by Kat | Nov 23, 2016 | General, Making
The phase of Frantic Knitting has arrived – I have some holiday knitting to complete and yesterday Steve added one more item to my list!
So, that means this post is short on photos of things in process.
However, I can share my handspun Squad Mitts – they are for my sister who is not online at all, ever. (Weird, I know!) So, she will not see these here!
I simply love how they turned out and I have some left overs so there will be more pairs in the coming days!
My reading (listening) has been consumed by The Underground Railroad – I am almost done and I simply love this book! The reader is fantastic and the story is so compelling. I think this might be one of the best novels I have read this year and I highly recommend it!
Sadly, today there won’t be much knitting – but lots of cooking instead! Sweet potatoes are currently roasting in the oven and after they are done it is pumpkin pie time! All to get ready for tomorrows feast!
Linking up with Ginny’s Yarn Along and wishing you all a successful day of preparation!
by Kat | Nov 22, 2016 | General
It has been two weeks – 14 short days – since the election and the Southern Poverty Law Center website tells me that there have been more than 700 incidents of hateful harassment’s since the election. That is more than 50 incidents per day, which boggles my mind, but what is even more upsetting is that these incidents have “taken on a new boldness“. The “Trump Effect” is even more ugly than I could have ever imagined, and I imagined it to be horrid.
But, what about my neighborhood, my city, my little corner of the world? Have I noticed any changes?
Sadly, we have. People seem to be ruder as they drive – in the past, merging into traffic there was just a “driver courtesy” allowing people to merge. Now, this seems a thing of the past – rather than allowing a driver to merge in – they speed up and crowd the driver out. A scary thing to the observer, and even scarier to experience. Ask me, I know!
And, if that is not enough – the laying on of the horns and hand gestures received because you stopped for pedestrians in the cross walk is just the icing on the cake. (Please note, in Pennsylvania – pedestrians in the cross walk have the right of way and traffic must stop for them)
This level of rudeness is not restricted to our area streets – people in shops also seem less kind and considerate – from those working and to those shopping, which makes the shopping experience so delightful – not!
Sadly, it is not only happening on our roads and in our stores – our schools are experiencing it too.
However, there is a bright spot despite all this boorish behavior and general nastiness.
Trader Joe’s.
Yes, that’s right – if you need a boost – a lift in your spirits – a reminder that not all of humanity is inhumane – stop at my local Trader Joe’s.
The people who shop there are kind and considerate and smiling.
Adding to that – the people who work there are genuinely happy, helpful, eager to assist, and filled with good cheer.
I do not know how this little microcosm of goodness exists seemingly separate from the Trump Effect, but I want to thank Trader Joe’s – what they are doing is not going unnoticed and I am so thankful this place is nearby!
I would love to see The Trader Joe’s Effect spread across this nation – and I am going to do what I can to help it right here! I will be that person who is kind, considerate, and smiling – genuinely happy, helpful, eager to assist, and filled with good cheer! Won’t you join me?
by Kat | Nov 21, 2016 | General, In This Moment
In a week that comes armed with a list of things to get done, I think it is a good idea to pause and reflect before hitting the ground running.
The weekend started out with crazy and insanely warm weather – it was in the 70’s on Friday and we had windows open much of the day! We contemplated having an outdoor happy hour, but the neighbors’ chorus of leaf blowers made conversation challenging so happy hour was indoors where conversation did not have to be shouted!
Silly neighbors – all they needed to do was wait a day because Saturday brought gale force winds which whisked most of those remaining leaves away.
Saturday also brought our first snow of the season! I don’t know about you but 70’s to 30 and snow in less than 24 hours is some weird weather! The snow persisted much of the day, but little stuck to the ground.
There was a bit of football on Saturday and MICHIGAN WON! One more game to go and then, hopefully, the Big 10 Championship Game!
Sunday morning was even colder and the dusting of snow made everything so magical! Even though my burning bush is now considerably lighter in leaf coverage – there are still a few clinging to the branches and it looked so stunning against the white snow!
We began the planning for Christmas decorating this weekend also. I will begin working on this over the course of the week so I am all finished by the end of next weekend. A little bit each day seems so much more manageable and far less daunting that tackling the entire process in a day or two! Although, it is now apparent that we should have put lights up outside on Friday, I am hoping that the mild weather they are calling for on next Friday is reality and not a “best guesstimate”!
Well, I had better get working on this list – I hope your weekend was refreshing!
by Kat | Nov 20, 2016 | General
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Albert Camus
by Kat | Nov 19, 2016 | General
It has been a rough couple of weeks at Casa del KatKnits – stress has been on overdrive in all aspects of my life.
However, then there is Sherman. Who greets me each day as if it is the best moment of his life and he has not seen me for ages! Which is hilarious, because he sleeps in the bedroom with us! Yet, each morning it is the same. This festival of good morning wiggles, snuggles, and puppy kisses.
He is the one constant in my day – he sleeps under my feet when I am at my desk.
If I am knitting, he is next to me.
When I cook dinner, he is laying on the kitchen rug – vigilantly watching for any morsels that might drop!
In short, he is my constant companion and simply, the best thing ever! He even is there when I am cleaning the bathroom, as the photo above shares.
And, really – that friend that stays with you when you are doing that, is really the best friend of all!
by Kat | Nov 18, 2016 | General, Making
Well, the gauge issues with the Squad Mitts has been solved!
One mitt down, one to go!
I am so happy with how they are turning out – and I am even happier they are 100% handspun yarn, most of which has been spun on a spindle!
And it is Friday!! Bring on the weekend, I am so ready for it! I am starting it off by having tea and some knitting with a friend.
I have nothing else for you except for some links:
Lots of gift knitting ideas here, it is not too late!
Have a fantastic Friday – see you back here tomorrow!!
