Greetings Unravelers!
It has been a long, sad week. My Tuesday night knitting group lost a member last week and knitting last night was bittersweet – we were there, but a bit diminished. However, we made plans to pick up a special shawl that was in progress for a beloved niece. We will each take turns knitting until it is finished. Our stitches will be full of love and memories of Mary and having a path forward with some meaning felt so right.
I have not picked up my Evening Dew Cardigan in over a week, as my knitting attention has been distracted entirely by my Pheasant Pullover! I finished the colorwork portion over the weekend and have been working on the mindless knitting portion of the body but I am still not to the sleeve divide. I still have a little over an inch to go before I am to that point. However, I am so happy to be mindlessly knitting and reading!
The reading this week was outstanding, though!
Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents by Pete Souza
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Early on, I had been directed to Pete Souza’s Instagram feed and I enjoyed that tremendously. However, seeing the feed here with the correlation to what he was responding to is simply brilliant. I laughed at many of these, and it also made me yearn for the days when we had a president we could be proud of.
Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Maybe we pray on our knees because god only listens when we’re this close…
This book is only 70 pages, but those 70 pages are packed full of such incredible words. Words I sometimes had to read over again because they were just so beautiful. This is not a book of poetry to miss.
Stars. Or rather, the drains of heaven—waiting. Little holes. Little centuries opening just long enough for us to slip through.
Slip through the words and settle yourself into the world of Ocean Vuong, it is a place you will want to linger in and enjoy. I highly recommend!
The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What can I add that has not already been said about Tuchman’s tome on WWI? Woefully little, but I will try. I listened to this book and it very much felt like I was sitting in the history class with the professor everyone said was wonderful – only to discover, they were wrong – she was more than wonderful, she was brilliant and made things clear and so understandable!
If you at all have any idea that you like history – this is a must read book. I highly recommend the audio version with Wanda McCaddon narrating, she is wonderful and very easy to listen to!
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The answer it seems to me now, lies in the miracles.
Do you believe in miracles? You might after you read this book. I fell in love with Davy, Swede, and Reuben. This book makes you think about faith, poverty, justice (or rather injustice) all told from the wise perspective of Reuben. Read this book and be witness to the wonder of this family. I highly recommend!
That is all I have to share this week, but I want to know what is consuming your making time?
If you wrote a post to share today, please leave your link below and thank you!
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss in your knitting group. How difficult to have an empty chair with you there!
Your Pheasant Pullover looks great and you’ve read some amazing books this week! I’m hoping to try Peace Like a River again soon.
I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. From her obituary, it sounds like she was an amazing women. It is so wonderful that the group is working to finish her last project — I’m sure it’ll be treasured by her niece because of your efforts.
Your sweater is so amazing! If I wasn’t already working on a colorwork yoke sweater, I would want to cast one on right now!
I’m so sorry to hear about Mary’s passing. She sounds like a lovely person and a very accomplished knitter. Your group’s plan to finish her shawl-in-progress is a good one that will be helpful and meaningful to all of you.
Yout Pheasant is so beautiful and what a week you’ve had in reading! More books to add to my list!
God bless Mary. I’m glad to know that when she arrived at her final destination, there were plenty of happy, wagging tails waiting to greet her.
The poetry book sounds especially interesting, I’m gonna have to look for that one!
So sorry to hear of Mary’s passing Kat, but how wonderful that you and the other members of your knitting group will be finishing the shawl she was knitting for her niece. Pheasant is GORGEOUS!!! “Night Sky With Exit Wounds” sounds lovely. I don’t think I’ve ready anything by Barbara Tuchman, but that might be a good one for Fletch and me to read together (we both really enjoy history).
Such sad news about your knitting friend. Thank you for the link. She sounds like a wonderful person. My Pheasant will be on hold while I sort out some other knitting projects.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend Mary. How exciting that she got to tour internationally with her knitters. I’m sure her niece will appreciate the shawl that you are collectively finishing–it should help everyone to know that her last project will be completed.
Your Pheasant Pullover is looking fabulous! I already received my yarn for my Pheasant Cardigan! I ordered it on the 17th. I found it on my porch–not sure if it arrived Friday, Saturday or Monday, because all of my mail was piled on my porch. I didn’t have anything in my mailbox those days. I noticed it last night. It could have fit in my mailbox. Not sure what they were thinking? (Or not???) Ugh. Of course it has rained all of those days. Fortunately, it was packed in a plastic bag, so all should be good. 🙂
I’m sorry about your friend Mary. Finishing that shawl will be a lovely thing to do, my quilting group did that years ago when our friend died and left an unfinished quilt. It was healing for us and a great solace to the family. Great reading this week!
Aw, I’m sorry to hear about your friend. What a lovely gesture to rally and finish that shawl! I was wearing the shawl the other day that I knit when my mother was in her final weeks… it’s always bittersweet with memories, but mostly sweet!!
Pete Souza + President Obama = GOLD!!
Oh Kat, I’m so sorry about your friend (and yikes, a Mary!) … how wonderful that y’all have a special WIP to finish on her behalf. and whoa, your Pheasant is gorgeous! also – here’s to great reading weeks – I added one more 4 star book to my shelf, and yours must be nearly toppling over for “just January”!
Your color work sweater is gorgeous. That will be a fun sweater to wear. Looks like lots of good reading for you. This darn back/shoulder is keeping me from most everything but reading. I have The Guns of August and I might just pick it up and read it – I’ve certainly plenty of time on my hands.
I am in such a fog today. Forgive me. I am sorry about the loss of your friend. How wonderful that you and your friends can finish the shawl together.
What a lovely gesture from your knitting group . . . to finish Mary’s shawl on her behalf. I’m so sorry about your loss. I’m sure Mary’s absence will weigh heavily on your group for a while. Your Pheasant is just gorgeous, Kat! Such a lovely color palette. XO
I am so sorry for your loss. How sad. Your yoke is excellent! I want to start another sweater but I have two already on the needles and so I wait. Impatiently. It doesn’t help that I am having an arthritic flare in my right hand…grr.
Am sorry for your loss, and now the days ahead will be difficult. I was a history major who truly adored my professors, so I may take you up on the listening to GoA. Thanks as always for the book recommendations.