It is only the 12th of January and I already feel enveloped in gray. The sun shines only briefly through the never ending blanket of clouds, and when it does it is full of strange angles and harsh light. There is no heat it it. I’m trying to find the colors where I can. A brightly striped hat or scarf, cherry red nail polish, electric green socks. Creating my own rainbows to chase away some of this gray.
Instead of a new year’s resolution, I’ve been choosing to find a word or phrase to focus on in the coming year.
The past two years has led to me, as well as many of us, to lead a very small life. Few people, fewer places, fewer experiences. This hasn’t been a bad thing. It has led me to distill out a lot that was either unhealthy or unnecessary causing me refocus and recenter.
However, I’ve recently felt a shift to where I’m feeling ready to be more. That is why I’ve chosen the word EXPAND to inspire me on this year’s journey and guide me in my intentions.
Expand – 1 · to open out : spread ; 2 · to increase in extent, number, volume, or scope ; 3 · to speak or write fully or in detail ; 4 · to feel generous or optimistic.
A few weeks after my last post, a global pandemic happened. . . and is still happening. Words cannot really explain what has been going on for the past 22 months and I do not have the emotional bandwidth to try to do so.
I’ll be sharing some photos from that time here, but I will not be saying much about them. I want to try to use this blog to refocus and recenter myself as I move forward. I hope that you will join me.
Celebrated yesterday with sparkly candles, tiny cakes, and lots of love. Looking forward to seeing what this year will bring.
This shawl is my first FO of 2020. The pattern is Armstrong by Cassie Munksgard. This shawl pattern is rather simple, but the color changes and combination of stockinette and garter stitch striping kept it interesting. I decided to forgo the tassels added to the tip, but otherwise followed the pattern as written. The yarn, Plucky Cozy DK, is a Merino and Camel blend that lives up to its name. Squishy and soft, it will definitely will be a cozy shawl to wear this winter. The color ways I used are Duck Egg, Aunt Hazel, and Cabin Fever. Full details of this project are on Ravelry.
It has been almost 9 months since I posted here. There are many reasons why I stepped away from this space, but I’d rather leave those reasons back in 2019 and start fresh for 2020. I just published two “catch up” posts, just to record some highlight photos from Joseph and most of my knitting projects from last year. I also updated my 1001 Things in Pages which includes some changes to how I’ve participated this in the past.
I’m looking forward to being back in this space and sharing the upcoming year with you.
Widdershins 