by Kat | Nov 13, 2017 | General, In This Moment
Last week I “pulled the trigger” and started listening to Christmas music on the Sonos. I know, what was I thinking? Except, it was a super grey, super depressing week and I needed a pick me up and the best pick me up I know is Christmas music.
And, even though it is early, it was a much-needed balm for my week. I am not your typical Christmas music listener either. Give me choirs singing so I can pick my part (sometimes Alto, sometimes Tenor) and sing along for all I am worth! That’s right, I am one of those “sing along with every song” kind of people.
I also love just pure instrumental music, that way if the words I know are not the words that they are singing, I have no clash of the lyrics! These things are important, you know! Haha!
Today I am sharing some of my most loved “never too early to sing the blues away” music picks for pre-Thanksgiving Christmas listening:
First up, A Scottish Christmas with Bonnie Rideout. This is truly a beautiful album? CD? MP3? All instrumental and all incredibly beautiful. Bonus in that these are all old carols, which I just love.
Next in my Christmas queue is Welcome Yule! Which features Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols… I mean, if you like to sing, this is a must have!
Finally, The Chieftains, The Bells of Dublin which has an incredibly diverse group of musicians!
There is one dear friend who loves Christmas maybe even more than I do, and she is sharing her Christmas music favorites on her blog today! So, go stop by Beth’s to see what’s on her list! AND, the singing might be a little better in her house!
by Kat | Nov 12, 2017 | General
Today’s reflection is all about yesterday. It was a most wonderful day.
First, we walked where we rarely walk. We visited Indie Knit and Spin where I met Knit/Wit and Rainbow. We walked more along the North Shore and stopped to appreciate memorials and remember those who served. Then we had lunch and a beer or three at Southern Tier Brewery and then headed to the top of Mount Washington to enjoy the view and walk a bit more. The day ended with Wonder Woman (which was really excellent!)
It might have been chilly outside, but the day was one that warmed you on the inside.
I hope your weekend is equally warm!
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by Kat | Nov 11, 2017 | Uncategorized
My November Guest
My sorrow, when she’s here with me,
Thinks these dark days of autumn rain
Are beautiful as days can be;
She loves the bare, the withered tree;
She walks the sodden pasture lane.
Her pleasure will not let me stay.
She talks and I am fain to list:
She’s glad the birds are gone away,
She’s glad her simple worsted gray
Is silver now with clinging mist.
The desolate, deserted trees,
The faded earth, the heavy sky,
The beauties she so truly sees,
She thinks I have no eye for these,
And vexes me for reason why.
Not yesterday I learned to know
The love of bare November days
Before the coming of the snow,
But it were vain to tell her so,
And they are better for her praise. ~ Robert Frost
We had several killing frosts (as well as our first snowfall) this week, and this morning the temperature dipped into the 20’s, brrr! And, with all that my garden is done for the year. Which is perhaps the greatest sadness ever! I find that I can relate to Robert Frost’s November Guest. He makes the depression that comes with November somehow haunting and beautiful. He certainly gives a body much to ponder on a frosty Saturday!
Enjoy your day, Gentle Readers.
by Kat | Nov 10, 2017 | General
If you recall, I had a good long discussion of this sweater with Mary in which we spent a bit of time doing some knitty maths to determine how to place the pattern on the sweater (since the stitch count did not match the stranded knitting chart). And, so I counted back from my “center back stitch” and began, only to discover I cannot read a chart! So, I carefully un-knit the stitches and recounted and started again. Apparently, twice was not enough so I had to unknitting a second time and start again. Hopefully the solution for wonky math skills + number of sweater stitches + chart stitch count is adding in 3 stitches to make the pattern and my button band pick up work. Sometimes, I really think that overthinking is my major problem in life. Add to that, my ethereal Plutolopi yarn did not stand up to the challenge of being un-knit twice! But, I think I am back on track and forging ahead with the yoke! Hopefully, this solution will be much better!
Now, how about some links?
If you are in the Pittsburgh area, tomorrow is Indie Knit and Spin
This week’s controversy seems to be revolving around the images of this sweater. Personally, I love the images – and the sweater is not bad either.
I am not sure whether this is insane knitting or knitting for the insane.
The texture of this wrap is so appealing!
More Advent Knitting!
Join Hands supports a very worthy cause!
Renovations by Amy King is lovely, as is her dye sense. Want to test knit something for Amy… she has a test knit going with Let’s Do This!
Andrea Mowry has a special that ends tonight with Hoarfrost, The Weekender, and Tincture.
For the directionally challenged…. (like me, lol)
Fox Isle Socks
Palmistry now in fingering, dk, and worsted weight!
There are rumors that Beth Smith will be hosting a Spin/Weave Along in January! You can sign up for more information here!
That is all I have for you this week, but…it’s NaBloPoMo so I will see you all back here tomorrow!
by Kat | Nov 9, 2017 | General, Words
It is sometimes hard to believe that it has only been a year since this nightmare began. Yes, that’s right a year ago today (I know it seems like an eternity!!)
However, this week I began to see a silver lining! In fact, a big old pink sparkly silver lining!
Handknit as it were….
Thing one!
If you don’t take us seriously, we will defeat you!
Thing two!
If you take away our bathrooms, we will defeat you!
Thing three!
And, if you squash diversity, we will defeat you!
This week it really feels like the funk I have been immersed in for the past year has lifted.
PLUS, a bonus link that will make readers happy. (and increase their “to read” list!)
