Well, I did say I was going to go to the ocean, didn’t I? I lasted about five minutes, but I accomplished my goals. I took a long, deep breath of the windy, salty air. I congratulated myself on a year well done. I welcomed the new year, so full of possibilities. I also got very wet, because in those five minutes the wind strengthened off the water, and both rain and ocean blew my way.

I’ve stayed warm and comfy for the rest of the day, and lots of New Year’s knitting has taken place. I began a Shifting Sands Scarf in this beautiful deep blue on blue merino from Sundara Yarn (more info was in Saturday’s post). I tried to take decent pictures yesterday, when the light was good, but the variations in this yarn are so subtle that I think I failed. Please take my word for how wonderful it is. Grumperina’s pattern is well-written and easy to remember. I might have to call my scarf something else, though, because it looks more like water than sand!

The other new project is a pair of socks in another Sundara Yarn. This is the latest Petals Collection shipment, Lenten Rose. It’s another subtle and lovely colorway, and I’m really enjoying the knitting. I cobbled together a pattern — the lace ribbed cuff continues in a narrow panel down the back of the stockinette sock, to the bottom of the heel. I’m just past turning the heel on the first sock, so it’s zipping along. I’ll post pictures when I’m finished, or when there’s some decent light.

While knitting and enjoying the day, I’ve been watching the A&E Pride and Prejudice, which I treated myself to a couple of weeks ago. It’s the perfect knitting movie, nice and long and entertaining. It helps, too, that it’s so familiar. I can listen just as well as watch.

My hat’s off to Bess, who has successfully — triumphantly, even — completed her “Year of No New Yarn, Fleece, or Fiber.” She’s written a wonderful blog post about her experience, which is an absolute delight to read, especially if you know the sound of her voice. Everyone who is participating in any sort of stash diet can learn something from it.

My own stash has grown in the past year, but not out of proportion. Most of it is useful, and I made all my Christmas scarves and the bag for my mother with it. I have a nice, cushiony sock yarn stash, in case of an emergency. It’s enough, and it didn’t come from yarn shopping binges. It’s all, or mostly all, yarn that I love and want and that is a source of creative inspiration. Sure, I know we all say that, but I mean it. My fiber purchases tend to be specific, or because I find something that is just meant to be mine. I can’t think of a single time that I’ve felt guilty about a yarn or fiber purchase. I’m stingy enough with myself already! Anyway, Bess has inspired this consideration of my stash, and the idea that I might like to honor it a little more, and I thank her.