Greetings dear Unravelers and Happy Wednesday!
I am starting this post early Tuesday morning after Frankie and I have just watched the most spectacular sunrise! The clouds made for a stunning show! (too bad the power lines mar the scene!) Anyways… those clouds are supposed to be the harbinger of some good rains today… which is a very good thing. We need the rain desperately and despite some rains in September we are still well “below normal” for precipitation this year.
As Kym would say, “a beauty emergency”!!
I was so happy to welcome back two wintery bird friends – White-throated Sparrows and my beloved Juncos! I have been seeing both of them regularly at/around the feeders. So while the weather has definitely had a summer feel… the birds know that things are changing.
I have been trying to focus on finishing Gudrun’s Hairst Hap Hood for our Erie trek… I think it will come in very handy so I have been knitting on it urgently! The front and back sections worked up very quickly, but there is a LOT of knitting in the hood portion! I finally arrived at the beginning of the short row sections on Monday night. By the time you are reading this I will likely? hopefully?? be to the finishing bit… where I pick up all those lovely yarn overs I made at the beginning of each row to work a bit of Shetland lace on the edging. There is also a bit of I-cord to work but if that is not done by the time we leave on Friday, I won’t be too worried.
If you were hoping for a sewing update, sorry… it is still at the “in process” stage. I am only slightly perturbed with myself, but I reminded myself that there is a lot of sewing in a shirt that does not exist in sewing pants that I have made multiple times! (Hello facings, interfacings, plackets, and button bands!)
The only project I am bringing to Erie is Heidi’s baby blanket. It is a good “mindless” knit for watching movies or television! I should bring my stitching, but I am leaving it home and because I really prefer to spend the time doing some art journaling about what we saw that day!
The reading this week though… oh my…it was another stellar week! I finished three very good books. The first one is Ann Cleeves The Killing Stones, a new series with much loved Jimmy Perez and his partner, Willow Reeves. As you might remember, Jimmy has moved from Shetland and he and Willow are now living and working in the Orkney Islands. It is a twisty mystery that happens in the days before Christmas (and yes, the islands are very much a character in the story!) Ann, as usual, writes a fantastic mystery which left me guessing almost up to the end! (And I am really hoping this becomes a series for television as well… because she puts the Orkney’s in the spotlight!!)
I finished listening to Robert Thorogood’s next installment in the Marlow Mystery series, Murder on the Marlow Bell. I really enjoy Judith, Suzie, and Becks… they are a brilliant team. It took some work to get this one solved, but they did it (I worried there for a chapter or two!) and the ending… oh my! A bit of a cliff hanger… but a good one!
I also finished (sadly) Robert Macfarlane’s Is a River Alive? and I loved it! I swear Macfarlane just gets better and better with each book. Is a River Alive? is a book that I will be thinking about for a LONG time… and if I had the time (I did not, I had to return it to the library… sigh!) I would have read it again! I read it slowly… allowing myself time to digest as I read… it was the perfect way to read it! If you love Macfarlane… you think you will enjoy it, I certainly did!
Stunningly, I was almost immediately able to borrow Kamala Harris’ 107 Days. I am listening to her read it to me and I am so enjoying spending time with her. Her thoughts and insights are quite surprising, at least to me. (at this writing I have about 6 hours of listening time to go)
A bit of housekeeping… there won’t be an Unraveled post next Wednesday. Unraveled Wednesday will return October 22nd.
And there you have what I’ve been making and reading. How are you doing as we find ourselves a week into October?
As always, if you wrote a post to share, please leave your link below!
Your Hairst Hap Hood should be perfect for Erie!! I can’t wait to see the finished hood. And, I always love your art journaling when you go to Erie – hoping you will share that again with us. Safe travels and have fun!! Also, another great reading week for you – thanks for your reviews!
What a wonderful start to the day. Here’s hoping you see more of the same during your week away.
Enjoy your time away – Time to sit and do whatever makes you happy- time to sit and just Breathe
That hood is lovely and I would love to see a modeled photo when you finish it. I’m glad you are taking Heidi’s blanket along as that is a “must finish”, along with you art journaling supplies. Like Vera, I really enjoy seeing the results. Safe travels and I hope you have a truly wonderful time!
The hood may be taking a while, but I’m sure it’s going to be incredibly cozy when it’s done (though I hope you don’t need it for warmth too soon). The blanket should be great trip knitting, and I look forward to seeing any art journaling you care to share with us. I’m on a very long wait list for Kamala’s book; on your recommendation, I’m going to listen (really, who wouldn’t want her to read to you?). Safe travels and enjoy your time away!
The hood looks like very functional, as in keeping one’s head and neck warm without so much bulk. What kind of yarn are you using? It’s beautiful. I too hope to listen to Kamala Harris’ book. I so enjoyed listening to Michelle O’Bama read her books. Somehow it is reassuring to hear the voices of these women. Safe travels. Have a wonderful time.
May you have a wonderful vacation filled with rest and relaxation!
I hope your week in Erie is off to a great start, Kat! The weather looks to be ideal for walks and sunrises/sets and lovely fall color — Beauty Emergencies a’plenty! And I’m betting the new hood will be a welcome accessory. I am really excited to read the new Jimmy Perez mystery. My sister and I spent several days in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands and I can’t WAIT to visit that lovely place again (in the book).