Promises

And she made promises

That she could never ever keep 

January is a time for goal setting. It is a time of pondering; new beginnings, improving any and all things that come to mind, accomplishing unobtainable objectives within ludicrous time limitations. It’s a time of resolution.

I gave up resolutions a while back. Although my intentions were always good, my actions seldom reflected what I wished to achieve. I started strong with energy and determination. Within a few weeks I had succumbed to the easier route, the no effort routines of which I was accustomed.

Enter the concept of the ‘word’. Do you remember PeeWee Herman when he had a Saturday show called PeeWee’s Playhouse? It was a little creepy because his character was a little creepy, but it was kind of fun in a weird way as well. The episode started out with a Secret Word that was revealed to the viewers. Whenever the word was heard everyone was supposed to scream and make a fuss throughout the episode. I’ve wondered how effective and also a little fun that might be if a teacher used it to reinforce vocabulary. I taught high school and I think even the tall third graders, which I determined high school students to be, would have enjoyed this activity. Anyone can learn and if the learning is fun it will stick a lot longer. That’s my opinion and I’ve digressed. So I’ll get back to the post. 

Choosing a word for the year made more sense to me. I like words that I describe as ‘all-encompassing’. What I mean by that is that they may be used in different ways. I like words that are nouns and verbs. I like words that can even be adjectives if needed. Last year my word was ‘Stop’. Someone asked me why I’d choose a word like that and there were many reasons, none of which I felt like sharing.

This year my word is ‘Act’. Dictionary says take action; do something, behave in the way specified, a thing done; a deed, a pretense. Fairly broad in content, but it captures my state of being for now.

And she made promises 
But they were all just lies 

The messy-bun hat, pony tail hat, hat without a top craze, whatever you might call it, hit here at home as well as everywhere on the internet. It started when some innocent girl posted a picture she had seen on FB and stated she wished she knew how to make one. I got the picture numerous times asking if I could make one. It’s a hat without the top few rows, so yes, I can make them. The girl who actually created the hat apparently saw the craze her picture started and vicious yarnies came out of the woodwork. They practically crucified the admirer of the original picture, accusing her of plagiarism, etc. Lesson learned: Beware of people who play with string and pointy sticks.

My friend Elizabeth modeling the hat with the smaller opening.

My baby manchild proving that it could just as well be a manbun hat!

A Google search brings a plethora of patterns; some free and many with a slight charge, each with a minute difference over the others. I have crocheted and even sold several. My favorite is this pattern I can’t make one in less than 2 hours at all but it’s a nice pattern and uses some bulky yarn I had on hand for some reason or another. The other one I like, with regular worsted weight yarn is variations of this pattern. It has a larger opening at the top. Aren’t my models great?

I told you I've made a bunch. I have many more.

Breaking her promises 
Disappointment runs deep

STOP!

Take some time to think, figure out what's important to you…

Here’s to 2016! It’s another chance for us to do things right.

Happy New Year!!

The last couple of years, instead of a list of resolutions I would never keep, I chose a word for the year. Although it may sound easy, it’s not! The first year I struggled and finally decided upon the word “Embrace”. I wanted, when faced with a challenge, to look at it as a chance to grow instead of a chore. I can honestly say I grew a lot that year.

Last year my word was “Create”. If you know me, you know I am forever with yarn. I thought this word would be easy. It wasn’t. It turns out I never even posted the word. What I intended, besides my usual outlets, was to explore new possibilities, create opportunities, try new things and make time to fully enjoy whatever it was that came about. It wasn’t a complete fail but I could have done so much better.

Forever with yarn!

So this year I thought and thought about what my word should be. I looked at word lists online, googled inspiring words, perused word of the year sites but nothing spoke to me. One night, during some dream I no longer remember, my word came to me. I can’t say it’s found on a positive word list. But I think it’s perfect for me.

My word this year is Stop.

Stop can be a noun or a verb. Stop means come to an end; cease to happen, or a cessation of movement or operation. But it also means so much more. It can mean catching up with loved ones; stop in, stop by, stop off. Capturing a moment in time and perhaps even altering it with a camera stop. It can mean pretty; face to stop a clock or ugly, homely enough to stop a clock. It can mean slow down and enjoy; stop and smell the flowers, stop on a dime, stop, look and listen. I want to stop the negative thoughts, stop the procrastination, stop and enjoy, stop and think, stop and listen.

I want to stop putting off things and get them done and stop and make time for my family. I want to stop worrying about the things that aren’t important and enjoy the things that are. Of course ultimately, stop holds me accountable because we all know the buck STOPS here!

Hope 2016 is off in the right direction for you! Do you have a word? Share it here!

You've got to make a serious decision…

Fingerless mitts seem to be the obsession of the month! I’ve really had a lot of fun and even learned how to be proficient at the magic loop method.

I thought I already was but I think I had made up a convoluted technique. So when I stopped to view the YouTube instructions I realized it was pretty simple after all!

Knit and crochet.

Plain and with buttons!

Stop! Take some time to think, figure out what's important to you.