Gemütlichkeit for Friday | 1. 31.20

Gemütlichkeit for Friday | 1. 31.20

Bis zum nächsten Mal, January! But, in actuality – you weren’t so bad! I was inspired by Katie to track A Year of Temperatures and I started on January 1 and I am really stunned at how warm it has been! In these past 31 days we had 2 days in the 60’s, 6 days in the 50’s, only 2 days in the 20’s, and the rest of the month rested easily in the 30’s to 40’s. A January Thaw on Global Warming! (Also, we did not have much sun in January… sigh.)

It’s Super Bowl Ad Weekend (for those of you who only watch for that aspect of the game!) Carole shared a great one this week and I am jumping right on that band wagon with one that I chuckled over. I live in an extremely Alexa-fied house and this really hit home!

I heard this fascinating piece on NPR this week and in case you don’t like either football or ads – streaming on Amazon Prime, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is so binge-worthy and yes… her outfits are to die for and I love every.single.thing.she.wears! It is truly a wonderful series and I highly recommend it!

In the I did not have enough to knit category – I have been oogling my daughters hat with some serious Hat Envy and I had enough of the main yarn to knit another one, but not enough KSH, but I did have some grey so I cast on and knit myself a hat in one day. Yes, yes, I did! It needs a bit of a soak and a pompom and it will be done. I really love how they are a warm and cool version of the same hat! Never fear, I have now returned to my Pheasant Pullover and will be dividing for the sleeves this morning!

Are you wondering what caught my eye in the knitting world this week? There were a few things that I did like:

That’s all I have for this week – have a great weekend and I will see you all back here next week!

Three on Thursday | 1.30.20

Three on Thursday | 1.30.20

I am joining with Carole today to share some brilliance regarding the Impeachment Trial currently underway…Yesterday began the question phase of the trial where the Senators submit questions for Justice Roberts to read out loud at which point either the selected counsel or both the House Managers and the President’s counsel answers the question or does not, as the case may be. (and there are a lot more not answered questions than are answered)

Thing One:

Don’t expect there to be any more honesty in this trial than there is from the IMPOTUS-in-Chief…

Thing Two:

Meanwhile, while no one is paying attention:

Thing Three:

Finally, if you do nothing else today – please call your Senators!

That’s all I have for today, see you back here tomorrow!

Unraveled Wednesday | 1.29.20

Unraveled Wednesday | 1.29.20

Greetings Unravelers!

It has been a long, sad week. My Tuesday night knitting group lost a member last week and knitting last night was bittersweet – we were there, but a bit diminished. However, we made plans to pick up a special shawl that was in progress for a beloved niece. We will each take turns knitting until it is finished. Our stitches will be full of love and memories of Mary and having a path forward with some meaning felt so right.

I have not picked up my Evening Dew Cardigan in over a week, as my knitting attention has been distracted entirely by my Pheasant Pullover! I finished the colorwork portion over the weekend and have been working on the mindless knitting portion of the body but I am still not to the sleeve divide. I still have a little over an inch to go before I am to that point. However, I am so happy to be mindlessly knitting and reading!

The reading this week was outstanding, though!

Shade: A Tale of Two PresidentsShade: A Tale of Two Presidents by Pete Souza
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Early on, I had been directed to Pete Souza’s Instagram feed and I enjoyed that tremendously. However, seeing the feed here with the correlation to what he was responding to is simply brilliant. I laughed at many of these, and it also made me yearn for the days when we had a president we could be proud of.

Night Sky with Exit WoundsNight Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maybe we pray on our knees because god only listens when we’re this close…

This book is only 70 pages, but those 70 pages are packed full of such incredible words. Words I sometimes had to read over again because they were just so beautiful. This is not a book of poetry to miss.

Stars. Or rather, the drains of heaven—waiting. Little holes. Little centuries opening just long enough for us to slip through.

Slip through the words and settle yourself into the world of Ocean Vuong, it is a place you will want to linger in and enjoy. I highly recommend!

The Guns of AugustThe Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What can I add that has not already been said about Tuchman’s tome on WWI? Woefully little, but I will try. I listened to this book and it very much felt like I was sitting in the history class with the professor everyone said was wonderful – only to discover, they were wrong – she was more than wonderful, she was brilliant and made things clear and so understandable!

If you at all have any idea that you like history – this is a must read book. I highly recommend the audio version with Wanda McCaddon narrating, she is wonderful and very easy to listen to!

Peace Like a RiverPeace Like a River by Leif Enger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The answer it seems to me now, lies in the miracles.

Do you believe in miracles? You might after you read this book. I fell in love with Davy, Swede, and Reuben. This book makes you think about faith, poverty, justice (or rather injustice) all told from the wise perspective of Reuben. Read this book and be witness to the wonder of this family. I highly recommend!

That is all I have to share this week, but I want to know what is consuming your making time?

If you wrote a post to share today, please leave your link below and thank you!


An Intentional (?) Beginning | 1.28.20

An Intentional (?) Beginning | 1.28.20

I am joining Honoré and friends today to share my start with my word for 2020:

If there is no struggle, there is no progress. — Frederick Douglass

I foolishly assumed that my focus of 2019 would just flow seamlessly into my intentional start to January.

Key word there… foolishly.

Because for as brilliant as focus was, my intentional start was, well, rather rocky. Uncomfortable. Awkward. Unsettled.

I even had some moments when I considered picking a different word!

But I persevered and have settled in with my discomfort – sort of. The wisdom from Frederick Douglass has become my mantra:

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

So, I don’t have much to share this month outside of this messy, unproductive start.

However, I am immersed in the struggle and live in the hope that progress will soon be visible!

Did you pick a word for 2020? How has your start been?

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