2023 - end of year wrap up and reflections

Previous years here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016

Another year gone, with some changes and also lots of rhythm and routine. This year I quit powerlifting and started pole dancing, I did studio yoga regularly and then decided to do it virtually. we had three hiking holidays, including finishing the Grampians Peaks trail, tropical rainforest and four days in a desert. We had a lot of fun with family and friends.

In reading I continued to read sci-fi and fantasy as well as a general mix of books. I read 114 books, 65 of which were review books, which is quite a high percentage. The most surprising thing that happened in books is that I requested a book about making polymer clay earrings and now that is one of my hobbies.

In knitting I made 44 project and used 27,662 meters of yarn, which is slightly fewer projects and quite a lot more yarn than in previous years.

The group I was charity knitting for changed their submission methods in September, so I need a new charity knitting focus, but that can wait. I again went to three yarn festivals, and ended up with 21,090 meters of yarn. There has been a lot of movement from last year, everything I have is beautiful.

Now I'm off to bake some biscuits for this evenings New Year's eve celebrations, which i will spend with some of my favourite people. I'll be back on Tuesday to tell you about all the crafting I've done during my Christmas break.

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Linky Wednesday - 3/2024

It's been a bit of a week. Because of my hand , I can't really knit, so I'm doing some charity crocheting: It's quite fun, but also I'm halfway through a shrug for myself, and I'd rather be knitting. Oh well, we can't always get what we want! In reading, I'm reading Stargazy Pie , the next Victoria Goddard. This is a comedy of manners and lots of things happen. I can't say I feel deeply about any of them, but that's not the point. It's fun. I'm listening to Elin Hilderbrand's The Five-Star Weekend . It's got a lot of characters, and it took me while to get into it, but now I'm invested. Women's fiction at it's finest. Next up is a review book Tidelines by Sarah Sasson. Great cover. It's Australian, and you know how I love a local book (although I think it's set, or at least starts in Sydney). It's described as a coming of age novel, and I love those too, so it sounds like a winner. I just re-read t...

Geogradiant MKAL Part 1 - that was unexpected (spoilers)

Stephen West released the first MKAL clue on Thursday night. I started knitting it without looking at spoilers. When I got up on Friday he had sent through an "alternative" clue one. I then went and had a look at the spoiler thread to try to work out what was going on. Which was that some people thought the pattern looked like a "German hate symbol". I knit on anyway, since I was half-way through. Then he took down the original clue, replacing it with a mitred square in garter stitch. The Ravelry forums and Instagram are a complete shit-show, even though Rav is being moderated. It's been a bit disheartening, having something that is usually quite light and fun weighed down with all this. I admire Stephen's quick and sensitive response to this drama. I also feel that anything can look like anything if you squint. To me this looks like a Celtic knot. I think mine is pretty, and I'll knit on through all crises.

Linky Wednesday - the one with the pause

In meditation it's said that the pause between the in breath and the out breath is a gap, a space to rest. Well, I'm in that in-between space for reading, listening and knitting. This is a random photo of a highlight of my week - I filled up my lolly jar. These are just supermarket party mix. During the lockdowns, we sources a great pick-and-mix delivery service, but at some point they started sending from the UK, which is a bit silly. Rachey messaged me a new one she found, and I impulsed purchased a kilo of mixed lollies, and then she sent me a link to the biggest lolly shop in Melbourne, which also delivers sweets by the kilogram, so i think I'm sorted for the rest of the year! In reading I've just finished The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham . It's the second last book in the Summer of Mystery, and I have to admit, having now read nine Margery Allingham books, that they are OK. I wouldn't have read them if they were not connected to this club, but on...

What I made, by Sharon

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