I finished Romi’s Mystery Shawl and I love it!! It is exactly what I wanted – it is lightweight and perfect for “indoor AC deep freezes” Haha. It is one color, and knit from some centuries old Knit Picks Shadow Lace yarn from my stash. I could not be happier and I loved every step of this shawl from the brilliant center start to the superbly stretchy (but not sloppy) bind off. Now I am wondering what might be my next Romi knit!! I have been eyeing Miss Bab’s new yarn and contemplating…
I think I finally found solace in my reading because my reads this week were so good! I filled 3 more bingo squares, but still no bingo’s… My squares this week: Comfort Read = Tartine Bread (because homemade bread is the ultimate comfort food, amirite?), Originally published in the 19th Century = Leaves of Grass, and Borrowed = Shadow Pass. I am on the wait list for the third book in the Inspector Pekkala series and eager to get it! (and next week, I get even more creative with my square and book pairing, haha)
Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What does one do when you are stuck in the Great Stay at Home Pandemic of 2020… why you try to grow a Sourdough Starter! (Key word…**try**).
This book came highly recommended by a friend, and so I got it and began reading. This is truly user friendly. It explains clearly what to do to get your starter going, how to maintain your starter, and then how to bake bread (and dozens of other things) using your starter. I have several Peter Reinhart baking books, but they seem complicated where as this book is truly streamlined and tested! (With test bakers that were not all bakers!!) If your goal is to bake sourdough bread, look no further! Get this book and get going!
I highly recommend!
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had “read” this in high school and wrote a paper on When Lilac’s Last in the Dooryard Bloomed. Or should I say, I wrote a paper with the help of my maternal grandfather. The Lincoln poem was one he had memorized. When I read this a lifetime ago, I did not get it at all. But, now…
Wordy, geographical, questioning, wondering, amazing.
Whitman takes your hand and eases you into his world. I wonder what he would think of what this world has become. Through his eyes, I see new possibilities and with balanced longing for what was, and hope for what might be – I carry his words with me:
“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you.
You must travel it by yourself.
It is not far. It is within reach.
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know.
Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land.”
I highly recommend you take the journey.
Shadow Pass by Sam Eastland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book Two of the Inspector Pekkala series did not disappoint. More character development happened in a very good way. More of Pekkala’s past was revealed and the start of seeing that Pekkala is not entirely enamored of Stalin’s Russia.
The writing is very good and I will continue with this series!
That is all I have for today (and this week!) What is making you happy in your making or reading this week? Please share!!
And if you wrote a post to share, please leave your link below and I will see you back here next Wednesday!
Your shawl is GORGEOUS! I love how it turned out!
I’m impressed with your Whitman reading. I want to read it but it seems really intimidating. And I’ve ordered Tartine Bread – I can’t wait!
It was not as intimidating as the first time I read it. I had to write a paper on Lilac’s in the Dooryard and if my grandpa had not helped me, it would not have been any success!
We should start a Tartine Baking Club! LOL
Kat, you are such a tease — you need to show us a full picture of that gorgeous shawl! What I can see is stunning, but I know I’m not getting the full picture (I’m hoping you put more up on Ravelry so I can peek!).
You’re now the second person who has recommended Tartine Bread. Do you think it’s worth getting a hard copy?
I promise to get more photos! Yesterday the sun was in the “wrong position” to take good photos, but I promise there will be more! It is a lovely shape!
Yes, I got the kindle version, because impatience, and I am wishing I had gotten the hard cover!
Your shawl is absolutely stunning! I spent some time looking through all the projects and didn’t see another one color shawl, but I think you made a wonderful decision. Your Ravelry photos are beautiful, each one more gorgeous than the last. Simply lovely!
I am going to attempt carefully pinning it to my hedge, so I can get a better full shot of the shawl!
Everything about that picture is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. I love the color, lace, and drape of your shawl (I keep scrolling back up to look at it.) I also love the narrow gauge fencing in the background! What is that? I’m on the lookout for some screening, of sorts, behind one of my gardens…and yours caught my eye.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Thank you! 🙂
And the fencing is Bamboo Roll Fencing (we got it at our local hardware store, but it is available at Home Depot as well) And it wears like iron – we put that up 5 years ago and it is still going strong! 🙂
Gorgeous finish Kat! Love the shawl.
Thank you, Vera!
wow your knit is gorgeous!!! I love the lace work and of course the color 🙂
Thank you, Karen!
The shawl is FABULOUS, Kat! I just love the color — and it will be so perfect for the days ahead. XO
It is! I have worn it twice in this crazy confused spring we are having! 🙂
That shawl is stunning. Don’t you love it when a project turns out just what you wanted it to be (not great grammar here but you know what I mean!) I have read Whitman in bits and pieces over the years. You make me think it might be good to revisit it now that I have all these years under my belt.
Whitman was a pleasant surprise, especially with how hard I struggled with it way back in 10th grade!
Your reading and knitting always inspire me!
As does yours! (and you always pick the best yarns!)
The shawl looks incredible! I remember loving Leaves of Grass in high school. I haven’t read it–except a few snippets–since.
Wow, I really struggled with Whitman in high school – it was way over my level of understanding! It was a pleasant surprise to discover what a true joy it was!
Hi! Shawl is indeed lovely; wear it well and in good health. Years ago I baked sourdough bread – I had a starter – and I loved making the bread, not to mention the eating…I may have to resurrect that practice…
Thank you! And, I am determined to achieve “sourdough success” (I think my failure, in part, is due to how cold my house is – we never have the temperature above 67 in the winter months – so I am hoping that warmer days (and a proofing box) will help me achieve success!
I’ve obviously been away from blogland much too long! Loved this post and plan to order at least two of those books (Leaves of Grass I have read….although eons ago!). Daughter wants to try the sourdough thing as well….a mother/daughter stay at home project!
And that Romi shawl! Scrumptious!! I think I knit one of her designs many years ago…this one is a beauty that I’m going to seek out. Still working though stash. This might get me out of my recent sock obsession.
Socks are just such a great obsession! (I am knitting a pair of Father’s Day Socks right now!)
Your shawl is beautiful and so springlike. Congratulations!
Thank you!
The shawl is lovely, and even better that it is EXACTLY what you wanted.
The shape is just perfect – it wears well!
Your shawl is beautiful such a lovely colour.
Thank you, Linda!
heart-eyes for that shawl, Kat – WOW! (one of my favorite things about knitting – and crocheting – this year has been finding such great yarns and customer service from knitpicks !) ALSO – LOVE LOVE LOVE that you’re replying to the comments here so I can see the responses … I’m going to start that too. TODAY!
I am almost embarrassed to admit how long ago I purchased that yarn from Knitpicks! I have tried to use it in a couple of projects, but it just didn’t work. But, it was perfect for this shawl!
And, I am loving comments this way!
Oh, that’s lovely Kat!! I am poking along with that shawl… one or two rows a night is all I’ve been managing. I’d best get moving if I’m to be ready for the TTL shawl in June!! 😉
The bonus is this… the last clue just breezes by and after the first couple of rows, the pattern just flows! (and the bind off is brilliant!!)