January First Blather

Up at the crack of dawn....wait...this is Alaska so that isn't correct....try again...

Up at what should have been the crack of dawn but was really a quiet creaking sound usually heard during that time between 2:00 am and 4:00 am....you know that sound....if you just happen to leap out of bed for no particular reason and go outside when it is seriously cold....that sound.  It's also dark still.

Now I have forgotten my point.  Oh, right, I struggle out of bed and sit there listening.  There are very few times that Juneau is "quiet" which you may find strange since this is Alaska, it is anything but quiet.  All sound made anywhere in this inlet reverberates off the mountains and crashes back into your body so you are being pummeled by noise all of the time.  For a person like me who finds joy in the silence of a crypt, this place is NOT remotely close to that.  HOWEVER, this morning, I sit there listening and I hear the wind in the trees (no I don't have bionic hearing...I live in an attic), no cars, no thumpy music, no one walking and talking, nothing but natural silence.  Ahhhhhhh, so lovely for the first morning of the new year.

I then tweet about being the only person left alive and wouldn't you know it...Alaska Airlines takes that "moment" from me by launching a plane into the sky.  My welcome to 2016.  At least it answered the question on whether or not I was the only one left.  Now cars drive by the house going wherever they go...I mean seriously...where are they going?  It's Juneau. There is one road.  It's Friday, a HOLIDAY and as far as I know nothing is open but I could be wrong.  Juneau is super awesome about making sure I'm wrong on all things at all times.  It's a trust building game we play.

It seems that any thoughts I had on writing a brilliant blog are now dashed away as I cannot seem to focus on the task at hand.  My first giggle of the new year.  I have not changed over night and apparently neither has Juneau.

Well, let's get to this wonderful challenge called Finish It Up!  Out of habit I want to call it a SAL, but it isn't.  Truly a challenge.  We are being challenged to finish up some projects that should have been done ages ago so a crafty person can move forward in life (my interpretation and since I live in Juneau I'm probably wrong).

I have created a tab at the top of my blog that you can check out or I can show you this picture on how I determined what should be on the list (The tab at the top is far more legible).  This list was made as I went through my basket of WIPs, and kitted patterns and generally dug around the ol' NCC figuring this situation out.

This brought to mind that idea I had back in the beginning of 2013 or 2012, I wanted to end the year with no WIPs.  Having just gone back in time on the ol' blog I realize that the idea written down was one of digging up all WIPs and finishing what I had (finished all but two and one of those is back in the kitted basket to be a UFO).  Even now I dream of a January 1st happening and there are NO projects pending, everything was finished and I would be free to begin something new....which sounds beautiful....

That perfect world idea has never come to fruition and I even scoff at myself for thinking such a thing!  Snorts, heckles, rude comments...all aimed at myself from myself.  The NCC has heard it all. The NCC is patient.  The NCC is kind and safe and full of potential and creativity.  The NCC is warm, inviting, always there for me no matter how ugly I feel.  Fortunately, I'm feeling pretty darn great today and the NCC is rejoicing! 

Maybe I will create more tabs with more lists of things.  My mother lived by lists.  She used to have those little flip up note pads and it seemed every day she had a new list going.  Driving a long distance to visit the relatives?  LIST.  Going camping?  LIST.  Grocery shopping? LIST.  Chores to do?  LIST.  Items were crossed out as she went along.

This may seem morbid, but before she passed away she made a LIST of things for my step-dad to do after.  He still hasn't finished that one.  He and I are kind of alike that way.  It's not a rule book to live by, more like a suggestion on what needs to be done.  She used to put stars next to the most important things.  I have a blog.  I can make tabs.  Each tab has a list.  I have yet to put stars next to things, but I would sure like to get some items on these lists crossed off.  Maybe if I put stars next to things...

My TW Tracery Ornaments aren't going to stitch themselves, so I'd better get crackin' on that.  It's been a lovely morning spent with the blog and I hope you, the wonderful person you are, have a beautiful day...and consider the stars...the ones you will put next to the really important things on your list.

Until next time.....Keep on Stitchin'