Odd years are good years....edited version.

I don't know why, but in my own personal numerology I've always had a thing for odd numbers, and double numbers, so 2011, ending in a double odd...I'm expecting good things. Literally expecting as it turns out. In my eternally optimistic little mind as I read through the glossy brochure advertising the benefits of theIUD I had selected as my "let's not be surprised again, shall we?" birth control method, I simply looked at the large number under the "effectiveness" rating and thought to myself:"Wow! What a big number." As it turns out, any number less than 100 is not that big. As with any pregnancy, it boils down to a simple either or equation. Either it works or it doesn't. Either you're pregnant or you're not. I am, as it turns out. And really how could I not be? It is an odd year after all. 2007 began the Epoch of the Destroyer. 2009 brought us the beginning of Ragnarbaby's Reign, a title which he is going to have to give up to his younger sibling at some point, and now in 2011, of course, why not? Let's have another one! Which means some slight alterations to my 2011 plans. 1. Plan, and do activities with my children, all of them. 2. Write more, watch less. Unless I'm breastfeeding a newborn. Nothing gets you through those first awkward weeks of breastfeeding like a lot of mindless television. 3. Buy music, lullabyes mostly. 4. Do a pull-up. 5. Subscribe to a magazine. My "Mothering" subscription finally ran out.... maybe I'll re-up. 6. Schedule "studio time." HA! 7. Publish three knitting patterns. A baby hat, some longies and a diaperwrap maybe? 8. Eat something I've never eaten before. 9. Make curtains for the living room, so that the neighbor's can't see us walking around in our pajama's day after day. 10. Reupholster the goddamn dining room chairs. On second thought, why bother, they'll be covered in spit up. 11. Yell less. Yes, a very good idea. 12. Journal. 13. Get more involved with "the farm." Things that don't involve much bending. 14. Plant something in the planter boxes on the back porch. 15. Cook with Isis. Or maybe just ask Isis to cook. 16. Go camping...or not. Maybe send the boys out camping with Manimal. 17. Make time to spin. Or not. 18. Make something out of wood. Or not. 19. Read a book that someone else recommended...as long as it doesn't require more than 2 braincells because that's all I can find while under the influence of "mommy brain." 20. Write letters to my mother...hysterical letters. 21. Brush and floss. 22. Make a household budget...make sure it includes money for a maid service. 23. Put some money out of each paycheck into a savings account...so that we have money for diapers. 24. Shop local. 25. Keep up with the push-ups. 26. Drink less...because you're pregnant! 27. Take the kids for nature walks...or waddles. 28. Figure out a way to get both of the little ones on the bike...nope. Don't bother with the bike for another couple of years. 29. Visit someone out of state (not my parents)...sooner rather than later. 30. List something for sale on Etsy. 31. Keep in touch with my brother. 32. Hang closet rods. 33. Give presents. 34. Be deliberate about sugar. 35. Get a tattoo. 36. Clear off the top of my dresser. 37. Settle Ragnarbaby into a "big boy" bed, also known as "making room for the new small human." 38. Get camera fixed...since grandma and grandpa will murder me if they don't get regular photo updates of their new grandchild. 39. Get better at taking pictures. 40. Sing...lullabyes. 41. Balance the bank account. 42. Go to a concert. 43. Weave. 44. Get in shape a round shape. Become a Warrior Fertility Goddess. 45. Use the phone to keep in touch with far away people. 46. Laundry. Don't let it eat the house. 