Unraveled Wednesday 2/4/26

 Hey, Hey!!

It was above 20 degrees this morning!  Flurries had been in the forecast (like we need more snow??), but no sign of any precipitation overnight.  Snow and ice are slowly sinking down and there is a bit of melting.  Fletch went out and did a little shoveling - he needed to make a path from the driveway to the side of the house so that our water meter could be read.  We had a letter from our water company that they've been doing estimated guesses for our water bill because the water meter was inaccessible.

After a week of hit or miss mail delivery, my February Sock Squad yarn finally arrived yesterday.  I love the main color but am not all that thrilled with the mini skein.  But, I'm thinking of saving the mini skeins to make a scrappy cowl or shawl later (like next year after I have them all).

On this Unraveled Wednesday, let's link up with Kat and see what everyone is making and reading.  I do enjoy Wednesday posts so much.  Similar to my Appil sampler, the Family Socks are progressing in a slow and steady way.  As you know, I'm on the last pair and the first of that set has reached the beginning of the heel flap.

The foot will be in blue once I turn the heel and then the toes will pick up the yellow again.  I'm liking the color combination.  You may remember that my thought had been to make Family Birthday Socks which didn't pan out.  Family Christmas Socks did not happen either.  And now it looks as though Family Valentine's Day socks won't happen either.  No way I can finish this sock and make a second matching one by the 14th.  But, that's ok.  It will be fun to give them to C&M&I whenever they are finished.

Reading has been good.  I did finish "Invitation to a Banquet" and learned so much about Chinese food and cooking.  I also read and finished The Devil's Cave by Martin Walker.  This is the 5th book in the Bruno, Chief of Police series and it may be my favorite one so far.  It definitely was good to be back in St. Denis and in the company of Bruno.

Fletch and I are listening to Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson after dinner and we are both enjoying it a lot.  The narration is very good (usually that's a complaint for one or both of us).

Tell me, what are you up to on this Hump Day?  I hope it is something fun.

Tiny Needle Tuesday 2/3/26

 Good Morning!

I guess it's no surprise that we are in for 6 more weeks of winter.  It feels as though it will take at least that long for the snow to disappear from our yard!  But...my car thermometer said it was 36 (!!!) when I left Iris yesterday around 4 p.m. And the sun was still high and bright in the sky.  This morning's temp is in the teens rather than single digits.  There is hope my friends, there is hope.

Now it is Tuesday and time for a TNT update.  Eve has been fully fleshed out!

She even grew a little more hair on one side.  Here's a look at the whole Appil sampler overall:

While there is still so much (so much!) left to stitch, I feel as though progress is being made.  Slow and steady.

No plans for today other than a small grocery shopping and a trip to CVS to pick up a prescription.  I may do some laundry...or I may not.  I've been having some back pain, so I may just take it easy!  Whatever you are up to, make it a good Tuesday!

Weekending 2/2/26

 Hello, Hello!

Good Morning and Goodbye to January!  Happy Groundhog's Day.  It is probably still too dark for Phil to have come out of his cozy bed, but from where I am it seems like winter will be going on for some time.  I hope I can remember these frigid days when I start complaining about the heat and humidity this summer!

How was your weekend?  Ours was good.  There were the usual things:  yoga, reading, knitting and stitching.  We also ventured out Saturday for dinner at Colin & Mailing's.  We had a delicious bolognese with hearty pasta, a huge salad and a yummy olive oil cake with blueberry compote and whipped cream for dessert.  And wine, of course.  Iris loved it all (no wine for her though and no salad).  She is a whipped cream fanatic just like her Grandpa (Fletch).

We got home Saturday a bit after 8:00.  I was sitting at the table in the kitchen reading and I looked out and saw that we had a visitor:

Obviously taken through the screen and glass of our patio door.  Mr. Raccoon was on the shelf that is over our outdoor basement steps.  That's where we store birdseed and peanuts for the birds.  Once he saw me he jumped down and waddled down the shoveled path in the backyard that goes to the bird feeder.  We have not seen him since.

Sunday after breakfast I baked some peanut butter cookies with chocolate and peanut butter chips.  Yum!  Dinner was a chicken casserole that bakes in a low (275) oven for three hours.  It was nice to have the oven on in the afternoon to help warm the kitchen.

Plenty of food and making and reading over the weekend.  For me, that's pretty perfect!  I hope your weekend was just as nice.

Unraveled Wednesday 1/28/26

 Brrrrr and Good Morning,

The bitter cold continues (and it will for a bit more).  What a good time to have wool in your lap!

It's time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat about making and reading.  Nothing better!

The last pair of Family Socks is continuing.  Although I spent so much time cooking over the past few wintry days, I did manage to do a little bit on the sock.

The blue yarn that ties all these family socks together has been added to Colin's first sock.  I purposefully made the cuff longer than usual and then knit more on the leg in the yellow to be sure I have enough blue for both socks.  I did add the lateral braid in the yellow section.

It has been a number of years since I knit a lateral braid and it was a little fiddly on DPNs, but still fun to do and I really like the way it looks.  

I'm sticking to my guns (so far) and not starting anything new until these socks are finished!  Project dreaming is fun though!

