by Kat | Feb 21, 2018 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
I have lots to unravel today, so let’s get right down to it!
First up, today is my 1,111th post here on As Kat Knits! I had planned on acknowledging that momentous occasion on the 1,000th post, but yeah… it blew by with little notice from me! When I realized it, I thought it would be best to then wait for a nice uniform number… and today is that day! I had no idea that when I started this back in 2006 that I would have this much to say! But, what I love most about this blog is all of you, Gentle Readers! I have met a few of you and have found the nicest community of people anywhere on the internet! Thank you for stopping by here to read what I have to say!
My Olympic Knitting has come to a finish and my Carbeth is s-l-o-w-l-y drying! I had hoped for some photos today, but she is no where near dry enough and since I am using Ann’s plate technique… I am not moving her until she is completely dry! I am also having a bit of an internal debate on the collar, but I am waiting to see how it blocks out.
However, I have moved back to my “regularly scheduled knitting” … that’s right my Mystery Socks are moving through clue two and I will start on the sleeves of my Strokkur today. Yesterday it seemed quite odd to be knitting sweaters and socks with the temperatures soaring into the upper 70’s! I am not ready for warm weather yet, so slow down there winter!
The good reading streak continues with my finish of When We Were Yours – I really loved this book! It is heart wrenching but beautifully told. I gave it 5-stars and highly recommend it!
I also finished God of Howl Mountain, which is an ARC from Net Galley. It was good and shares the way of life in the mountains of South Carolina in the 50’s. I gave it 3-stars because some of the things that happened seemed a little unrealistic and could have been left out, in my opinion. But, all in all, a good read.
I am listening to a bit of a palate cleanser with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. So far, so good – but this is truly light reading for me.
I finally picked up and really got into Ali Smith’s Winter and wow… I love how it is progressing!
And last night I started Paula McLain’s new novel Love and Ruin which I got an ARC from Net Galley.
What is occupying your time this week?
If you are joining us today – thank you! Please leave the link to your post in your comment!
by Kat | Feb 20, 2018 | General, In This Moment
After my finish of my Olympic-Bang-Out-A-Carbeth sweater, this morning I am indulging myself in Ali Smith’s Winter and a lovely iced coffee (yes, the weather here is divine!)
I have nothing more pressing this morning than finishing up the laundry and blocking my sweater!
What tiny moments are happening in your world today?
by Kat | Feb 19, 2018 | General, In This Moment
That’s right, the weekend carries on one more day. Thus far it has been a very good weekend with lots of replenishment time!
And, with no plumbing or equally un-fun tasks!
There was Olympic watching and yes, knitting – lots of knitting! I have to say, I just LOVE how these decreases look. I can’t wait to finish it. I only have about 10 rows to go, so I can see the finish line. I also confess, I have become addicted to watching Curling – especially the Norwegian Men’s Pants, err Team! Haha!
Today, the weather is supposed to be warmer and we are hoping for some dry moments to get in a nice walk!
If you have a long weekend as well, I hope you are enjoying it! See you all back here tomorrow!
by Kat | Feb 16, 2018 | General
Yes, Gentle Readers, the sweater progression is moving rapidly along! Last night I joined the sleeves to the body and this morning I am ready to begin the decreases and I am going to take Ann’s recommendation on how to work them. This is such a fast knit, it feels like it is just flying off the needles! I am thinking that I might be done today or tomorrow. And, not that I am hoping for more winter, I do hope that I will have a few days that I can wear it yet this season!
It is a grey and rainy day here, perfect for knitting and watching some Olympics! I even have a few links for you all today!
These socks are so cute! (And, free!)
Dying for a Team USA Closing Ceremony Hat? (also, free!)
Hasukai Cowl (scarf?) Free until March 10! And, this would be a great accessory piece for the Uniform shift!
My obsession with Lopapeysa’s continues: Hjaltlandspeysa
I really love Quince’s Piper 2018 collection.
And, finally…a couple of weeks ago, Steve surprised Sherman with a BarkBox… to say he liked it would be an understatement. The toys are perfect, but the treats have been the biggest hit! You’d think we starve him because he sits and stares at the “treat cupboard” any time we are in the room!
That’s all I have for this week, see you back here on Monday! Have a great weekend everyone!
by Kat | Feb 15, 2018 | General, Words
I cannot with good conscience participate in something as trivial as Three on Thursday, today.
We are 46 days into 2018, just 46 days – 6 and a half weeks – 1 and a half months – and in that short span of time there have been 19 school shootings. That is roughly 1 in every 2 and a half days.
If that does not shock you – it should.
And, if we continue this path it will mean that we can expect another 124 more such incidents before the end of 2018, and yesterday’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earned itself 3rd place on the “deadliest shooting” list.
How many more children must be lost to gun violence before we as a nation say enough.
We need commonsense gun laws. We needed them yesterday. Senator Chris Murphy said it best: School Shootings are a “consequence of our inaction”.
Thoughts and prayers are all well and good, but if they are not coupled with action – they are meaningless. And, while my thoughts are with the families of the 17 victims who lost their lives yesterday as well as with those in the hospital recovering from this horrific attack. I will be sending a message to my elected officials today as well. If you are participating in the Month of Letters, perhaps today you should send a note to your elected official telling them that you expect action. If you are unsure of how to do that, you can find your elected official here.
We can no longer be silent.
by Kat | Feb 14, 2018 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Happy Valentine’s Day – or as Compassionknit says, Happy GALentine’s Day, Unravelers!
I got my knitting back on track yesterday and the body of my Olympic Carbeth is done and a sleeve is under way! Despite the little bits of time that I have had to knit on this, it is going amazingly fast! However, thanks to the Olympics, I knit an extra inch on the body. I don’t think it will matter and I am not ripping back! Yet…when I have the sleeves done, I will try it on and see what I think. It is a bit hard to tell in its current state.
All other knitting is in a holding pattern…that means the socks are on hold as is my Stokkur. I have marked my place in both patterns, however, so I don’t forget where I am! Hopefully, I will be back to knitting them this weekend!
My reading this week was so good!
I finished Sherman Alexie’s You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me (so so so good!) and The Snow Child (also so good!) but I have made little headway with Ali Smith’s Winter, because knitting and Olympics watching!
I started listening to Before We Were Yours. I am not quite halfway through but I am liking how this story is being told, very much!
At night I am trying to stay awake long enough to get into a Net Galley book, Gods of Howl Mountain. Sometimes, staying awake to read more than a page, err a paragraph or two is a Herculean task! But, I hope to get it done this week…if I can stay awake that is! Haha!
Did you see some of the new titles coming out this month? I am on the wait list for several of them at my library already!
As for Valentine’s Day… we are staying in. I am making my own riff on Surf and Turf with Lamb and Shrimp. Do you have special plans for dinner tonight?
As always, if you are joining us today, thank you!! Please leave the link to you post in your comment!
