by Kat | Oct 23, 2017 | General, In This Moment
Or, what I did on my weekend.
Who knew that while living worlds apart, Marie Kondo and Margareta Magnusson were traveling the same path. I am well into reading The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (or döstädning) and it has invigorated me and filled with all kinds of KonMari joy!
Enter the weekend, and so began the dreaded task of closet cleaning.
As Monday dawns, I am sufficiently thrilled at the cleaning, sorting, and shedding of unwanted things. I have a nice stack to take to the resale shop as well as a huge stack heading off to good will. And, this morning my trash man will haul away those things that were relegated to the trash pile!
AND, I managed to finish up the volunteer budget work on Sunday afternoon!!
That is a huge load off my mind and I intend to use that freed up space to plot out my fall knitting and do some swatching and sweater planning this week! I did break down last week and swatched for “Rusty” and after figuring out gauge, I cast on Thursday night and by the end of the weekend I am almost half way done with the body.
This week my “to do” list is so much lighter, it almost feels like no list at all. And, for this Monday morning – that is a very good thing!
How was your weekend?
by Kat | Oct 20, 2017 | General
How on earth is it already October 20?!? Amirite?
But, how is this perfect fall weather? Outside of Monday when frost greeted Sherman and I for our morning constitutional, it has been most gloriously beautiful. Crisp, cool mornings that give way to sunny, warm days. This weather can just stay for a good long while!
Operation List Completion went very well this week, surprisingly and I am feeling decidedly accomplished!
AND, I have some details to share about the Charitable knitting I completed and blocked! It is Justyna Lorkowska’s Close to You pattern, and this might become my “hitchhiker”. Super fun to knit, an easy-to-memorize pattern, and it uses just one skein of sock yarn. I used some deep stash that I got eons ago from The Loopy Ewe. It is Fleece Artist sock yarn (I think 2/8 BFL, sorry I am not sure and the tag is long gone). I love how it turned out and I am thrilled to be helping support this cause: The Foster Success Foundation.
In the book category – I did have a more than slight moment of panic last night!! Two audiobook holds have come through: What (the hell) Happened and Little Fires Everywhere. I have 21 days to finish them…can I do it? (Also, of course this happened after I started listening to Life after Life on a recommendation from Mary!)
For those that love Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown… he is in Pittsburgh this week! You won’t want to miss it! Really!!
Now, how about some links?
- First up, Marie Greene has a new sweater pattern: Azimuth
- Plucky Knitter has a new pattern collection out, but I especially love Martin. I love the versatility of a vest and this one has some cute details!
- There are some new things from Kirsten Kapur and Thea Colman! I love this yarn pairing and really wish I was going to the reception at Jill’s studio!
- Animal Bonnet is just in time for Halloween!
- Electra is beautiful (and it is a lovely shape as well!)
- Tamangur… I love the yarn and the construction of this sweater. (P.S. The yarn is lovely and very affordable!)
- These socks… or maybe these… oy! (And, really… the Socks of Narnia is an awesome collection and reading knitters are my favorite)
And, finally… I am doing a bit of work with my dear friend, Beth Smith. She has some new classes coming and some other wonderful surprises! If you are not on her mailing list, you should be!!
That is all I have for today, enjoy your weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Oct 19, 2017 | General, Words
Today’s post is going to be fast (and furious!) as I am still working through my lists, although I am nearing completion!
Thing 1:
Some semblance of Halloween decorating will be happening here today. This may involve outside lights of some sort or other. Really. I swear!
Thing 2:
We only have 2 more weeks of our local farmers market and this fact makes me just want to cry! On a bright note, my favorite farmer will have fresh Brussels Sprouts on Saturday. I.cannot.wait!
Thing 3:
We have been doing some planning and pondering about outdoor activity as the weather becomes more inclement…(not too soon, PLEASE!!) But, we really LOVE our walks/runs out at Boyce-Mayview and are contemplating what gear might be best for such weather. If you have any ideas or suggestions, I would really welcome them.
Those are my things for the day… what things are looming in your world today!
AND, if you want to see what things are on others minds, you will find them over at Carole’s!
by Kat | Oct 18, 2017 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Hello Unravelers!
In the “finish up project’s” queue, I am finally on the last clue of Laura Aylor’s Sand Ripples shawl. Oh, the love! I am really happy with this! Our weather turned this week, which is great incentive to get this done because it will be awesome to keep the chill away on those early morning walks with Sherman! I am trying to get it done this week, however there is still an awful lot of knitting to do…But!! I am hoping!
I have begun to plan some sweater knitting as well. I have the yarn to knit another Stopover but this time just a regular pullover! I also want to make Ysolda’s Strokkur, which has been on my wish list for a long time. AND, I have the yarn to make Steinunn Birna Gudjonsdottir’s Ryðrauð, which is a free pattern on Ravelry, but the directions (and the yarn) seemed daunting. Okay, maybe they still do, but I am going to give it a go anyways! That’s so many sweaters, but hopefully the knitting goes as quickly as my first Stopover!
As for the reading, back to regularly scheduled life has slowed down the listening a bit, but I have finished a couple of things this week!
- I Will Send Rain was an audiobook I borrowed from the library. This book was okay – I liked it but, I did not love it. I am giving it 3 stars. I found parts of it interesting, but I did not like any of the characters. And, the story line was very depressing.
- And, History of Wolves which I gave 4 stars. This book was an “out of my comfort zone read” for me. That is not always a bad thing, but this book covers some very uncomfortable topics and it at times it was very disturbing. However, all that being said, it is beautifully written. I would have given this book 5 stars however, the ending really fell flat for me.
Up next:
That is all I have for this week, but what about you? How’s your making and reading this week?
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by Kat | Oct 17, 2017 | General, In This Moment
I managed to check several things off my lists from yesterday! Applesauce is done (and today it is going in the freezer once I have organized it a bit!) AND…the charity knitting is done and it will get a nice Soak™ bath and some blocking this morning!
I do have one fun thing planned this morning and that is a bit of catch up with a couple of very dear friends via a video conference call. Good thing because once those things are done my day is all about spreadsheets. Oy.
Wish me luck, I am going to need it!
by Kat | Oct 16, 2017 | General, In This Moment
This week my lists are full (yes, that is lists!) The art of list juggling is not fun, but over the weekend I made lists as I thought of things – and where I thought of those things, which was not always in my office at the “master list”. I should consolidate, but the joy of tossing a list in the trash when I am done is heady stuff!
I have some “volunteer work” to get done this week as well. And, some “volunteer knitting” to complete. I just have a repeat and then the bind off! Which is good because this needs to be done and blocked by next Saturday. So, first up on my list is to finish it while I catch up on Poldark! Then on to some apple sauce!
I hope your Monday is not too stressful!