47. Practice swimming. 48. Preserve food. 49. Chore schedule...make one. Make sure it involves everyone else doing all the chores. 50. Go to an improving lecture. 51. Explore the idea of writing for a local news outlet...perhaps a "Women with stupid numbers of children" advice column. 52. Try to appreciate the "boyness" of my boys...and hope like hell that this one is a girl. 53. Write the birth stories, both of them. Or rather, all three of them. 54. Try to be less bossy...no, try to sound less bossy while still organizing everyone else to do the things that I am unable to do. 55. Practice jumping rope...nope. Don't. 56. Clutter....just don't do it. 57. Be serious about "stuff," what I need, what I want and what I can do without, and remember that babies really prefer to play with plastic bags and electrical cords and there is no reason to fill the house with plastic crap. 58. Experiment with savory pies. 59. "Run" (or walk really fast) a 5K. Or waddle one. 60. Continue with book binding experiments. 61. Clear out the backyard enough that I'm not worried about the kids playing out there. 62. Mural a wall in the house...maybe not. 63. Eat more fish...but not too much. 64. Make some kind of shoe...a baby shoe? 65. Read a non-fiction book that is not about gardening or food, or about other people's ideas of how to raise children. 66. Read with the first born. 67. House friendly knitting storage...think of something. Or just shove it in a closet and take it back out in two years. 68. Dance. 69. Do more gleaning with the food bank folks, but bring a nice sturdy stool. 70. Go to a play, take one of the kids if possible. 71. Install kitchen drawers or engineer having them installed by someone else, and also shelves and other organizing infrastructure. 72. Go to art openings, at least once in awhile. 73. Cook outside. 74. Send birthday cards. 75. Invite people over for Sunday Brunch...and them make them cook it. 76. Buy a sewing pattern from an independent designer. 77. Trade or sell unused craft supplies. 78. Make a tool kit for the house so I don't have to borrow a hammer from Manimal every time I want to hang a picture. 79. Make a sewing kit for the house so I don't have to run to the studio for every minor repair. 80. Find out more about curing leather. 81. Make a monthly meal planner and make sure it includes a lot of "freezeable" things. 82. Make a stuffed animal toy for Ragnarbaby. 83. Eat local meat. Lot's of it. Making babies requires protein. 84. Take the boys to a parade. 85. Host an out of town guest, before September. 86. Find "sweet tooth" stuff that's not 100% bad for you. 87. Dry clothes in the air instead of in the dryer....this might involve rigging a clothesline. 88. Keep 0n working on the "mostly plants" part of Micheal Pollan's food advice. 89. Keep track of my blood pressure. 90. Wear more dresses...empire waistlines might be a good idea. 91. Beg, borrow or steal to acquire a pair of really awesome boots, because I'm going to need all the help I can get feeling beautiful and kick ass. 92. Use human powered transportation whenever possible...preferably powered by a human that is not me. Maybe we can get Manimal a rickshaw. 93. Get a calcium supplement and remember to take it, and hell, why not throw some pre-natal vitamins on the list. 94. Buy flowers for myself whenever I feel like it, even if I can't exactly afford it...and also whatever the hell else I want that's just for me. 95. Draw portraits of my children...all of them. 96. Make "mixed CD's" for friends, and hope that they make me some in return. 97. Forage. 98. Knit from the stash. 99. Try not to buy anything new (with reasonable exceptions like art and underwear). 100. Have a garage sale...before September.

