2023 New Year Goals

I hate saying resolutions.  Never goes well for me.  But I decided to put in some goals for the year.  Been mulling them over since before the New Year started.  Just been busy so haven't put them to (virtual) paper.

Be more active -

Since breaking my ankle, I feel as if I aged 10 years in a couple months.  I am sssslllloooowwww...  There was a good six months where other than PT, I really was moving as little as possible.  I know I am super out of shape & need to work towards getting movement in on a regular basis.

Get to a crafting group once a month -

Haven't been getting to them very often.  We have a weekly virtual one through work.  Work has been busy & I don't see it letting up...  But it is good for me to check in & see what people are up to.  So I really want to push myself to commit to at least once a month.  More would be better.  I also think at least once this year I should get back to the local crafting group. It's been a really long time.  There are reasons but not posting them in a public place...

Finish a project this year -

Setting the bar low I know.  But I have been gaming a lot & not really crafting these days.  Just want to get something done.

Get together with a friend in person at least once this year -

I know, another low bar. But I have been struggling a lot with getting out at all...  I think with switching to fully work from home, I have gotten even more introverted.  It is a struggle for me to go out these days.  But I really should see people in person.  I hope this one happens.  To be honest though, these days most of my friends aren't local.  I had the opportunity last year to see a friend I haven't seen in ages.  But the logistics didn't work out.  She is in NYC but was going to the NY Ren Faire which is close.  But it was a chilly day & being outdoors wasn't in the cards for that weekend.

At the rate I am going these days, best to post this as is & commit to it.   I think I am forgetting some things.  But figure better to add them than not post my list.  

Tour de Fleece 2021 Day 1 through 4 - Finishing Plying Gale's Art Rainbow Swirl & Day 5 New Fiber

So hoping I will be a bit better about posting daily.  But I am not holding my breath!  *laugh*

I still had the Gale's Art Rainbow Swirl on the wheel from last year's TdF..  *blush*  It is my tendency with the Tdf.  Go for the whole run, then my wheel collects dust for a year until the next one.  Should probably get a cover. *laugh*

Here's a collage of the preamble spinning I did last Weds.. 

Thankfully, my ankle felt okay.  So it all good.  Finger crossed that will continue to be the case!

Day 1 

Day 1 started well.  Spent somewhere btw 30 to 60 minutes spinning.  Felt good.  Go me.  

In years past, I did some themed watching.  But this year, I am not focusing on anything. Didn't join any teams for a tv show or such.  I may share my viewing when it is something particularly fun.  Was trying to figure out what to watch & looked at HBOMax (I think...don't quote me...  *gron*)  Saw they have the Harry Potter movies again for a bit.  Figured it would be fun to watch Harrry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone.

Though made me miss Richard Harris.  Don't get me wrong, I like Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, but he doesn't hold a candle to Harris in the role.  Harris has that twinkle to his eye that makes you wonder what all he knows that no one else does.  And a merriment mixed with a sense of wonder that I love in Dumbledore.  Making me think I might need to watch Camelot sometime during all this.  I love Harris's performance in that too.  

Odd part is that I don't miss Alan Rickman while watching it because he is so very Snape...  So thoroughly embodying character that it is hard to see Alan Rickman.  Though still miss his being in this world.  Awesome actor.  Which has me wondering if I have Truly, Madly, Deeply in a format I can watch.  Think that may have been a VHS that got let go in the move... *sniffle*  Think that was my first movie I remember him from.  So amazing...

Maybe this will be the spring board to future watching during the TdF this year.  But honestly, this is a year of going with the flow.

Day 2

Yeah.  This spot is blank.  I blame Animal Crossing...  *laugh*  But I was all me.  *chuckle*

Day 3 - More Plying 

I don't recall spinning a lot.  But I think it was at least a half hour...maybe more.  Got from the blue to the green.  I do think the plying is pretty uneven.  Definitely more in some areas than others.  But still, like it...

Day 4 - Finished Plying

I was able to finish plying. I know I was spinning for at least 30-45 minutes.  Happy to have it done!  I will let it rest before I attempt to wind it off into a skein. I know it is overspun in areas.  Though there is also parts that are probably underplied.  I won't honestly know how much until it gets it bath.  I am leaning toward a warm soak & a bit of thwacking to let it bloom a bit.  Nothing extreme in temp or handling.

