I live my life in widening circles that reach out across the world.
― Rilke’s Book of Hours: Love Poems to God
Greetings dearest Unravelers and Happy Rilke’s Birthday! That’s right, 149 years ago my beloved Rilke was born! His wisdom and poetry have stood well to time. I find him so very relevant to my life… he reminds me that in the bad times… keep going, because they won’t last forever. I have been reading Rilke a lot recently and of all of the “quotes” I have written down or underlined and saved… this quote is my favorite. And it works so well for today for all of us Unravelers! I feel like this corner of the internet has reached out to the best parts of the world. I am so very glad that our circles have touched as we share what we are making, what books we are reading, and perhaps even the tiniest glimpse into our lives.
I have begun the slow making of December and it makes me happy. Yesterday, after Franklin’s shot, I was able to get my yarn wound and I even could get cast on and knit a few rows! I don’t think I have given anything away with my knitting either… but I have roughly 20 more rows to go to finish the first clue.
The other thing I must do this month is to do a bit of catch up on stitching. I have November’s stitching to finish as well as my Autumn stitch book. I began re-watching Wolf Hall Monday night in preparation for The Mirror and The Light coming next March! I will use this time to sit and stitch. After dinner Frankie is more than ready for bed… so he loves to curl up next to me on the sofa and sleep… completely uninterested in anything I am doing. The perfect catch up stitch time! Ha!
I managed to finish two books since we last spoke! I listened to Richard Osman’s new novel, We Solve Murders. It is read by Nicola Walker… and she is magnificent! The book was not bad either! I liked how the mystery unfolded (who is Francois Lubet?? And all my guesses were wrong!) and I really like the new mystery solving duo… Steve and Amy Wheeler! I am eagerly awaiting more books in this series! It is fun… there are some very current things utilized in this mystery!
I also finished The Serviceberry… the extended version… by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I had first listened to the serviceberry essay on Emergence Magazine. I loved this extended version and RWK pokes at the “consumer society” in good ways. (I really feel like I need to watch “Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy” on Netflix… it feels like it would be a good companion to what RWK is trying to tell us in The Serviceberry.) I listened to RWK read it and I highly recommend consuming it that way!
That is my sum total since we last met! What about you? What are you working on… or trying to work on?!
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
Two post scripts for you:
- There is a Rilke talk this Sunday, December 8, online. Hosted by Mark S. Burrows with Pádraig Ó Tuama and Krista Tippet. You can find all the details here. (and it is free!)
- And… three weeks from today is Christmas. You are welcome.
I love reading about your making and reading, but can we please also have more pictures of franklin as well?
Your first paragraph pleases me no end. Unravelers certainly move in the best of circles don’t they 😊
What am I working on – nothing at the moment! But I’m looking forward to seeing what others in the linkup are
I look forward to seeing more of your gnome as you knit more clues. I read Wolf Hall quite a while ago but was too intimidated by the length of the next two books to even start them. But I bet I could watch Wolf Hall, especially while knitting. Great idea! (And I wouldn’t mind more pictures of Franklin as well!)
I am absolutely delighted by the mental image of Franklin curled up next to you in the evening! (Like previous commenters, I’d also like more photos of him!)
Your first paragraph says it all Kat! I do love our little community (really not so little). I am happy to read that you are able to find time to do some making and reading…darling Franklin just might be settling in?? Count me among those who would like more pictures of Franklin, please! I’m still in the queue for The Serviceberry at our library…shouldn’t be too long now (and I’ve moved up to #7 in queue for Louise Penny’s latest – “The Grey Wolf”).
The People Are Clamoring! MORE FRANKLIN! XO And I do love the mental image of you stitching . . . with dear little Franklin curled up at your side. XO
I am living through you on your puppyhood, so yes to Franklin. Love those two colors together!!
Everything in this post!! (Also, ditto: MORE FRANKLIN!!)
Gnana knitting shall soon commence.
Wolf Hall is on my re-watch list — so looking forward to March!
The Serviceberry should be landing any minute.
What a beautiful line from Rilke.
I just started knitting on Gnana today. I can’t wait to see how she turns out.
I read Wolf Hall on audio and absolutely loved it. I might have to check out the series.
Yes! MORE Franklin! I am hoping to start Gnana tomorrow.
Hi Kat, just finished the ‘Buy Now’ documentary and WOW! I knew our waste was bad but, it is beyond anything I could have imagined. I get so tired of being manipulated by corporate America I could scream daily. I have little faith in our system to do the right thing. Wall Street and stock holders are king in our daily lives.
Oh Dear Lord. Less than 3 weeks.
Thank you for the info for Sunday! I had an event cancelled for Sunday due to weather (a performance that no one could rehearse for…because SNOW!) Which means, I can hope to catch this!
And thanks for the reminder to catch up on stitches. I need to prep ALL of November’s temperatures! At least I recorded them. Now, to trim floss.
Happy weekend to Franklin (and his people).
♥
I’m catching up here. I enjoyed your post about your journal extravaganza. I also have a copy of Renkl’s journal. Franklin is just delightful and I love the image of him curled up beside you on the couch. I look forward to seeing your gnome take shape. I also look forward to reading Erdrich’s new book. I nod along with your review in the side bar.