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Odd years are good years....

I don't know why, but in my own personal numerology I've always had a thing for odd numbers, and double numbers, so 2011, ending in a double odd...I'm expecting good things.

Some of the things that weren't reflected in my big "look back" at last years list o'possibilty, were the major changes that happened in our lives last year. Among other things: I've got a job (part time, but still more than my few hours a week at the yarn shop), and The Destroyer is in school. There were major advancements from Ragnarbaby as well, of course, moving through the whole spectrum of babyhood, from inert lump to walking/running/climbing toddler.

So without further blithering, here it is: the 2011, super fantastic, extra fabu, nifty neato list of things that it would certainly be great if I could accomplish:

1. Plan, and do activities with my children.

2. Write more, watch less.

3. Buy music.

4. Do a pull-up.

5. Subscribe to a magazine.

6. Schedule "studio time."

7. Publish three knitting patterns.

8. Eat something I've never eaten before.

9. Make curtains for the living room.

10. Reupholster the goddamn dining room chairs.

11. Yell less.

12. Journal.

13. Get more involved with "the farm."

14. Plant something in the planter boxes on the back porch.

15. Cook with Isis.

16. Go camping.

17. Make time to spin.

18. Make something out of wood.

19. Read a book that someone else recommended.

20. Write letters to my mother.

21. Brush and floss.

22. Make a household budget.

23. Put some money out of each paycheck into a savings account.

24. Shop local.

25. Keep up with the push-ups.

26. Drink less.

27. Take the kids for nature walks.

28. Figure out a way to get both of the little ones on the bike.

29. Visit someone out of state (not my parents).

30. List something for sale on Etsy.

31. Keep in touch with my brother.

32. Hang closet rods.

33. Give presents.

34. Be deliberate about sugar.

35. Get a tattoo.

36. Clear off the top of my dresser.

37. Settle Ragnarbaby into a "big boy" bed, also known as "reclaim the sleeping space."

38. Get camera fixed.

39. Get better at taking pictures.

40. Sing.

41. Balance the bank account.

42. Go to a concert.

43. Weave.

44. Get in shape. Instead of "become a babe" like last year, this will be known either as "become a goddess" or "become a warrior princess." I'm undecided so far.

45. Use the phone to keep in touch with far away people.

46. Laundry. Don't let it eat the house.

47. Practice swimming.

48. Preserve food.

49. Chore schedule...make one.

50. Go to an improving lecture.

51. Explore the idea of writing for a local news outlet.

52. Try to appreciate the "boyness" of my boys.

53. Write the birth stories, both of them.

54. Try not to be so bossy.

55. Practice jumping rope.

56. Clutter....just don't do it.

57. Be serious about "stuff," what I need, what I want and what I can do without.

58. Experiment with savory pies.

59. "Run" (or walk really fast) a 5K.

60. Continue with book binding experiments.

61. Clear out the backyard enough that I'm not worried about the kids playing out there.

62. Mural a wall in the house.

63. Eat more fish.

64. Make some kind of shoe.

65. Read a non-fiction book that is not about gardening or food.

66. Read with the first born.

67. House friendly knitting storage...think of something.

68. Dance.

69. Do more gleaning with the food bank folks.

70. Go to a play, take one of the kids if possible.

71. Install kitchen drawers or engineer having them installed by someone else.

72. Go to art openings, at least once in awhile.

73. Cook outside.

74. Send birthday cards.

75. Invite people over for Sunday Brunch.

76. Buy a sewing pattern from an independent designer.

77. Trade or sell unused craft supplies.

78. Make a tool kit for the house so I don't have to borrow a hammer from Manimal every time I want to hang a picture.

79. Make a sewing kit for the house so I don't have to run to the studio for every minor repair.

80. Find out more about curing leather.

81. Make a monthly meal planner.

82. Make a stuffed animal toy for Ragnarbaby.

83. Eat local meat.

84. Take the boys to a parade.

85. Host an out of town guest.

86. Find "sweet tooth" stuff that's not 100% bad for you.

87. Dry clothes in the air instead of in the dryer....this might involve rigging a clothesline.

88. Keep 0n working on the "mostly plants" part of Micheal Pollan's food advice.

89. Keep track of my blood pressure.

90. Wear more dresses.

91. Beg, borrow or steal to acquire a pair of really awesome boots.

92. Use human powered transportation whenever possible.

93. Get a calcium supplement and remember to take it.

94. Buy flowers for myself whenever I feel like it, even if I can't exactly afford it.

95. Draw portraits of my children.

96. Make "mixed CD's" for friends, and hope that they make me some in return.

97. Forage.

98. Knit from the stash.

99. Try not to buy anything new (with reasonable exceptions like art and underwear).

100. Have a garage sale.

Good-bye, old year that was.

For the last couple of years I've gotten in the habit of making a list of 100 goals/ambitions for the new year. I don't call them resolutions because there's not really any resolve. I guess it's a "power of positive thinking" thing. Why not start the year off with a huge amount of gung-ho?

The only problem is that I do feel a need to check back, oh, right about now, and see how I did.

So....here it is: the list of things that I did or did not accomplish in 2010.

Duh-dun-dat-dat-dun!

1. Remember that your children are CHILDREN, cut them some slack, woman.

Hmm....definitely need some work on this one.

2. Organize the crafting supplies so that they are no longer in danger of swallowing the house. Just because it's a horizontal surface that doesn't give me a license to pile yarn upon it.

