by Kat | Nov 20, 2019 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Late November unraveling feels a bit frantic; do you agree?
I have a pair of socks I’d like to finish for a Christmas gift… this from the person who might just be the slowest sock knitter in the Northern Hemisphere. I don’t even have a HO (and that damned clock is ticking!) And these socks are knit on a bigger than usual needle and it is still slow going!
However, the Gnome has been started and I think the fiddliest bits are done (that three-pointed cap was a bitch, just sayin’) I am almost to the body decreases so the speed of knitting has picked up dramatically!
(And, my poor Evening Dew Cardigan has not seen much knitting time at all this week!)
But I do have a finished object!! Yes… it took a long time (I really can’t even remember when I started this hat – but it was a while ago) It has been languishing and fell into the out of sight, out of mind black hole. However, a bit of cleaning on Saturday and it resurfaced – and some attention on Saturday night, and a wee bit on Sunday and by Monday morning I was doing the decreases and now I have a blocked finished Sockhead Slouch Hat to keep Steve’s head warm!
His exuberance is overwhelming, no?
Books this week included Ann Cleeve’s sixth book in her Shetland series; Thin Air. I struggled to get into this series, but perseverance has paid off because this was my favorite one yet! 4-stars and I truly recommend this series!
I also finished Eventide, the second in Kent Haruf’s Plaintide trilogy. I loved it more than the first. I especially love how he has woven the stories of the people from Holt, CO together. If you are looking for a series that is the perfect thing for a “holiday read” look no further! I highly recommend (and Eventide got 5-stars!)
That is all I have for this week and if you wrote a post to share, please leave your link below!
by Kat | Nov 13, 2019 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Unravelers and Happy Wednesday!
I finished my Baby Velvet knitting binge with a bang – one final pint-sized cowl so Vivi can match her mom! (I think it might be a little big, but it will absolutely work!) Details for my modifications are here.
I got to the next part of the Evening Dew Cardigan! Yes, I have picked out the provisional cast on (which can I just say is not for the faint of heart when using mohair/silk laceweight yarn!) and have begun the front shoulder portion of the sweater! Woooo! Yes, it is minute progress… but progress!
I also am tossing the stash to cast on an Oh Gnome, You Didn’t and I am hoping I have some orange yarn somewhere…
Now, how about a wee reading update:
Finish Number One… Plainsong by Kent Haruf. Oh my, this is a lovely book. The writing is wonderful and the stories of the people living in Holt, Colorado draw you in. I listened to the audio version and I so enjoyed it. The narrator was very good, and I loved this book almost as much as Our Souls at Night. I recommend this 4-star book!
Next, I finished How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. Another audio book, this one read by Kendi, was the perfect follow up to Just Mercy. Kendi invites you gently in and helps you unpack your thoughts, beliefs, and ideas – gently, directly – beautifully! He does not condemn the listener, he inspires you to be better, to change in positive ways, and to be a more active antiracist. 5-stars for this must-read book!
That is all I have for this week. What about you? Have you had any making successes this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share, please leave you link below and thank you!
by Kat | Nov 6, 2019 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
My “regularly scheduled knitting” has been preempted by some fast and furious gift knitting. That’s right, I have been doing some very “not me” knitting for my girls who love to get knitted gifts, yet often complain about woolen scratchiness. Nothing scratchy about these cowls – no sir! They are soft and cozy (although I am not sure how warm they will be….) Anyways, this is one super-fast knit! One done, and the second well underway! I had hoped to get more done yesterday, but we were pleasantly busy at the polls! My plans for today include an afternoon curled up on the sofa knitting! And, I expect to be back to the Morning Dew Cardigan later this week!
My reading was supercharged this week:
I finished Inland and while this was slow going to start, it finished wonderfully! The characters are well developed, the story full of just the right amount of whimsy, and the ending… oh my. It was really wonderful. 4-stars – this is a “western” that does not feel entirely like a western.
I also finished I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a White Made for Whiteness – this was a short but powerful novel. “This is partly what makes the fragility of whiteness so damned dangerous. It ignores the personhood of people of color, and instead makes the feelings of whiteness the most important thing.” In a year of trying to read books that open my eyes, change my viewpoint, and disassemble my white fragility – this book was like a Psalm – well-written, powerful, and so thought-provoking. 4-stars and I highly recommend.
Finally, I finished Book 6 in the Sandhamn Murders – In Harm’s Way. These are truly the most enjoyable little mysteries – and Sten leaves the door open for some new interesting character lines. 4-stars.
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
by Kat | Oct 30, 2019 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Unravelers!
October is easing out incredibly here in Western Pennsylvania. The days have warmed beautifully with the glorious sunshine we have had. October will end for us with temps rising into the 70’s, which is such a blessing. Of course, tomorrow we have rain in the forecast which is less than perfect for the neighborhood children to make their Trick or Treat Trek – but at least it will be a warm night!
I promised you a photo of Genevieve in all her Halloween Glory… and she is so glorious! You can barely make out her “deer leggings” under her must-have tutu but her headband is very easy to see. AND!!! If you look very closely you will see two pierced ears! I think she is the most adorable dancing deer in all North America!
