New Year/Old News

I haven't been posting because life has just gotten in the way these past few months. I've been Ms. Frequent Flyer - buzzing across the country and then up and down the East Coast several times. It was good to be home for a few weeks in preparation for Christmas - celebrate Christmas - off for a short New Year's trip - and now home to tend to some business and prepare for rug camp in a WHAAAAAT the next week!!!

First, for the New Year, I've joined some of my fellow stitchers and made a list of projects and WIP's (works in progress) that I would like to finish this year. Since I not only do cross stitch, my list includes knitting and rug hooking projects as well. Check out this link to our new blog to see what everyone is planning to work on in 2011. Not sure whether I'll be doing "11 in 2011" or just attempting to finish 15 WIP's. Maybe a combo. Hopefully, I'll get my list up on the blog soon, but here's is the draft list in no particular order or priority:

- knit brown 'boyfriend' hat - gift
- finish Quince &amp: Co. Kilkenny Cowl - gift

- finish blocks for Civil War Tribute Quilt and get top together

- Saturday Sampler blocks - assemble top, get quilted, and bind it

- finish Quince & Co. Osprey cardigan in Pomegranite

- knit another Purl Ridge Scarf in Sanguine Gryphon yarn or Plucky Knitter yarn (from stash)
- finish Ulysses hooked rug
- knit a pair of socks from the toe up
- repro another cross-stitch design
- finish The Primitive Needle's Cape Cod Girls - gift

- finish The Sampler Girl's At Home With Jane Austen - gift

- knit the Moody and Broody Club sweater (Dark and Stormy) in Plucky Knitter yarn
- knit Clockwork scarf in Sanguine Gryphon yarn

Not up to 15 yet, but I've got at least 12 other cross-stitch WIP's in one of my stitching bags, so I can always pull from there as I get a few of the above finished. Also, since I did want to start something on 1/1/11, I stitched part of the border of the 1st Anniversaries of the Heart by Blackbird Designs. I have one big piece of linen and am planning to stitch all of the designs on it. Of course, this could go on "The List", but certainly not as ONE project, when there are at least 12 separate designs and a few bonus designs. So this was just a "start" for now.

As for some old news - one of my trips took me to New Mexico in October - flying in on the very weekend that the Taos Wool Festival was taking place. Somehow, I convinced my husband that we had to spend a day in Taos before heading for Los Alamos for a week where he was going to attend a training class at the National Labs. It was a typical - gorgeous day and wonderful WOOLY event. Here are a few of my pictures.

Felted hats and mohair locks!

 Booths!

Sheep! (some already shorn)

Yarn! (and mountains)

MY yarn and roving!

We went on to stay in Los Alamos and this is the Post Office there in the middle of town. Just loved it! During the Manhattan Project days, there was only a P.O. Box in Sante Fe for Los Alamos, but as the place grew and the secret got out, they got their own Post Office. I believe their first Post Office was a small wooden structure, then it was replaced. This building is across the street from Starbucks, or should I say that they other way around??? Ha-Ha!  But it was nice to sit outside with a Caramel Macchiotto and a piece of Pumpkin Bread and enjoy the view.

Speaking of views, here is a shot of one of the canyon walls with ruins at Bandelier National Monument - one of my most favorite places in New Mexico. I got to visit twice during the week we stayed at nearby Los Alamos. It can easily be done as a day-trip from Sante Fe, which we have done in the past.

Here is a shot of the canyon floor with the main area of ruins - the site of an ancient multi-storied complex - in the shade, which is now believed to have been used more for storage of food stuffs and animals, rather than for living purposes. So much history is concentrated in this canyon!

Well, the New Year has started and I've already finished the first item on my list - the brown boyfriend hat which is going off to one of my brothers - YEAH! so hopefully all of you will consider an "11 in 2011" and be working on your lists in between LIFE. Here's to keeping busy, but not frantic!