Thinking About
A big question for me right now is garden or no garden? Last year the only thing that did well were the beans. Tomatoes and peppers were epic failures with very low production and really not worth the effort. Also, another question I am contemplating is do I want to maintain a vegetable garden by myself? When I add in all the flower beds which I currently care for solo – it all seems a bit much and Steve’s gardening interest has waned to a negative number. Perhaps a good work around would be to have a couple of tomato plants in containers that I could easily manage by myself.
I am also thinking about a Michigan trip! I think this will be another solo visit as well. I am that a mid-March visit will soon be in the works!
Listening and Watching and Reading
I recently finished Conversations with RBG and then I noted that On the Basis of Sex was streaming on television. I think the two work well together – some of the conversations RBG had with Jeffrey Rosen included a couple of the cases in the movie. I highly recommend both the book and the movie!
In my ears right now is the Pulitzer prize winning The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman, narrated by Wanda McCaddon. Wanda is a favorite narrator of mine and this book is so fascinating!
I have a lovely stack of books from the library to get through – however, I cannot read and do color work or do cables, so perhaps I need to start something with miles of stockinette! (**Perhaps the sock below is just the ticket!)
The Miles of Stockinette Pile
I also discovered that listening to NPR’s Up First is a wonderful way to start my day. I have not found success with any other podcast listening – but maybe this is enough.
On my “want to read list” is A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende (which will be released tomorrow) and I heard this interview on Sunday and my desire for this book increased. This one I might need to buy as the library has one copy with a very long wait list!
Knitting
Speaking of knitting, I have a plethora of projects in various stages – my current fascination though is my Pheasant Pullover which I started on Saturday! There is no greater joy than stranded color work – truly, if you have not tried, you should! I am almost finished with the first chart!
I love this colorwork – the colors are just brilliant together!
Even the inside looks beautiful!
I also finished a sock and… wait for it… I have started its mate**! What??? I know, it is a true cause for celebration! I LOVE how the heel fits in this sock! And, I love how it allows the striping to continue down the foot in a more harmonious way – especially if you are a clog wearer like I am! I need to figure out a better fitting toe though…
I *almost* managed to start Sock Two in the same place as Sock One
Sewing and Learning and Wearing
Today is the day I am going to attempt to lay out an Esme Tunic in which the plaids match! I have watched and rewatched this video a number of times and am mentally ready to tackle the tricky bits. Fingers crossed that this is successful, because an Esme Tunic is my “go to” thing to wear right now. Warm, comfortable, works with or without a sweater, with leggings or jeans! I would like a couple more in my wardrobe, so I need to figure this out!
I need to make a Pietra muslin so I can adjust the rise and fit if need be so that I can make a pair of black corduroy pants!
These things are on my list for this week and I am talking about them here to make sure they get started!
Finding a Rhythm
I have spent a good bit of time this month figuring out how to transition from focus to intentional – and as I did last January, I am looking at all aspects of my life. It has been eye-opening, to say the least. It is amazing what is percolating to the top as I review my daily and weekly routines.
That’s what my world looks like right now, but what about you? What is your favorite current thing?
Your colorwork is looking so gorgeous! You’ve inspired me to wind my yarn for *my* next colorwork sweater (I was good and swatched on two needle sizes over the weekend, so I just need to measure it now that it’s been blocked).
I am having the same conundrum with my garden. Our backyard doesn’t get a lot of sun due to tree cover, so it’s never been really successful for vegetables. But because squirrels keep digging up our lawn, I’ve been thinking that maybe we should ditch the grass and instead put in plants that will grow well in partial sun and maybe attract butterflies and bees.
I’ll be reading Olive Kitteridge myself soon! My mother somehow ended up with two copies and gave me the extra one. Right now I’m reading The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (which I think you may have recommended?).
Not having a garden sounds like a big decision initially, but since things didn’t grow so well last year, I bet you’ll be much happier with some tomato plants in containers (and maybe a csa share if you want more produce?) I wish we lived closer to each other. John just placed his seed order, and of course he ordered too much, so we’ll be looking to give away things in August. Pheasant and your sock are both beautiful!
Our garden was an EPIC fail last summer, too, when it came to vegetables. I’m going to try again this year, though, after getting our soil tested. And I’ll definitely be growing flowers again, they bring me so much joy. I listen to Up First every morning while I do my makeup. It’s just the right length of time and it gives me all the news I need to start my day.
I have never regretted giving up the vegetable part of my garden. Now I am a frequent visitor of the farmers market, and it’s a lot less work! (I do still have a small herb garden, though.) Your colorwork looks lovely, Kat — both in the sweater and the socks. 🙂
Listen to your heart and back when it comes to a vegetable garden. We have several Farmer’s Markets, one that is very close by. I try to grow what grows well. Cucumbers and tomatoes do well in my patch of ground and I really enjoy my herb garden. I gave up on green beans, peas, and squash as the insects demolish them. The color work sweater is gorgeous – such a pretty combination of yarn. A yoked sweater is on my list – eventually. Happy Monday.
I’m loving your knitting! You’ve made such quick progress – so amazing!
That looks like a well-loved copy of Olive Kitteridge! I hope you love it.
Gardens are SO much work and we always start out with great intentions that fizzle out. But we’re definitely going to try again this year. Have you read Jayber Crow yet? It might make you excited about a garden again, if you’re leaning more in that direction.
Pheasant is so beautiful Kat. I’m curious: how is that yarn? Is it scratchy like Lopi can be? Or is it softer? Those socks look like a whole lot of fun! Looks like some great reading lined up as well. Interested to hear about Dangerous Melodies.
We also gave up the garden and never looked back! The tomato plant on the deck is just enough along with visits to farmers markets too. Love the sweater and the socks…you’re cooking with gas! 🙂
I can’t garden due to my RA so it’s up to the mr and we haven’t had one in two years. I do miss some of the freshness though. I have a vegetable market that I can buy fresh so there’s that. Love your stranded knitting 🙂
I really enjoyed Olive Kitteridge-both the book and the movie. Look forward to you thoughts. That colorwork is so very tempting and I love the fall-esque colors. I’m thinking of containers of tomatoes on the deck this year. We are going to have some landscaping done over the next couple years which will include a small garden, so we’ll see how that goes. It is definitely work for sure, but I do love fresh tomatoes.