A New Decade ~ Time For Me to Slow Down

Claxton and I were talking about how time seems to click by at a much faster pace than it used to. Here we are at the beginning of another new decade. We just know it is going to fly past at break-neck speeds.

When I was young a few months of Summer vacation seemed to stretch out endlessly. But, that only makes sense. A 10 year old of today will have quite a decade ahead. By the time 2020 rolls around that child will have had a great many first experiences traveling from the 5th grade all the way up through high school and on into college. Everything about that individual will have changed dramatically from how it was at the start of 2010.  Most of the childhood memories this person will hold for the rest of time will have occurred in that 10 year stretch. Yep, a 10 year old today will pack in a lot of living over this decade ahead.

While I hope to have many new experiences myself they aren't likely to be as exciting as the great "firsts" I've already enjoyed, which is fine with me. Right now it would feel good to simply enjoy the moment I'm in, slow down and savor all that I've come to take for granted. Maybe that would be a good New Year's resolution for me. Might as well start with my terrible fiber addiction love of the textile arts.

Last night I decided it was time to start working on a little hand knit gift for my sister, Laura whose birthday is in a few weeks. She loves blue, yellow and green so, I decided to combine these colors for the yarn. Below are the 1.5 oz of wool for the project yarn:

Now, it doesn't take a person very long to spin up 1.5 oz of fiber. Just sit down to the spinning wheel, get that fiber spun and move on to the knitting. But, spinning wool is a real pleasure when it is not viewed as a task or job to complete. It is also a practice that is available to anybody, rich or poor, living in a big house or a tiny apartment or even out of a travel bag. That's because a person doesn't need a big, expensive spinning wheel to make yarn. (Although, I need all of my wheels, I just don't need them to make yarn.) A simple spindle is a wonderful and perfectly adequate tool for creating your own special yarn blends. It just takes a little longer so I tend not to choose to use a spindle.

But, I love spindling. I just feel a strange guilt believing precious fiber time is being wasted. After all, I can spin faster on a wheel. When did I start believing that getting more done faster is always better? That's nonsense.

So out came the spindle and 20 minutes of spinning turned into...a little longer. Below is the spindle with 1.5 oz on board:

And, here's the final navajo 3-ply ready to knit:

The spindle is such a simple tool. Its light, inexpensive and easy to store and take anywhere. This year I resolve to use the spindle more often and simply enjoy this aspect of projects pursued in 2010...and beyond. A toast to savoring the decade ahead!