Where has it gone?

the year is just flying by, so busy and not enough time.

My solution to that is to try to decluttter my home and live slow. If only I had the time to do that. I make lists, so many lists, every week I make a list of what to do......some things get done, many don't. My mood can change at a drop of a hat.....I can be motivated and going great guns, then something will happen, someone wants something, a thought in my head, I am trying to stop my head self talk, it can really get in the way sometimes.

I can't believe my last post was back in January, oh my hopes for blogging more.....well we can all see how that is going......non existent.

I haven't been to spinning all year, maybe I should leave it until the start of next year, I need a bit more self confidence to go and learn, I put on my list each week to start to teach myself to spin before going to the spinning meetings.....not happening either.

This week started with great motivation.....I read about the Knitters Guild NSW FibreFest in October this year and a Shawl knitalong which is on Facebook and in Ravelry. So I picked my yarn after thinking I would buy more. Why buy more when I have so much, but some of you know how that is.....sometimes not enough of what you need in a particular yarn, colour, weight for a project. Anyway I finally decide I couldn't justify purchasing anymore so I looked in my stash listed on Ravelry and then went searching in the tubs I have all my yarn packed in and found some Hot Socks in black, grey, white  and a solid black in Heirloom Argyle sock yarn. So it is on the needles and I am loving it.

As for decluttering, I have nearly got the visitors room sorted with what I already have, my craft room is sort of tidied up (tidied up doesn't mean decluttered), still more to go and then onto the study and get the courage to give away alot of books I have in there, or start reading more......not even time in the day!

I think when I have the whole house decluttered and the gardens going well, that I will be able to settle and enjoy a slow pace of life and be alot calmer and able to do things at the drop of a hat without thinking I can't as I have too much other things to do.

2018 has dawned

Another year has started and is half way through the first month of January. Time doesn't stand still for anyone.

Christmas was so nice and relaxing spent with family and especially with the 3 grand kids it was a fun and very tiring day. I must be getting older.

Last year when I decided what I would knit for my local show, I always think I can knit more in a short time that what I actually can. My fingers and hands ache a lot quicker these days, so I put the needles down a bit more than what I would like to. I also made another mistake by thinking a good plan would be to knit everything firstly and then sew it all up at the end. Big mistake, it wasn't too bad, my hands did ache a bit, but I find I have to be in the right frame of mind to sew knitting up, otherwise I don't care how it is done as long as it gets done. I did have to step away a few times so I would do a good job of it. The one thing I really wanted to knit for this year's show was an Aran jumper for my grandson. It is time consuming and needs full concentration at all times, needless to say it won't be making it to the show and as I am doing it for him for this winter it won't be shown at all. I will have to really dig deep and make a larger size for him for next year and show it before giving to him.

I am back on my mission of knitting my stash, how many years has it been, I must be up to the 5th year now. I have bought some really, really, really nice yarns over the past couple of years, all to be knit for me, well mainly me. I did get some lovely Alpaca and knit flap beanies for the twins for winter just gone and they will fit them this winter as well. But I have to be strong and knit this ridiculous amount of stash down to something a bit more manageable and then when I see nice yarns I can buy them and knit them pretty much straight away, well that is my plan.

I am also going to learn to spin, I have wanted to learn for so long now. I have joined a local spinners and weavers group which two of my good knitting friends are in, so I will be able to get some fantastic advice from them as well. Now to just get my confidence up to actually go to the group and learn. I will take my friends offer and get her to show me before I take the wheel to the group.

I have started to read a bit more too. I am loving doing a few different things each day, beside working full time still. Oh retirement is in my dreams most days. Soon, very soon.....I hope and will keep dreaming.

After the show next week, I will post photos of my knitting I have been doing lately.