Happy New Year...

No more champagne,

And the fireworks are through.

Here we are, me and you…

The euphoria associated with a brand new year is slowly wearing off. The Christmas decorations are down. The first week of reality has set in. Most people are back to work, to their regular routines, except for the resolutions. What about those resolutions? It’s been almost a week. Are they still as bright and desirable as they were? Is the drive and the energy to accomplish still there? Hopefully!

I was reading about resolutions and what it takes to keep them. One article said four out of five people who make New Year’s resolutions will eventually break them. In fact, a third of those people won’t even keep their resolutions to the end of January. I find that kind of sad.

How can you keep the momentum going? If I knew that I’d write one of those great self help books and become rich! But I read some ideas that would help me do it.

First, be realistic. You have to start small. If you can’t even walk a half mile how can you compete in a marathon next month? But if you start walking or exercising every day, chances are you’ll build up to marathon completion status. Probably not the marathon next month, but the one that is a little further down the road. Make a plan and follow it and you’ll get there.


Second, reward yourself. It’s fun to be successful! Do what you are trying to do and treat yourself for your accomplishments. Buy a book, get a manicure/pedicure, or try a fancy restaurant. You deserve it!




Third, stick with it. Messing up one day isn’t an excuse to give up. You may get in a situation where you can’t do what you need to do for that day. But you can get right back to it. It’s hard. But you can do it.




And finally, tell someone. It’s a lot more work to be accountable to someone. If you are trying to drink water every Wednesday it will be a lot harder to NOT drink that water if you know I’m going to ask about it!




Basically what all of the articles seemed to say was to make a plan and make your goals or resolutions ’s specific and realistic. Even though you have to be the one to accomplish the goal, get support from friends and family to help you keep the momentum. They will cheer your success and encourage you when you slip. And it makes you accountable. I’m not sure if any of this will make you more successful in carrying out your resolutions. It was just something I ran across that made sense to me. And so concludes the self-help advice post for the week! You can send your nickel, via PayPal, credit card or check! Good luck!

Happy new year!

Happy new year!

May we all have a vision now and then.

Of a world where every neighbor is a friend...

I’ve really been in a knitting mood for some reason. If I could I’d just stay in my chair with a good movie and knit all day. But someone has to help pay back the student loans! Knitayear is going strong as well. It’s always exciting when I get to start a new strip. Day 279, January 4, is the first day back to work and is a day full of training. I’m tired because I’ve been staying up as late as I want and sleeping late too. The training is okay but nothing I’ve not heard before. I picked brown with little tufts of color. I loved this yarn when I got it. It’s pretty old. Day 280, January 5, started off foggy. I was about to leave when Alan said not to get in a hurry because it was so foggy. I called in and it finally cleared around 9:00. I left and it was still lifting. But I crossed the caprock and NOTHING. No fog. Completely clear. I was afraid they would think I made it up! It was another meeting and an assignment that could turn out to be a bit difficult. But I’m ambitious and thinking I can finish it up like I’m supposed to do it. I choose a shiny green ‘vintage’ yarn. I found a can with a lot of little balls of yarn that I forgot I had. Day 281 is January 6. I haven’t figured it all out but I’m motivated and hope to finish today because I have tomorrow off and I don’t want to come in if I don’t have to. I choose a variegated maroon, white, dark blue and green. Another vintage. And day 282, January 7, is the best day ever. It’s my day off. I’m delighted as Bryce likes to say! I don’t know why, but it really seemed like I needed it. I’m just taking it easy, knitting, watching a movie and relaxing. Alan brought lunch then went back to work. I fixed supper later and we just hung out. Nice. I chose a bright sunny yellow. It’s a delightful color!

I finished the Button Scarf Wrap. I like the yarn and I like how it turned out.

I started an Anthropologie Inspired Pom-Pom scarf, for fun. It’s lengthwise and it said to cast on 400 stitches. I only did 300 and hope it’s not ten feet long! It’s only 26 rows so it won’t be as bad as it could be. It’s dark green.

I’ve eaten more fruit and drank more water since the first. I’m going to read a book this week. Ask me about it. And how are your resolutions coming?

Happy new year!

Happy new year!

May we all have our hopes, our will to try.

If we don't we might as well lay down and die.

You and I.

And You'll Be Bright…

All the things you'll love,
All the things that may hurt you,
All the things you shouldn't do,
And all the things you want to...
They're calling your name...travel safely.

It’s the New Year and everybody is thinking about resolutions. We all want to improve or change ourselves or something we do. It’s a tradition. But I’ve decided I won’t make any resolutions. Not big resolutions anyway. Why? Because I think I’d only be setting myself up for failure. Instead of posting a list of things I most likely won’t accomplish I decided to try something new.

I’m not being negative. I’m being realistic. But sometimes I can be negative. That’s something I do want to work on. I have a friend, “Miss B”, who is the most positive person I’ve ever known. When the sky is full of clouds she finds the rainbow. So, I’m going to try to be like her when I grow up!

I’ve also decided I’ll do little things. I’ll call them “mini”loutions. I might choose to drink 8 glasses of water. Just today. I’m not going to say I’ll do it for the whole year. But I could do it for one day. Or maybe I’ll eat more fruits and vegetables. Today. I really think I can master little resolutions. That’s not to say I’m not going to try to lose weight, become more organized, and spend more time with friends and family. Isn’t that what the top resolutions usually are? But I’m not going to resolve to do all that then not make the grade.

I’ll also take things in stride. And I’ll look for the bright spot in whatever happens. If you look hard enough you can usually find something. Isn’t that right “Miss Bee”?