As you can see above, Evening Dew Cardigan is moving along, albeit slowly. There is no way I know to cable quickly, but can I just say that this yarn combo is heavenly to knit with! I do need to pay attention as I knit, it is very easy to miss a strand of one of the yarns – this is not a mindless knit.
But…Tegna. Oh, my! She is so lovely. It is like wearing a cloud! All my details are here, if you are interested!
My reading this week was so incredible and suddenly all other books are sadly disappointing and very anti-climactic. I started Téa Obreht’s Inland and I am struggling to feel comfortable with it.
First up I finished listening to The Dutch House. This was the best book I have read all year. The story and the narrator were the most impeccable combination. I desperately wanted this story to never end, yet I could not stop listening. I fell in love with Maeve and Danny and would like nothing better to somehow be a member of their family. I laughed, gasped, and cried as this story kept building to an incredible ending. If you read nothing else this year – get this book. Listen to this book – Tom Hanks narrates it – and do it right now! 5-stars
I also finally finished Just Mercy. I loved this book but for none of the same reasons. This book showed me how incredibly ignorant I am, how comfortably ensconced in my white privilege with blinders on to the horrors that are our criminal justice system (which is not just at all) I am excited to begin the discussions on this powerful book. 5-stars – this is also a must read.
Finally – I finished a quick Viveca Sten Sandhamn Mystery. I won a copy from a Goodreads give away (book #7 in the series) so I picked up Book 5 – In the Heat of the Moment. This is an enjoyable series that happen on an island in the Swedish archipelago – Sandhamn. It is always curious to me that so much murder can happen in such a small place! This one got 3-stars and I am on to Book 6 – In Harm’s Way. These are the perfect bedtime reads – they move along quickly, they do not require an abundance of thought to keep the story line straight, and if you fall asleep – it is easy to get right back in the next night!
A wee bit of housekeeping – next week Tuesday is Election Day and I will be working at my polling place, so next week’s Unraveled Wednesday might be up a litter later in the morning than it usually is!
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you so much for your participation!
by Kat | Oct 23, 2019 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
There has been little knitting here this week, which shocks me! Silly me imagined that seaming my friend’s sweater would be something I would complete quickly! Reality was that it took much longer than I anticipated and there was no time left to bake anything on Monday!
However, Tuesday morning dawned grey and very rainy – just the thing to inspire a bit of time in the kitchen baking! My usual morning walk was put on pause until the rains stopped later in the day, but I managed nicely to fit both baking and walking into the daily agenda.
I have no knitting progress to show you although I did take Aisé to Tuesday night knitting – which was practically the only knitting I have done this week! I would have photos to show you my progress but the light was long gone by the time I got home so no photo of any knitting to share today!
However, I do have some spectacular books to update you all with!
I finished The Huntress. This book revolved around 3 main characters – I had a hard time getting into the story, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. There were twists and turns that I did not expect. After a slow start, it finished brilliantly – 4-stars and I very much recommend this book!
I listened to Dani Shapiro narrate Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love. I enjoyed it tremendously – with a word of warning – do not listen to this book while walking, because there were so many unexpected moments that made me cry. Which is not exactly the thing you want to do while walking! 4-stars and I highly recommend it!
After the Flood is the book that was the October “Libraries Transform Book Pick” I think it is curious that they selected this very curious story that takes place post global warming. Yes, another flood (or two) have covered most of the earth and this is post-flood and the earth is still mostly covered with water. I had originally given the book 3-stars, but I have since downgraded that review to 2-stars. So much of the story is barely believable and there are so many lose ends that never get settled. Sadly, I do not recommend.
Finally, I finished The Banker’s Wife – again, I am not sure where I saw this book and it started out so wonderfully! I could barely put it down and then it all sort of fell apart in the last 20% of the novel. The ending could have been so much better, but it was still a riveting novel. I really debated about how to rate this one and I started with 4-stars, but I have downgraded that to 3-stars.
I am *almost* done with Just Mercy and I am really looking forward to discussing this with Read With Us!
If you wrote a post to share today, please leave your link below and thank you for joining us!
by Kat | Oct 16, 2019 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
By the time you read this, I will be in the process of picking up the stitches around the neck of my Tegna. It still looks like a bright pink fluffy blob, so no photos until it has been finished and blocked!
However, the turn in the weather brings a great desire to *cast*on*all*the*things* so I thought I’d share my next projects…
Project One:
Aisé and my plan is to knit it up with a strand of Silky Alpaca Lace and a strand of Sparkly Kid Silk Haze. (The yarn combo on the right in the photo above)
Project Two:
Evening Dew Cardigan which I hope to knit with one strand of a skein of Briar Rose Fibers Angel Face with a strand of Fibernymph Dye Works Floof. As long as I get gauge, that is! (The yarn combo on the left)
No, I just can’t stop with the mohair/silk yarns! The two of these should take me through the end of the year (plus a portable project or two and an add-in gift knit for my son’s girlfriend)
That brings me to the reading this week:
I am slowly working through Just Mercy. I have deliberatively slowed my reading pace and I am even taking some notes! I am very much looking forward to discussing this book with fellow Read With Us participants next month!
I finished Julia Child’s My Life in France and I loved every word. How I did not know this book existed is beyond me but thank you Sarah for suggesting I read it! 5-stars and if you are a Julia Child fan, it is absolutely a must read!
That is all I have for this week! What about you? How is your making going this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
