Cover All!

Cover All!

Happy Friday, Gentle Readers! And, Welcome September – okay, maybe not welcome – it is just 50 degrees out this morning and decidedly fall like. Brrrr!

Blue = 5 star books; Orange = 4 star books

August closed out my summer reading on an incredible high point. I finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay on Wednesday and what a way to finish my book bingo! To say I loved Kavalier and Clay is an understatement – it is one of the best books I have read this year. I gave it 5 stars and if you have not yet read any of Michael Chabon’s books, this is the place to start! I deeply loved Rose, Joe, and Sammy.

This summer had an incredible number of good reads (thanks to so many of you for sharing such incredible titles with me!!) Of the 25 books I read for my cover all there were 14 books I gave 4 stars and 9 that I gave 5 stars. IMO that is just amazing. I discovered some new (to me) authors that I was fortunate to be able to read more of their great writing and I even spent some time with authors I already love.

Staying on books for a moment – I began listening to Pat Conroy’s Beach Music on Wednesday and I am completely enthralled. I mean what is not to love about someone who writes about more dysfunctional families than I had!

And the knitting! I am on clue 3 of Laura Aylor’s Sand Ripples MKAL – and wow! Just wow! I have bound off stitches on 2 sides of the square and now am knitting out from the sides that were not bound off. It is a fascinating construction and I hope to be caught up and start today’s clue this weekend!

Now, how about some knitting inspiration?

First up, some interesting shawls: Touchstone (and it’s a free download!), Balvraid Hap, and Sketch Shawl (I especially like this knit with Zitron Filigran)

Interesting construction with Wood Warbler Cowl and Warrior Cowl

If this weather keeps up you will need a sweater: Steampunk Pullover, New Berlin Gansey, Intrigue, and Brookings Crew

PSA: There are just 115 days to Christmas…if you plan on doing any gift knitting you better get started! Here are some easy gift knits to get you started: Elska, Ruschia Hat, Transitus, and Soft Washed Herringbone Mitts

That is all I have for this week! I will see you back here on Monday!

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Hello, September

Hello, September

This week’s Think Write Thursday topic is to write a post with the title “Hello, September”

Since I began my stitching journey in January, nothing is quite as exciting as the start of a new month. It is a blank canvas laying before me filled with infinite possibilities.

And, September is especially so – it brings a new palette of colors, a change of seasons, and lots of new ideas.

So… Hello, September! You excite me!

If you want to read what others had to say to September, you will find them here. If you want to join me and Carole for Think Write Thursday you can sign up here!

Unraveled Wednesday, August 30

Unraveled Wednesday, August 30

And, with a finished object!

Yes, Nekia is off the needles! She does need a little Soak™ wash and some ends woven in, but she is completed! I did have to do a bit of unraveling at the neckline to get the stitches to lay nicely, but I figured it out and they went much better on the sleeves. I love this piece and predict it will get lots of wear this upcoming season.

What am I working on now? Well, I am trying to get myself caught up on Laura Aylor’s End of Summer MKAL. I have to tell you, I am so intrigued by this MKAL. It was a unique start and I read ahead to clue 3 and wow! This is going to be an interesting shawl!

Now, on to the reading – I have a good bit to catch you up with!

I have some starts, some finishes, some almost done, and a start and finish to share with you!

I started Laurie Colwin’s Home Cooking and I have about 50 pages or so go to, so I should have this one done this week! I picked this up at the recommendation of 2 blogger friends,: Bonny and Vicki. A most excellent recommendation!

I also started Ragnar Jonasson’s Snowblind. I am only a few chapters in, but so far, so good.

I also started the Essays of E.B. White (again at Bonny’s recommendation) and I will be done with this either today or tomorrow. SO GOOD!

I finished A Room with a View and loved it. Really loved it! The detail of the book is incredible and I listened to it on LibriVox, which Mary told me about. Oh man, if you want to listen to some classics – I highly recommend this app!

I also finished (earlier in the month, but I don’t think I have shared this here on the blog) The Invention of Wings. Again, excellent listening and I gave this book 4 stars. I especially loved the authors note at the end. I wish I had listened to that first, but it still made the history of the book even more fascinating.

I started and finished B. A. Paris’ The Break Down. This is her second novel (her first novel Behind Closed Doors was a gripping sit down and don’t stop reading read). This book is a psychological thriller and although I suspected someone, I was shocked at who it was in the end. I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads, although unlike Behind Closed Doors I could put it down, it still was a great book that I finished in 2 days.

I have about 2 hours of listening time in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay – and I will be finishing that up this morning to close out my bingo card cover all!

What are you knitting and reading this week?

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August Joy

August Joy

Oh, August…

It seems like you were just getting started, and now are too soon over. However, in your racing days, there were so many moments of joy.

The abundance of tomatoes and raspberries from my garden, it has been such an incredibly good year for tomato and raspberry production!

The dozens of bees and butterflies in all shapes and sizes that spent their days in my gardens.

Reading… so much good reading! By the end of the month, I will have finished 11 books! I cannot remember a summer when I have read better books!

Stitching…this month just might be my favorite!

Tuesday Knit Nights at the library – I am filled with joy by these incredible women and by the library that welcomes us with open arms.

These are just a few slices of August’s joy.

What about you? What brought joy to your August?

P.S. Pilates has also brought me much joy in August! And, if you are interested, there is a free 7-day session starting on September 11th! You can sign up here!

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Oh, Monday

Oh, Monday

This week I have a few things that I must finish that have been at the top of my procrastination list for some time. Sadly, there are plenty of things I procrastinate over but these things are especially procrastination worthy and I am not looking forward to them at all.

The weekend was highly productive but unseasonably cool! We got some inside Kon-Mari-ing done. And I have a good-sized pile of clothes to take to the re-sale shop. Today I will continue in Kon-Mari-Mode and clean out some knitting books. Then I will tackle the Procrastination List!

On a brighter note, I am almost done with this sweater! I might even have it done today, if I can wrap my head around the neckband finishing. We shall see how it goes.

I also made some good progress on Kavalier and Clay over the weekend and I should easily have this done soon. I must admit, they are wonderful companions even during the most mundane of tasks!

And with that, I am off to start my Monday! How was your weekend?

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