Winter Challenge

[hana]

Winter solstice occurs on a Sunday morning.

Remember to take time to focus on yourself and not get overwhelmed by things or people.

Here's my list which will grow as I think of things

Christmas trip
January project cashmere cardigan
February project socks
March project gloves


Found a wool/cashmere yarn a few years ago on clearance and bought enough for a cardigan. Been too afraid to use it until now. Going with a smaller project in February since it's a shorter month and giving me some time to finish up the cardigan since cardigans generally take a month to knit for me. I'm sure there's other stuff to do, just not thinking about it now. March project is for a friend that is cashing in a favor, gloves can be very time consuming and March is the only time we can meet for measurements and then trying them on and making corrections and related fun.

Hope everyone has a great winter, whatever you do

[KayLR]

I'm envious of your knitting abilities. I've tried! My mom didn't knit, and my grandma tried to teach me. So I just stuck with crochet.

[rosarugosa]

Here is my winter list with 2 items carried over from the last list:

Practice with watercolors
Complete 5 wishes document
Culling of the files/shredding docs
Go through all kitchen cabinets, clean and cull
Cellar clean and cull
List 3 items on eBay
Schedule energy audit (offered free by utility provider)
Make soap with sister
Complete most of the town-themed ornaments for sales at the end of the year

[hana]

I'm envious of your knitting abilities. I've tried! My mom didn't knit, and my grandma tried to teach me. So I just stuck with crochet.


I'm impressed with your crochet, I tried it several times and never got the hang of it.


Christmas trip done
January project cashmere cardigan 10%
February project socks
March project gloves
No buy January
Prepare for another possible government shutdown

[rosarugosa]

Update:
Practice with watercolors
Complete 5 wishes document
Culling of the files/shredding docs - done
Go through all kitchen cabinets, clean and cull - done
Cellar clean and cull
List 3 items on eBay
Schedule energy audit (offered free by utility provider)
Make soap with sister
Complete most of the town-themed ornaments for sales at the end of the year

[nswef]

rosa, We did the energy audit. It was helpful. We paid to do the big one, but then got a rebate from the power company.
What is a 5 wishes document?
I am filling out my body donation form to the state of Maryland. Husband has not read all of the information yet... I did ask my sisters if they had any objections and they were fine with it.
Right now the plumbers are here replacing the well water pump and holding tank....lots of money!

[Tybee]

1. Go through all files and update, discard, and organize, by January 31
2. Finish assembling documents for granddaughters' dual citizenship case
3. Attend three local churches and find one that feels right
4. Finish pair of socks


Nswef, 5 wishes document is a document that lays out medical directives, funeral directives, etc. They used to present it to us in Maine but I think they have switched to another one. But it's nice and comprehensive and walks you through the decisions.

[nswef]

I think ours is the MOS form. I have a red plastic folder that is supposed to go on the refrigerator in cass of emergency...of course it is not complete! That's a goal.

[rosarugosa]

I think ours is the MOS form. I have a red plastic folder that is supposed to go on the refrigerator in cass of emergency...of course it is not complete! That's a goal.

Yes, I have one of those to complete as well, mine is a MOLST form (Massachusetts Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment). That one's only been sitting on my desk for a few weeks though; Five Wishes form has been sitting there for 1.5 years).

[hana]

Christmas trip done
January project cashmere cardigan 50%
February project socks
March project gloves
No buy January ongoing
Prepare for another possible government shutdown ongoing

Cardigan is over halfway done. Trying to do more knitting and less doomscrolling. Have to make a business trip later this week, so I decided to catch up while doing final work arrangements. I'll bring the waiting room socks for the trip, the cardigan is too bulky to take with me. No buy January is pretty much a habit now, not counting the business trip since it's work related and on the company dime. Putting money in the 90 day fund. Usually my slow season is from US Thanksgiving to Epiphany, things are picking up and I hope I can make up for a not so good last year. No one wanted to close deals during the shutdown and they wanted to wait until January for reasons. Should have it full before the 30th. Trying to focus on work and try not to worry about things beyond my control.

[Tybee]

I haven't done a darn thing on any of my list. Either get going or change my list.

[iris lilies]

This be my current challenge:

6698


this is the mess piled up in our garage from us being on the Holiday House Tour and making a Hliday
table for the town’s Tables display.

