January Journal Part 1

Updating some 2014 stuff:  The prayer blanket is finished, and well-received.  The crocheting goes fast, but the weaving takes a lot of time.  I got the colors right on for their color scheme.  The recipient is always cold due to his illness--the family really appreciate the prayers and blessings that were showered upon this blanket.

I had a design accepted to a British knitting magazine to be published in spring.  I got the acceptance news at end of Nov. The submission deadline was January 6.  That means the pattern has to be written precisely and for 7 sizes (XS to 3XL), the charts and schematics have to be created, and the sample sweater knit and sent to arrive in England by the deadline--the first fiasco happened when my yarn was sent to Germany by mistake, and had to be forwarded--it arrived on Dec. 22.  Due to the holidays, I would have had to have the sweater mailed by Dec 19 to meet the deadline.  The written work is submitted electronically--but I couldn't finalize the pattern without the yarn, since a swatch would be needed to see if the yarn supplied (DK) would match gauge with the prototype (light worsted).  Everything worked fine.  I e-mailed the written work 1 day late, and mailed the sweater on the 8th of Jan, it arrived on the 14th.  Everything is safe and sound in their hands.  I just hope I refined the pattern enough to squeeze under their maximum text limits.  No revealing till the mag is out.

I just packed up a submission proposal for the 2015 issue of Jane Austen Knits (the link goes to an earlier issue).  I won't hear about that for about 6 weeks.

That will give me time to finish a White Buffalo Sweater that I am reproducing for someone from a tattered family heirloom

I had requests for earwarmers and a beanie for the Granddaughters, but didn't have time for those, so they will have to go on the 2015 To-Do list and be "no reason at all" gifts instead of Christmas gifts.

While on the subject of 2015, I've decided :  NO MORE RESOLUTIONS.   I will make To-Do lists instead because these are specific and you can cross them off.  Resolutions seem more global and involve life style changes, so how do you know you've achieved it enough.  I like To Do lists better.

Peanut is due in 3 weeks.  This pair are Peanut's parents:

While I really respect the parents' choice not to find out the gender, knitting would be so much easier.  Gender specificity is not just a matter of colors, and even though the traditional baby colors aren't so "hip" any more, the styles--if not feminine, do lean towards the masculine.  So I finished a new Rainbow blanket and a very cute, gender-neutral kimono sweater and a wee little hat (are they really that small?)  I made the hat 3 month size, but it looks tiny.

 And an Eeyore toy is being crocheted--no photo yet.

I went out and bought some new couches.  That was a process. Kubota Man is hard on couches, and we both need firm and as high seats as possible to make getting up easier.  So I went a few weeks ago to pre-select some candidates.  I had two lined up, thinking that he would come along later and try them out.  Now one of the styles--when I saw it it was ♥♥♥ at first sight--and it fit the comfort, durability criteria.  The second one was a couch with reclining seats.  Nice enough, but I wasn't in love.  He didn't feel like going, so I had to go back and make the selection.  I am being totally honest when I say I had an open mind.  I went to the recliner style first--I did like it, but it was hard to get out of, and Kubota Man said he wasn't keen about a recliner, even a power-operated one.  So I went to visit the William.  My heart went pitter patter--it was firm, and the hand-rubbed leather with tooled edges--"sigh"--so I bought 2 couches and an ottoman.  I didn't need a new couch.  I'm hot hard on couches.  So some charity will receive a nice,comfy overstuffed couch when the new ones arrive.  It will take 3-5 months since they are made to order.

I almost forgot that the last GST report for 2014 is due by the end of the month--#1 on the To Do list.

And I have to finally sh#*t or get off the pot

 about the floor coverings.  So I am picking up samples this week.  I love the idea of new floor coverings--I don't like the idea of choosing, weighing the pros + cons of different products, and least of all, emptying the stuff out of the rooms to have the installation done.  But I think having new floors before the new couches come would be a treat.

Greenhouse:  The seeds are in, the plants are ordered to arrive on schedule, the pots and dirt are all here.  Almost all ready for February 22nd.  We are starting a week later this year, so I have some revision to do on the planting schedules.

I went on a wonderful retreat on Saturday--focused on Pope Francis and his view of the changes that need to happen in the church.  He has good ideas, just hope he has the health and a long enough life to make it happen.

And there is a To Do list to make.

till next time:  happiness is a choice we make, not something that happens to us.