Weekending

 Good Morning!

How was your first weekend of 2021?  Mine was nice.  Saturday was on the warmer side - 40's.  It did not get quite as warm as forecast and I did not walk (think WIND).  But Fletch wanted to grill, so we had Shish Kabobs!

So freakin' good.  We had some beef, chicken and pork on the skewers.  Marinated baby bella mushrooms in the long closed basket and peppers, onions and cherry tomatoes in the round basket.  We each had some of the sourdough bread that Mailing had made to go with it all.  

Sunday morning wasn't quite as warm.  In fact, we woke up to this:

The snow did not last long (it was finished by the time we had consumed our breakfast), but it sure was pretty coming down.  Later we had a bit of sleet and then rain (like we really need more of that!).  Anyway, it was a good day to stay inside and read, knit and nap.  The knitting paid off and I have my first finished object of 2021:  another Antler Hat.

I made the brim extra long so it can be rolled up.  The yarn is Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light and it is VERY soft.  I used size 8 needles and ideally I should have used smaller ones.  The knit is pretty loose, but I think it will keep someone's head warm.  Right now it is blocking in the downstairs bathroom (the heat is on and it is laying on a rack above the heater).

I'm not one to make resolutions and I don't spend much time reviewing the prior year.  But, I do enjoy keeping a journal of knitting and reading.  I think in 2021 I should add stitching as well.  Over the weekend I did look at what I knit and read during 2020.  On the knitting end of things I completed 20 items:

• 14 pairs of socks (7 were for others and 2 were shortie socks)
• 3 ear/headbands
• 1 blanket
• 1 hat
• 1 pair of fingerless gloves

My reading surprised me.  I was in a reading slump for so long and there were so many books I started and then abandoned.  In the end, though, I read 30 books.

• 20 were fiction
• 8 were non fiction
• 2 were books of poetry
• 8 were read out loud with Fletch after dinner
• 12 I rated at 3.5 stars or below
• 10 were 4 stars
• 5 were 4.5 stars
• And 3 were 5 stars

The high number rated at 3.5 or below doesn't surprise me.  Much of my reading ended up being what I would term "easy" books - either a chick-lit type or an easy mystery.  Nothing wrong with that and they are what my brain could handle much of the year, but I never tend to rate them very high.  Two of my favorites were re-reads from years ago:  "The Survival of the Bark Canoe" by John McPhee (love all of his writing) and "Woodswoman" by Anne LaBastille.  Another favorite (5 stars) was "South Moon Under" by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.  All of those were read out loud after dinner with Fletch.

I've already finished two books in 2021!  But I think I will save those for Wednesday's Unraveled Post.

Today I am going to venture into the office.  I have several things I need to print in color and I have a check to drop off covering my personal UPS charges when I sent out packages for Christmas.  There are also some errands to run:  Staples for a new notebook/journal for my 2021 knitting/reading/stitching, CVS for some vitamins and the State Store for some wine.  I don't plan to be in the office long...but that is always subject to change.

Wishing you all a great week!