Christmas holidays are over, and I made it. A tree went up, gifts were wrapped, parties attended, meals hosted, and knitted gifts (for the most part) completed and (I hope) enjoyed. (I.e. pink alligator scarf, seen at left.) Now it's nice to imagine the whole year laid out before me, and plan all the great projects I might begin over the next 11 months...

The only thing I wasn't successful in finishing was the mammoth 'reversibly cabled afghan' which I began way back in June. It's a slow-going work, and I find that I just don't have the gusto to work away at it for more than a couple of nights in a row. Cold winter nights when our old house just won't warm all the way up will be a good incentive to get the afghan out, spread it over my legs and eke away at it, inch by inch. Hopefully I can get it done for a June birthday!

I've dabbled in felting over the last week or so, and I'm quite pleased with the results so far. I started with a small bag which my friend Jackie made for herself a short while ago. I was impressed, and it peaked my curiousity so I went out and bought some wool for myself and got knitting. After just two tumbles in the washer, the bag had felted fabulously, and I used our Simpsons Puzzle box in a plastic bag to shape it while it dried. So now I have the bag, and I'm working on the i-cord handles. I'm a little confused about how long to make them, but I'm throwing caution to the wind and just knitting until it feels about right.

Back to work, back to school and back to routines with kids. Little time for knitting, just like through the fall, but I'm trying to stick with it. Having fun browsing through patterns, websites, and Ravelry. (Still loving Ravelry.com---so fun, so useful!) I'm trying to avoid snacking and sweets at all costs now that the holidays are over, so at least keeping up my knitting should keep my hands busy and away from chocolate! That's the theory anyway.