Friday, January 1, 2016

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'






10 comments:

  1. Great post! I only have one star and that's for paradise which is my only thing I need to finish! One great big giant star lol. Sounds like you had a great start to the year!

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    1. Paradise is looking VERY good and you have made some wonderful progress! Definitely a great big star next to that one :D

      And thank you, I have had a great start AND a tiny finish on the first day!

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  2. Happy New Year you wonderful lady. I remember when you made that WIP vow, it was the same time I said I was going to try and work on more smaller projects, and yet Cindy is still going and my BAP list is longer than ever. But I think I succeeded for half of 2014. I really can't wait to see what you get up to this year. As for gold stars, put one on Magical's ornaments since you are almost done anyways, and then one on Cosmos, just because.

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    1. My sweet Nancy! You HAVE done all of the things you set your mind to and Cindy is so darned complicated we all knew it would take some time, but you are on the cusp of being done!

      And thank you for the compliment...I have three ornaments left to do and am delaying because then they would be done, but yes star on that one and COSMOS...that is an interesting choice for a star but OKAY! You know you will feel strongly when you get stitches away from being done with Cindy...my money is on you crying (joy or relief, either way have scotch on hand). We know where your star is right now!

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  3. I love the Finish it Up-Challenge...finishing seems to be one of the things almost all of us are having problems with at times. I love you're lists, and I'm looking forward to see all of the great finishes you will achieve!

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    1. haha, I say this every year don't I? But this is a different way to categorize and separate and box up the UFO's and WIPs and such right? One thing at a time...just one thing...so if I can finish one biscornu before the 15th that would be headed in the right direction!

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  4. Great post. Any chance of some photos of the view from your garret so we can visualise what you're seeing?
    I'm trying to focus on my WIPS this year, most of my 16 are WIPS so that should see some results.
    I love the sound of your Mum and her lists. I particularly like the idea of leaving a list for my relatives after I've gone. I definitely want to make provision for my craft supplies and my WIPS!

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    1. Heck yes! I have this really great octagon shaped window...tonight I shall blog on this just for you <3

      That idea on making a list on who gets what from the NCC is a good one. I'll have to take inventory and put that in my "death book" so my kids don't freak out on what they should do with it all :D GOOD IDEA!

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  5. I took a look at your list and .... whew!! I am NOT making a list, because it will probably be as long and that will depress me so much that I'll have to have a long Rip Van Winkle type nap! Good luck!

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    1. hahaha, were you looking at the list of things I have in my stash or the list of things I would like to do for 2016? Now I have a list of books to read :D Sometimes lists just make it worse don't they? I'm not going to look at my "stash" list until I finish more things so I can cross a few out at a time haha!

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