Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Where did September come from?

I have always loved fall. Loved everything about it, even though I grew up in a place with "fall-lite." I could tell, even if it was still 100 degrees.

And I still feel like that. Only, this year, I'm not sure I'm ready for it. We don't do a big back to school thing or anything, not much changes, but . . . I had hoped to get more done last month, and make this a big picture-heavy "Whoopie, I'm back!" post.

Life, as they say, got in the way. More work, a very nice vacation, an emergency trip to be with my mom and dad while my dad is in the hospital, and just stuff. Not so much knitting. Clearly, twelve sweaters are not to be during this year.

I knit a sweater for a neighbor's baby -- small, but not as small as the picture suggests:


And I did finish "Coachella" although I haven't sewn in any ends:


I think I'm going to give it to my lovely sister, who will wear it with more panache than I could.

Also, I began "Branching Out" with some old souvenir mohair.

Oh, and this came to live with me, and we're very happy together:


So imagine some more skeins of yarn, and some fiber waiting to be spun.

I don't anticipate a real slowdown in the rest of my year, no matter what earlier hopes might have been. I don't know if I can read everyone's blogs and take the time it would require. Three more classes to teach, and the money is quite welcome. Kids are good and busy, bees need work and well, I've got to go out of town this weekend and life just keeps happening. I'd like to hear how some of you stay on top of everything and sail along serenely. There has to be a trick.

15 comments:

Charity said...

I don't think any of us are all that serene, at least, not on the inside! :0)

For me, it's systems and organization. Boring, I know, but it's the only way I can cope. It was good to hear from you - I've been wondering how you've been doing!

Morenna said...

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! You're back!! I missed the updates on the knitting/spinning and the Things.

I dunno about the "stay on top of everything and sail along serenely" thing. I've got it easier than a lot of folks though, being a single girl with no kids and no pets, just a bad habit of collecting skills and an ADHD-type personality. Then again, if I don't do the cooking, cleaning, laundry and house/yard maintenance myself, it doesn't get done at all. Usually that doesn't get in the way too much, but occasionally the pool will do something stupid, like turn lime green when I go on vacation. *sigh*

For a while I found myself spending nearly every evening reading or writing blog entries, neglecting the other fun stuff, like knitting or reading. I ended up being pretty crabby about it and it took me a couple of weeks to figure out where all my fun time had gone. Now I post just 2-4x a week to my blogs and limit total blog activities(reading and posting) to 60-90 minutes, unless I've got something HUGE to write about.

Here's how I find the time: I give myself 20 minutes when I first get home from work to unwind, then workout for up to an hour. After that I eat, blog, knit, spin, read, bake, etc (or pay bills and do that other pesky stuff) until it's bed time. I try to keep the pesky stuff to two nights a week (one during the week and one weekend), which takes a bit of planning, but so far it's working pretty well for me. I've debated blogging in the mornings since I wake up about 5:30am whether I want to or not, but I just don't have much to say in the mornings, unless there's something on the news that gets me fired up.

Now that I've said all that, it doesn't always work, such as last week when I traveled three days/two nights for work. I just don't beat myself up about it. My goal is to keep a balance between all my interests and stay in a happy, balanced place mentally. So far so good. We'll see how it's going in a couple of months. :o)

Yarn It said...

Glad you are back! Love the wheel! They are so much fun. Coachella looks great! I have thought about knitting it.

Well, I hope your dad is ok. That is scary when parents get ill.

Elizabeth said...

Whoopie, you're back! :-) I was just about to post a comment that said "It's September...."

You know, during the times that I am not busy, I sit around wishing I had more to do. :-P

Your sister does have a lot of panache. But I think it looks great on you too. Maybe she could borrow it from you sometimes? I don't know how these things go. I always wanted a sister.

suzee said...

So glad you're about, and we fans will take you in little bits rather than big bites. Whatever we can get.

My theory? Some people just don't complain much about things, which makes them appear to be serenly sailing. But quietly and quickly bailing, they are. And some of us have bigger leaks in our hulls than others, too.

cpurl17 said...

Yay!!!

I'm glad you're back!!
I missed summer this year--I spent it in a beige cube so I do not know of this serene sailing of which you speak.

Great wheel and keep the Cochella--you have plenty of panache chica!

Kristine said...

I am glad to have you back! New wheel -- mmmm very good. I wish I had some pointers on staying on top of stuff. I am working on that one right now too -- as I sit here exhauted on the couch from dyeing all day. I am trying to tell myself that it is enough. Whatever I have at this moment is absolutely enough. ha! now, the hard part of actually convincing myself.

meg said...

Welcome back to Blogland- hope you got a bit of rest & fun, but, BOY, did the weather suck! We were out at the fairgrounds for 3 days in 100+, dancing, eating, & drinking (water mostly, though I think someone slipped in some homemade mead)

amanda j said...

I am not the right person to talk about serene I'm afraid! I just hang on for dear life most of the time. Not a good way to be!

z's momma said...

Welcome back. You were missed.

Laurel said...

Hey, don't give Coachella away -- it looks fantastic on you!

As for tips for staying on top of things? I wouldn't have a clue. Please share if you get some that work.

Glad you're back and I hope things are okay with the parental units?

Robin said...

I really like Coachella! I think it is perfect on you - it flatters your body type wayyyy more than it would mine!

I am really behind on blog-reading - I would have to say that's where I fall short when I'm pressed for time.

Janis said...

How does one stay on top of things and get things done? Wait for the 18 something years that it takes for the kids to grow up and be away at school :-)

Glad to see you back. Coachella is a winner!

Katherine said...

Hurrah! You're back! I've missed you, your Things, and your bees. I am sorry to hear about your father. I hope he's doing better, or at least that there is a plan.

Two finished sweaters is quite impressive. But if you aren't going to make 12 in 2007, shall we all try again next year? And you look lovely in Coachella; I don't see why you want to give it away.

As for serenity: I really try to achieve it every day and fall vastly short of the mark. And I'm not even on top of everything, even without serenity. But I keep trying; those little moments are wonderful when they happen. So, um, good luck with that.

allisonmariecat said...

Yay, you're back! Sorry it's not smooth sailing. I think those serene people just don't show their non-serenity. Coachella looks fantastic on you!