You Are Now Leaving Sleeve Island

Good morning, miss, what can I do for you? You're ready to check out? Already? Seems you just got here. Why, I have knitters here who've been on Sleeve Island for weeks, months, sometimes years. And you say you're ready to go, huh? If you say so. Where you headed next, if you don't mind my asking? Sweater Body Bay, huh? Nice place. How long you plan to be there? Not long? Why, you're in some kind of hurry, aren't you? Yeah, it gets busy around the holidays, don't it? It was nice having you here, but I understand -- Sleeve Island is a temporary stop. Just leave the key on the desk and I'll get it. Good luck at The Bay -- weather's perfect for knitting.



Buh-bye, Sleeve Island! On to the body!

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Sunday Evening

: : S'mores to eat
: : Stars to count
: : Stories to tell
: : Games to play
: : Laughs to laugh

It was the best Sunday evening.

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The Work We Do

You knew I couldn't resist, didn't you? Ah well, another project in the basket. In this last photo, you can see where I'm using a jogless stripes method -- I don't like those jogs that come from knitting stripes in the round, and so far, the Traveling stripes version detailed at TECHknitting has been the best way for me to avoid it. I think after blocking, it'll look pretty neat.

Taking part in small things' Yarn Along today, so I'm re-reading Stephen King's On Writing. It's subtitled "A Memoir of the Craft" and although many writers I know list it as a writing manual of sorts, it's his personal story that interests me so much more. I needed some motivation since I'm still not working as much as I'd like since my layoff this past summer. It's led to all kinds of self-reflection, deep thoughts, a few dark days here and there. All in all, kind of an uncertain time, which led me to wonder how we all define ourselves. Are you "the work you do" or are you something more?

What's a writer who doesn't write? A nurse who has no one to care for? A stay-at-home mom whose children are grown up and moved out of the house? I'm more than a writer, and now more than ever, I have to remind myself of that. Just because I'm not fully engaged in the work I was meant to do, I know I'm still important. The work we do doesn't necessarily define us, and make us all we are, does it?

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Binding Off: Where I Am

Many of you probably remember my "Binding Off" challenge I issued to myself and anyone else who was interested at the end of last year. It was a way to motivate me to finish some long-standing projects. Before I tack a big FAIL onto this challenge, some of you have done excellent on the challenge, so yay you! I, however, have finished only two of the original eight UFOs I tagged for it. This leaves six, and of those six, I do feel I can finish four of them, including two cardigans. The scarf, however, is not exciting me in any way, and I still need to buy more yarn for the Lizard Ridge Afghan. But you know what? If I can end this year with just two UFOs, I'll be pretty happy (maybe one if I frog the scarf like I keep thinking about doing).

There is just one wrinkle with my diabolical plan. I'm a startaholic. I had an idea last night for a new something and it keeps swirling around in my mind like a dangerous thing. It's full of colors and it would be a surprise Christmas gift for #1 Girl. (Bonus points: I can use up yarn that I already have on hand, some of which has been around for years.) I'm trying to resist casting on, but I know I'm weak; by the time you read this, I may already be on round two.



Anyway, speaking of Christmas, this past weekend, two radio stations that I listen to in the car started playing Christmas music 24/7. Is it just me or is that completely psychotic? I love Christmas, absolutely love it, but IMHO, it's a certain time of year, not a complete season (like winter!), and although I can deal with the retail decorations that go up in October, I'm just not ready for the music in early November. Did I mention they're playing it around the clock, 24 hours a day? It stops being special when it lasts for two whole months, you know? Maybe I'm just being grinchy, but I'd love to hear what you think.

Unofficial Poll

Yes or No: November 5 is way too early for Christmas songs all day, all the time.

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