Remember that stack of yarn cakes?
Well. Fast forward two weeks and the final Christmas gifts are done. I don’t know why I decided the cowl was my 2010 project (and walked around asking people, “Did you know it is the ‘year of the cowl?'” like it was something I hadn’t just made up), but I did.
There is something about how snuggly they are. You can pull them over your mouth when the wind is whipping (say, 300 miles north of my desert home). Or pull them over your head when you want to run outside in the cold. Or wrap it over a cute t-shirt and under a jean jacket for a pop of color. Every fashionable woman should have a cowl.
If you had asked me in November if I’d have 10 of these done by Christmas, I would have laughed. If you’d mentioned the 14 handbags, 9 crayon rolls, three golf towels, two scarves, one hat and a partridge in a pear tree — I would have curled up in the fetal position. Then again, fueled with enough caffeine I think I could manage Everest — if I didn’t freak myself out beforehand with the stories of how hard it would be.
There is some clever lesson in this post about how life is so much easier when we take it one project at a time, and eliminate the noise of others who try to distract us from our goals. (I saw a bumper sticker in traffic the other day that read: Don’t let your dreams be crushed by those who have give up on their own. AMEN.) Alas, for those in need of a proverb, I got up at 5 am to finish these cowls before work so they would be ready for tonight’s final holiday party and my cleverness is still under the covers. Instead, I’ll sigh with relief I reached the finish line for this holiday season — minus a couple hours of terrifying icy driving on the way to Santa Fe — stress free. I am so very thankful I managed to escape the grasp of the expectation monster who haunted holidays past.
Now, who is ready for some handmade Valentine card ideas? (chirp. chirp. Is this thing on?) Just kidding. Let’s all just bask in the glow of no pending celebrations for a bit, shall we? I for one will be doing such celebrating on this veranda.
Malawi and Zimbabwe or bust, baby!
See you in three weeks,*
K
*If there happens to be Internet on the tea estate, I’ll say hi. I for one am hoping for a tech-free holiday. Three weeks without my incessant (and potentially addicted) social media blabbing will do the worldwidewebs some good. I will miss you. But I hope to be occupied with swimming, hiking, exploring, photographing, sleeping in, napping, drinking tea, reading, knitting, day dreaming, chasing the estate’s monkeys, lounging, shopping and perhaps even a bit of writing with an old school pen and notebook.
The best news is — this little blog will be even better come 2011. Be ready for lots of fun, friends. And know that with all my heart — I wish the very best for you and your loved ones in 2011.