Reading
I finished 23 books & audiobooks this year, which really surprised me. We spent a lot of time and energy raising the puppy, going to puppy class, cleaning up after the puppy, training the puppy; I didn’t remember reading all that much! The second surprise for me was how much non-fiction I read: 17 of the books I finished were non-fiction, with a few more in progress. This is absolutely outside of my norm! Four of those non-fiction books were about dog rearing, seven were memoirs of a sort, and there were a few non-fiction curiosities and self-development books as well.
The five fiction books I read were part of a re-read to get myself caught up in a series. I tend to plow through fiction so quickly, I retain the finer details only until the next world I deep dive into. If I take a break from a series for too long, I lose the plot, who we’ve met so far, etc. and have to go back to reorient myself.
I had been considering a goal of a book a month for next year, but I feel like 2 every month is very achievable. There’s another series I’m woefully behind on, my audible library is out of control, and I want to learn all the things. Books are so many doors into different worlds; with so many doors being shut to me these days, I need to embrace the ones I can safely walk through. I suspect the all the unprecendented times of the last three years panicked my subconscious into thinking that even a small escape would be to my peril. I need to remind myself I’m allowed to escape into fiction; the real world will wait.
Book recommendations:
The Loved Dog by Tamar Gellar
What the F*ck (it’s about the evolution of language and how swearing came to be, well, swearing)
The Office BFFs (the actors who played Pam & Angela on The Office – on screen frenemies, but real life BFFs – listen to the audiobook! But also look at the print version for the pictures!)
Best Wishes, Warmest Regards (photo memoir from Dan & Eugene Levy about making Schitt’s Creek – have Kleenex nearby)
Watching
The trend of comfort media was obvious in my watching logs this year. The familiar favorite series and sagas all made appearances. Emotional support bad movies were on full display. New seasons of shorter shows got full rewatches (see above about losing finer details when three years passes between seasons…).
One new trend this year was documentaries. I’ve not been a big documentary watcher in the past, but there were several stories that led to a documentary, which led to another and another. The second new trend in my watching feels somewhat related: I started watching/following trials on YouTube. (Yes, it started with that one with that guy and his ex-wife…). Getting facts from an actual court of law and not the court of public opinion, which can be fickle and easily misinformed, has been an interesting experience. While certainly there is much room for improvement in our justice system, particularly how it deals with marginalized, oppressed, or disadvantaged folks, there has been something soothing about seeing courts and juries get a lot right. “The Truth will out!”, as they say.
Our household goal is to watch through all the DVDs and Blu-rays we own and KonMari them. Some movies just don’t hold up.
Recommendations:
Feel good series: Schitt’s Creek
Documentary: Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons – if you’ve ever shopped a Wexner brand or live in central Ohio, it’s especially horrifying. Also, watch The New York Times pieces on Britney Spears’ conservatorship.
LawTube: Emily D. Baker for pop culture, Hoeg Law for tech and gaming, Runkle of the Bailey for firearms law in US and Canada, Law & Lumber for financial law and when woodworking enters the testimony
Making
This year was not my most productive, a common theme when I’m struggling with mental or physical health; in fact, I look at how much creating as a canary in [my] mine. I did finish a lovely pile of handspun. Several hats were made and given as gifts. I finished & released one new design, with a second waiting in the wings for a mystery WAL in January, and a third design is waiting for the final sample to be cast on.
I did spend a considerable amount of time trying to organize my craft area to maximize usefulness in my new space. Still not quite where I want it, but progress is worth celebrating.
I also did more in the kitchen this year. I made several types of infused oils, I baked more, and I tried making candles this year. All of these experiments came out usable or edible, so I’m calling all of that a win.
My goals here are simple: comfort. I want to make things that bring me comfort.
Recommendations:
Musselburgh hat by Ysolda
New to Rigid Heddle Weaving or don’t want to math? Check out my Etsy.
Fiber Arts Teaching
I made several samples this year, which I mentioned above; one new design was for a specific festival, one was to teach a color technique, and the unfinished one will probably land here, on a future blog post.
I ran a KAL in my Fiber Arts A Longs group that we had a great time with! The KAL led me to film my first tutorials and put them on… my newly established YouTube channel. I hope to continue to add content there throughout 2023, as well as TikTok and Instagram, depending on what content fits each platform best.
A like or a follow on any of these would be appreciated – and if you have requests, please let me know!
My wishes for January 2022 – and really all of 2022 were:
I didn’t get them all, but we’re moving the needle in the right direction. Fiber arts, and music, have taught me to value the progress and the process and I will continue to do just that.
Donita Westman 