Day 5 - Fiber Selection

I was thinking I was going to do a Loop Bullseye Bump.   So easy to spin as it requires no prep at all.  Just start spinning.  Look at these lovelies...

But odd part is none of them were saying "SPIN ME!!!" 

Was over in the corner with them and spotted a deep dive stash item on top of the bins with the fiber.  It's The First Draft Blending Portion Colorway from the sadly gone Dresden Files club.  There are two parts to it.  One is a grey with pops of the other colors in a 60% Merino / 40% Bamboo blend.  I have spun that mix of hers before & love it.  There is a blending mix of 100% nylon faux cashmere "accents."  I don't honestly think I am going to blend them in...but honestly...not sure yet.  Could be fun.  Though not really sure if I would ever use it then!  *laugh*

The funny part was I had the fiber I got from The First Draft at the SSK I attended.  I got a double batch & was leaning towards spinning that.  But I spotted this & it spoke to me.  Kinda funny as the grey is very muted...but don't know...just felt right...  I am leaning towards seeing what other merino/bamboo blends I have from the Club & maybe spinning singles in another colorway.  Or I may dig out the SSK colorway if I can find it!  *laugh*

I did do some spinning during the Random Crafty Penguin meeting through work today.  So I am not stressing it if I do or don't do more. Though I may do some more spinning tonight.  But we'll see...

I have been feeling some strain in parts of my body.  Not sure if I am just sleeping funny or that I am not used to spinning for too long.  So playing it by ear is the wisest thing to do! 

Seems like the site changed the way it will handle code...or I am doing something wrong.  So I put the pics into the post.  But to see them bigger, they are on Flickr.  

Here's the link to the TdF 2021 album:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmW7iPYQ

I may post more of the individual pics like I have in the past...  See what time permits!

Tour de Fleece Preamble

Wow.  Last time I posted was mid-Tour de Fleece last year!  WHOOPS!  Been a while...  And didn't even finish posting about TdF last year.  *blush*

Soooo...  I am planning on participating again this year.  Though how much is a big question mark!

I have been lacking motivation for all things crafty for a while now.  And doesn't help that I got a Switch at the end of March & have been obsessively playing Animal Crossing!! *laugh*  Love the game.  It is a lot of fun.  Got turned on to the game by several different knitting/crafting related podcasters.  *chuckle*  Have a spinning wheel & loom in AC.  One of my villagers talks about her knitting (as well as reading.)  Another has a massive floor loom in center of her house...  

My plans are just to spin every day for at least 15 minutes.  But we'll see how it goes honestly.

I broke my ankle in November.  Not one to do things half way...it required surgery & has a long plate & eight screws. So I need to see if my ankle is okay.  I think it will be.  Spun for about 45 minutes on Weds. during the work crafting group that meets virtually... The ankle seems to be fine.  More about my knees didn't like the office chair & wheel combo.  So I was a bit sore. But that went away as soon as I got up and moved a bit.  Think I just need to make sure I move.

I still have some Gale's Art that I was working on from last year's TdF on the wheel!  Got to the plying stage.  It's 6 oz of Blueface Swirl Roving.  This really lovely rainbow with a black swirl in the fiber.  I love it lots.  Originally, I had been thinking a cowl for my DD.  But I really think I may keep it for me!  *evil grin*  I love long cowls that I can use as a scarf.  Find they stay better & I just double loop them.  Mind you, I have one out of handspun I really like...but.... Two are better than one, right?! *laugh*

I signed up for the Akerworks Ravelry group again.  Love their bobbins.  And they are all I use at this point.  And honestly, love their giveaways!  Also signed up for Schacht today.  But both groups are WAY quieter than in past years.  I suspect it is about the issues people have been having with the redesign.  Through the Knit Girllls podcasts, I have been hearing that people are pulling away from Ravelry.  But as with past issues that created people leaving Ravelry, I haven't seen a new meeting place...so....

I have been very active on the Animal Crossing boards on Ravelry.  An awesome group of people there.  So I am happy that is still very active!

