Works in Progress

Seems like a good day to take stock of the projects that are in progress - in all areas of my life!

As far as knitting:

• A purple-y cable pullover sweater for myself in Valley Yarns Monterey. A friend and I were shopping at the WEBS store in October. and I saw this sweater sample made up. I bought the yarn and the pattern then, and started knitting it just after Thanksgiving. It's been moving along quickly considering I usually only get about 1/2 hour of daily knitting on normal work days.
• A Scrap Afghan - This is done on circular needles - just straight knitting across 425 stitches with scrap stash yarns, worsted weight mostly, although sometimes I've doubled a fingering weight scrap. At each "side seam" is a slipped stitch so that when I decide it's long enough, all I need to do is seam the top and bottom and I will have a 2 sided blanket. All the loose ends of the joined yarns will be inside. The yarns are randomly joined forming a random striped pattern. I just pull out a color, knit a random number of stitches, and then cut. Then I join a new color. It's completely random and looks terrific. It's also completely "mindless" - I don't have to concentrate on a pattern and it's very soothing when I want to knit but don't want to fuss with a pattern.
• A lace scarf fromValley Yarns Florence - a kid mohair/merino/acrylic blend.

Still to knit, but not started: A cardigan from a wool/cotton blend for me, and several pairs of socks.

Reading: I have 2 "growing my soul/mind" books in progress right now. Love Without End by Glenda Green is an incredible, mind-blowing account of her experience of a visitation with Jesus. I'm also re-starting Marion Woodward's The Ravished Bridegroom. For fun, I just finished Fannie Flagg's A Redbird Christmas. I also have a slew of middle school novels in my to be read pile.

Household: I need to finish painting my new bathroom/laundry/entry addition. The construction on this project started last June, but ran into a number of difficulties and delays. Mostly what needs doing is "finish work" which is our job. It's hard to get it all done!

Organizing and de-cluttering the house is also on the back burners as usual.

Exercise: I've been a gym member for aobut 5 years. My husband and I do water aerobics twice a week, but have slacked off on going out on the floor for additional cardio work and strength training. Since we are both significantly overweight, we need to get re-focused on our exercise regimens as well as our diets.

Setting Priorities: I spend most of my day on the run. That alarm goes off at 4:45 am and I don't hit the pillow again most nights til 10:30 ish. I'm at work from 6:30-4:00 most days, and then it's to the gym several days a week. I also have meetings at night several nights a month (I'm active in my church as a deacon). Then it's school work /parent calls/etc. and maybe a load of laundry before "relaxing " at 8:30-9:00 at night. I've started to cut back: I gave up leading the high school youth group at church, stepped down as chair of a school district committee, and said "No" to some new opportunities. There doesn't seem anything else I can cut to find some down time ---- Work isn't an option! :) I'm trying to restructure my day so that I don't always feels so stressed. . . .

New Year's Eve Day

My week's vacation has flown by - way too fast. Back to school on Monday even though it's a federal holiday. I think our school calendar could be improved. We have a teacher workshop on Jan. 27th. I'd rather have the workshop on Jan. 2nd --- No school for kids and a chance for teachers to get back into the groove before the kids. Instead we're all back on Monday. I am predicting a greater than average absentee rate because a lot of folks think that Monday is a holiday. We're the only district going back on Monday in our area too.

Of course, I didn't get anything approximating even a quarter of things accomplished that I'd set for myself. I guess I set my goals too high. I had planned to write 2 new social studies units, get my pullover sweater finished, finish painting the new entry/bathroom/laundry area, clean my house, get caught up on sleep, go to the movies, get the bookkeeping finished for my husband's company, visit friends, read and relax. I did get together one afternoon with a friend for a knitting session, and we figured out the resizing on the sleeves for my sweater. (I have shorter than average arms, and the sweater has dropped shoulders.) I also mapped out the rest of the year in social studies, outlined a new unit, and created a research project for my students. I also did the bookkeeping and some basic cleaning done. We did also do a day trip to CT to visit family. In between was a lot of church. I'm "head deacon" this month and had to be sure that people were welcomed, the sanctuary set up and then straightened up, etc. etc. at all the Christmas services, plus a big funeral on Friday. No rest for the weary!

This year was a difficult one for us. My mom died in August after a very long battle with colon cancer. I got out of school in very late June, and went out to Indiana to visit for what I thought was going to be 2 weeks. Instead I ended up staying the whole summer, caring for her at home until she died. My father died 3 years ago and mys siblings and I are having a tough time realizing that we're the oldest generation left. School started almost immediately after I got back home and it's been nonstop since then. Christmas was really hard for me, but we're getting through . . . .

A First Time for Everything

A snow day! Our first one this school year. It couldn't have come at a better time. I was seriously considering taking a personal day ---- but I couldn't bear the thought of writing sub plans. We got our first major snowstorm of the winter too - almost 18 inches in about 7 hours. I spent the day wrapping gifts and I actually made a first batch of Christmas cookies. And I'm trying out my first blog. . . .