Knitting Into the New Year

Happy New Year 2007! I don't make any promises because I can never keep them as far as resolutions go. Instead, I like to look back at the past year and reflect on what I did to improve myself because that gives me encouragment to go into the New Year rather than start out with something negative that needs improving. So, to reflect upon last year, here are the positive vibes to go into 2007.

1/ LOUISE- what a beautiful gift we have to start the year off. I can't wait to watch her grow, only I better stop calling her "precious princess" because then in 2 years time, instead of cars like Gab, she's going to want princess dresses and dress up clothes, and I don't know if I can handle that.

2/ TEACHING TEST! WOOO HOOOO! Finally, did it after 4 years of what I thought would be neverending effort. Now, that's a good vibe to give me encouragement for the agrégation this spring.

3/ COOKING and ORGANIZATION- Around this time last year, I was complaining about always being tired, too tired to cook, too tired to get organized, too tired to clean, too tired to read. Well, since we have an eat-in kitchen now, it's been more feasible to have sit-down family meals and no matter how tired I am coming home, I find the energy to get organized and make meals, even if it's just soup out of a can and a salad and this has really provoked an interest in cooking. This new change in mentality has definitely helped me adjust to having 2 kids, or maybe having 2 kids has made it easier for me to adjust to being better organized. Whatever the case, after our trip to the US and after I got back to working, I have felt really on top of things and that I can actually accomplish what I want in a day.

4/ KNITTING- I started knitting about 2 years ago, but as my MIL kindly and gently (of course there is no sarcasm in my voice) likes to point out every time I see her, my knitting is not the fastest in the world. This can be kind of discouraging when you want to get projects done. So, I haven't been as rigorous about it as I would like. Just within the past month, however, I've taken back up some projects and even started some new ones at the last minute and have noticed that my knitting is a twinge faster than before. That and finishing some projects has really encouraged me to continue into the New Year. The past month I have knit more than I have ever, so to start the million picture slide show of pics I have (I won't bore you all at once, you'll get them in bits and pieces), we'll start with the knitting.

This is a good example of why you should never say you are going to finish a gift in the car. On Sunday I decided to make these baby slippers for the following Saturday, as we were going to see friends in Brussels who had just had a little Zoe. Between working, caring for kids, and my bday party, I didn't get them completely finished and had to sew them up in the car on the way there. Unfortuately I didn't realize how much sewing up a baby slipper and E's driving would be a bad combination and after the first one, I was about to throw up my breakfast. There was no way I could do the other one. So, I decided to give the one anyway, against Etienne's "Ca ne se fait pas", with a promise that her sister would be on its way soon after. Which reminds me, I better get this one in the mail. Am  little disappointed with how big these shoes turned out, but they are adorable anyway and I am hoping she'll be able to wear them this summer with a cute dress.

Finally, E gets his hat (promised last February, started twice, once in the car, once at his mom's, both attempts failed). This time, I began the hat on Wednesday and got it done three days later on Saturday, just in time for Xmas eve the next day. I only worked on it a couple hours a night and got so tired of ribbing that I left a half a centimeter off. It turned out nicely, but E has a big head so wish I  would have just stuck with it and knit a couple more rows. Oh well. This is by far one of my favorite projects, the yarn is lovely.

A Cabled Capelet and fast knit. It's kind of chunky, maybe should have made the size smaller. Have yet to wear it and need to resew my sloppy seam sewing.

Finally, a work in progress, Gab's sweater. It's a size 4, but Gab is a big guy and it will fit him just right, right now. I still need to knit the sleeves, but they are short sleeves for this spring. If I can sew the sleeves on correctly, this will be by far my most successful project. Here's to 2007!

Comments

[Aimee]

The bootie looks great! I love the color! Let's get together and knit soon, ok?