I had great plans for today, but apart from starting to edit an engineering paper, rescuing a teenager from Zürich (the power went out in half of the city so no trains were running) and buying potatoes to eat with raclette tonight, I have achieved very little of significance.

I’ve been lying around for weeks and came to the conclusion today that I feel absolutely totally and utterly exhausted, tired to my bones, wiped right out. I have no idea why – although I do have to get up earlier than my body would really like, to get everyone else up and out and I’m never in bed as early as I’d like to be. For some reason after 10pm I have a little energy spurt which convinces me that I’m not tired at all and don’t need to go to bed yet. I see what a big mistake that was when the alarm rings at 6.15 the next morning…but I can’t seem to remember that at bedtime.

I’ve been a zonked out zombie all day. Not good. Not good at all….

I do have a plan though. It’s called a ‘sleep till you can sleep no more weekend’. One teenager and my husband will be away this weekend and the other two have things to do and people to see. I shall only be seeing the inside of my duvet. No plans, not going anywhere, not cooking or doing anything other than deliciously, delightfully SLEEPING!

Is tomorrow only Friday?

Helen

I had almost made my mind up not to start anything new and only work on existing projects, but there’s something rather sad and not very creative about making a decision like that. It’s almost saying that my will-power should be stronger than my creativity – and I think that would be rather a bad thing, if I’m honest.

I’m also finding it rather depressing being stuck at home – the weather is dark and miserable, doing anything hurts and of course I can’t do any of the active things I love. Even sitting at a table with my knee at a right angle is only possible for a minute or two before I have to go back to the sofa. I’m certainly also missing all the endorphins that normally course through my body keeping me happy and upbeat. I’ve noticed that I’m actually retreating into myself  a bit, hiding away and hibernating even more than I normally do at this time of year. Not good. And I don’t want it to turn into anything more serious.

Things are also reaching a critical phase for the teenagers as the end of the semester looms. It’s REALLY critical for my two girls – more about that another day – which means it’s unbelievably stressful for me, especially as I don’t have a lot to take my mind off it all right now.

Which is why I’m going to embark on something I’ve been thinking about for a while – a quilt for me – for our bed, in fabric that speaks to me, lots of stars and  a pattern that is totally within my comfort zone.

In short – a comfort quilting project.

Even better, it’s all from my stash.

What’s not to like?

Cabbage and Roses Northcote Range and in all probability Carrie Nelson’s Eventide pattern.

I’m a great believer in being kind to myself when things aren’t going great. So this is it. My little kindness to myself.

Helen

The incredibly gift of the ordinary!

Glory comes streaming from the table of daily life

Macrina Wiederkehr (A Tree Full of Angels, 1988)

Sometimes something very small can make a big difference in my day. I’m taking time to notice the little things and trying to put everything else into its true perspective!

Helen

I’m not a kit person….nor am I a kitsch person…

but here I am today indulging in a little bit of both.

I’m making myself a knitting bag using a kit from Nähzentrum Heidelberg that I bought in Ste. Marie aux Mines in the summer. It’s actually rather pretty, but I’m miserable at following instructions, I really am. Especially instructions in German, which require me to concentrate rather than just jumping right in and going with the flow. This may be one of the reasons why I really never go in for making kits. Mind you, instructions in French would have been even worse – there’s nothing like semi understanding a language for getting you into a pickle!

Today I should have been working on a longstanding cardigan UFO, but I really just felt an insane urge to make something pretty and new – and which should be finished in two shakes of a lamb’s tale.

Providing I follow the instructions!

Helen

It’s really quite wild outside today – with high winds and big black clouds overhead. The rain will be back in a minute I’m sure.

On days like today I can’t think of anything nicer than being cosily indoors, firmly ensconced on the sofa and happily knitting along. I’ve just finished my Twisted Fate socks (Lisa Ellis Designs).

Lovely – although as often happens with hand dyed and hand spun yarn the two skeins were surprisingly different – and one sock definitely has crisper colours than the other. Not to worry, they will be snug and comfy and I’ll enjoy wearing them. The yarn is Dreamer Sock Hop Yarn from Crown Mountain Farms. Nice interesting yarn. In my book interesting is good!

So that is my first pair of socks in 2012. The first of the 12 in 2012….many more to go. It’s always great to get something finished though, isn’t it?

Thanks for all your comments yesterday – you made me feel human and I’m glad that other people are often a little overawed by the productivity of others. Yes, I guess we all do have the same number of hours in the day – even if it sometimes doesn’t feel like that!

Anyway, on with the next UFO!!

Enjoy your Sunday – I hope yours is as snug as mine!

Helen