What's Next? Resolutions Anyone?

This is the time of year for making resolutions.  When I was a child it was a big thing to make your New Years Resolution.  Having Mom and Daddy include us children in the conversation made us feel grown up.  Of course we'd come up with all sorts of crazy things - rather extreme to say the least.  As time went on, my siblings and I got better at being more realistic.  Needless to say, it works much better that way.

My Personal Goals for 2011: 

Commit to blogging at least once a week.  

Design more.  Focus on improving my skills - the whole process from start to finish.

Publish the designs that have been ready for more years than I care to admit.

Sort through my stash & queue, match yarn to queued pattern, print out pattern, gather supplies needed for project then put the contents into a suitable bag. 

Embrace my way of knitting instead of feeling guilty. I always have several things going at the same time, so I’m not going to make project specific rules that I have to complete one before moving to the next. For my ‘work in rotation’ style, that would be completely unrealistic.

I love my drop spindles, love spinning (I just started last year).  This year, spin regularly.  Knit with my hand spun hand. Make an effort to use the stash I already have before purchasing more.  Good luck with this!  

Use the patterns and books I already own.  Obviously I purchased them for a reason - make use of them.  If and when the time comes, that I want a new pattern and/or book, be mindful and honest with myself as to whether I truly should or not.

Well, that's about it for me - all I can do is my best.      

Sir Spooky Says;

What's Yours?

So, here we are a clean slate, a fresh start coming up, right around the corner.

Whether you choose to set goals for 2011or just go with the flow as life unfolds, I hope the coming year is a happy, healthy and prosperous one.

~ Peace & Blessings ~

As Ever, Miss Stormy

Sounds of Silence .....

I'm not really sure what brought me here but here I am.  It's not that I don't have anything to say... as anyone who reads this knows I ramble quite often.  Now I find myself feeling so overcome.  There is so much to say, but sadly, I just flounder and fail miserably.  Holiday time.  I'll blame 'it' on that since I'm at a loss as to what 'it' is. It's the strangest feeling .... like I've lost something... don't know what nor where to look.

I suppose I've been thinking.  And thinking.  Okay, so I've been reminiscing.  Full blown though I've been trying to keep busy, it's not working.  So I'm taking a chance and allowing myself some nostalgia, after all, it's inevitable.  My children are my life, always will be.  Raising four children on your own is a huge undertaking.  There wasn't anyone I could turn to and thank goodness I didn't expect anything from anyone. That would have certainly been a waste of time and we would have been sorely disappointed.  So, I just did it and as the children grew, we worked together as a unit. My little ones were hard workers and knew the importance of working together.  That was one of our 'things' we always knew, so long as we stuck together, worked together we'd be okay.  And we were.  Yes, I'm pretty sure we were.  I'm glad for that.

I didn't think about it at the time since I was too busy.  I look back now and wonder how I did all that - reason being, I just did.  No, not as a pat on the back, look at me and how great I am kind of way.... so forget that image.  I have a hard enough time allowing myself any credit for pretty much anything.  

I've enjoyed watching them grow and learn.  Even though I was with them nearly all the time, it seemed never enough.  I was so afraid I'd miss something.  I did my best not to butt into their lives and really feel I did a fairly good job of it.  A bit of guidance goes a long way.  I'm proud of them... so incredibly proud.

It does help to hash things out.  I guess what's happening may be this; since there is very little for me to do as way of making their holiday special like when they were little .....surprises... Christmas eve & morning.....Santa.... 'it' might be stirring this up. I'm okay, I'll just go with it - that's what I do so well.  

"Tidings of Comfort & Joy"

~ Peace & Blessings ~

As Ever, Miss Stormy

Just a Quickie ....

.... as an update to my last blog post : Where have I been ....? 

Well, National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo is over.  Congratulations to everyone who participated and a super special congratulations to those who fulfilled the 50,000 word goal .... aka the winners.  You Rock!

No, I didn't reach the 50,000 word goal but am glad I took part.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even officially enter my final word count, I was too busy writing. No really, I was engrossed in my novel and before I knew it, the midnight hour had long passed by.  

I enjoyed myself and learned so much that will assist me in future endeavors.  I really do need to make better use of available tools and resources that obviously are only beneficial when utilized.  I also learned a lot about my writing style.... which, I believe, is one of the reasons I didn't hit the mark (other reasons clearly outlined in previous blog post).  I discovered that I hinder myself, which comes as no surprise after all these years of being 'me'.  Every now and then it's good to rehash that part and realize it's the way I 'look' at it that is important.  

I haven't always seen the positive aspects and have a tendency to dwell on the negative in regards to myself.  It's more 'normal' for me to take this outcome as placing myself in the category of being a total failure, loser, not good enough... never was, never will be.... kind of attitude ... with a dash of pity party thrown in.  Therefore, giving myself an out .... permission not to 'go there' again.  I'm quite aware that when I let that sort of negativity take over, it gives me a deeper hole to dig myself out of. Not that I don't own a shovel, I do, several as a matter of fact.

Novel Title:  The Silver Flask 

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Final Word Count:  38,425

To be continued ......

~ Peace & Blessings ~

As Ever, Miss Stormy