Some TGIF for mid-December | 12.15.23

Some TGIF for mid-December | 12.15.23

It’s been a long week in my neighborhood… but at long last FRIDAY has arrived! I am going to slow down and savor this weekend… but first, how about some good old TGIFing to get the weekend started!

Thankful —

I am thankful for so many things! Things like long conversations with my son, funny texts from my daughter, my son-in-law being home for the busyness of December, the end of a long word journey, the arrival of winter next Thursday (when I will begin my year long journey re-reading Margaret Renkl’s Comfort of Crows),  new insights discovered in a re-reading of Wintering, and reading the last weeks in my year long Poetry Unbound read!

Gathering —

I am gathering some of those new insights discovered in my re-read of Wintering… and planning a bit of a Wintering Reclamation of Space! My closet needs a bit of a tidying… as do some other spaces in my home (dear Basement, I am looking at you!!) And I confess… I am so very excited for these tasks. I am also going to spend some time finding another poetry book that I can read as a weekly devotion next year… poetry remains the best part of my week and I will treat myself to a “new to me” anthology of poetry to carry me through 2024.

Inspired —

Yesterday’s Gnome “clue” was a coloring sheet and it has inspired the child in me to emerge! I shared my start with Vivi yesterday and we talked about colors for the books on the shelf and the plant. Although, she wondered where the Christmas tree was… and now so do I! Which has made me think about an artist I follow on IG who paints similarly delightful little scenes. She shared a free image for the holidays, and I have plans to play with it a bit after Christmas!

Festive —

I have been trying to bolster my joy-quotient this month and next week I have jotted down a couple of Christmas-y movies to queue up next week while playing a bit of catch up on my temperature circles. And that makes me wonder…  are there movies that you watch every year to shore up your Holiday Joy? Please share them… I’d love to add a new movie to my repertoire!

And with that… I am off and I wish you all the best weekend! See you all back here on Monday!

Photo by Susanne Jutzeler

Unraveled Wednesday | 12.13.23

Unraveled Wednesday | 12.13.23

Greetings Dear Unravelers!

Despite us being at the midpoint of December… there is lots of joy to be found. Yesterday was all day sunshine and it was glorious!! And yes… I have, of course, added to my list… but I should have those few things finished soon and my list finally complete!

I have done some Mystery Gnome Knitting this week… but I will share no spoilers until after the end of the knit-along. However, I do confess that I love the direction that this gnome is going! He is SO CUTE!!

Sadly, this week, there was some unraveling again… because of course there was. Rather than *look* at the pattern closely at the beginning of the “parting of the back” cables… I just assumed and knit along. I guess I am glad that I only had to rip back 12 rows and I am even more glad that I managed to get all the stitches BACK on my needle with no mis-crossed cables! A knitter warning… you might want to knit something entirely uncomplicated if you are going to watch Leave the World Behind… just saying. I am almost back to where I had to rip back… with the correct patterning in the “parting” section! Woo! (and I know this week’s photo does not look much different from last week’s photo… but that perfectly placed cable needle is pointing to the change!)

The reading this week has been so so good! I finished my second read though of Katherine May’s Wintering… and I loved it even more than I did the first time! Or maybe I just “got” different things listening to her. I finished a new mystery from Viveca Sten (of the Sandhamn Murder fame) and it was just okay.

As I finished the “just okay” book, a timely email offer me the opportunity to read Tommy Orange’s follow up to There, ThereWandering Stars. I jumped at the offer and this book has grabbed me from the opening sentences and I likely will finish it later today… some reading time with it will be my reward for doing a spot of housework.

What about you all… what has rewards await you this week?

As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!


Sometimes Monday | 12.11.23

Sometimes Monday | 12.11.23

Involves a “sometimes” quote…

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. ― Thich Nhat Hanh

As December races by, I have been trying to focus on finding some joy in the days… And despite joy being most-times fleeting and hard to find as December marches on with all the stress it can bring. I am trying to slow down and look for joy in my days.

Slowing down is a very good place to start… and to smile!

This morning I am so happy for the slowing down process that is making sourdough bread… and what a joy it is to smell bread baking in my oven! The latter is absolutely something that puts a smile on my face!

My advice to you all… bake something today, and revel in the joy of it!

Have a Joy-filled Monday everyone!

 

Unraveled Wednesday | 12.6.23

Unraveled Wednesday | 12.6.23

Greetings Dear Unravelers!

December is almost a week old and I have the decorating done. I have one mystery gnome in process and one ornament gnome almost done (no image because I think the recipient checks in here occasionally!)

But I do have some Back Seas that are flowing along beautifully, as you can see above! With each row, I am more in love with this knit! The pattern is just so brilliant!

This week’s painting class dropped yesterday… so that is on my list for today. Thank you all for your kind comments about my painting from Monday! You are all so sweet!

The reading this week… brilliant! I finished The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store and a new mystery from Tess Gerritsen, The Spy Coast. Both were winners, for sure! Currently in my ears is Katherine May’s Wintering (which is the perfect listen right now) and at night I am reading a new series by Viveca Sten (of the Sandhamn Murder Mystery Series.)

What about you this week? What are you consumed with?

As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!


Sometimes Monday | 12.11.23

Sometimes Monday | 12.4.23

Is for celebrating weekend successes!

Success Number One:

The schedule was much better. And Sunday’s bake… well, it was spectacular! This was a much lighter, airier loaf with tender crumb and a crisp crust!

Success Number Two:

Getting back on the Watercolor Horse might have been a bit scary, but it felt so good and it is a good start to this 4-week class!

And today… I hope attain the Put Up The Christmas Tree achievement. I have all the ‘bits’ ready to go… I am thinking that some Charlie Brown Christmas and The Polar Express will help keep me focused!

Happy Monday all! See you all back here on Wednesday for some unraveling!

 

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