by Kat | Oct 16, 2020 | General, In This Moment
Overnight, the weather has changed…dramatically. Yesterday it was windy and mild… today grey, rainy, and much cooler. It seems that this prediction is spot on, lol… I am shocked because that rarely happens! Oh, and it seems that there is some *snow* in the forecast as well. Sigh.
There are bits of color popping up all around me and I maximized the Fall Feeling by baking Apple Slab Pie this week. My freezer is now stocked with a bunch of “bites” of a little something sweet.
Earlier this week Steve told me there are just six Friday’s left in the year. Wait…wut?!? Ummm, no Steve… including today, there are 10 errr, 11(thanks Karen, lol). Not much better but, my panic level receded a bit! lol
Isabell Kraemer has a new sweater pattern out… oh my it is lovely! I have color work on the brain right now!
Finally, this interview from last Friday really hit home with me. I am on the very short waitlist at my library for Maggie Smith’s new book and I can’t wait!
I hope you all have a great weekend! See you all back here on Monday!
by Kat | Oct 14, 2020 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
This week, knitting for Olivia has consumed me! I working on the sweetest little layette set that I hope to have winging its way to her in CA soon! The evolution of my knitting has astounded me though… especially in this iteration of the timeless BSJ. I must have been channeling EZ because I thought about how the applied I-cord would flow into the other areas (even thought they are all knit separately!) So I had little clusters of 3 stitches on pins waiting to be joined. And I have to say… I LOVE how this one turned out! And that perfection was just calling for a pair of Saartje’s Booties and an Easy Peasy Newborn Hat! (and I hope have leftover yarn to make an acorn or two!) I just have some fiddly bits on the second bootie to finish up and sew on some buttons… oh and finish the hat! But I think the hat should be done today as I don’t have lots on my plate!
It almost looks like one continuous applied i-cord!
Those little fiddly button holes… but they really make the booties!
The reading has absolutely slowed down a bit… not sure what’s up with that, but I only have one finish this week.
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What an interesting way to tell a story! Do memories have a taste? Do they smell? It was something I thought about as this story unfolded…and are those memories the door to pain and heartache? I loved the little “intermezzo” chapters where you got to know Leila’s friends more closely. And the ending… yes! It was exactly what I did not know I was hoping for. The only thing from keeping this book from a 5-star rating… at times the chapters dragged on a bit. However, I do highly recommend this beautiful story!
And, what about you? What is occupying your making and reading hours this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share, please leave you link below and thank you!
by Kat | Oct 12, 2020 | General, In This Moment
Last week ended on a stressful note… and then some. Oy.
Friday I had a doctors appointment…a stressful thing in itself…and after making it through the “COVID Screening” to get to my doctors office, I thought it would be smooth sailing from there, HA! Sadly, all my fears intensified when I walked into a very packed waiting room – like WAY too many people in a VERY small waiting room. I had arrived about 15 minutes early for my appointment and still had to wait about 45 minutes… gah! I have COVID fears right now… bad. But, the funniest thing happened in the exam room! My doctor is very soft spoken and wearing a mask does not inspire him to speak louder. I was feeling my age when I kept having to ask what he said over and over and over… yes, in hindsight, it was comical. At the time tho…oy.
From there, it was Flu Shot time! (Slightly shorter wait and, thankfully, way less people)
And if all that was not enough, somehow I thought hitting the grocery store would be a genius idea. HA! Grocery shopping at lunch time on a Friday… not so smart. But at least there is some food in the house now!
Our mail delivery has been sketchy at best, most days we get no mail. No bills, no junk mail, no mail period. I have long been signed up for “informed delivery” and you would think the PO would get sick of me telling them things were not delivered, but nope… it does not matter… I think we have Newman “delivering” our mail. Ha!
So mailing our ballots back to the county was not something I was willing to risk. Saturday morning we headed off to drop off our ballots. Yes, there were long lines! But it was like a well oiled machine! Want to vote? Enter Here! Want to drop off your ballot? Enter Here! So we excitedly, HAPPILY!! cast our ballots on Saturday! And let me tell you how amazing it felt to be voting with lots and lots of Biden Voters!! Hope springs eternal in the voting line!! (but again, LOTS OF PEOPLE!!)
After all that excitement, I was happy to return home and stay there for the remainder of the weekend!
I spent a good bit of time Sunday setting up my new calendar insert…and I am so excited to start this week with it! I have set up through the start of next year and it feels good! Now that laundry is underway I am going to spend some time organizing my inserts! Then I will feel ready to attack the week! I hope to share with you all next week how the new calendar set up is working!
Oh, and I have clean and fill some pens with autumn-y inks on my list today too!
How about you? How was your weekend?
by Kat | Oct 7, 2020 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Unravelers!
First up, some incredibly sad news. I had already planned my post for Monday or I would have shared that Annie Modesitt lost her battle with cancer last week Thursday. This tribute posted on FB is exactly how I want to remember Annie. Bon voyage, indeed, Annie. May your next journey be as brilliant as you were!
(and then if that was not shitty enough, Eddie Van Halen died yesterday. 2020, you just suck. And true words… greatest rock and roll guitar player ever. This solo was just so damned amazing.)