Still trying to figure out what I want to do for my viewing this year.  Was a bit tempted by Team Tardis or the Babylon 5 team.  But neither is grabbing me this year.  Though I love the people from both.  Just not feeling them.  May check in on the Browncoats.  Or may just do some musicals.  Or maybe it will be as random as the rest of this year!  *laugh*  

Tour de Fleece So Far

I can't believe it is already Day 18!  Yikes.

I haven't been good about posting to any of the Teams I joined.  I checked in once on day 3 or 4 but not since.  I feel good that I have been posting to Instagram which posts to FB.  But that is about all I can muster most days.

Here's my Instagram feed:

https://www.instagram.com/knittingakasha/

And a pic of yesterday's part 2 spinning!

Things are crazy with work.  I am working until 6 most days.  And sometimes working after dinner some days.  But never getting caught up.  *sigh*  It isn't a good feeling always being behind...  Keep hoping the work load will calm.  But so far, things continue to be crazy in due to Covid & changes that never seem to stop coming...  And I just can't deal with being on my computer when not doing working.  

I wrote that while testing after dinner on a Friday night!  *laugh* 

I know!  I should not be complaining.  I am grateful that I have a job that allows me to work from home.  It is really awesome.  Just a lot in the world so feeling a bit drained.  

I have been spinning every day though!  Feeling good about that.  Most days, I am watching an episode or two of Doctor Who & spinning while watching.  On the days when I only watch one episode, I am generally spinning more time watching something else. And since I am working from home every day, I sometimes spin a bit in the mornings before starting work too.  Hooray for not commuting!

I am happy with my progress!  I have finished spinning the Into The Whirled 60 % Merino / 40% Silk in the April Luxe fiber - Colorway Spring, Sprang, Sprung.

I have loaded the photos into the Handspun project on Ravelry.  I know.  I would like to make it prettier here!  *laugh*  But these days, I am feeling accomplished getting that much done!

Here's the link -

https://ravel.me/akasha/itwsss

And here's a pic of the yarn:

Need to figure out if there is a way with Google Photos to post embedded pics.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ywWMNJUZt36AcAwj7

I wound it off & soaked it on Sunday.  I really was worried it would be completely overspun, but happily, it isn't!  I generally have that issue when I get back to spinning.  Spin for the TdF and then not again for a year!  Ah well.  At least I am spinning.

Overall, I am happy with it.  It's thicker than I was going for.  And *definitely* not even in its width.  But I am thinking it is meant to be a cowl for my daughter.  Part of the reason I chose to spin this first it screamed PRIDE to me.  So wanted to start it in June.  

Thinking it may be a great cowl for my daughter!  She loves Pride & think she would love this.  Could also do a hat.  But don't think it would hold up as well to that.  Almost thinking about striping with black or another color to give a bit more width to it.  Ooo...or maybe a mosaic...  Hmmm...  All sorts of ideas now.

The other spin so far is the The Empty Child colorway.  Again an Into the Whirled club colorway.  This one was June.  And the colorway that said I should participate in Team Tardis this year.

https://ravel.me/akasha/tects

Been loving this spin.  It is 60% merino/20% yak/20% silk.  Super sweet spin.  Generally about 24-28 WPI for the singles.  Love my Rosie's Precise Spinning Control Card.  Not an ad.  Just one of the best tools I purchased for spinning as I can easily see if I am being even.  https://woolery.com/rosies-precise-spinning-control-card.html

For my Doctor Who watching, I started with Season 1 Ep 1 & went straight through to Season 2 Ep 6.  Then skipped forward to 12 & 13 to say goodbye to Rose.  Will watch Christmas 2006 - The Runaway Bride today I suspect.  

Then, trying to work out what episodes I want to watch for the remainder of the TdF.  So many good choices...  Tough to decide.  But started looking at some Best of Lists to get some ideas.  Know "Vincent & the Doctor" as well as "Blink" are high up there.  Of course, being me, I put together a tab in my TdF spreadsheet.  *headdesk*  Yes, I am a complete dork!  Why do you ask?! *laugh*

Best I post this.  Otherwise, it will be sitting too long!