Uhm...no comment? I do periodically haul bins of yarn over to the studio, but it always come creeping back.

3. Follow Michael Pallon's simple rule about eating: Eat Food, Not too Much, Mostly Plants. I will be concentrating a lot on that middle one: not too much!

Still working on this one, but getting better.

4. Do as much shopping as possible at the Lansing City Market, which is a walkable 2.5 miles from my house.

Utter fail. I think I've been there maybe 3 times this year.

5. Write Petoh's birth story.

6. Write Ash's birthstory.

Fail, fail. Whoa, not doing so good.

7. Work in the studio.

Well, I did work in the studio...maybe even half a dozen times.

8. Keep track of knitting and sewing projects, with an eye towards finishing things and not starting new projects until others are finished.

I do think I've made progress in this area. I haven't brought (too) much new yarn into the house, and I've finished a couple of projects that have been dogging around for awhile.

9. Strength train.

Well, I didn't start it until about three weeks ago, but I have been doing my push ups and sit ups.

10. Finish the Red/Orange spinning project.

DONE! Unequivocal success. Take that 2010.

11. Eat locally...Michigan is my local and doesn't that make me lucky.

I think we've done pretty well with this lately, although I've been backsliding recently because, well, it's winter, and I still like broccoli.

12. Make To Do Lists. Somehow I seem to get a lot more done when I can put an efficient little check mark next to something.

Not so much.

13. Take the kids to plays or concerts, or cultural somethings or other.

Fail.

14. Work with Abby, Katie and Brian on the knitted stuff into clay project.

15. Also the quilt blocks into tiles project.

16. Landscape the yard...at least plant some grass or something.

17. Write an artist's statement and resume.

18. Get the Viking Hat Pattern edited and ready for distribution on Ravelry.

19. Make soap.

Fail, fail, fail, fail, fail, fail...man. This is...uh...very inspirational in terms of getting my shit in order for next year.

20. Teach a class.

Done! Thanks Thursday night ladies.

21. Take a class.

I'm pretty sure I did take at least one class this year.

22. Find out about selling things at the farmer's market.

23. Make a chore schedule.

24. Go camping.

25. Make computer time more constructive. Updating facebook status and playing solitaire, not constructive. Updating blog (assuming it's a real update and not a glorified facebook status) and editing knitting patterns, constructive.

Fail, fail, fail, fail...

26. Commit to cloth diapers. I've gotten a little lax about using cloth, since we keep a packet of disposables around for nighttime (and when we are running errands and when I'm too lazy to wash diapers, or worse yet when I'm too lazy to take the clean diapers out of the laundry basket...it's a vicious cycle).

Not only have I failed at this, but since returning to work I've switched almost entirely to disposable...the ones we have are just too worn out for an active toddler, and our washer doesn't get them clean enough. Stinky leaky diapers...yeah, sorry mother earth.

27. Make clothes for the kids.

Fail

28. Make or acquire some dress up clothes (the imaginative kind, not the formal wear kind) for Pete.

Fail.

29. Get involved with some of the amazing stuff Lansing has to offer.

Fail.

30. Knit a sweater for myself. I finished my first "for me" sweater last year. It's boxy and not that flattering, and made from itchy wool (handspun!) but I LOVE it and I wear it everyday. I think knitting one sweater for myself every year is a great goal. Rogue, I'm looking at you.

I'm wearing it right now. It's not the Rogue, but I have cast on for the Rogue. Average of one new sweater for me each year? I can handle that.

31. Bind books.

Yes! I've learned my first binding stitch and I've made notebooks out of old coffee cups and postcards.

32. Edit the toy collection with an eye towards imaginative play, and less banging.

Well, they just bang with whatever is left, be we have culled the toy collection down to a manageable mess...and the awesome play kitchen that Grandpa built sees a lot of use, and only some of it is as a jungle gym.

33. Keep up with laundry, both mine and the boys.

34. Alternatively transport. Walk, Bike, Bus and only as a last resort Minivan.

Fail, fail. We haven't managed to work out a bike transport system that works for both of the boys. I have high hopes for next summer though.