On the knitting front, I am making my way through the increases in Olivia’s BSJ. It might have been done, but I made a rookie error and increased on the wrong side. I did not catch it until I had almost completed the decreases… so RIIIPPPP! I frogged back to fix the error. (I am 100% blaming this error on Last Tango in Halifax… lol) Anyway, I don’t expect this will take much longer and then I will be back to Sleeve Island and Acorn Production….two very nice ways to spend ones time!
The reading this week has hit a bit of a hurdle. I think when you have read so many excellent books, it can be hard to settle into a new book. That was the case for me this week. I tried several times to get into Girl, Woman, Other but it just was not happening. I returned it to the library and will try again later this year. When that happens, I find a nice palate cleanser is the perfect thing and I had two perfect palate cleansing books!
The Tradition by Jericho Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jericho Brown is a new to me poet, but a friend’s review of his poetry piqued my curiosity!
The Tradition did not at all disappoint! I listened to the audio version, and it was so good I listened twice! The words sing a poignant song that will not leave you unmoved.
Utter perfection and I highly recommend!
Thrall by Natasha Trethewey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had recently heard one of Trethewey’s poems on The Writer’s Almanac and it inspired me to read more. This book of poems weaves back and forth between thoughts on her father and poems about artwork. It is magical how she can make you see the artwork with her words. But the poems about her father are simply magnificent.
And that is all I have for this week. I will be back on Monday!
As always, if you wrote a post to share, please leave your link below and thank you!
by Kat | Oct 5, 2020 | General, Looking Back
September showed up right on schedule, and lasted a whole month. — Jenny Wingfield
This was a month that I wish felt like February… short and over almost before it began. The days just dragged on and I had the worst case of the blues in September. It was hard to find one thing good in any of the 30 days and even in this look back there are few things. It feels like each day is an exercise in finding something to distract me from my sadness. I am missing my family terribly and September was especially bad. I missed Heidi’s 30th Birthday (because, honestly… a call is just not the same as being there), Winston is growing *rapidly* and it feels like I am missing all.the.things. And I know there are so many of you who are going through the same things I am and I think about you every day… and I wonder will we get through this? How will this change us? I can’t imagine that any of us will be better for this enforced separation.
Thing I was most surprised by —
The smoke from the fires out west making its way here and impacting our skies (and the air we breathe). It made me understand better how this was impacting those living in the midst of the fires. And it made me more worried for my daughter who lives near San Francisco (as if I needed one more thing to worry about, but worry more I did.)
Thing I was most grateful for —
Winston has been smiling, but not on “cue” or not when my daughter had her phone (of course, lol) but there was a moment and she managed to get one on camera!
Thing that “got me through” but there is no image —
The book club from my church. This month our Dear Church Zoom Conversations have helped me tremendously. Being in a group of people who are trying to find ways to be a better ally was better than I imagined. And though we finished our book discussion, October will bring continued discussions with a broader group of participants. I am nervous, but very excited to continue this journey.
And with that… my look back at September is over. Happy Monday everyone!
by Kat | Oct 2, 2020 | General, In This Moment
Another week draws to a close with its own set of hiccups. I had hoped to have found more nuggets of time to feed my Acorn Obsession, but I think the diversion is one I would not trade for anything. And while I cannot share photos, I can tell you that I have a new granddaughter – Olivia Margaret and she is hale and healthy. Mother and baby are settling in just fine.
Yesterday I started the palest pink BSJ for her and managed to get a good start on it. I am making my way through the decreases and hope to find LOTS of knitting time this weekend so it can be finished next week and on its way to her!
My acorn bowl is sitting on the dining room table and I am eager to return to filling it. I love how I am using up the left over bits from Winston’s sweater. And, with luck, there might even be a pale pink acorn joining soon!
It felt so good to slam the door shut on September, whew… it was a rough month. I am debating with myself about even doing a September Look Back… and the don’t do it voice is winning right now. Thank you all for your kind thoughts regarding my struggle.
This morning I am trying to figure out how best to work on my budding phrenology chart as the days progress. It took me so long to get it set up… lots of erasing, lots of *hard* math because of course October has 31 days, thankyouverymuch. I have been thinking and thinking of how best to make this work in the flow of my days… and honestly, I don’t think a “circle” is the answer. I am toying with ideas… stay tuned.
In the “best Tweet of the Day” Category: @iamKimRL won hands down. This tweet… (and of course she did!)
Because we are all still in the Stay at Home Boat, I really appreciated this Fall TV Preview from NPR. There are lots of interesting things there… something for everyone!
Gudrun Johnston’s Shetland Trader hit my email-box this week with a gorgeous sweater! (Rav Link). There is a woman’s and a unisex version (you get both with pattern purchase!) This green version made me stop, wow! And you can see a Plethora of Porty Pullover’s here on IG!
And my “informed delivery” email from the Post Office tells me that TODAY our mail in ballots arrive! Wahooo! By the end of the day I will have cast my ballot and will be hand delivering it to the drop-off site in Carnegie. Have you planned your vote? There is still time!
That is all I have for this week! Have a fantastic weekend everyone and I will see you all back here next week!
