I’m still catching up from the Christmas Fair.

The accounting has been done – twice. Hopefully, all the last-minute expenses have finally been submitted so that we don’t have to do the accounting a third time. It’s amazing how much time – and particularly mental energy – sorting out the accounting for the Christmas Fair booth takes. And, I shouldn’t be the one to complain since Pam does 99% of it.

The spinning wheel is still dumped in the middle of the living room floor approximately where I sit and spin. I have not yet taken the effort to set it back up – and of course this means I haven’t taken advantage of any odd moments to spin.

The major recovery, though, is energy. Because I spent the days off from my day job at the Christmas Fair, I really didn’t get any rest. I just feel tired. The adrenaline from the Christmas Fair carries me a while, but then I just get tired.

I did start some knitting. After about three false starts, I ripped out the knitting and grabbed a crochet hook instead. I’m working on an open pattern hat and it is about half complete. The pattern is a fairly simple one that I think of as a double crochet “V". The basic pattern is dc-ch1-dc in next stitch, skip a stitch. Once you’re beyond the starting chain, the pattern works very well if you set it up so you dc in dc - ch1 dc in next dc - skip one chain. It’s a nice open pattern for lace to sport weight alpaca. The pattern is open enough to look lacey, but closed enough the item still provides warmth.

I still want to learn to knit lace and I wish I could simply pick up some knitting needles and create a similar pattern and make a hat on the fly. I’m not that good yet. When I want to actually make something and finish it, I still reach for the crochet hooks. (And I couldn’t find any knit hat patterns worked in the round on two straight needles …)

In other news, the Christmas lights are up and I have started putting decorations around the house. We use the Christmas lights in the Christmas Fair booth so I can’t start putting them up until after the fair. We’ve gone from “waiting for Christmas” mode to “omygod Christmas is coming realsoonnow andthehouseisamess” mode. Fortunately, our major event for the season is over and we’ll soon be able to start relaxing enough to enjoy the season.
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