Hello to a new year........

Welcome 2019!  I have been looking forward to you so much, or might I say looking forward to all the holiday stuff being done.  This is my favorite time of year in Florida.  The leaves are falling from the trees making a carpet of crispness to walk through.  The evenings are cool, the days still warm.  It is wonderful outside.

The boys have been having loads of fun running around after a squirrel or two who darts across my screened enclosure.  Max used to do this daily with the same squirrel, or the squirrel's descendants.   Run, run, run across the lanai, back and forth throughout the day.  The squirrel has the advantage, the boys fall for it every time. 

No deep words of wisdom about the year that has past.  It has been crazy as far as politics, natural disasters, shootings and all that.  Each story more horrific than the next.  I so hope this will end for all of our sake but it looks far from it at this point.  I think our collective levels of stress continue to be at an all time high.

As well as the tough times there has been light.  These two entered our lives last January, grabbed our hearts and never let go.  Even though they gave us quite a scare with their mad adventure they have enriched our lives so much.  They are still very mischievous,  grabbing reading glasses is their favorite thing to do.  Still we are so blessed to have them in our family.

2018 was not my best year at making things.  But I did work an extra amount, I mean averaging 14.5 more treatments a months this year.  As each treatment is an hour you can see how that adds up.  So most of the week was about work and Little Buddy, not creating.  I did knit a sweater and a shawl, so knitting did happen on this blog called Mereknits!  Amazing if you think about it!   My favorite projects were the East End sweater, my second Zick Zack Shawl, and last but not least my latest finish my Slouchy Crochet Cardigan.  Only 12 projects were completed because of those work hours.  And only 9,875 yards of yarn used, but that is okay there is more to use this year. 

This year there are no resolutions of exercise or eating right.  I do what I can with the time I have available.  I am thinking more of really trying to do with what I have before buying more.  I am going to see how long I can go without buying new clothes or shoes, I really have all that I need.  I am going to try and continue to work from stash as much as I can, there are three baby blankets for me to make so far this year and all that yarn will have to be purchased, but the rest of my projects should come from stash first.  I am not picking a word to lead my year but will continue on with this quote from Oprah, "Have faith that the universe has your back."  With all the potential changes at work, with Little Buddy's services, and well our country as we slip into year 3 of complete chaos I think this quote still works well.  

I am not a huge social media fan and have fallen off from most of it.  I find it just takes up so much time, and time I have little of to start with.  I want to connect on a real level, not with likes and such.  I feel we are all losing or ability to relate in real life, in real time.  Does that make sense? 

I also want to feel more kindness to myself and to others.  I have to remember that kindness matters every moment of the day.  And I have a tendency, especially when tired, to not be as kind as I can be. 

I wish you all a wonderful, prosperous, happy and healthy 2019.  Thank you for joining me in this space, thank you for your friendship and your continued support.