Holidays

I hope all of you here in the States had a lovely Thanksgiving!

We had a lovely day and ate way too much good stuff. Hubby said it was the best Turkey he had eaten in years, and that is high praise from him. I think it was because this is the first year that I had a fresh Turkey and will definitely do it again next year.

Christmas is not far off and after that the New Year. My goodness, this year has flown by it seems.

There are some pretty cool happenings in my little hometown this weekend. Our Christmas parade and Downtown celebration, as well as a trunk show at the local yarn shop.

There have been full classes at the shop in which I work and I couldn't be happier!

This is my favorite time of year. I love the anticipation and the decorations, shopping for the perfect gift for the few we buy for, the cozy nights at home with the man, and of course all the holiday foods!

Wherever you are I hope that you can find the time to enjoy the season in your own way.

Bye for now friends!

2010 Here I Come!

These are not resolutions, just plans. I can't commit myself to say resolutions or right away I am resenting that I HAVE to do something. I guess it all goes back to my youth and the antiestablishmentarianism of those times. Whew, that is a helluva word! Said it lots, never typed it, wow!

Anyhoo, I plan to get healthier this year. If a perk of that is weight loss then much the better. My plan is just to eat well and get moving.

I plan to read a book a week, which is not unusual but will continue.

Several people here in blogland have done what they call a personal sock club. Already have mine bagged and ready to go and will have 12 pairs of socks at the end of 2010.

Write more, here and in my journals. Draw more.

Thanks to the commenters, you're all special to me.

Hope your 2010 is treating you well so far. We will all travel it together.

Oh, another plan is to take more pictures for this here blog! ;o}

2009

This year brought adventure to me. Hubby and I have lived together on the other side of the world where we had no one but each other for support and friendship and we did very well. Trust me when I say it is a challenge. We made it and are even closer because of it. I've met new people and absorbed myself into an entirely different culture and learned a completely new way of life. It's been a trip!

I had to be unemployed this year and that was a challenge for me also because I don't do so well at loose ends. It is always good to feel useful and that was something very hard for me to let go of. Still not sure about this.

We have had to deal with some family issues this year and there is no quick solution to these questions. Time and patience are the only weapons against this kind of problem.

Lots of knitting, stitching, reading was done this year. New, exciting authors have been found that I will enjoy for years to come, and others waiting out there for me to discover.

Friends have been reconnected with during the last month, and I have decided that I know, and hang out with, some of the neatest people in the world!

Happy New Year all! I'll see you in 2010!

Evolution and Resolution

This trip to China was a bit rough. Several things combined to make it a little difficult.

First was moving into the apartment and the cleaning involved there. The place was a mess and I didn't take pictures so you'll just have to take my word for it. Then hubby got sick for about a week and I worried about him. Next was the crappy internet that still wasn't working very well when we left. Also, hubby had to take me to the hospital there with a severe ear infection.

Going to a doctor in a foreign country is hard at best, but imagine going to a doctor that can't speak any English. Thank goodness that our friends Elaine and Horace were available to go with us! I bypassed the traditional treatment, which is an IV drip for 3 consecutive days of antibiotics, and opted for the pills instead. The doctor was not pleased that I didn't want to follow his prescribed course of action, but all turned out well and the infection was taken care of. It was in both ears and extremely painful for about 5 days. Still have a little bit of fluid, but the infection is gone.

Jet lag is working it's way slowly out, still have to battle the urge to nap, but trying to stay awake for the day.

Today was for getting some of my errands and appointments out of the way. Mammogram and Pap this morning. I hope all the ladies reading are taking care of these things yearly!

I've been knitting at the oddest hours while trying to adjust, but alas have nothing finished yet. Socks are all that I have the desire to pick up at this point.

I am feeling a little under the weather. Coming home has been a bit of a shock to the system in more ways than one. I had gotten used to 70 and 80 degrees and since I have been home I seem to be cold constantly. It would be great if I could wear my coat to bed!! Also I have been thrown into the allergens without being prepared for it and am suffering with the sinus and sore throat of that. Everything will be fine soon, though.

I've made a very important decision as well. Everyone of you that know me can attest to the fact that I spend quite a fair amount on yarn. Thanks to this and many nice shop owners (you all know who you are) I have a HUGE stash of some of the nicest yarns available. I also have a few Needlepoint canvases and even some beautiful Cross Stitch patterns, threads and fabrics. While away this time, I packed up some of my stash and took it with me with specific things in mind and was able to finish quite a bit and have a few more things so close to finished that I will have an entire post of FO's soon. It felt good! I am already starting to think what I want to get out of hibernation next and ideas are just buzzing. So for the rest of this year no more yarn purchases from shops. I do plan to go to Maryland in a few weeks and, if I can swing it, Rhinebeck in the fall. I plan to make a few purchases there of things that can't be found in my shops, mostly handpainted lace as I have several patterns that I am looking forward to working. I like to think this decision is a sign of maturity, but really, it is just good sense right now. Sadly, I will miss Sedalia!! I am truly sorry for that!!

Still hope to see all of my nice shopkeepers and enjoy their friendship!

Take care all!