This is a weird part of January, isn’t it?
It’s Very Winter in the northern hemisphere. It’s long after the holidays, and a few weeks away from Valentine’s Day, aka Pink Halloween Candy on sale, and for me, it’s coooooold. Whoo, cold.
What about you? How are you doing? What are you looking forward to this weekend, or in the weeks ahead?
I have new projects I’m working on, and I have So Many Books to read.
I’m also working on another quilt, which is my very quiet Quarantimes hobby that I adore. It’s great: I cut myself a puzzle, assemble it by sewing straight lines, and then, when it’s done, I can hide under it, be warm, and read. My goal is to have 2.5 quilts per mammal in the house. The cat is annoyed he only has one.
What about you? Anything you’re anticipating? Anything you’re crafting and keeping warm (or cool!) with? Please tell us about it!
I just got my hands on the new Charles Stross book!
Also, I could just see the start of the sunrise this morning on my pre-work walk around town…
Going ice skating this weekend in honor of my oldest one’s 13th birthday. I (weirdly) love it. I’m pretty klutzy and didn’t even try it until my late 20s, but I was lucky enough not to fall enough the first time, which gave me enough confidence to keep trying. Which helped when I wiped out hard that 2nd time.
I’m still pretty uncoordinated, but I don’t have any desire to do fancy maneuvers, just go around in circles without holding the sides and I’m definitely good enough for that.
I even got my own skates a couple years ago, although I still don’t get to go as often as I’d like.
My dearest friend, my husband, died this week. I’ve dealt with the potential loss for a very long time (cancer sucks), so, in fact, his death marks the start of a new era for me. I’m looking forward to getting back into research and to finishing several large afghan projects for people I love. Reading trashy books has been incredibly important through the past five years, but now I’m trying to be more discerning about the books I read. Thank you SBTB for making it so much easier to choose my next author and book.
I’m so sorry @Qualisign. I hope his passing was peaceful. It’s such a terribly hard illness to see someone suffer.
@JillQ-I’m very impressed. I love watching skating but my attempts just left me flailing by the wall, while toddlers sailed by me.
I’m working on writing two books and reading my way through all the Poirot novels. This is a great question, “what are you looking forward to,” because sadly, I think for many of us, it’s really hard to plan for the future or take refuge in the usual activities to distract us through the winter.
@Qualisign: Deepest condolences for your loss.
In light of Qualisign’s loss, I hope it’s not insensitive to say I’m looking forward to my 33rd wedding anniversary in February. My husband and I have been together almost 35 years and he assures me his abs are just as amazing as any cover model’s—“under the extra 15 pounds.” Lol
@DDD: Congrats on your 33rd anniversary and on having a husband with a sense of humor! The amazing thing is that my husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary just three weeks before he died. We never imagined we’d get to that point, but we did. We had a fabulous run and one made even more vibrant by having to face an end date. No condolences needed.
@Qualisign, I’m so sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing.
@Qualisign just wanted you to know we see you and support you. I always appreciate your posts. Take good care of yourself.
One small thing I’ve been looking forward to this week is my hyacinth plant blooming a bit more every day. I miss real winter here in FL but enjoy early spring flowers.
@Qualisign: I’m so very sorry for your loss. May your husband’s memory be a blessing and a comfort. We’re honored to keep you company and help you find your next book to read.
@Qualisign I’m so very sorry for the loss of your husband.
Cancer sucks the big one. I’m dealing with breast cancer and it’s a struggle every single day.
Best wishes for your new projects. I was lucky enough to receive an afghan from a group of volunteers who quilt for cancer patients. It brings me great joy and keeps me nice and warm during chemo. I’m sure yours will also bring comfort to whoever receives them.❤️
I’m looking forward to birthday cake this weekend, most immediately!
But also to practicing my French by playing Skyrim in it. And eventually getting my mitts on a Steam Deck so that I can play the Anniversary Edition of Skyrim on that. (I’ve been playing a LOT of Skyrim lately!)
@Qualisign: Let me also add my voice to those offering their condolences. I’m so sorry!
@Kris: Solidarity from a breast cancer survivor.
Each week I anticipate another episode in the final season of A Discovery of Witches. I’m enjoying that quite a bit. I’m also happily anticipating the arrival of the new season of Bridgerton.
With books? I’m looking forward to something new from Jackie Lau, Eloisa James, Rebecca Roanhorse, Lucy Parker, and Gwenda Bond. If 2022 gives me something from all of these writers, I’ll count myself extra-fortunate!
@Qualisign I am sorry for your loss but glad you had so many good years together, and got to celebrate that milestone anniversary. Having been through it myself I know that even when expected the grief is still a jolt. Be good to yourself. Wishing you warmth and comfort.
Looking forward to switching genres to fantasy for a while, and rebuilding my Etsy shop after the disaster of 2021. New wedding samplers planned and in the works (Hamilton anyone?)
@Qualisign, I’m so sorry for your loss. May your memories bring you joy and comfort even amid the sadness. And I hope you have plenty of love and support from friends and family.
