Hello from Paris!

I drove to Paris this morning - easy drive, and I am now sitting in the subburbs at our office here, and tomorrow it is off to the mountains and a week of skiing!   I am very excited about going skiing, although after my day skiing last week in Switzerland, I know that I am going to be VERY sore after 6 days....perhaps I'll lose some weight during this time - I can hope!  =)   I did not really pack any projects to take with me - I threw in a doily I am working on at the last minute, but just did not feel the mood.  I am looking forward to just relaxing and skiing and not thinking about work.....well, not thinking about it after my call on Monday that I need to take.....well, 2 calls actually.  No rest for the weary that is for sure.

Au revoir Mon Ami

What to do?   What to do, when the bad news arrives The unchangeable need to say good-bye What to do, when your hearts torn in two? The pain and the sadness, filling your mind What to do, when you need to talk But only silence answers your cries What to do, when you need to cry The tears won't come, for your eyes are dry What to do, when you're all alone Miles away no chance to go home What to do, when the curtain is closed But to say farewell, we'll miss you my friend   ________   Farewell my old friend.  You will be missed by everyone who was lucky enough to have a chance to have you in their lives.  I thank you for so many good memories, and I wished that we had had a chance to have more together, but we had to grow up and move on with our lives, while time and distance came between us.

And the year begins.....

With lots of travel and a snowflake!   I am in Zürich for a week, including staying over the weekend which will let me get in a day of skiing on Saturday.  I'm really excited about skiing and trying out my rusty skills before I go to France.   I am off to the French Alps the 24th for a week of zooming down the mountain.  I am hoping that I can get in some lessons again this year and improve on my very beginners skiing ability.  We are going to Les Menuiers which is part of the Trois Vallee region in France.    Hopefully I will have a few more trips planned in Feb and March which will keep me busy.  I still do not know when I am moving back to the US - I am living one week at a time almost waiting to see what the job hunt turns up.   The first finished project in 2009 is a snowflake from a Spanish magazine I picked up in Argentina.  The pattern was charted which allowed me to easily complete it, although it took me a few minutes to figure out which symbols were which stitches.  I'll post a picture of it as soon as I get my camera downloaded to my computer.   I brought the Granny Blanket which I did not finish in the US in hopes of making more progress on it.  I hope to have it finished soon and mailed to my cousin back in the US for her baby girl.  I also brought a doily I am working on and the Spanish magazine in hopes of making a few more flakes from different patterns.   Happy Crafting!!

A few Vacation pictures.....

Here are a few pictures from my vacations - all of people since I had been to Argentina before I did not take that many touristy type shots of buildings etc, but people are what makes the holiday great!

Included here are the Niece & Nephew with my parents Christmas Bears, Me & Miss Molly (Vik's dog), Me & the Llamas at the zoo, Me, Zori & Leen, and then Me & Vik.

A look back at 2008....

Part of the whole making resolutions each year is to look back at what was accomplished or as the case may be not accomplished during the previous year.

Before I go into a huge self analysis on my resolutions from 2008, I thought to show you 2 of the final 2008 projects that I made.....

First up is the Santa Cloth that I made for my Mom. Done in Katia Cotton in red:

Second is a hat made with some of the yarn I bought in 2006 in Argentina:


Now on to the 2008 failures and successes. The whole resolution list can be found here from last year: http://cityofcrochet.blogspot.com/2008/01/first-post-of-2008.html

Resolution #1: Yarn on Top 10 List: Only used 5 of the yarns - Failed
Resolution #2: 52 Projects: Over 56 if you count the yarn food - Succeeded
Resolution #3: 26 Projects with Stash Yarn: Done thanks to yarn food - Succeeded
Resolution #4: No more yarn bought: Bought way too much: Failed
Resolution #5: 2 Projects KPAD & CPAD: Failed
Resolution #6: Finish all existing WIPS: All either finished or frogged: Succeeded
Resolution #7: Weight Loss: Gained more - Failed
Resolution #8: Travel to 2 Places To Visit Before I die: Went to 6 - Succeeded
Resolution #9: Travel once per month - Succeeded
Resolution #10: Decision to go back to US: Made in May - Succeeded

Well, 60% or 2 out of 3 (just about) ain't bad! =) #4 was set out to fail - how could anyone not buy any yarn?

I still need to think about resolutions for 2009, perhaps some repeats from 2008 will occur, and hopefully all will be a challenge but more reachable than 2008's resolutions!

Look what I can do with my Yarn Food!

While home for Christmas my niece Megan pulled out her play Yarn Food that I had made for her, along with the two doughnuts that was sent from Anita. She got a huge smile on her face and said "Look what I can make Aunt Kim"

This was the result......



A little person made of food!

Megan is still saying that she is going to be a Chef when she grows up. She got an Easy Bake oven for Christmas and took great pride in making a cake and giving us all a bite of her masterpiece.

Happy New Year 2009!!

Best regards to all for a prosperous New Year in 2009!

2008 has been a difficult year in many ways. I am glad that it is over, but also sad that another year has passed by so quickly! I hope that everyone has has a great Christmas vacation!

My trip to Argentina, Texas & Michigan went very well aside from a few transportation issues, but I arrived safely every time which is all that matters at the end of the day!