Just One Sock and One Book

Just One Sock and One Book

Today is Yarn Along, and the light has finally appeared at the end of the reading tunnel! I finished Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo and I liked it a bit more than I did his first Harry Hole novel. Harry was not drowning in the bottom of a whiskey bottle this time, and again, I did not see the ending coming at all!

And!!!

I should have Mink River done today!

I know, there may even be a bit of a dance of joy with its completion!

On the knitting front, Ann and Kay are having a little mini KAL through the end of the month – the goal to finish that “second sock” which is perfect, because I had finished the first Morwenstowe sock and had started the second one. Since the kickoff on Monday I have been knitting a bit each day and am on the heel flap! The heel should be turned today and then just cruising down the foot in the race to the toe! Perhaps, I can even get this dreaded pair of socks finished before month end.

Why dreaded you ask? Well, dark yarn on size zero needles makes for very difficult knitting. As in, I can only see clearly in bright sunlight to knit the damned things! No rainy day knitting or watching TV knitting with these socks!

Please note, that will only work if the Monsoon Season that has arrived (apparently to stay) in Western PA is replaced with some bright and sunny days.

I am not holding out much hope.

However, tomorrow I have some really fun and exciting news to share with you! I hinted at it last week, and tomorrow all shall be revealed!

Until then, Gentle Reader, what exciting things are you knitting or reading today?

More reading, less knitting, some spinning

More reading, less knitting, some spinning

It’s Wednesday and that means Ginny is rounding up the knitters and the readers for her Yarn Along. I am about half way through Raven Black and I really want to get it finished today. I am not totally loving this book, but I have started it and I want to finish it. And, if you are looking for some titles to round out your reading list, yesterday’s 10 on Tuesday hosted by CaroleKnits was all about 10 books that make you D.E.A.R. and the participants all had fantastic book lists – if you are looking for a book to read, head on over there and you will be sure to find a more than a few good reads!

On the knitting front – I seem to have stalled on knitting projects recently. I still have socks in the works, but I have been kind of aimlessly casting on, knitting a few rows, and ripping out. Swatching that is not working – pattern and yarn are not loving each other.

However, this swatching is working out beautifully. My sample is knitting up nicely. I should have this done and washed today. I won’t know that my yarn will match and work completely until I have washed it. Once I am certain that my handspun will work, I will be back carding the Shetland to get ready to spin. This week is supposed to be lovely here and yesterday afternoon saw the completion of the Pergola – and we both lived to tell about it!! I will have pictures later this week, but it will make the perfect place to card that Shetland!

I have been putting the waste wool from the carding process out for the birds, because they don’t think it is waste at all! In fact, they are gleefully snatching it up to line their nests! I know this because of the war we are having with Mr. Robin (who every year wants to build his nest around the light on our porch) thus far, we are winning, but the collection of nesting materials that the wind is blowing all over includes bits of papers from the neighborhood, sticks, grasses, and my wool waste! I would love to let him stay, but the first year he abandoned the nest due to our activity – this is the only door out to our back yard, which we use multiple times a day. I am hoping that our spending more time outdoors will move his efforts to a more suitable place.

And, speaking of Shetland/UK – Ann and Kay are in search of the Knitter’s Holy Grail – Kay is knitting a Kaffe Fassett design and Ann has cast on a Jade Starmore sweater. A knitter’s battle for the ages and a rabbit hole for this knitter to avoid! However, it will be fun to see these projects progress. Kay wants to wear hers to Rhinebeck! What say you Ann? Will you wear yours too? While I might have pulled out my Alice Starmore book, I am in no means jumping on this bandwagon. I have other sweater dreams dancing in my head!

Anyways, enough rambling for today – I have a book to read! Tell me – what knitting successes are you having?!

Thursday Things

Thursday Things

I have been obsessed with the patterns by JumperCables lately, especially this and this and this! Do I think any of them would look good on me? No. But that does not stop me from thinking about them. There is one that I think I can pull off – Puddle. This seems like an excellent summer project, mindless knitting that would not fill my lap and the end result would give me a lovely warm cowl come fall.

Konmari and my office have become such great friends. Now, to figure out what to do with over 200 CD’s… Seems kind of wasteful to throw them away (not to mention not environmentally nice) and I really don’t want another box of stuff to put somewhere. Any ideas would be appreciated…

I am so proud of Daughter Number 2 – this week she donated over 500 ounces of breast milk to some in need moms. And, she has over 700 ounces more to give. She is a super mom in my book!

I have been enjoying Sonya Philip’s Periscope broadcasts each week – she has great, thought-provoking conversation. If you have not tried Periscope – you should. A great way to get quick, fun updates from a variety of sources. Ones I especially love – Ysolda, Goulet Pens, and Kay Gardiner (especially when she reads through the latest Rowan Magazine…)

Making mistakes work is something that does not always happen. However, this week I had one that worked incredibly well. Best mistake ever…bias tape on the outside FTW!

As for now I am heading to watch some Netflix and work on finishing some projects before Easter gets here!

Randomly Friday

Randomly Friday

The knitting continues, and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have gotten to the color work portion of my Lopapeysa. That means that bind off will happen today! Thus far I have a grand total of twenty-seven and a half hours for #bangoutasweater and I am estimating that I have maybe another 5 hours more before that epic bind off happens.

I was shocked and insanely proud to see my sweater on MDK yesterday. A huge thanks to Kay for that supreme honor.

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