Hey

So it's been a while since I blogged. Life gets a little crazy sometimes, and it's been a good kind of crazy. I get behind with things like blogging and then realize there's so much to say that I don't know where to start, so many projects, so many things to say and it's just...overwhelming. So if there's anyone still out there reading, here's the 2014 Cliff Notes of Paige's life.

1. It's been a bad year for legs in our house. In February, Madeline had an accident of some kind (we still have no idea what happened) but she lost the use of her front left leg. Structurally, it's fine, but there is nerve damage and since she can't feel it, she won't use it. Due to her heart condition, I am very hesitant to amputate because it's very likely that she won't come out of the anesthesia. She carries her dead paw around and kind of does this wounded soldier crawl on the bed and the couch. It only slowed her down for a couple weeks and she's back into all the same shenanigans that she was before her accident.

Tall/Dark & Handsome broke his leg and tore a bunch of tendons in early March. He had surgery and got a large plate in his leg and a few screws and pins and spent the next three months on the couch. It was a difficult time for both of us. He's doing much better now but not moving quite as quickly as he used to.

2. After a 9 month mortgage hell, we finally closed on the house in May. We began the real work on it the next day and even though it started a little late, we had a great (if somewhat unorganized) garden and more veggies than we knew what to do with. I bought a dehydrator, cooked a bunch and froze it, and learned to can. It was quite the undertaking and I loved every minute. I have expanded the original garden area and will have twice the space next year. We also dug up what remained of the shrubs and replaced them with flowers, mostly started from other people's lilies and my dumpster diving adventures at a local nursery. We saved hundreds and the beds *should* be amazing next summer.

3. I found real (not temp) employment at a software company in Carmel. I'm not rolling in cash by any means, but it was enough that I could quit working at the nursery every weekend and I now have some really awesome insurance, which is always a good thing. They also know about Good For Ewe and are not only okay with it, but super encouraging. It's a great place to work and I couldn't be happier with both of my jobs.

4. Good For Ewe is still around and having a fantastic season. We've expanded into AZ and CA (finally!) and are growing every month. I'm still trying to design a new pattern every month. Some months it happens, some months it doesn't.

In short, it's been a great year. Busy, but really interesting. I've made several new and good friends, and finally been able to return to Sunday afternoon knitting group. The holidays are upon us, and I've been knitting, crocheting, weaving, sewing, quilting and canning for gifts. I need to get back into the habit of blogging but I'll work on that.

For today I'll just leave photographic evidence that I have actually worked on something this year, and wish you all Happy Holidays, I'll be back- I promise!