Not much stitching going on

Oddly, I haven't been doing much stitching or finishing over this Christmas break ... though I had expected to finish my Holly and Hearts sampler and perhaps, the matching ornament as well ... I also have four flat-finish ornaments half finished [meaning I have the backs covered in fabric and only need to apply the stitched piece to a padded form and assemble.] I don't know what the deal is ... perhaps the fact that the job leaves me so little time to just "be" ... and I am taking some much needed genuine down time: no goals, no pressures. Just endless cups of tea, a little reading, a lot of napping and a modicum of cooking and housework. I haven't done much more than 30 minutes stitching a day, if that much, for the past three days ... that practically represents a cold-turkey withdrawal from my usual 2-3 hour a day routine. My current project, the Poisson du Avril Biscornu, seems to be growing scale by scale by painstakingly slow scale. But that's seems to be just fine by me. Very atypical for my decidedly A-type personality.

As to the reading: some of it has been just browsing through new editions of old friends and some of it even has been fiber-related. I browsed through my sumptuously illustrated new set of Lord of the Rings. I finished both of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's books about knitting: The Yarn Harlot and The Free Range Knitter. Very easy and enjoyable reads: a sort of Erma Bombeck meets Foxfire meets [supply the name of your favorite knitting designer]. I have begun my annual ritual a bit early and have re-read two Jane Austen novels: Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice. There's still Emma, Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility to go. I never read the pitiful mock-gothic novel ... Catherine is such a ridiculous heroine. I really do have to purchase a replacement for my old Modern Library Edition of Austen's Complete Works. I figure, when you have to hold a book together with rubber bands, it's probably time to invest in a new copy. Finally, I have dipped into The Shack, to satisfy my brother who wants my opinion of the book. I should finish that book today.

I have studiously avoided all the New Year's Day on-line stitchery sales and will continue to do so, as per my 2009 resolution to avoid lavish purchasing while I have such an extensive stash. The folks at The Silver Needle will probably think I died and, no doubt, will consign my file to the Inactive drawer. I don't think I have missed a New Year's or Super Bowl Sunday sale in five year's ... hence, my extensive stash! I do believe my next project will be a knitted throw rather than a cross-stitch piece ... just for a little change of pace.

Not exactly a stellar start to 2009 ... but sometimes a little detachment is just the ticket.