Believe it or not, I’m kind of looking forward to bringing order out of this chaos! My goal is to keep Christmas decorations, and I mean, purely decor in two tubs and no more. The Christmas tree is separate. I have a separate tub of holiday linens because I make at least one holiday table every year, and the tables are supposed to be different every year. OK none of this includes dishes, though, but I have a standard set of red, white, and green dishware that can be mixed and matched.

But to get to the point: TWO tubs, and no more. Think I can do it? We shall see.

[nswef]

I think you can do it Iris Lilies!

[rosarugosa]

I've done some work on the ornaments, but it will be awhile before I'll be able to say they are all completed. I'm also playing around with some ideas that may make them a bit less labor intensive, but it takes awhile for a piece to completely go through the process of drying, bisque firing, underglaze painting, glazing, and then glaze firing.

[iris lilies]

All .Christmas stuff put away, and all fit in two tubs with room to spare because I pitched some items I never use.

Next, I have a few flower show items to organize and put away, and then I’ll have a clean workbench for starting the new flower show season in spring 2026.

I’m signing up for fewer flower shows this year since I have two national conventions and a regional convention to attend, and I’m trying to find open calendar time to go on an overseas vacation.

[hana]

Christmas trip done
January project cashmere cardigan 60%
February project socks
March project gloves
No buy January ongoing
Prepare for another possible government shutdown done


The work trip was productive, some people decided to skip due to the weather. Husband decided to go with me since he could drive and didn't think it would be so bad. It was bad and we stayed Sunday night. I did business stuff and he had beers with the utility workers from Indiana(?), he had fun. The highways were clear and our street was a little bit slushy. Such a major improvement from the 90s when this weather would shut down the area for over a week. Did get a lot done on the waiting room socks, will make more progress in February since I have dental and eye appointments.

Haven't done much with the cardigan since coming home, won't finish it before the end of the month, I'll finish it in February and built in catch up time in April. Figured it might happen and made February a sock month for a reason. No buy January continues, the trip didn't count, and it looks like husband's agency will be funded so any shutdown might not affect us. The 90 day fund is fully funded now, we might add more to it since out electric bill will be huge thanks to the cold.

[hana]

Christmas trip done
January project cashmere cardigan 80%
February project socks
March project gloves
No buy January done
Prepare for another possible government shutdown done

Happy late Groundhog day, we're past the halfway mark and six weeks away from spring. How is everyone doing?

Husband ended up furloughed for two days, he's back at work now. Will revisit how much should be in the 90 day fund once we get the electric bill for January. No buy January was a success, and I was reimbursed for the work expenses. The cardigan pieces are knitted and I started sewing them together. Hoping to finish it this week. I'll start the February project when I finish.

[hana]

Christmas trip done
January project cashmere cardigan done
February project socks done
March project gloves 20% done
No buy January done
Prepare for another possible government shutdown done




Adjusted the 90 day fund based on the January electric bill. February socks are done and I started the March project. The first fitting will be this weekend, so it's on hold until then. Managed to extend the No Buy January through February, a personal best. All February spending was dental and eye co pays and new glasses. Now that the Lunar New Year is done, work will pick up and I'll be busy. Also doing some spring cleaning, need to clean out my inbox. Need to figure out my Spring goals.

[hana]

Christmas trip done
January project cashmere cardigan done
February project socks done
March project gloves 50% done
No buy January done
Prepare for another possible government shutdown done





Finished one glove and will do a quick fitting tomorrow morning before I drop glove recipient off at the airport. Haven't thought too much about Spring projects, time has been extra wibbly wobbly for me lately.

[rosarugosa]

I definitely didn't knock it out of the park with this list.
Practice with watercolors - once
Complete 5 wishes document - nope
Culling of the files/shredding docs - done
Go through all kitchen cabinets, clean and cull - done
Cellar clean and cull - nope
List 3 items on eBay - one listed and sold, one donated after some flaws were noticed, and the third item kept and currently in use
Schedule energy audit (offered free by utility provider) - tried to schedule, but they never showed, so not sure if I made an error with online scheduling.
Make soap with sister - nope
Complete most of the town-themed ornaments for sales at the end of the year - slowly plugging along. Studio doesn't want us producing large batches of ornaments, so I am deliberately moving slowly on this one.

[happystuff]

You can do it, IL. I made it down to two Christmas tubs and box with Christmas tree. You'll do great!

[iris lilies]

You can do it, IL. I made it down to two Christmas tubs and box with Christmas tree. You'll do great!
I did! Like you I’ve got two tubs plus the Christmas tree.