by Kat | Sep 15, 2017 | General
The knitting is inching along nicely. I have about 7 more inches to go on the body of Ponchetta. I finished the third season of Hinterland yesterday, which gave me about 3 inches of quality knitting time! I am not sure how much knitting time there will be this weekend, but there is for sure some Michigan football knitting time on Saturday and that should be good for at least another 3 inches – slowly but surely it is getting done! I am hoping that by this time next week it will be in the FO category!
On my to do list for next week is to round up all the full-sized sheets I have and toss them in the washer before I bring them to my son. Apparently, his sweet pup has been nibbling sheets while Sam is a work. Oops! We also picked up some fleece blankets from IKEA in hopes that will help…better that Bowser chews the $3 blanket than sheets!
The yard is in desperate need of some TLC and since the Yard Fairies have not shown up, that leaves it to us. Hello Grass Cutting, Bush Trimming, and Garden Bed Clean Up – I am so happy to see you! (Okay, maybe not, ha!) Why is it that doing all those things in the spring is greeted with great enthusiasm, but the same is not true in the fall?
How about some links? There are lots of good things this week!
That is all I have for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!!
by Kat | Sep 13, 2017 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
I have been plugging away at my Ponchetta, but I have miles to go yet. Sigh. The rows are long but it is good “sit down and watch television” knitting. I have put aside Laura Aylor’s MKAL aside to get it done. Hopefully some focused knitting will have success!
AND… I began stitching on my first Alabama Chanin garment. So far, so good! Although, I have learned that screen printed t-shirts might not be the best thing to start with! But, I am forging ahead. I think the end result will be worth the effort. But, note to self: plain t-shirts might be a better choice! I am trying to get comfortable stitching without a embroidery hoop – it is a challenge!
Then, there is the reading… Oh, my! The reading has been SOOOO good!
I finished 3 books this week! First up, The River at Night by Erica Ferencik. This was an Overdrive suggestion, and while it was a quick read I thought the entire story was a bit of a “Deliverance-wanna-be” and not in a good way. It was a bit farfetched and I thought the characters were shallow and unbelievable. Why did I keep reading? Well, I hoped that it would improve.
Next, I finished Beach Music which is a 5-star book all the way! I did not think it was possible to like a book more than I did South of Broad, but then came Beach Music! This book made me laugh out loud and it made me cry as Jack collected the stories of family members and friends, sharing them so beautifully. Long live Chippy the Dog stories! GRRRRR! GRRRRRR! Pat Conroy’s tender brilliance and agility with the written word is a thing of wonder to read (and listen too!) I strongly recommend this book!
I also finished Viveca Sten’s Closed Circles. While it had a slow start, it picked up nicely and I am enjoying the character development. I gave this book 4-stars. I really felt like I was part of the detective team as they worked through the mystery. In fact, I am starting book 3 “Guiltless” today!
What are you making this week?
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by Kat | Sep 8, 2017 | General
So, as I previously mentioned, it seems that Autumn turned the lights out on Summer and is here to stay. Yesterday it was incredibly chilly and today is even more so. You know, it’s bundle up weather, sweater and all! And this cool weather reminds me that I have some knits that could use a bit of a bath so I will pull them out today to start that process!
Next, my 5 Day Sweater really needs the sleeves to be just a bit longer so I will be ripping them out and adding a couple of inches to them. So much fun!
Then, staying in the cold weather theme, I have a friend who knit a Ponchetta last winter and it is so cute, so I started one some weeks ago, but I got on the Sweater Crazy Train and it has been languishing in my knitting bag. I got it out last night because we leave for Michigan on the 30th and it would be the perfect thing to have finished for the trip!
And, finally, clue #5 (the final clue!!) of Laura Aylor’s Sand Ripples MKAL is out today. I am plugging away on clue #4 but I am at the point that the rows are getting shorter now, so I hope it starts feeling like it is going more quickly, but I have to say; the construction of this wrap is ingenious!
Now, how about a few links?
That is all I have for this week. Have a great weekend everyone, see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Sep 1, 2017 | General
Happy Friday, Gentle Readers! And, Welcome September – okay, maybe not welcome – it is just 50 degrees out this morning and decidedly fall like. Brrrr!
Blue = 5 star books; Orange = 4 star books
August closed out my summer reading on an incredible high point. I finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay on Wednesday and what a way to finish my book bingo! To say I loved Kavalier and Clay is an understatement – it is one of the best books I have read this year. I gave it 5 stars and if you have not yet read any of Michael Chabon’s books, this is the place to start! I deeply loved Rose, Joe, and Sammy.
This summer had an incredible number of good reads (thanks to so many of you for sharing such incredible titles with me!!) Of the 25 books I read for my cover all there were 14 books I gave 4 stars and 9 that I gave 5 stars. IMO that is just amazing. I discovered some new (to me) authors that I was fortunate to be able to read more of their great writing and I even spent some time with authors I already love.
Staying on books for a moment – I began listening to Pat Conroy’s Beach Music on Wednesday and I am completely enthralled. I mean what is not to love about someone who writes about more dysfunctional families than I had!
And the knitting! I am on clue 3 of Laura Aylor’s Sand Ripples MKAL – and wow! Just wow! I have bound off stitches on 2 sides of the square and now am knitting out from the sides that were not bound off. It is a fascinating construction and I hope to be caught up and start today’s clue this weekend!
Now, how about some knitting inspiration?
First up, some interesting shawls: Touchstone (and it’s a free download!), Balvraid Hap, and Sketch Shawl (I especially like this knit with Zitron Filigran)
Interesting construction with Wood Warbler Cowl and Warrior Cowl
If this weather keeps up you will need a sweater: Steampunk Pullover, New Berlin Gansey, Intrigue, and Brookings Crew
PSA: There are just 115 days to Christmas…if you plan on doing any gift knitting you better get started! Here are some easy gift knits to get you started: Elska, Ruschia Hat, Transitus, and Soft Washed Herringbone Mitts
That is all I have for this week! I will see you back here on Monday!
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by Kat | Aug 28, 2017 | General, In This Moment
This week I have a few things that I must finish that have been at the top of my procrastination list for some time. Sadly, there are plenty of things I procrastinate over but these things are especially procrastination worthy and I am not looking forward to them at all.
The weekend was highly productive but unseasonably cool! We got some inside Kon-Mari-ing done. And I have a good-sized pile of clothes to take to the re-sale shop. Today I will continue in Kon-Mari-Mode and clean out some knitting books. Then I will tackle the Procrastination List!
On a brighter note, I am almost done with this sweater! I might even have it done today, if I can wrap my head around the neckband finishing. We shall see how it goes.
I also made some good progress on Kavalier and Clay over the weekend and I should easily have this done soon. I must admit, they are wonderful companions even during the most mundane of tasks!
And with that, I am off to start my Monday! How was your weekend?
