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Apologies for not sending out a newsletter last week. There were things and stuff and brain fog and I just didn’t manage it. This generally happens once or twice a year. As this was the first newsletter I missed this year, I don’t feel too badly about it.
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The elk have been migrating the last few weeks. Woke up one morning last weekend to find what we call the nursery herd hanging out in the yard. There are several youngsters in this herd, as well as the bull and one of the juvenile males. As it’s fall, we will see the various herds of elk wandering through our property regularly for the next few weeks. That will include the matriarch herd and the herd with more of the boys.
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Here’s a picture that Blaze took of the bull earlier this week:
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In the spring, we had one of the mama deer and her twins hanging out. We figure they lived somewhere on the property. I stopped walking along the trails for a time, so that they’d have some privacy, and I wouldn’t accidently chase them off.
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They’ve continued to come back to graze, though they aren’t living here anymore. Here’s a picture of the male twin, who wandered through our yard this morning. We figure the girl and mama were somewhere, and we might see them later.
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As I’ve mentioned before, I motivate myself much better with carrots than with sticks. That means I get a reward when I complete a task, as opposed to some sort of threat to get me moving.
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As an aside—this is one of the reasons why streaks and challenges don’t work for me. A streak is a “stick” as it were. You don’t want to break the streak, and there will be negative emotional consequences if you do. Challenges are the same way, you have this goal that you *must* make or else.
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Instead, I give myself treats for completing tasks. The big one that I have to do once a quarter are the corporate taxes. Ugh. Do not like. But I do them anyway.
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By giving myself a treat for doing the taxes, I don’t want to say that I’m now looking forward to finishing them. However, I do not resent them like I used to.
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Years ago, I’d buy a good bottle of wine and put that on top of the tax paperwork that I had sitting in my office. Every time I looked in the direction of the paperwork, I’d have the visual reminder that A) I needed to do it and B) I’d get to open that bottle of wine when I started. I’d only drink a glass or so, but the wine helped me stay relaxed while I was dealing with it all. That was a fairly successful strategy before all the tax stuff moved to electronic copies.
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So now, I get to buy myself knitting accoutrement as well as supplies. I’ve been knitting for years without any of the fancy toys. I really don’t *need* them. But now that I’ve gone ahead and actually gotten a few of them, OMG, they make my life so much easier!
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This month, my treat was buying the yarn to make this pattern:
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I won’t actually be doing a vest. I will modify this pattern greatly. My plan is to make it a sweater, a cardigan, to be exact. That will mean knitting in the round for the entire body, then steeking it, that is, deliberately cutting open the front of it. I did it once with moderate success on one sweater. Or rather, the steeking went fine. The sweater itself was tremendously problematic.
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I’m still debating about the pattern for the sleeves. Over on Ravelry there are a couple of different sweaters that people have made. One had darker color for the majority of the sleeves, with the pattern just around the forearms, going down to the cuffs. The other did the stripes that make up the bottom of the vest as the full sleeves. I haven’t decided yet what I want to do. Will depend on what the yarn looks like once I start working with it.
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As for the yarn…I was debating between two different color schemes—blues or greens. They were both really pretty. Eventually, I decided in the end to go with the blues.
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This is a picture of the dark blue that I bought. I think it will be easier to work with than the straight black. I primarily knit at night in dim light. Working with a color that’s a little lighter should hopefully make it easier.
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Then here’s the contrasting blue yarn. It has a lot of white in it, which I think will make the whole thing very pretty.
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There will be pictures once I start! As well as maybe some progress pictures as well.
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Before I get to start the new project, there are a couple of things I need to do. Like actually finish the taxes. I’m about three-fourths of the way done. I had to stop to ask my accountant a question before I could finish. Then, I have a different project that I need to finish. I’m planning on doing that this week, so maybe pictures next weekend.
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Oh, and I figured out that while I enjoy knitting, it tends to be a winter hobby for me, not a summer one.
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And I think that’s it for me! What kinds of seasonal hobbies do you have?
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Book Release Party! This Friday! Oct 23! 4-6 PM! We Be Book'N in Monroe, WA
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I'm having a book release party for How to Wake a Sleeping Princess! Come join me at We Be Book'N in Monroe, WA on October 23, from 4-6 PM. I have specialty red and green M&Ms to give away, swag bags, and other treats! Hope to see you there!
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19602 State Route 2
Monroe, Washington 98272-1536
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The ebook is already available from the Knotted Road Press store. The print version is also already available. The ebook will be generally available Oct 21.
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There are some excellent books here in this bundle. But for $40 you can get 15 (FIFTEEN!) writing books. Such a bargain!
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But deals like this won't last, so you'll need to pick up your copy of the bundle soon.
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October has started, and KRP is continuing the cozy theme. So we're offering one of my other very popular cozy titles up for sale this month.
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Chocolates and Truffles and Bon Bons, O My!
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Shar Opalbender hates her life.
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Okay, maybe that’s a bit strong. Emo, even.
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Despite her Dwarven heritage, and her family’s expectations, Shar finds no joy in faceting, setting, or polishing gemstones.
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What better way to prove herself to her family (and herself) than to enter, and win, the Realms’ renowned contest, Chocolates Galore!
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And maybe, just maybe, with some magic, luck, and a little help from her friends, Shar also can discover the true meaning of life.
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If there is one beyond chocolate.
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Come enjoy this lovely cozy fantasy with low stakes, delicious chocolates, lots of breaking of the fourth wall, and utter silliness.
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