A New Resolution

Oh, how on earth did February arrive so quickly? Why, it seems like just yesterday that we toasted the New Year, doesn’t it? I guess that whole “time flies” adage is true!

My resolution for January was to forego cookies. Now, anyone who knows me will assure you that I do love my cookies, so this was a big thing for me. I’m happy to report that once I made my mind up, I didn’t have a hard time sticking to the resolution. I haven’t had a cookie since 2009 and am truly pleased with myself. It’s a small thing, but sometimes small things matter.

I’ve been asked a number of times if I’m going to keep up the no-cookie rule. Now that I’ve broken the daily cookie habit I’d hate to fall back into the trap but I’d also miss sampling some of my favorite treats. Besides, around here we bake heart-shaped sugar cookies near Valentine’s Day and that’s one tradition I have no intention of giving up so I guess the answer is that I’m going to resolve to practice moderation in the cookie arena of my life. Like I said, I’m out of the habit so I don’t see myself gobbling cookies any time in the near future.

So, what’s it going to be for February? I thought you’d never ask!

Exercise. Yep, that’s the resolution for the second month of the year. I’m going to force myself to get on my exercise bike every single day this month and pedal for thirty minutes.

I’ve fallen out of the habit of “formal” exercise these past months, so I think I should make a conscious effort to get back into the practice. Lately I’ve let myself off the exercise hook. I’ve convinced myself that hauling firewood, tilling gardens, clearing snow and stacking wood pellets should exempt me from an exercise regimen. That’s hogwash—my chores aren’t a substitute for aerobic activity so, for February at least, you can be sure I’ll have my butt on the bicycle seat for a half-hour a day.

Let’s hope this goes as easily as the cookie resolution did. I’ll keep you posted.

So, what about you? Did you make New Year’s resolutions? If you did, how are you doing with them?

Resolution Report

Ah, the revolving resolution scheme. It’s January, and that means I’m foregoing cookies. Now, cookies don’t seem to be a big deal, and in the Grand Scheme of Things they aren’t but I will say that in my ordinary, ho-hum life cookies are a Big Deal.

My mother raised me with the cookie-for-each-hand motto, and I’ll admit I’ve faithfully adhered to her way of thinking. It’s a credo that’s served me well, one I never thought to relinquish but…

Dare I say it? Aloud? Here and now, in the presence of witnesses?

Oh, I hope I don’t regret this—

I’m getting used to not eating cookies every day. There, I’ve said it. Miraculously, the sky didn’t fall and the earth didn’t shake. Who knew I could say such a thing and not suffer dire consequences?

Live and learn…

Oh, right. The cookie resolution. I’ll admit, at first it was tough not eating cookies. I’m nearly (but not quite, mind you!) embarrassed to say this but I even dreamed about cookies the first week of the month. That’s right; I dreamed I was in a bakery, facing a wall of the most incredible cookies which were—inconveniently!—behind glass. What do you think Freud would say about that honey of a nightmare?

Anyhow, the cookie dreams have stopped. My jeans are looser in the posterior region. I’m satisfied that I’ve made a healthy change. All good, right?

So, I’d say this resolution-a-month plan is working. So far.

Now, if I could only think of something for February I’d be set. Any suggestions?

And how are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? All good, I hope. If you’ve slipped, remember there’s always the first of February, which seems like as good a day as any to jump back onto the resolution wagon.

Have a nice day!

Tangled

One of my personal New Year’s promises involves needles and string. Well, not string, precisely…it just feels like string since I’ve got the present length miserably tangled. Yarn—it’s yarn but I assure you it feels like a hank of boat rope as I try to mimic the motions in the knitting books Santa left beneath our tree. You see, I’ve always wanted to knit socks. I know, it sounds deceptively simple but I assure you it’s harder than it looks. Either that, or I’m hopelessly inept at sock-building.

I know the rudimentary stitches, and can whip up a respectable scarf in no time flat. But socks? That’s a whole other story!

A sad, tangled, frustrating story.

One of my Christmas gifts was the basic sock stuff: books, needles and yarn. Unfortunately the yarn isn’t “sock yarn”—which, if I may add, the book says I can get at my local “yarn shop”—so it’s fine for practicing stitches but it won’t work for making actual socks. And the “yarn shop” the book refers to so blithely? Ridiculous! We live in the middle of nowhere—I could search high and low and would be more likely to find an Agway or Quick Mart before stumbling upon a yarn shop.

Sheesh.

So here I am, knitting needles in hand and determination stiffening my spine as I ponder the best way to purchase sock yarn on line. I’d love to be able to feel the yarn, but since that’s not an option I suppose I’ll just have to wing it and take my chances. I may either have the softest or bulkiest socks this side of the Mississippi, but one way or another I’m going to have handmade knit socks.

I should hold book on how many toes and heels these socks are going to have. You know they’re going to be pretty funky, don’t you? I mean, it took me…well, I won’t say exactly how long it took me to learn to knit a rectangular scarf. Let’s just say the first try didn’t turn out perfectly. Or the second…or the…well, you get the idea.

Do you knit? Any sock-making hints you’d care to share?