Getting All Philosophical on Myself

Here we are, four days into 2012.  I'm getting over a killer cold, adjusting to having to actually go to work on a regular basis again, and trying to decide what's what.  I've spent the last week or so doing a lot of thinking about things I've been reading, and listening to, and have some ideas for the what/why/how/where of myself for the coming year.

Over the New Year's weekend, my niece Amanda and her husband Patrick came up from Baltimore for a visit.  We had a nice time, and as we were walking Dug the Dog on New Year's Eve, we were discussing New Year's Resolutions.  I said that after a long time, I've realized that resolutions need to be realistic, and it had really changed the way I decided what I wanted to try and do for any given year.  This year, I decided I "wanted to do better at everything."  Meaning that I want to be mindful of what I am doing, and how I can be better at it, while not making myself thinking that I need to be the BEST at everything.  There are some things I do very well, thank you very much, but there is always room for improvement, no matter how small.

Since then, I've been reading what others have to say about resolutions/goals/ideas - whatever you want to call them, and though some of it is the same old crapola, I did come across some things that resonated with me.  And those things seem to be sticking with me, so in the coming posts, I'll be sharing the things I want to try this year that I'm feeling excited about.

I shall try not to get preachy, or sound superior, or bore you to death with my philosophical musings and decisions.  But I thought you at least deserved a warning that they would be coming along, so you can plan your blog reading - or not - accordingly!

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In knitting news, I have a 2011 round-up to get ready, but I can show you four birthday gifts I knitted for four of my nieces' birthdays in November and December.  Now that they have been gifted, apparently appreciated, and worn, I feel it's safe to let you see them in all of their glory:

Yep, they are varying yarns and colors, but they are all the Fetching pattern.  Kinda sorta last-minute, I decided that I wanted to make fingerless gloves for each of these nieces.  At first, I decided that I'd use four different patterns.  Then I thought about it, and realized that it might be better to give them all the same pattern, just different colors/yarns.  That way, it would not seem that so-and-so got a nicer pair.  The other thing was, I had to have enough yarn already in my stash - no new yarn would be bought.  I checked, and realized that I had some really nice stash yarns that would be enough for four pairs, and I was off!

I sorta became a Fetching knitting machine - as a matter of fact, by the time I reached Pair #4, I had the pattern memorized!  But because they are quick, and interesting, and each one used a different color and/or brand of yarn, I wanted to see how they turned out, which definitely kept me knitting.  

If you are interested in details, the information is all on Ravelry. 

From left to right:

Oatmeal Fetchings

Bamboo (green) Fetchings

Light Brown Fetchings

Red Fetchings 

There are two more gifts I'm still finishing - a cowl for my friend/temporary boss, Clare, which is really more of a Thank You Gift than a Christmas gift, and the second Dashing for The Tim, originally meant to be for Christmas, but not thought of and/or started in a reasonable amount of time (at least not for the way I knit!).  I guess those will have to be the first FOs of 2012.  Sigh.  So close and yet so far.  But it's not a contest, and I want to do things better, remember?  So it will be all in time, and it will be fine.

What are YOU up to for 2012??