Kind of the same story with my reading.  I'm staying with Invitation to a Banquet while I wait for books to come in from the library.  The Banquet book is still very interesting (at least to me) and I am now on the final section of the book (and hoping something comes in from the library pronto).

Last night Fletch and I FINALLY finished The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown.  We listened to the audio book (22 hours and 50 minutes) and what a slog!  Fletch did enjoy it but not me.  It will be good to start something new tonight!

I hope everyone stays safe and warm.  Be careful if you need to go out in this frigid weather.

Tiny Needle Tuesday 1/27/26

 Hello My Friends,

Well the storm has come and gone though the bitter cold is lingering and even increasing.  Fortunately we did not get the full amount that was predicted.  I think we received 9.5" - 10" overall.  With the crazy winds blowing everything around it's a bit difficult to tell for sure.  Then, of course, the sleet came and covered it all with a crustiness.

Our neighbor Rob came over on Sunday to bring us cake!!  He had made an Opera Cake at Eve's request for her birthday.  Boy is that delicious.  And, he promised to be back on Monday to clear our driveway.  Sure enough, he was over yesterday morning and made short work of our driveway and sidewalk.  When Colin & Mailing came over (with Iris) late in the day, Colin cleared the snow off our cars.  What a gift to have such wonderful people in our lives.

More than anything, my time was spent cooking.  I made split pea soup on Sunday and baked some bread.  Yesterday I made vegetable beef soup and a blueberry quick bread.  Some stitching and knitting was accomplished and naps were taken.  I also read a bit.  And watched the birds as they attacked the seed Fletch had put out for them.

Mabel was in and out about a hundred times!  Not staying out too long at any one time, but spending some moments rolling on the (bitter cold) patio and closely watching the birds.  At one point I watched her chasing a tiny mouse across the snow.

So now it is Tuesday and time for a TNT update.  Eve had a bit more flesh stitched and when I tired of that color I started to fill in the ground below her.

I really need to stitch more of her hair - she just looks so weird right now!  LOL

And look who has become interested in learning how to stitch!

Today we will venture out for some groceries.  Here's hoping the store won't be too crowded and we can get in and out quickly.  Stay warm my friends!

Unraveled Wednesday 1/21/26

 Good Morning Friends,

Typing and rubbing my hands together.  Waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.  I'll be out of the house early today to head over to be with Iris.  I do love her and spending time with her, but I really, really don't want to go out.  And, I will need to gas up the car.  I was ignoring all the dire predictions for this weekend, but when I was getting my massage yesterday, one of the women mentioned that her phone showed 16-22" of snow on Sunday.  Yikes!!!  This morning, my phone is showing 20-25" on Sunday.  I imagine our plans for Sunday will be cancelled.  But, we have plenty of food.  Also books to read and things to knit and stitch.  Being stuck at home won't be all that bad.

Meanwhile, our snow cover is still here and now it is Unraveled Wednesday.  Time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about what we are making and reading.  Good stuff!

My time away from the computer last week enabled me to wrap up the toddler socks:

And get a start on the final pair of Family Socks.  This last pair will be for Colin.  I've made the cuff a tad bit longer than usual and have started down the leg using the light color.  Doing this to be sure I have enough of the dark blue for both of his socks.

I may put in a lateral braid (also known as Vikkel or Estonian Braid) just for fun.  I enjoy knitting that and I think it looks nice.  Then I will add in the dark blue and work my way down to the heel flap and turn.  I may or may not use the yellow for the flap and turn - that is yet TBD.  The toe will definitely be in yellow.

Reading is good.  I did finish "Broken Country" (finally).  Definitely not a top pick for me.  I'm continuing slowly with "Invitation to a Banquet" and am thoroughly enjoying it.  Though...I'm a tad bit tired of reading about various snake soups (pit viper anyone?  Not me!).  Yesterday I stopped at our library and picked up Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.  I remember reading "Housekeeping" by her, but I don't believe I ever read Gilead so am looking forward to starting that.  It's a short book, so it should be quick.

Stay warm and enjoy the stark beauty that winter presents.  Happy Wednesday!

Tiny Needle Tuesday

 Good Morning!

Yes, it is frigid cold here.  My phone says 14 degrees, but "feels like" 3 degrees.  I do enjoy four seasons and am glad to live where I do.  BUT...I'm already over the cold.  I need some warmth!  Let's see if I can remember these cold, cold days next summer when I am over the heat and humidity!  LOL

It's Tuesday and time for a Tiny Needle update.  Many stitches were put in while I stayed off the computer late last week!

There is Eve fully outlined!  She hasn't gotten more hair, but her fig leaf is in place and there is a bit of rosy color around her knees.  Here's an overall shot of the piece:

Steadily moving along.  Only a little flesh on one leg has been stitched...more to come.  It does feel good to have Eve's outline finished.  

I may find time to work on this today, but I may not.  We'll be going out for groceries this morning and I have a massage booked for the afternoon.

We heard yesterday that we could be in for some major snow next weekend.  When I look at weather it is only showing a few inches of snow on Sunday which is not too bad.  But of course this past weekend we were in for a dusting and received roughly 8".  Who knows?

Hoping everyone is comfortable where they are.  Stay warm if you are in this bitter winter weather!