Do you like this Thursday Things I’ve been doing lately? Do you hate it? I find it’s a great way to round up the things I want to post about that aren’t really enough for an entire post on their own. I can’t say I’ll do it every week but for right now it’s quick and fun and a good way to share a few things. And so, this week, I’m thinking about:

• Avocados. I have, apparently, taken the latest study showing that avocados lower cholesterol quite seriously. Either that or they have been on wicked sale lately. Honestly, any excuse to eat a delicious and creamy avocado is fine by me. I’m ignoring the fact that this survey was partially sponsored by the Hass Avocado Board.

• The Habit List App. I purchased this on iTunes at the end of last week and I love it! I was prompted to do so by regular commenter Jo, who asked how I planned on tracking my intentions for the year. I thought about that and realized I didn’t have a way to do that and hence – this app. It’s really working well for me. I have added in things like “go to the gym on Monday, Wednesday & Friday” and “Project 365” and “use the iPhone camera twice a week” and “Play Mario Kart on Saturdays and Sundays” along with some other things. The app reminds me to do stuff and it keeps track of my streaks which is very good for competitive little me.

• I have realized that what I really hate about the cold isn’t so much the cold it’s the bundling up. The bulkiness of a sweater and a coat and a scarf and suddenly I feel like the kid in A Christmas Story who can’t put his arms down. I don’t mind throwing on a sweater or a light jacket but the layer upon layer I need these days is just annoying.

• Spin-A-Thon. I am registering for this once again and really excited to raise money for the Y. You all were so generous and supportive last year and if you’re inclined to donate again I’d be very grateful. Follow this link to make a donation now. And thanks!

• Oscar nominations are announced this morning! Woot woot!

Here are some things on my mind this Thursday . . .

• I’ve been listening to The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton and it’s fantastic. It’s suspenseful – which makes it very difficult when I’ve arrived at my destination at an especially intriguing part and the setting – Amsterdam in the 17th century – is terrific. Burton’s descriptions of marzipan and sugar loaves and frozen landscapes are particularly wonderful and I can’t recommend this highly enough.
• Generally in January I do a post about all of the knitting from the previous year. I may or may not do that this year but I definitely can’t do it until I actual blog about everything I knit last year, including the Cactus Flower shawl. That thing has been finished and blocked since the end of October but I haven’t taken pictures of it yet. I also have a pair of socks that need to be photographed and gifted. And I need to go back and finish the Market Jacket I started in November. NaKniSweMo my ass. In the meantime I’m knitting socks for Dale, pictured above with my iPad and the latest book I’m reading, TransAtlantic.
• The cold weather has descended on us with a vengeance. Considering that it was mild enough on Christmas Eve that we had all of the windows open this is particularly cruel. And it has made me realize that I need to knit a hat for myself. I have scarves and mittens and fingerless mitts galore – and boy do those mitts come in handy in my very draft office at the COA – but hats? I have none. I’ve generally avoided them because hats and bangs do not a good combination make. However, I grew my bangs out over the last 18 months (what a process that is, my friends) and now I can happily wear a hand knit hat. Suggestions for awesome patterns are welcome.
• I’ve been to the gym twice so far this week. Yay me!

As much as I love the holiday season – and I do!! – it’s hectic. And my to do list is as long as my arm right now. There’s shopping and baking and wrapping and merrymaking and it’s good. But hectic. And so, today, you get a list of the things I’m thinking about because that’s about all the mental energy I have for the blog right now.

• I made those Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream Frosting last Saturday. They were very very good. The recipe is from Tide & Thyme and you can find it here.
• Speaking of last Saturday, it was the Kiwanis Club’s 31st Annual Christmas on the Common. As Immediate Past President of our club I was chairman of this event. It was a lot of planning and preparation and work – not just on my part but also on the part of the various committee chairs and club members. And it rained. It didn’t downpour but it was soggy and drizzly and not at all what I had hoped the day would be like. Still, the craft fair was great and the food vendors were happy. The heated tent was rocking with our very own local boy band and lots of lots of people came to see the dancing schools and school band perform. The best part, though? When it was over.
• Yesterday I shared the new JOY! sign I bought at Target. It’s on my mantel and I love that it’s red and that it represents my One Little Word for 2014 as well as my feeling about this time of year. I’m starting to think about my One Little Word for 2015, though, and I’ve had lots of words rolling around in my head. I’d like to go with shine but I feel like it’s over used and not at all original. I have also debated light, peace, give, play and create. Right now create is the front runner but I’m not sure if it has chosen me or if I have chosen it. And I definitely want my word to choose me. So I’m waiting.
• A few weeks ago I read an interesting and disturbing article about food waste. As someone who manages a food pantry, I am acutely aware of the widespread problem of food insecurity and the juxtaposition of food waste and food insecurity is not lost on me. I tell myself we don’t throw out a lot of food at our house but I think, in reality, that we do. So as we move into 2015 I’m going to try very hard to be aware of the food that we have, to not overpurchase, and to use what we have before it spoils.
• I, along with 1.5 million other people, have been completely taken by the Serial podcast. It’s fascinating and intriguing and I absolutely love the theme music, too. This past week I discovered the Slate Serial Spoiler Specials podcast – a podcast about a podcast, if you will. I love listening to this because it’s like having a conversation with a bunch of people about what I just heard on Serial. So, do you think Sarah Koenig is going to drawn any definitive conclusions about this case? Or do you think it’s going to end on a we-will-never-know note?
• My friend Bob has been in remission from his stage IV pancreatic cancer since early last September. Today he is going in for a PET scan to see how things are. I’m nervous and scared and really really hoping that things are still good. I’d appreciate any good thoughts, prayers and healing energy you could send his way. Thanks.

With so much going on – sweater knitting and daily blogging and life – it seems like another gather-up-all-my-thoughts type of post is in order. Here’s what I’m thinking about right now.

• We had our first snow on Sunday. It pissed me off but it did inspire a picture of a pumpkin. With snow.
• I can’t believe I haven’t already told you this because it is a huge (really huge!) deal: Hannah passed the MTEL! This is the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure and it’s required for her to do her student teaching and then, you know, get a J-O-B as a teacher. She had already passed some sections but last month we found out she passed the entire thing. There was much celebratingo at Casa Carole Knits.
• I have no idea why I added Spanish-y type of stuff to that last sentence.
• Earlier this week I read, and finished in 2 days, Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. If you haven’t read it then you need to read it. And if you have read it then you will understand when I say that I miss Lou and Will.
• After I finished that book I decided to read The Mockingbird Next Door by Marja Mills. I went online to look for a picture of Harper Lee and all of these news articles came up about the controversy surrounding this book and whether Ms. Mills did or did not have Harper Lee’s permission to publish. I decided not to read it.
• I decided to take the plunge and learn Lightoom. This was the result of some prodding from Kim and this week I started Lightroom Begin with Kim Klassen. Finding the time to do the coursework will be a challenge but I’m very excited about it.
• I haven’t talked much about One Little Word but I am still following along and completing the monthly prompts. And I’m still finding JOY! whenever I get the chance.
• As always, thanks for reading. And commenting. You all bring me JOY!