Happy 2010!  (That's said 'twenty-ten'.)  We finally got out of the '0's' and now can move on.

Pk and I had our usual rip roaring time.  We went to our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner and then had a quiet evening.  He played computer games and I re-cast on for his sweater (I had 6 rows done before I realized it was twisted on the circular needles.  Off it came). We made it to midnight and wished our children Happy New Year (some via text message) and then fell promptly asleep.

We're taking the filter from the pool down to his sister's house and she's feeding us lunch.  We haven't been to her house in years.(family relationships are complicated)  Then it's a brief trip to Home Depot for some bits for his galoot-a-clause gift and then home for ham and potato salad and baked beans.  The beans cooked overnight in the crock pot and they smell wonderful. I'm not a big fan but I love the smell of them and I'll eat a small bit.   Tomorrow we're having dinner with Em and Jim and Sunday will be a pajama day.  (and Monday means back to work but I'm trying not to focus on that right now)

This morning is flying by at an alarming rate. I haven't showered yet and it's already after 10. I've been on the antibiotics for 4 days now and I can finally feel some difference.  The headache and earache are still there but more manageable.  I don't feel quite the urge to sleep all the time and I slept through the night without waking up all sweaty from fever.  It's nice to feel alert.

 I'd like to find some time today to spin.  Pk got me an Ott light and I haven't had a chance to use it.  It's perfect.  I can stand it on the floor right behind my shoulder so as I spin, I'll be able to see what I'm doing.  This will make spinning after work during the winter/early spring nights easier.  This is some of the roving Em and Jim gave me for Christmas.  There are two bundles of mohair and two coordinating bundles of merino.  Have you ever felt mohair roving?  It's like a hank of hair.  It has a dense and almost matted feeling.

 And it's slightly itchy.  I took the hand carders and carded some of each together to make little soft fluffy clouds of roving and they are spinning up nicely into this.  You can't see the bits of lime green that are under the jewel tones of the purple.  It feels nice.  And I am getting to experiment with some different fibers. 

I've been reading people's year end posts.  I have never kept track of what I've made during the year.  I know there were several pairs of socks, two adult sweaters and a baby sweater and several pairs of baby socks.  I think there were a few scarves and one or two shawls, too.  I think I'll try to keep track this year and take photos more faithfully.  Maybe.  No promises.  I'm just not that good at remembering to take photos of things I give away. 

I finished the Wildflowers shawl and it just needs a bath and blocking.  The color is pretty and I love this pattern.  It's the final fo for the year.  I have two pairs of socks on the needles (bayerishce and go with the flow) and pk's sweater and that's it.  I work on the bayerische socks (there on the left) when I am alert and have no time demands.  Because of the pattern, they require all of my attention.  And because I am a tight knitter, this pattern can cause hand pain so it gets short bursts of knitting time.  One sock is done and the second one is halfway down the cuff.  I love the yarn (shibui sock yarn) and I really do like the pattern.  I could see myself making more of these  in different colors.  It's a challenge but a satisfying one.  

I have the yarn and pattern for the Travelling Woman shawl but I think I'll make Pk's sweater a priority for a while.  It's nice to knit with my handspun and to see all the differences in the texture and admire how soft it feels.  I have a feeling it'll become boring because it's knit in the round and the pattern is not a lively one (knit one row, k1p1 one row, knit one row, p1k1 one row, continue for miles and miles )

As far as personal resolutions go, I don't make them.  I do promise myself to try to pay more attention to what I eat and to take good care of myself physically.  I need to get more exercise and I'm going to try to incorporate some yoga into my daily routine.  One of the good things to come out of the Lily drug company is their Wellness plan.  It's set up to help people on psychotropic medications (which can cause increased appetite and weight gain and metabolic disorders) become more health conscious.  I've used it in my groups often.  One of the take-away points that I think makes the most sense is "make one small change at a time".  So many times people fail because they try to make too many changes at once.  It's much easier to focus on one small change.  I think it's time for me to follow my own advice!  Small changes are the focus for the year.  As I get older, I see changes in my body and they're not good ones.  I need to help myself stay healthy and if I do it gradually, it won't seem onerous.  I can't see myself giving up cake (!!) but I can see myself having desert less frequently and having good desert when I choose to eat it.  And eating more vegetables.  No pressure around "dieting", just calm and sensible choices with the knowledge that I'm going to fall and eat the chocolate covered cherries once in a while.

And I'm going to continue to try to be a responsive individual and to be aware of people around me and to be a kinder, gentler person who appreciates the miracles.

My thought for the year:

It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

(I looked it up and its origin is unknown but it's been quoted often. It's probably originally Chinese)

So, here's to 2010.  May it be a year filled with lit candles.