Let's Try This Again

I still remember my first major knitting project; it was a yellow, Tahki cotton yarn textured sweater for my older brother which I knit when I was probably a senior in high school. My brother was attending Notre Dame then and drove a red, MG Midget. He had spent the summer life-guarding, and he looked awesome with his bleached blond hair and dark tan. I was kind of proud to knit him a sweater worthy of his good looks as he headed back to Notre Dame at the end of the summer. That was thirty years ago, and I've loved knitting and have knit almost continuously every since. But, for some reason, I just haven't felt like knitting for the last six months, and, tangentially, I haven't felt like blogging either, which has something to do with not having anything to say, knitting-wise, at least. I tried to get excited about different projects, but I'd get started, even nearly finished at times, and end up unraveling whatever work I'd completed. I just couldn't get into it.

 I used to like reading about mountain climbing. One of the things a lot of the authors would mention was the importance of "getting a good purchase" on each ledge, as they continued up a climb. I've equated that idea numerous time with other facets of life, particularly weight loss. I've tried climbing that "weight loss" cliff numerous times, and I've "slipped" numerous times.  I've never ever given up though, which is probably why my weight hasn't ever gotten completely out of my control. I felt like I just needed to get a "good purchase" on my weight loss goal, and I'd be successful eventually. So, I've been trying that same philosophy with knitting, starting project after project until I finally got a good "purchase." My recent knitting successes aren't very practical for someone who lives in Central California, but I'm finally into knitting again. I've been knitting mitts with leftover yarn. I haven't decided what to do with them, considering that they're pretty much superfluous for me. It doesn't matter though. I'm enjoying knitting again, and I've used up a little of my yarn supply too, which is an ongoing goal, and maybe I can get back into blogging again too. At the very least, I'm going to start enjoying reading my blogging buddies' blogs without feeling guilty that I hadn't produced anything!