A New Year — A Slow Start

I thought I would have more inventive titles to my blog this year. I’ve not a very imaginative person, so I’ll not have some cute titles like some people I know. But I’ll do the best I can do — and isn’t that all anyone can ask?

I titled this “A Slow Start” because here it is the middle of Jan. already and I really haven’t done much yet. It just seems like the same o’ same o’ around here. In fact, I’m embrassed to say, I still don’t have all my Christmas decorations down yet! I shouldn’t admit that. I’ve never been this late getting them all back in the attic. I have several excuses I could use like it’s been really cold, I’ve worked a lot since Christmas, etc. which would all be true. But unfortunately, if you really want to do something, then you’ll find the time to do it, right? Ah ha! maybe that’s the problem! Maybe I don’t really want to do it!! I think maybe  subconsciously I want Christmas to linger on because it was such a wonderful time that I want it to last longer. No, maybe I’m just being lazy — call it like it is.

 I’ll tell you what I have been doing. I’ve been doing a LOT of shopping! Getting a head start on next Christmas by taking advantage of all the great Christmas clearance items that every store in town is having right now. I’ve stocked up on so much that I’ll be set for the next two Christmases or maybe three. I can’t resist bargains! Especially if I know I’ll be using what I get and it won’t go into a stash like my yarn. *ahem*

I got a HUGH box of clearance craft items in the mail the other day. Who can resist 90% off!! Now, let’s see. I need to set up my table and start working on these so they’ll be ready for the Christmas craft show and to give to my friends at work, etc. As long as I stay in the Christmas mode, I’ll be working on them. But, in just a few shorts weeks, there’s Valentine’s Day, and I’ll stop thinking about Christmas and, oops! Christmas will be here and I won’t be ready. AGAIN. (I think I’m hopeless.)

What has happened around here since the New Year started? Let’s see. Besides shopping most of the time I’m not at work, I’ve been over to visit my sister and given her the lap afghan I made her for Christmas, which she didn’t get for Christmas. My other sis came too.  We all had a nice visit, saw pictures, caught up with news, etc.  

I got my new table. It’s a Martha Stewart brand and I got it at K-Mart. I went to every furniture store in town and no one had a solid white table. I came close at a couple that had off-white tables with a wood-colored, butcher block top. But I wanted a solid white one. Well, I remembered that I’d seen one at K-Mart a while back in a sales flyer. So what do you know! I found one.

 

I got the table and six chairs and paid more for them than if I’d bought them at a furniture store! The table has a drawer in it which I thought was really cool. Extra storage! Yea! 

 

There’s a side under the top about four or five inches wide all the way around the table so the drawer can be there. After we got it all set up at home, I LOVED the way it looked! Then I went to sit down in one of the chairs. I realized that the side comes down so low that it’s hard to sit down and scoot yourself up under the table without hitting your knees. Aaah! Well, I guess we’ll just have to get used to it, because I LOVE the white table in my red and white kitchen!  

My friend at work introduced me to the knitting looms that are so popular now. She let me borrow one of hers that is an oblong shape. I found some yarn in my stash and made myself a neat scarf!

I used a white yarn and a blue varigated yarn together. It looks like a knitted ribbing stitch and it stretches like one too. It was so much fun that I bought myself one of the long looms. I also bought my sister one. I wonder if she’s used it yet. She doesn’t knit, so maybe she’ll like this.

I had another lunch date with my friend, Carolyn. I so look forward to getting together with her. She got herself a new quilting machine and has been practicng with it. She had a couple of show and tells to show me. After my visit with her, I get all hyped-up to do some sewing and quilting. To add to that, another friend at work showed me a baby quilt that she made for a gift. It was so pretty! I found some material that I want to use for a quilt for one of the grandsons. I haven’t started it yet. (surprise, surprise!) I think I need to take a quilting class if not for any other reason than to give me the motivation to get going on this quilting business. I really want to learn more about quilting, I really do! But I have a terrible time getting started on something I don’t know much about.

I went back to knitting on the sweater that I started before Christmas. I’ve got the back, front, and most of the first sleeve done now.

That’s about all that’s been happening around here. It’s hard to believe that Jan. is half over already. Why does time have to go so fast! I have the next three days off (yeah!). My top priority is getting all the signs of Christmas back in the attic.

Have a great day and I hope you get back to knitting and crafting if you haven’t already done that! Keep those needles flying!