This may not be the year I grow up but I’m going to give it a shot anyway. Not everyday. Just sometimes. And who knows? I might like it so much I’ll keep doing it!

What comes will come.

What goes will go.

The wind will blow where the wind is blowing.

Let go of where you think you're going.

We'll never know why it flows where it's flowing.

It’s the last strip of the knityear project! It didn’t seem to take so very long. Or maybe it’s just that time seems to pass faster the older you get. Anyway, it’s a new strip, kind of fitting, since it starts on the first day of the new year. And since it’s the New Year I’m optimistic that it’s going to be a good one. It’s day
276, January 1, 2011. It’s going to take some time to get that down! I picked a yarn that’s pink and green with a gold sparkle through it. It’s peaceful but has the sparkle of the new year, new beginning. Day 277 is January 2. I’m sick. It’s probably whatever Callye and the kids had. Coughing and congestion. I’ve just been laying around all day. Have to feel better because I have to go to work tomorrow. I picked green Paton’s grace. I’m feeling pretty green today! And here it is, the end of vacation. It’s Day 278, January 3. I’m really reluctant to go to work. It will be okay when I get there. I think I’m just ready to retire and not work for a while. But then what else would I do? I picked maroon worsted. Just kind of there.

I did do a couple of things during vacation though, besides cook, clean and wrap presents! I made a Loop D’ Loop scarf. (Ravelry link) It was fun and it’s really kind of cute. I used a skein of novelty yarn, a ribbon with a gold sparkle.

Wrapped three times.

Long

Wrapped double.

I liked it so well I made another in some crazy psychedelic colors.

Spread out

Wrapped

I also finished Ty’s scarf and made a cowl out of some white and blue I got at Tuesday Morning. So I was a little bit productive in a fun way! I’m ready for the year. What comes will come and what goes will go. And I’ll be bright.

Ty's scarf

Blue and white cowl. Better picture later.

We've always been what we will always be.

I'm so convinced we have to get there, we can part the sea.

So bring the dead to life, turn your blood to wine.

All your life you have waited for this moment to arrive.

And you'll be bright.

This Looks Like A December Day…

This looks like a "time to remember" day.

And I remember the spring, such a sweet tender thing.

It’s the last day of December. It’s New Year’s Eve. It’s the end of the old year and the beginning of a fresh new one.

http://sweetsugarbelle.blogspot.com/ New Year cookies!

It’s a time of reflection. A time to think about what could have, should have been. It’s a time to realize some things will never happen. And maybe it’s a time to realize there’s a reason they don’t.

And love's summer college,

Where the green leaves of knowledge,

Were waiting to fall with the Fall.

It’s also a time to reflect on the changes and improvements one strives to make. It’s a new time, the slate wiped clean. It’s time to resolve to do better, do more, do something.

http://sweetsugarbelle.blogspot.com/ Resolution cookies.

I can’t say 2010 was a bad year. But there were certainly some down times. And I expect 2011 to be the same. It’s natural.

Bryce under the lighted trees in Johnson City.

Johnson City, Texas, court house grounds.

But I’ll look forward, wish for the best, and do what I can to make it a happy new year. There’s always hope.

 And where September wine,

Numbed the measure of time.

Through the tears of October, now November's over,

And this looks like a December day.

The end of December is the end of my third strip. It’s the fall strip in the series. It seems shorther than the others but I haven’t really measured. When I do I’ll let you know! Day 271, December 27, brought contentment. Things had gone well, everyone traveled safely. It was also a little hurried. We were going on a whirlwind trip to Austin. Alan had a workshop and Bryce and I had to go shop! We ate German in Fredericksburg and then got to go to Ikea. That’s a treat in itself. The night was finished with Kirby Queso then on to the hotel for a night of snoring. Apparently we all do it, or so they say. I have my doubts. I chose a blue and white wool blend that I’m making a cowl out of. Day 272, December 28, was a hurried day. There’s so much shopping to be done and so little time! Bryce and I went shopping while Alan was learning. I have to say he’s the best shopping buddy I have. He’s not afraid to go to new places and we like the same thing. He doesn’t whine that he’s tired but he does get grouchy if you don’t feed him! We found some good things and had fun. I did anyway! The trip home was uneventful. Stopped at Coopers and ate more than our share of meat. Then I slept almost the rest of the way home. Kind of getting sick I think. I chose red sparkly yarn. It was a good day. Day 273, December 29, was a pleasant day. It was another fast shopping trip day. We hit the thrift stores for fun and found a few treasures. There was an orphan hand knit sweater I rescued. It will become something else. I just couldn’t bear for it to sit on a rack alone knowing the lover that went into it. I chose some yarn from the sweater. It’s black with blue, pink and yellow interweaved throughout. It’s pretty yarn and was a pretty sweater. Very well made. Next is day 274, December 30 It’s a bittersweet day. The time passed so quickly. It’s time for Bryce to go back to Europe. There’s a great party he needs to attend! Ah, to be young and have no cares. It was hard, but not as hard for me this time. I know he misses us and I wasn’t so sure the first time! I chose a gold ribbon yarn. It’s for the golden times we had for the holiday and it called to me today. Day 275 is the last day for this strip! It’s December 31, a relaxed day. I’m most likely in pj’s for the day. The great plans for the evening will be to stay awake! Ha ha. We don’t have any Champagne but there’s plenty of other ‘spirits’ so if necessary I’ll console myself. I chose a Noro that has some purple, turquoise, green and gold in it. It’s going to be a new year, the beginning again. Maybe I won’t make the same mistakes. Maybe.

This looks like a December day.

It looks like we've come to the end of the way.

And this looks like a December day.