I did practically no knitting on vacation, although I took two projects…sigh.
But!! I came home to find three blooms on the new lilac shoots that have sprung up from the dying bush Steve trimmed back last fall. (I began the discussion of digging the lilac bush out, but have made no headway… yet, lol) I brought those three blooms inside for me to enjoy…and I wish you could experience how lovely they smell!
Since our return on Sunday I have managed to get some inches done on my Summer Tegna, in fact I have about an inch and a half to go to the “great divide”! Woo! I am extremely happy with my yarn choice for this Tegna…Hempathy. It is such a work horse yarn, I have a sweater I knit over 8 years ago that I still wear regularly…and it is a toss in the washing machine and dryer knit!
We had a little burst of warm weather, however bitterly cold temps are on their way… grrrr. I am really over the freezing temps, just saying.
The reading was as slim as the knitting this week. Vacationing with a “non-reader” means not much reading time for me. However, I did have one finish. Not the best book I have ever read, but at least a finish! Ha! But I should finish The Books of Jacob today, if I can carve out some reading minutes today. It has been a true reading commitment and I am really enjoying the writing and the story!
Outside by Ragnar Jónasson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I have read other Ragnar Jónasson books before and I enjoyed them but, sadly, this book was a real miss for me.
The story is told from the viewpoints of the four “suspects” and unfolds slowly as each character reveals a bit more. You begin to see that each character has probable cause and I began to settle in to allow the mystery to unfold in this manner…. and then suddenly it ended. I mean the book ended… not the story. I am wondering if the ARC does not have the actual ending… because I am left feeling very confused.
I would encourage you to read any other Jónasson book and give this one a pass.
I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur for the ARC.
What about you? What are you making and reading this week?
I will see you all back here on Friday with a bit of a “What I Did On My Spring-ish Vacation” post!
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I’m chuckling because I always take more knitting projects and reading materials with me when I vacation than I will ever get to! But, one does not want to get caught without, does one? I’m looking forward to your vacation post on Friday. I’m still plugging away on the Hiking Trail sock (#2) and the Guernsey Wrap – loving both projects and I just picked up Young Mungo from the library!!
I was delighted to see those lovely lilacs next to your lovely Tegna, and can almost smell them. We’ve got lilacs with small, tight buds around here, so I’m going to have to wait a bit before I can smell some of my own. It might be a while with freezing temps back for a few nights!
If you did not take any knitting or reading you would be pining away for both. I always pack too much just in case this occurs! Lovely lovely project!!
I’ll bet your Tegna is just lovely in Hempathy. I used it for a sweater many, many years ago — and it was a wonderful yarn. I always bring more yarn than I ever could have time to knit when I go on a vacation . . . and then usually never knit a stitch. Someday (maybe) I’ll learn! XO
Miss the lilac tree in my last home, maybe I should plant one? I take knitting away and never do any. I might manage a tiny bit of cross stitch, but I do read a great deal.
I always overpack on the knitting for vacation! But I figure it’s better to have too much than to find you’ve run out of things to knit!
I’m sorry this particular book was a dud for you. I do wonder if the actual published book will have the same ending. It seems very strange for a mystery to end without a real resolution! I can’t wait to hear what you think about Books of Jacob, too.
Your Tenga is looking good! My lilacs are not doing much yet. I barely have leaves on the bushes and definitely no blooms yet. 🙁
Out of curiosity, have you ever made lilac syrup?
Not knitting or reading much on vacation is a sign that you were fully engaged in vacation-ing and that is a very good thing!
You always make me want to pick up Scandinavian Noir … except for this one!
It’s a good idea to have more vacation knitting than you need. The Tegna is coming along nicely but the lilacs are the star of the show. Ours have tight buds but the weather is definitely becoming a little more spring like. I love that fragrance. I can practically smell them from here.
LILACS! They’re my favorites – the scent is heavenly and I cannot wait until my own lilacs start blooming. Thank you for giving me some hope! Your Tegna looks so pretty – I can’t wait until you’re able to wear it 🙂