by Kat | Jun 21, 2016 | General, Words
It’s Tuesday and that means Carole wants to know:
10 Things to Do While Listening to an Audiobook
Well, I have been enjoying Audiobooks a tremendous amount. I don’t know about you, but for me there is just something amazing about getting things done and reading (listening to) a book as the same time!
So, here is the list of things I have recently accomplished while listening to Audiobooks:
- Laundry is really not so bad when you are listening to a great book!
- Knitting – of course, this has been a huge help in me getting my Knit Along List whittled down!
- Spinning – again, the best companion to treadling away!
- Walking – this really is fabulous. Getting some exercise in during a half hour or so walk has helped increase my daily step count!
- Gardening – specifically, weeding. Thanks to a good book, the gardens are staying weed free this summer!
- Cooking dinner – unless your other half wants to talk to you while you are cooking…
- Preserving – making pickles and jams is fun, but more fun while listening to a good book!
- Sewing – Inspector Gamache is fabulous while sitting at the Bernina™
- Vacuuming – while it does not make the task entirely fun – it helps tremendously!
- Ironing – again, a most tedious task made better with a good book in your ears!
So tell me, Gentle Reader…Audiobooks – yes? No? What’s in your ears right now?
by Kat | Jun 20, 2016 | General, Making
Recipe for the Practically Perfect Summer Weekend:
- The best Friday Happy Hour, complete with barbecued shrimp and martini’s.
- Gardening time.
- Strawberry top infused Blushing Mules, oh my was this good! Oh, and both GIN and vodka are spectacular, just sayin’.
- Knitting and spinning. (Another item crossed off my Summer Knit Along list!)
- Moving my blog to a new server. (A million thanks, Steve!!)
This combination makes for a much more palatable Monday.
How was your weekend?
P.S. If you previously subscribed to my blog, you will need to do so again, thank you!
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by Kat | Jun 17, 2016 | General
Friday. Oh how I love you! But, some Friday’s are just uber-appreciated. Today is one of those days.
It has been a busy week here, work has changed things up for me and I have still not gotten into a good rhythm with the new schedule, thus Friday arrives and I am still feeling a bit “behind the eight ball” with a list that still has things to get done.
Time coordination – the bane of my existence. Seriously.
And, apparently plying is right up there as well.
Which brings me to the Fiber portion of today’s post! Thanks to Rachel for hosting Fiber Friday’s!
I spent some time this week plying up the singles I spun. Some of it was lovely, and some…not so much. It is the one aspect of spinning that I really struggle with. I look at all the amazing photos of plied yarns that drift around on Instagram and I am in awe that people do this so well, yet it seems somehow elusive for me. I struggle most with worsted spun yarns – but maybe that is because the loftiness of woolen spun yarns fills in the plying problems I seem to have. I am not sure exactly how to fix this, but I am really thinking a plying class is in order.
But, not one to give up – I will “re-ply” this yarn and see if I cannot improve the areas where it is under-plied, or not plied as the case may be. I will update you next week on how this re-do goes!
There is some welcome rain forecast for today, and while an “on the road” version of Happy Hour is not looking good for today, there will be a snacks and beverages to usher in the weekend. Photos courtesy of last week’s FriYAY celebration that were preempted on Monday for a more somber post.
And, lest you think there were no links this week – you’d be incorrect! There are a few, even a few spectacular ones:
First off – everyone could use More Love! (and right now it’s free!)
Gradient Knits – how I love thee!
Perhaps you’d like a Party on your needles?
This is such a fascinating construction method.
And, then there is Jutta! I am in love and I am pretty sure that Genevieve needs one!
That’s all I have for today, Gentle Reader. Have a fantastic Friday and be safe this weekend.
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by Kat | Jun 16, 2016 | General, Words
Reveling in the lush greenness that is everywhere I look,
Weeding the garden and marveling at how it is growing,
Sipping iced coffee in the early morning while listening to the birds sing their summer operas,
Savoring the delicate flavors of freshly pickled vegetables,
And, knitting under the pergola,
These are the tastes of my summer.
by Kat | Jun 15, 2016 | General, Making
I am so happy to share that I can move some things from in-process to completion: The Goldfinch is finished, as is Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, and Indigo Cones is finished, except for the button selection.
I loved, loved, loved The Goldfinch and really wished it would not end, despite the length of the book. I truly was enamored of young Theo. He tugged at my heartstrings, made me laugh at some of his antics, and at times I wanted to wring his neck! The writing was really perfection, as well. Donna Tartt’s turn of a phrase was ingenious. I give this book a 5-star rating!
Twenty-five years ago I read and LOVED Outlander and quickly read the two subsequent novels in the series that Diana Gabaldon wrote. So, I really thought I’d like Written in My Own Heart’s Blood. I could not be more wrong. I did not like it at all. How curious that one’s taste can change so dramatically in that amount of time. I kept hoping that if I just read one more chapter, I would like it. Sadly, it did not and I only gave it 2 stars.
That means I have 2 squares crossed off on my Book Bingo Card!
Up next in my reading queue is The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo and in my ears is Still Life (Book One of the Inspector Gamache series).
I also have completed an item from my Summer Knit Along List – Indigo Cones that I started some 2 years ago is off the needles! I know – even better, I have the entire summer to wear it! Button selections to commence shortly. I made some modifications to the project, and you can see all the details of it here.
I completed Clue Two on Kirsten Kapur’s Mystery Shawl and I am ready to start knitting Clue Three (which is out this morning) I am also working on finishing up the edging on Aestlight – this will be done quickly, I hope, but at least they are short rows!
Hopefully your knitting is progressing well and that you have some things that you are finishing! But, what I really want to know is what are you reading next! Want to see what the other Yarn Along-ers are up to? Head over to Ginny’s and see! There is rain here today (thankfully) so I am going to make like BooksCatsYarn and queue up Chef’s Table in Netflix and knit clue #3.
P.S. I made some jam yesterday. OMG, the jam! Really. The.Best.Jam.EVER! Really. Thanks, Judy! And, the color – seriously! Deep, intense, dark red jam with flavor that is amazing. I used balsamic vinegar and fresh rosemary from my garden. I made half the recipe and the jam was thickened in about half the time. No pectin used at all and this is the thickest, most perfectly set jam I have ever made. But, really – I am telling you that you need to make this jam! ASAP!