35. Become a babe. This is my amusing way of saying "get in shape." Somehow it's more motivating to say that I worked on becoming a babe, than that I remembered to exercise.

I have lost 5 pounds in the last month and a half.

36. Get rid of clothes I don't wear.

Success!

37. Cook with Ragnarson. Ever since the day I came downstairs to find him elbow deep in flour and broken eggs, I've been meaning to compile some "easy" recipes to make with him. Banana bread and guacamole have lots of smashing.

Fail.

38. Etsy store...everything, banner, name inventory. Sheesh.

Fail.

39. Go to spinning guild meetings. This means babysitters.

Well, if I had been smart and said "meeting" instead of plural I would be able to say "success!"

40. Preserve food. I am looking for a dehydrator if anyone has one gathering dust in their closet.

Success! I dehydrated pineapple, fruit leather, and tomatoes. I froze broccoli, kale and green beans, rhubarb, peaches, raspberries and blue berries., and I canned tomatoes, jam, apple and pear butter and peaches.

41. Reupholster the dining room chairs.

42. Weave.

43. Write. There was a time when this space was used for witty little essays instead of lame excuses about why I wasn't writing in it. I'm not promising to blog more but I'm acknowledging that I miss doing some more "conscious" writing. Facebook, you have made me lazy.

Fail, fail, fail.

44. Trillium Gallery...Kalle will sell my stuff, if I get her stuff, so I have no excuses.

I am sorry to say that the Trillium Gallery has become another casualty of Michigan's economy. We miss you Kalle!

45. Get something ready for entry into Art Prize

46. Plan crafts to do with Ragnarson, Play-doh, watercolor, etc.

47. Make an effort to get out of the house.

48. Ween Ragnarson off of Youtube. We don't have a television, but somehow I've fallen into the trap of letting my kid sit in front of the idiot box. It's harder to make supper with a toddler underfoot yes, but I'm getting sick of listening to "I want TV" temper tantrums.

Fail, fail, fail, HUGE fail...now we're streaming Netflix and we've all turned into zombies.

49. Be deliberate about acquiring new things, clothes especially. I would like to stop supporting a disposable culture.

Moderate success. I had to buy some work clothes, but I mostly like the one's I have. I think the only off the rack clothes I bought this year were tights and underwear.

50. Edit the photos on Flickr, there is a lot of crap that can just be deleted and a lot of new photos that haven't been uploaded.

Fail.

51. Encourage Ragnarson the Younger to nap in the carrier as opposed to on my lap. When he sleeps in the carrier, I get work done, when he sleeps on my lap, I watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns on Hulu.

What a difference a year makes. Ragnarbaby regularly takes two hour long naps in bed, and has been know to sleep through the night...miraculous.

52. Get better at taking photos of my work, process, completed objects. The whole sheebang. Exploit Kat's generous offer of help.

Fail. The camera has been broken for about six months.

53. Tackle the toy storage problem. This will probably require making or buying some sort of shelf system.

Moderate success. Plastic bins it is.

54. Make a cover for the duvet so that it doesn't get all funky like our last...several.

Fail.

55. Grow some houseplants. We need more oxygen in here.

We now have two, three if you count the bean that Pete planted at a friend's science museum birthday party. Better than nothing.

56. Post projects on Ravelry, Craftster and Instructables. A curved piecing tutorial would probably be a good place to start.

Fail, success, success.

57. Enroll Ragnarson in some sort of active class or activity like swimming or gymnastics.

We are starting swimming for both kids on Saturday. Better late than never.

58. Eat less sugary crap. Quality Dairy donuts, I'm looking at you.

Lately, pretty good. Over the whole year? Not so much.

59. Experiment with new grains in cooking. Rice, I like you, but you are starting to get boring.

Success! Millet, barley, and qinuoa have all graced our table.

60. Read longer, more complicated stories to Ragnarson.

We did really well at this in the beginning of the year. Pippi Longstocking, Stewart Little, Henry Higgins...but then Ragnarbaby got mobile and bedtime became more complicated.

