I don't exactly choose my word each year. Sometime near the end of December, a concept will present itself. I write down a list of descriptors and synonyms that relate to the concept, and one of them stands out. So from the concept of "writing" came "saga." I was rather hoping to direct my own tale rather than being dumped into a collective upheaval, but here we are, so let's look back on how that word has appeared in 2020: I took a letter writing workshop, then taught one myself. I read more books this year than I have in any year since I was a kid, and had to revamp my journaling method (separate notebooks for bullet journal, planner, and journaling) because I started writing more. I submitted a piece to a magazine, and they published it. I proofed/edited a book for a friend, got advice from a writing mentor, attended a virtual writers conference, joined a mastermind group, and started an online journalism certification. I hand lettered a tattoo for someon...

The lights are down the light has shown the pink fringes of the beginning of  a slow and steady climb; a rise that cannot be held back The gifts unwrapped the gift is that we hold this moment in our hearts for the long dark ahead.

It's been A Year, but here are two of my favorite photos from each month of 2020, that didn't make it into a blog post:

Last maker post of the year! I have spent a lot of time knitting the ravel'd sleave of care these past twelve months. I did three knitalongs (two of them mystery shawls, and one sweater), and learned brioche (back and forth, in the round, one color, and two color) and tubular bind off. Twelve out of twenty-three knits were stash yarn or leftovers from another project. As a quick stash buster, I made a couple of these Buzzed  hats (my own pattern, that link goes to Ravelry but we can work something out if that's not accessible to you), which brought my hat total for the year up to four. Since I stopped publishing, I started knitting a lot more garments (grading for different sizes is not my strong area, and that was part of the reason I stopped designing for others). This year I knit seven upper body garments (two pullovers, a cardigan, a bralette, a tank, and two tees - plus one sewn crop top) and it's something I'd definitely like to do more of in the future. I used st...

Life these past ten months seems to have been reduced to a series of framed moments - moments viewed on phone screens and out car windows. We live vicariously, together, and I've struggled to balance in home engagement against the allure of endless episodes of Puffin Rock and The Wild Kratts. A recent positive is an uptick in alternative activities, similar to the beginning of the pandemic, doggedly bringing the cheer, even if it looks a little different this year.   It's finally begun to get cold here in the South. Last week I sat on the front step in a T-shirt and knitted - this week I had to defrost an impressive frozen display off the windshield before we could do our grocery pick up. Unable to go outside and with indoor places not currently an option, we've spent a lot of time looking out windows. We got a suet feeder a few years ago as a gift, so this year when we put it out we added a platform feeder for variety. We're trying to attract twenty different species (...

I love the Christmas season - parts of it, anyway. I love the sparkle and the wonder and the giving and the potential for joy. I love finding creative ways to bring smiles to other's faces, strangers and acquaintances and friends and family alike. I love driving around neighborhoods on a Christmas light quest. I love parties and candlelight services, and movies and music that are brought out just for a few weeks every year. My middle's birthday is the week before Christmas, so there's an added element of planning birthday festivities that are made distinct from the holiday. So that's this month's focus. Reveling in delight so extra as to become almost annoying. Letting the kids put Jingle Bells on repeat for all the waking hours of three straight days. Following their directions for an after-dark lights quest. Allowing 5-almost-6 to plan his own birthday and making him feel celebrated and special in the most extra of ways, even with just the five of us. Finding wond...