by Kat | Jul 21, 2017 | General
Today, my little Genevieve is 2 years old and my daughter sent me these photos this week and I just love them. They went to visit a Lavender Farm and Genevieve had so much fun! (Well, at least until she fell asleep!) And, all that lavender is just crazy (and apparently works to relax you!!)
I cannot believe that she is two! Time is just going way too fast! But, Happy Birthday, dear Genevieve! May your day be as beautiful as you are!
Now, how about a link or two?
In the “you did not know you needed to knit this” category: Banana Sweater
This seemed most appropriate after last week’s Cat Shawl…
Laura Aylor’s Summer’s End MKAL looks interesting! Especially this:
Things this shawl is NOT/does NOT have:
Triangle-shaped
Crescent-shaped
A weird shape
Seams
Short rows
Picots
Stitches to pick up (can you believe that?!)
Things it IS/DOES have:
Big and cozy
A little bit of lace
A lot of stockinette
Engaging to knit
I love Fiddlefooted! And, sleeveless!!
Miss Babs has a new Fall Collection out – I especially like Amalgamation and Brickyard
2 Skeins of Heaven Scarf might be the best pattern name ever (and some pretty awesome yarn, too!)
Are Ewe Knitting Me? Hmmm, maybe? And, it is on sale until 7/29!
Simply Summer Sweater is cute, although I am not so sure about all that seed stitch…
Finally, I have been keeping an eye out for cute baby boy knits for Carole! And, Baby Jailbird Jammies certainly are!
That’s all I have for today! Have a great weekend – stay cool and I will see you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Jul 19, 2017 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
This week seems to be flying by, doesn’t it?
My bingo card is looking pretty good and I have my first Bingo of the summer!
I finished Spycatcher by Peter Wright for my “banned in a country outside the US” square. I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads, I enjoyed the book but it rambled a bit and was a book I had to read in spurts. I kept having to go back and re-read parts to figure out how some people fit.
I also finished Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon. This book fills my “set in a state where you live” square. I like Michael Chabon’s writing and Wonder Boys did not disappoint. It is both funny and at times a bit sad – the characters are entirely dysfunctional, but that makes them more enjoyable IMO. And, there is so much Pittsburgh in this book! A great read if you live here! I gave it 4 stars.
I listened to Pat Conroy’s South of Broad and wow! This is my first Pat Conroy novel and I loved it cover to cover. The ending was completely unexpected. The writing is spectacular. I laughed, I cried more than once, and I simply adore Leo. This book might be the best book I will read all summer – and perhaps all year. I want to read it again and gave it 5 stars!
Yesterday, I finished Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney. I gave it 4 stars and honestly – I want to be Lillian when I am 85 years old and the writing is wonderful.
I also started and stopped Anthropology of an American Girl. I listened for about 2.5 hours and just could not go any further. Yeah, it was that bad. This goes in the “could not finish” category. I laughed when I saw someone on Goodreads called this a “time suck” – yes, indeed and frankly, I’d like those 2.5 hours back! I do not recommend.
I have been listening to The Help (which I love!) and I just started reading Beartown. So, much good!
The knitting has not been quite as productive as the reading, but good none the less.
I have been working on catching up with the MKAL. I am not through clue #3 yet (maybe today?) However, slow I am going, it is not because I do not like the pattern – it is awesome and I have tried to avoid seeing what the next clues are. I love that the lace work is such an easy to memorize yet beautiful pattern. I am half way done with the first a pair of mitts out of the really yummy organic Rambouillet.
I also finished some gift knitting that I will blog about once the recipient has received it!
What are you reading and knitting today?
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by Kat | Jul 12, 2017 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Ohai, Unravelers!
Happy Wednesday to you!
I am working on getting back on track with my mystery shawl – slowly, getting back on track! I am almost done with Clue #2, which puts me only 3 weeks behind!
However, I did get a lovely distraction in the mail this week from Shepherd’s Lamb! They sent me 2 skeins of their new Organic Rambouillet yarn! Oh, my it is lovely! I especially love the natural dye colors! I have yarn from 2 different sheep – Rusty Nails and Acorns! The yarn is DK weight and has 180 yards per 2-ounce skein. I am thinking that this pattern might be the perfect thing for this yarn! The yarn has been minimally processed and has a lovely, but faint, sheepy smell! Stay tuned for the FO’s next week!
Now, on to reading – no finishes this week, but hopefully next week I will have a flurry of them! And, really – I need to kick it into high gear because I had a bunch of things come off hold at the library (of course!)
What about you? Any good knits and reads this week?
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by Kat | Jul 10, 2017 | General, In This Moment
Weekend Monday’s are much better than Begin Your Week Monday’s!
This weekend did have some highs though.
- My Knit a Sweater in 4 days took 5 days. I am in total awe of all those who completed this sweater in 4 days – and there were several who did. However, I am thrilled to have a sweater in the complete column! And, even in 5 days – I am super happy with it. I made some mods which you can read about here. It just needs a soak and some ends woven in and it will be ready for sweater weather. Now, back to Stillwater #1 and catching up on KK’s MKAL.
- I binge-watched Witnesses on Netflix. Excellent and I highly recommend!
- I am almost done with South of Broad! Which is a good thing, because I have gotten a flurry of holds that have come available – so my reading/listening list just grew exponentially!
- We did a good bit of yard/garden work on Sunday. More trimming and more planting! Also, some creative adjustments to the “garden gate” because the wee bunnies can eat their weight x100 in beans! I had 10 bean plants, now I have 10 bean sticks! Sigh…
- I discovered that Broadchurch is on BBC America on Wednesday nights! Also, Prime Suspect: Tennison on PBS was excellent!
There you have my weekend but, Monday has a long list and I better get to it! How was your weekend?
by Kat | Jul 7, 2017 | General
The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success. – Bruce Feirstein
The knitting continues, despite not making my “goal” yesterday. I wanted to be done with the body and ready to pick up stitches this morning however, I did get to the ribbing. Twenty-one rows to binding off, seems like a manageable number, doesn’t it?
Today I would like to sit under the pergola but the rain will keep me (and Sherman) in the house. I do have Pat Conroy’s South of Broad to keep me company. And, perhaps indoor knitting will offer fewer distractions than the pergola.
I do have a Brown Wren update! My persistent little wren won over a mate! She finished feathering the nest and now I think there are eggs in the nest! Mr. Wren’s songs are even more ebullient, if that is at all possible!
Also…I saw my first hummingbird on Wednesday! Yep, there she was sitting on the “deer-proof” netting on the garden. And, speaking of the garden…baby tomatoes are popping up all over and it looks like we will have a bumper crop this year!
Now, how about a few links?
First up we have all manner of shawl-y things!! Starting with Avian Melody which is just gorgeous!
To satisfy your inner super hero, you just might need a Wonder Woman Wrap (or perhaps we all do!!)
Sari, not Sari… too cute. And what is not to love about anything knit with Hedgehog yarns?
Rift is simple and so beautiful.
Aurora Borealis from Svetlana… oh.my.
In the somethings other than shawls category, first up Flexi… “MAXIMUM FREEDOM! Your yarn. Your gauge. Your size.” Yes, really.
Old Shale Cardigan for ladies is very cute!
And, finally – put a mitt on it with Wood Sorrel
That’s it for me this week, I am off to work on success and avoiding insanity! See you back here on Monday with a finished sweater! (Hopefully!!)