61. Defeat clutter.

How about moderately contain clutter by stuffing it in a closet or drawer?

62. Sew curtains for the house.

63. Hike a half marathon.

64. Be more active in seeking "finishing" work (I sew people's sweaters together for them) and more timely about returning the work that I take on.

65. Use the Postal Service for more than paying bills. Doesn't everyone love to get mail? Send birthday cards.

Fail, fail, fail, fail....sigh.

66. Salad, it tastes good. Eat more of it.

Success!

67. Dye.

Success...walnuts, onion skins, random black berries that I thought were elderberries but I don't think really were and sumak have all imparted their pigment into my yarn this year.

68. Refresh my knowledge of accounting. I think keeping a ledger for home and for Manimal's business would go a long way towards sorting out our money problems.

Did really well at this for Manimal's business for the first six or so months...then...not so much. Still haven't implimented a household accounting system.

69. Brush. Floss. Seriously.

Seriously, fail.

70. Barter with my artist friends. I'd like to have more work on my walls by the people I love.

Fail.

71. Use an apron.

Moderate success.

72. Invite people over for dinner. I'm specifically thinking of other couples with children, since I'd like Manimal to get to know the parents of some of Ragnarson's friends.

Success.

73. Make a "kitchen inventory" shopping list. What do we like to have on hand. What are we out of? Where do we buy it? I think this will cut down on impulse buying.

I started this, but never finished.

74. Make "parents night out" a priority.

75. Schedule some "unschooling" time with Ragnarson.

76. Work on self promotion.

77. Make a realistic and complete household budget.

78. Stick to the budget. This is going to require some help from Manimal, but I think he's on board.

79. Make time to "play" with Rat Girl. I spend too much time utilizing the "free babysitter" aspect of living with a 12 year old, and not enough on "having fun."

80. Sew clothes for myself. I have some nice wool that wants to become a skirt, I'll start there.

81. Write a children's story.

82. Sketch.

Fail x 9.

83. Find a place to garden. I am getting very frustrated with the community garden, because the poaching is out of control.

Huge success. Some wonderful friends bought a small farm and we're involved with a gardening co-op. Really hoping that I can be more involved this year now that Ragnarbaby is walking and won't be strapped to my back.

84. Stencil something.

Not just fail, but what the hell was I thinking? Stencil? What is this, Martha Stewart?

85. Gaze adoringly at my babies.

Success! I love those guys.

86. Build a wood oven in the backyard.

Fail.

87. Drink wine.

As we speak...

88. Have a girls' night out.

And it was fantastically super fun, and I need to have more of them.

89. Start to rebuild the book collection. It was decimated during the remodel.

Fail

90. Go to the dentist for a cleaning.

Success! Still haven't got my cavities filled, but, babysteps.

91. Start or join a knitting group.

Do Thursday night classes count? Sorta?

92. Make a quilt for one of the beds in the house, maybe Ragnarson's so we can have our quilt back.

How about, piece about a third of a quilt?

93. Make a dressform...assuming that my size stabilizes at some point. There was really no point in pursuing this last year, since I was PREGNANT. I did ask Nancy once if I could host a T-shirt and Duck tape party at the shop and she was (at that point) unopposed to the idea. I'll have to make her cookies and ask again. Kyle: I'm totally taking you upon your offer of help.

Done! I even have a shirt halfway tailored on it...of course I'm trying to lose a whole bunch of weight this year...we shall see.

94. Go to the beach.

Done! And it was fun.

95. Etch some glassware.

Fail.

96. Knit from stash. Documenting stash on Ravelry should help with this.

I knit from the stash, but I did not document it on Rav.

97. Set up a mail program such as outlook, so that my website email actually gets checked.

Fail.

98. Limit brain rotting activities, such as watching television on the computer and reading crappy novels.

Huge, mega absolute fail.

99. Find some new things to cook, middle eastern maybe?

I've actually gotten less adventurous cooking...BUT we have been eating at home a lot and I have two kids who make that difficult, so if I've come to rely on some version of fried rice or noodles and sauce...who can blame me?

100. Make ice cream.

Fail.