What's going on - and where's the knitting?

Mea culpa. I know. I promised to come back and to write about knitting and fiber and all the things that are supposed to be going on in TheCastle. And there is a wee tee tiny bit of knitting going on. Nothing seems to be getting finished, but just let me finish this row and maybe I'll have something to show for the months of long silence.

You see here photographic proof of knitting (PPOK?) I must be the last knitter on earth to get around to making one of those fluffy ruffled scarves (dark red yarn with fat needles). And yes. I only cast this on so that I'd have something to knit on while ThePrinceConsort read Treasure Island to me these last few weeks. The unfinished sock on the right is LD's Christmas sock. It's too short - I will have to rip out the toe decreases and add another 1/2 inch. Thank goodness it's the Second Sock. That's how I know it's too short.  The grey cuff is a desperation project I began so that I'd have something to knit on while watching the super bowl. Happily I had so much fun with the other non-watchers at C&T's that I didn't actually need an emergency project. But it's a nice sock and I'll knit away on it. Somebody needs another pair of socks.

Well durn. The left justification button on blogger won't work and I hate centered text unless it's a caption. I always suspect something's wrong with my computer when stuff like that doesn't work but maybe this time it's blogger's fault. right. Unimportant non-fact.

This dearth of knitting has its origins in the epiphany I had last fall when I brought down the winter clothes. I have (had) SO MANY clothes. I could dress everyone down here on the point with the clothes I own (owned). I will blame my obsessive clothes collecting on the slick marketing of my youth, the fact that I wore a uniform in high school and today's relatively low cost for basic garments. It's easier to just buy a new cotton t-shirt than root around in the attic when you get a sudden warm spell at the end of winter.

As I stood in the upstairs hallway and stared at the 12 foot long 3 foot high pile of clothes at my feet, a great wave of repulsion washed over me. I had a passionate desire to own only the clothes I really wore and what fit into the space I have to hold them. I have a minimalist's amount of closet and drawer space and yet, it's probably quite enough for the amount of clothing I actually wear. I gave away or threw away more than half that pile and I still have a tight fit in the closet. There's one more drawer in my dresser that I can empty and when I do I believe I will have the perfect marriage of clothing and space.

And inside that space there are about 8 very nice sweaters that I have knit for myself. Mind now - I live in the south. We have only had about 10 cold days all winter. I tend to spill stuff on my clothes so I don't wear sweaters around the house - at least, not ones that I spent weeks making and will have to wash by hand. My poor sweaters don't see that much daylight.  Worse yet! There is an almost completed sweater on needles - an almost completed sweater that has wonky shoulders - an almost completed sweater that will need to be frogged and re-knit. That sweater oozes complaint and disapproval all through the house - a black miasma-like fog of shame-inducing frustration. The guilt is immobilizing. The wailing lament that sweater issues is supported by a figured base thrumming from enough yarn to knit a half dozen More Sweaters. And we will not even talk about the 3 summer weight cotton garments languishing in project bags, tossed in a heap in the spare upstairs room that has turned into the true junk room you love to avoid. Is it any wonder there has been so little knitting in TheCastle?   

Fear not. All things flow - even the clutter in the attic - even knitting projects. Just ... not right now. 

Anyway - so what the heck is going on with TheQueen and why did she let her 10 year blogging anniversary go unheralded? 

I can't tell you. I don't know. I've just been very Someplace Else this year. I haven't yet finished formulating my New Years Resolutions beyond a vague Go With the Flow intention. I'm not sure if this Silence of Desire is caused by Dread of Auditors (they come on Friday) or Fear of Budget (that starts the following week) or if it's because I really am tapping into TheForce and feeling its strength. (and why do these guys always look so pissed off? Can't TF be used for cool stuff, good stuff, happy stuff? It's such a guy thing, I guess)

I have done a fair bit of gadding about in 2013. The first weekend we zipped up to New York City. At least, it felt like a zip - I don't do the driving. ThePrinceConsort does and we actually made the trip in just under 6 hours - which is what it should take if you don't have any traffic. Obviously there was traffic but it always moved - whence the sensation of zipping for 600 miles. We had a fabulous time - as anyone would who stayed with B&M - ate amazingly good food, visited both the Botanical Gardens and the Metropolitan Museum. NYC rocks but it's always best when you have a native guide. Thank you B&M!  

The next weekend we had beloved cousins visited for puppy play and oyster pie. It was unseasonably warm but that's just what you want when you have two growley tussling puppies. Their favorite spot to wrestle was in the front hall where they could slam each other against the door and make it rattle. 

It was still pretty warm when we celebrated Mama's 90th birthday on the 22. The day was crystal clear and gentle. Sister and I had a little party for her in the activity room, with sushi and cake and balloons and gifts - and Chloe - the fashion accessory dog. BD, like the true prince he is, came with me and we shared the poignant, slightly bittersweet tenderness of memories, in the sharp light of the setting January sun, on the drive back. I would love to write more about this but the emotions still pinch my heart. It's just too easy to start to weep about all that's gone forever and what will soon be flying away from me. How can a heart hold so much happiness and so much sadness at the same time?

But you are not to think that there has been a lack of creativity in the Life-0-TheQueen. There has been ART at TheCastle. A new kind of art that is as addictive as any ball of cashmere lace weight yarn and some brand new Addi Lace needles. While pouring over some art supply catalogs last fall, looking for gold felt tipped calligraphy pens, I read a blurb about Sakura Pigma Micron pens having been chosen as The Pen for Zentangle.

Of course I had to click on over to here to find out what Zentangle is and right away knew I was in love. I immediately bought this for the library

 

and  told one of my girlfriends that I wanted a set of those pens for Christmas. 

Before the holiday was over I was loosing myself in the zen of pen and having absolutely too much fun. Here are a few of the drawings I've done so far:

So. 

Now you know what's been going on and where the knitting is and where TheQueen's head is. I make no promises about how soon I'll be back with More Information Than You Ever Wanted about life in TheCastle - but I will be back. Ta.