sheepless in suburbia...

goodbye 2009... hello 2010!

(Sunday morning winter walking - this month I walked just over 90 km).

Well 2009 is winding down - as in today is day 365. Overall a good year (I think). I don't necessarily feel compelled to  do much navel gazing  take stock, perhaps because this year I am just going to accept it for what it was - and move on. (Nothing deep or cryptic there).

From a fibre POV, I managed to get through holidays without attending one fibre related Boxing Day sale, so I can smugly say that not one single new ball of anything snuck* (as in managed to sneek) it's way into my bag, pocket or purse.

(*snuck - my spellchecker is telling me that snuck is not a real word - say it ain't so. Since the word ain't isn't being flagged by my spellchecker it apparently is a real word... go figure).

...but I digress.

Santa and family were very kind to me this year. I received a  new ipod docking clock radio for my weave/spin/knit room so I can listen to whatever pleases me - radio (CBC) (CKUA) -  i tunes, pod-casts - audible books - with ... here's the topper... a remote control so I can easily change tracks or crank up the volume from the comfort of my chair or bench as the case may be. Sometimes there is so much chaos in my room just getting to the radio can be a feat in itself (yes it's clean out the fibre room time once again - I've been hiding gifts, wrapping paper, candy etc again). So a point and shoot remote is splendid!

And...

For all those little lonely little one skeins I have  handspun over the years (only a few buckets full)  "101 Designer One-Skein Wonders".

And...

A long awaited subscription to Wild Fibers magazine. Yippee! 

And...

I think I will stop there.  Very thoughtful gifts from people who know me well, and know exactly what I would truly enjoy, treasure, be amused by and appreciate. And perhaps that is my greatest gift.

Happy New Year!

' tis the season...

It has been a busy few weeks around the sheepless household. I have continued  my annual Christmas tradition of baking cookies... twice. The first batch always seems to go missing! The tree is decorated, and the gifts have been hidden away until wrapping begins. 

This morning the bite of winter was on my cheeks as Youngman 1 and I delivered gifts to the Drop In Centre. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of my colleagues at work who participated in this year's Homeless Partner's Project . Thank you all!

 This afternoon I am snug in the comfort of my home. I am steeping a fresh pot of Ginger Peach Tea from the Naked Leaf. I have learned that this particular tea is perfect after a three minute steep, so I watch chickadees sing on the branches of the now leafless crabapple tree from my window. Nut hatches and rose finches jockey for position at the bird feeder. Suddenly a huge red capped Flicker swoops in - ding! Time to pour the tea...

I am watching The Other Boleyn Girl. Soon I will be immersed in Becoming Jane.  

I am on vacation. I know that most people take summer holidays. I take winter ones. I cherish the opportunity to hibernate. To read. To spin. To walk. Taking my Youngmen for Chinese buffet. Midday naps and long soaks in the tub. Sipping tea, watching romantic movies in the afternoon, and daydreaming out my kitchen window.

I am uncertain if I will have an opportunity to post again before Christmas, so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone one of you a Christmas filled with love, hope, peace and contentment. See you next year!

Looking for Winter 2010 Ravelympics project...

Just a wee bit of snow blew in on Friday... (photo by Oliver Ennis - from Calgary Herald photo gallery).

As you all may remember my last Ravelympics project was a bit of a bust. This time I plan on doing something which requires more knitting perhaps, but I am hoping will be more successful. I am thinking of knitting a lap throw using Cowichan Sweater inspired patterns.  I have lucked out and found Priscilla Gibson Roberts book "Salish Indian Sweaters" at our local library. I hope some of the patterns will be suitable for a lap throw. If this doesn't pan out I have also found a "Norwegian" lap throw that has maple leaves on it (also lovely). Having said all of this - here is an interesting knitting news story about Vancouver Olympics - I'll let you decided for yourself.

Old Guy Gone...

It is only day 1 ... and as you can see I am bored already. We are in the midst of a huge snow storm. It blew in just as the old guy was flying out.

And so here I am. Snowed in. 3 days off. 15  1/2 hours of pre taped programming, 18 take out brochures, 6 bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale ... and a ton of knitting opportunity.

Let the weekend begin.