AfricanKelli

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Remember that stack of yarn cakes?

Well. Fast forward two weeks and the final Christmas gifts are done. I don’t know why I decided the cowl was my 2010 project (and walked around asking people, “Did you know it is the ‘year of the cowl?’” like it was something I hadn’t just made up), but I did.

There is something about how snuggly they are. You can pull them over your mouth when the wind is whipping (say, 300 miles north of my desert home). Or pull them over your head when you want to run outside in the cold. Or wrap it over a cute t-shirt and under a jean jacket for a pop of color. Every fashionable woman should have a cowl.

If you had asked me in November if I’d have 10 of these done by Christmas, I would have laughed. If you’d mentioned the 14 handbags, 9 crayon rolls, three golf towels, two scarves, one hat and a partridge in a pear tree – I would have curled up in the fetal position. Then again, fueled with enough caffeine I think I could manage Everest –  if I didn’t freak myself out beforehand with the stories of how hard it would be.

There is some clever  lesson in this post about how life is so much easier when we take it one project at a time, and eliminate the noise of others who try to distract us from our goals. (I saw a bumper sticker in traffic the other day that read:  Don’t let your dreams be crushed by those who have give up on their own. AMEN.)  Alas, for those in need of a proverb, I got up at 5 am to finish these cowls before work so they would be ready for tonight’s final holiday party and my cleverness  is still under the covers. Instead, I’ll sigh with relief I reached the finish line for this holiday season — minus a couple hours of terrifying icy driving on the way to Santa Fe — stress free. I am so very thankful I managed to escape the grasp of the expectation monster who haunted holidays past.

Now, who is ready for some handmade Valentine card ideas? (chirp. chirp. Is this thing on?) Just kidding. Let’s all just bask in the glow of no pending celebrations for a bit, shall we? I for one will be doing such celebrating on this veranda.

Malawi and Zimbabwe or bust, baby!

See you in three weeks,*

K

*If there happens to be Internet on the tea estate, I’ll say hi. I for one am hoping for a tech-free holiday. Three weeks without my incessant (and potentially addicted) social media blabbing will do the worldwidewebs some good. I will miss you. But I hope to be occupied with swimming, hiking, exploring, photographing, sleeping in, napping, drinking tea, reading, knitting, day dreaming, chasing the estate’s monkeys, lounging, shopping and perhaps even a bit of writing with an old school pen and notebook.

The best news is — this little blog will be even better come 2011. Be ready for lots of fun, friends.  And know that with all my heart — I wish the very best for you and your loved ones in 2011.

Really, people? You wonder where I get my kindergarten love of punny humor?

Christmas was fun in a Ben Stiller Christmas movie kind of way. You know, the kind where getting there is a pain in the ass, the hide-a-bed doesn’t have sheets, your brother doesn’t mention he’s bringing his dog until the giant hairy beast comes bounding through the front door, the restaurant you talked to about reservations for Christmas eve doesn’t happen to mention they closed  for the holiday, and there are four towels for five adults.

Christmas was also sentimental and sweet in all the good ways that makes us pay $9 for that kind of movie in the first place. We were all together, including my brother’s lovely girlfriend. (She’s pretty fantastic, and possibly blind. That beard was the topic of much conversation.) We had way too much to eat, including my mama’s Christmas tradition of sticky buns. We took long walks and spent a lot of time catching up. I held my mom’s hand as much as possible and threatened her with orangutan kisses — with my impression of the shit-throwing zoo animal included — every time she thought about putting on her cranky pants. We went to the movies. (True Grit. A-) We shopped. (REI, bookstore. A+) We played a lot of board games. (Apples to Apples, Scrabble. A)

And I didn’t cry. Not once. I usually cry when I finally get around my family. I’m crying because the time has finally arrived and crying because we are soon going to leave each other again. This time it was easier. I suppose five years since our family dispersed across the southwest, I should be okay with the goodbyes. (I’m not. I’m just getting a bit tougher.)

The drive home was also one of the prettiest I’ve ever taken. I took the other route through Heber and Payson. The Mogollon Rim is simply splendid. Rocking out to podcasts and CDs,  watching the changing vista, I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.

Santa came to Santa Fe, where my dad says he summers. I didn’t see any reindeer, but there was plenty of green chile and cheer.

~K

My greatest joys of 2010:

-My mom recovered from kidney surgery and is doing great

-Gram turned 80 with a surprise dinner party

- The little garden that could produced hundreds of pounds of herbs and vegetables

- Matty returned to the 85282 and spent much of the year making us laugh with his shenanigans

- I reconnected with my cousin Dax, who I hadn’t seen in 16 years. His gorgeous daughter Lola is one of my favorite people.

- Finny and I took our annual trip — this year to Idaho. As luck would have it, I’ve had dozens of great adventures with friends in 2010.

- Time with family in Colorado makes my being happier

- The little book signing that could. Novel 1 took off at a trot and continues to gallop along. Novel 2 is determined to win the Triple Crown.

Without a formal Christmas card, I am sending a warm embrace from the Arizona desert a few days early. I’m off to be with my beloved family for the holiday and plan on surprising everyone by not blogging, emailing or checking my phone every 2 minutes. If I was reminded of one thing this year, it’s that I don’t spend enough time fully listening and being with my loved ones. Someone is always just a tweet, text and email away. May I surprise even myself by instead being fully present to those in my presence in 2011.

May you be surrounded with people who make you laugh, food that makes you put on stretchy pants with gluttonous desire and happiness that encourages your dreams for the New Year.

With love, I wish you and your families a very merry Christmas!

~K

Another pasta party this weekend, because this time of year makes me want to curl up on a mattress of spaghetti with a bottle of champagne. Or not.

Today’s blessing is insomnia. Yes, this post is brought to you by 2 am — when my creative brain shakes me awake more often than I’d prefer. There is simply so much excitement scheduled for the next few weeks — time with family and a return to Africa at the top of the list. So, rather than toss and turn, I’m up writing, reading and enjoying a lunar eclipse. The world is conspiring to keep me entertained in the middle of the night.

Stephen Colbert and Jesus Hussein Christ are also keeping me very entertained. I’m pretty sure Jesus had zero political interest, but ouch — this social justice fueled monologue about the disassociation between those claiming Christianity and our actions is spot on.

“Don’t forget Jesus hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes. No good conservative would be caught dead with tax collectors.”

~K

Just a handful more days until Christmas, which means I’m scrambling to complete a few final projects and am ready to share what I’ve been working on:

Depending on the recipient, these scrappy pouches are either pencil bags or makeup cases.

This larger patchworky bag was given to one of my favorite librarians to use as a work tote. I love those zebra handles — which match the lining.

And yet another Spud + Chloe cowl. I knit this yesterday while watching Black Swan. Yeowza, that movie. Made me glad I grew up a swimmer. Spending my childhood in a Speedo was a gift by comparison.

Today’s blessing is that OHMYGODITISFINALLYCHRISTMASVACATIONWEEK. I have so enjoyed sewing and knitting again. It is nice to take a break from hobbies and then become reacquainted. Woo!

~K