Greetings Gentle Unravelers!
It has been a week with not much making at all. I have not knit a stitch at all, despite putting knitting as a goal for this week, why? Because it provides a good mental health break!
I have managed to stitch a solitary leaf at the end of the day! Autumn book pages have gone by the wayside. I have yet to start this weeks page… I have an idea of what I want to do…time and Franklin are the deterrents to that! at all.
Franklin thinks he can walk himself! The sweater fits… now. His harness does not, but he is a growing boy so I’d better find some knitting time ASAP!
Pre-Franklin I did paint a pumpkin that I like very much.
This is going to be my inspiration for this week’s page…
Also, pre-Franklin, I made a couple of tweaks to Gnock. I started with arms as he sat, solitary, on the mantle. Soon after his cap got a great big tassel!! It occurred to me that he is the OG introvert. He prefers his own company and is an avid reader (cozy mysteries FTW!) I also considered he also likely does some kind of puzzle… and lo and behold, I discovered that Sudoku was originally called Gnumber Place! A gnome-ish activity for a shy gnome! I have yet to make a Gnumber Place book, but trust that one is coming! He needs a pencil stuck in his hat and I think he is a pipe smoker so I need to knit an acorn cap. Knitting right now though is not the top of my list… Franklin is very “yarn and needles obsessed.” But Gnock has a start… and he has a plan… and now I just need to have a bit of time open up in my day.
I have done some reading… thanks to audiobooks (which are great companions for dark o’clock trips outdoors!!) I finished John Boyne’s latest book, All the Broken Places. This book is a sort of continuation of The Boy in Striped Pajama’s (it is actually listed as Book 2) but it is a very beautiful look at two separate timelines for Gretel’s life. As always, Boyne’s writing is really so beautiful (and though he wrote this during the pandemic, it is not a pandemic book!!) It is really a story about forgiveness of self… which is never an easy thing to do. And it is about facing one’s past… a past that has very much impacted Gretel’s life even though she was not an active participant. I loved this book as much as I loved The Boy in Striped Pajama’s. If you like Boyne’s writing, you will enjoy this book!
I also finished Ali Smith’s soon-to-be-published Gliff. I loved it. Ali Smith is a master at making a person think and she has a way of looking at what is going on currently and working it into a story (Brave New World, if you are wondering) masterfully! Gliff is the first book of a two book series and I can’t wait for the next book to be out! (I still have to write the review of this, but I have not gotten around to that yet!)
I can say with all confidence that I won’t be back again this week. I hope to post on Monday and again next Wednesday.
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Wow, it’s a good thing Franklin is so cute! I hope things settle in your home soon, Kat!
I’m not sure if I can handle a second book in The Boy In the Striped Pajamas world – eek! But I will look for it since you loved it so much.
And that painted pumpkin is so lovely! Here’s to finding some time for creating in the next few days!
Franklin looks adorable in his sweater! I imagine he’s taking up a lot of time you would have spent crafting, so I’m not surprised that there has not been much knitting time. Gnock certainly looks like he’s on his way to becoming a true Kat gnome. I love his big tassel!
Franklin is just darling!! It’s easy to see why he is occupying so much of your time – even if he were not a rambunctious puppy, it would be difficult to ignore him. I love Gnock and I think it’s perfect that he is an introvert. I know you will have fun making his accessories. The sneak peak of your leaves project is lovely as is your painted pumpkin. Have fun with these frantic puppy days!!
Puppies do tend to . . . make their presence known. Mostly with schedule and life disruptions, but also with puppy kisses and lots of pup-joy. His little sweater is just adorable — but, yeah. I think he’s going to outgrow it awfully fast. He is such a sweetheart, Kat, and I’ll bet he’s already wormed his way into your heart. LOVE Gnock. I figured his voice would emerge . . . eventually. (And who can stay quiet with a cool hat like that????) Great pumpkin, too. (That stem!!!!) XO
I hoped that Gnock’s story would come to you, and it certainly has! The tassel and cozy mysteries are an improvement and I love that he’s an introverted gnome, content with his own company and doing Gnumber Place. The details can wait but Franklin can not, so have fun and I hope he doesn’t grow too much before you can knit him another sweater!
Love your stitching and the gnome, and your painting is jolly good.
Isn’t it wonderful to be immersed into puppy days? I remember when we brought Frodo home and how I couldn’t get anything done!! Fun times. Your new lad is adorable 🙂
Look at that little stinker in his sweater! SO adorable! And a good excuse for not having time to knit much, too.
That little Franklin is so cute. I’m sure he is not so cute in the O-dark hundred hours but I bet he will be a great companion for you. Soak up the time, knitting can wait. Although I love the story that is emerging for the gnome.