The Days Following After

My Christmas was wonderful.  The day was quiet and I purposefully choose a simple meal for dinner so that my entire day was spent knitting.  I need to do this more often.  I tend to get caught up in what I believe 'has' to be done and I waste time on many tasks that could be put off until later.  I especially do this when the kids are visiting.  I find peace constantly tidying up but then I sacrifice my down time with knitting.  Truly there is a balance of both.

As I mentioned before our son was with us for Christmas day and will be here until the new year.  Our daughter and son in law arrive tomorrow and we celebrate all over again.  Tomorrow will be a 'Christmas' day in the kitchen cooking and cleaning.  I'm excited for them to arrive.

Above is the blanket started all over again, phew!  I am so glad I made this decision.  Now the project lays flat and I can see the simple stitch detail.  Also this project fits perfectly with mild distractions or watching a tv show.

I started a sweater for me!  If you check out the project page and see purple wool remember this is a provisional cast on and not part of the sweater.  This project requires tons of focus and has no wiggle room for distractions.  Once the yoke is knit then I think I'll be on autopilot knitting.

I've been thinking about 2019 and some loosey goosey goals.  I tend to never follow any of my intentions throughout the year.  Unfortunately I cannot commit to ONE word for the year either.  I have a jumble of thoughts or ideas and I cannot simmer them down to one word that casts a wide net. 

I found a print out for reading the bible in a year that I've tucked into my bible.  This blog post was informational and I downloaded Dr. Mary Healy's pdf.  I've put away some prayer books and added some new prayer books. 

morning Holly stretches

Sure I could tell you I'm going to read more, knit more and sketch more.  I think 2019 will be focusing on what is my free time and how am I using my free time.  The days that I babysit tend to be days I do nothing at all once I get home because I'm tired.  I'd like to find an activity that will fit in with my exhaustion and maybe those days should be a simple meal plan or maybe no cooking at all to give myself leeway.

My mornings are crammed with errands and the gym or with babysitting.  My focus is to better allocate my afternoon time and use it wisely. 

My health and fitness goals are the same for 2019:  Exercise, eat healthy and use hand sanitizer whenever possible.

Do you have any goals?  If so what are they?

Holly has been with us for one entire year on December 9th.  Here is a photo of her laying in front of the ottoman (Frodo is under there, I doubt he was sleeping).  Look at her there sitting with her feet tucked under being with her Nemesis so much trust in the photo. 

Watching these two animals become 'friends' has been slow going but rewarding.  Sometimes Frodo doesn't chase her or bark at her.  Sometimes Holly seeks him out only to run away.  My husband and I researched her behavior and believe she was abused/neglected before we found her.  Her skitterishness (not a word but I'm using it) is due to that.  She would love if Frodo never barked again but she can't have everything.  We also believe she loves us and her home.