun is setting rapidly now. The snow on the trees in the yard almost seems to glow in the twilight. The cat is keeping a patrol at the big window in the livingroom. She is on the lookout for rabbits and birds. It's a very pleasant way to see the end of the year out. It's quiet in my neighbourhood and inside our house. I'm very grateful that I'm able to spend my last day of 2007 here in my cozy home, in our quiet neighbourhood with my soul mate. I wish that my whole family were together this evening but I will have to wait a little longer for that.

It's been a good year. For me. I try to keep that in mind as I think about the upcoming year and all the plans I've been making. No real resolutions in store... but a renewed commitment to look after myself.

2008: I'm excited about attending the Madrona Fiber Arts Festival in February. I'm signed up for a 2 day spinning class with Nancy Bush and Judith McKenzie McCuin. I will endeavour to spend more time handpainting and spinning yarn (honing my craft). I'm going to go skiing with Lucy Neatby.

Tonight: pizza and wings, champagne and chocolates!

25 December 2007

It's Christmas Day! We spent the last few days in Jasper National Park, enjoying the snow and fresh air and wildlife. It's been the way we celebrate the Christmas holiday with our small family ever since... well, for a long time. Usually we go skiing but this year we just did some walking around and hanging out.

The air was cold and crisp and I needed to wear my hat and a scarf and mitts. I kept my camera inside my ski jacket so that the batteries would stay warm(ish). It was good to get away from the city for a little bit. We watched cable tv in the hotel room and ate out. We packed books and games and I took along some knitting. We drove around looking for animals to photograph and found deer, elk, ravens and mountain sheep.

Jasper is one of my favourite places to get away to. It's small & relatively non-commercial. You don't have to spend hours figuring out where to eat or what to do... your choices are limited. And there are animals in and around the townsite. If you want to get a photograph of a mountain dwelling animal outside of a zoo, chances are you'll find one or two in Jasper. And if you don't the scenery is still pretty fantastic (and worth a picture).

23 December 2008

Well, it's barely the 23rd of December. It still feels like a Saturday night to me but it's really Sunday morning. Time, I suppose, to be in bed sleeping. I'm up though, feeling like a rebel... watching movies and playing around on the web. I've been working on a pair of fair isle mittens and all I have left to do are the thumbs. Regardless, I spent good "thumb" time winding up yarn for my next project. There are sooooo many next projects; it's really hard to decide what to do next.

I should go to bed and get some rest. I have a long drive ahead of me later today. I won't be able to knit; instead I'll listen to podcasts and drink coffee while looking for deer on the snowy highway. Driving is another thing I like to do. As a kid, I hated travelling with my parents by car, but as an adult I really enjoy it. It's a good time to think. I find it strange that in order to find quiet time to sit and think, I have to go for long drives in my car. What with TV and family and books and my Game Boy and all the other entertainment I have at my disposal, it's the manual act (and the attention required) of driving that is my escape from all other distractions. And time to think. Profound thoughts, perhaps, to follow?

21 December 2007

I've been knitting and knitting and knitting. In between work and home and the new books I received for Christmas (yes, yes, we opened early) it's been hard to keep up with all the knitting that I need to do. I thought I'd be able to have a completely "handmade" Christmas, with a little something for everyone under the tree. I'm still working on the last couple of gifts... (heavy sigh) and between the pointy sticks and my mouse, my right hand and wrist are about to give in. I feel good though, because I've bought less this year. Well, less commercial stuff anyway. My yarn stash is still pretty sizeable. Guess I can start knitting for next year. Let's face it, I could get snowed in for a month and not knit my way through my stash. But here's hoping for the blizzard anyway. Ho, ho, ho.

20 December 2008

I have spent the day working on websites... and feel quite stuck to my computer chair. I did move, upstairs, to watch Shrek III and work on a pair of socks (2 socks, simultaneously, on 2 circs) but came back to work again at the computer.

I am looking forward to a few days during the holidays to work on the art of painting yarn. I have been dreaming and thinking about how to create a skein (or two) in which the colours blend seamlessly from light to dark. I would like to try fair isling with one strand from the light end and one from the darker end.

Soon, soon.