I’m looking forward to: the remaining episodes of Star Trek Discovery (Season 4); the second season of Picard; next-in-series books by Deanna Raybourn, Amanda Quick, and SJ Bennett; and spring flowers (eventually.)
As for crafting and keeping warm, I’m a spinner and knitter, so it’s all about staying warm! I’m almost finished with a cowl knit from my own handspun merino yarn (so soft!), and a pair of socks knit from commercial yarn. I need to get my workspaces cleaned up a bit so I can start my next spinning project, and finish several other knitting projects that are in the works.
@Qualisign: My deepest condolences.
On the crafting front, I have about 2/3 of a sleeve and the front trim left to crochet on Ugly Stash Cardigan. I had a ton of yarn I don’t particularly love left over after doing projects for other people, so I decided to get some practice with colorwork and texture. It was meant to be more educational than pretty, and I certainly succeeded at that! It will be wearable, but it’s never leaving the house.
Also looking forward to getting revision on the ghost story out of my faaaaaaace in the coming days. It derailed me for eight months, and I’m beyond ready to get back to the project I loved so much it scared me.
@Qualisign I am so sorry for your loss.
As far as the question, I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, but sometimes watch a rabbithole of youtube videos to keep myself entertained. Also, my niece’s first birthday is next month and I am excited for that.
I have a pot full of forced bulbs sprouting in my front room and I’m looking forward to having a pot full of tulip, daffodil and hyacinth blooms.
I’ve recently decided that it’s time for me to commit to finishing the crazy quilt that I started in the fall of 2004. I’ve had a lot of fun appliqueing and embroidering and embellishing quilt squares for it but haven’t had much sense of urgency. I’m now aiming to finish in 2024 – 20 years to make a quilt seems like a nice round number.
I’m also looking forward to watching The Matrix Revolutions (on HBO Max) tomorrow with my spouse. We’ve both seen all 3 earlier Matrix movies on opening night in the theater but couldn’t do it for this one.
@Qualisign – my deepest condolences on your loss and many good wishes as you start your new era. Good luck with the research and large afghans. There’s nothing quite like cuddling up under an afghan made by a loved one – I have one that my grandmother knit me 30 years ago, as a high school graduation gift and I still feel her love in it.
@Ren Benton/Lena Brassard – I love the idea of an ugly stash cardigan.
@Qualisign: I signed in to make a flippant comment about the mountains of books I have competing for my attention against the hours (months?) of chores I so successfully put off, but your words brought home what really counts in life. I’m glad you had a best friend for so many years at your side, and I wish him joy in his new adventures. I wish you quiet contentment in having time to do things that are important to you.
I am looking forward to my quilt retreat in February. I’m going through my projects and deciding what to bring. I always bring way more prefects than my time management abilities allow.
I am waiting for some hopeful news about my SIL’s appt with the neurosurgeon. After 12 hours in the ER they finally determined her “headache” is actually a brain tumor. Two MRIs and 4 weeks later she is finally getting a consult. And THIS is why you need to get your eff’g vaccination and wear your eff’g mask. The system is so clogged and office hours so reduced you could die – or in her case lose your eyesight – waiting for non-Covid treatment.
@Qualisign, I’m not generally one for the platitudes, but I came across one after my Dad passed in July that really struck a bit of a cord:
And when I turned to face grief, I saw that it was just love in a heavy coat.
@Qualisign, sending sympathetic thoughts as you mourn the death of your husband/best friend.
@Qualisign: I am so, so sorry. May his memory be a blessing.
I don’t really know if I’m looking forward to anything specific. Since finishing my MIS I’m basically reading and working and playing the odd video game. I will say that I’ve started a Google Doc for planning a trip to Dollywood later this year (I’m referring to it as “The Pilgrimage”). Also, I bought my daughter tickets to the Dancing With the Stars Live Tour for her birthday and we’re supposed to do that next month (really hope this most recent omicron surge is winding down by then), so we’ll be doing that. She’s a dancer herself, and loves watching professional dancers as a result, and she had a great time when she went to the tour 4 years ago. So I guess there’s that.
@ Qualisign: A quote from J.M. Barry that may provide some comfort — “God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December.” I am sure that your memories of your husband will provide beautiful bouquets for you now and forever.
I’m so sorry for your loss, @Qualisign. Hugs.
Moving. I AM MOVING.
I cut out my first quilt next week! Luckily it’s one I’m planning on giving away so if it’s terrible I won’t have to see it.
In other news I’m trying to write fiction again. My last few efforts have been… underwhelming. Maybe the 9th time’s the charm?
Honestly I’m not looking forward to much lately. Having the Januariest of Januaries. But. Small things. I am (slowly, slowly) trying to learn how to crochet, and more importantly trying to learn to be patient with myself that it isn’t going well. I have a new vinyl spinning on the record player (The Wombats – Fix Yourself Not the World). And I look forward to each new episode of Money Heist, a show I did not really expect to like but which has become the only tv show that can hold my attention for more than 10 minutes, these days.
I’m editing and culling my 2021 garden pictures. I leave this task to the winter so that I’ll be looking at beautiful, warm things, while my thermometer outside says -20°C (ooh, we warmed up from yesterday’s -25°C).