Monday, January 4, 2021

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!


18 comments:

  1. I like how you track your projects! That is a great idea! I have been ambling around for something to take the place of Ravelry. Thank you for the inspiration!

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  2. It's surprising how much you knit, read, or really anything else when you stick with it consistently. Hooray for a good year of knitting and reading and this year is off to a great start (with good food, too)!

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  3. I love reading all the knitting and reading recaps. Happy new year

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  4. Hello,
    Your dinner sounds delicious, I would love the grilled veggies .
    The hat is pretty, the color is one of my favorites. Sunday was a rain out here, I did finish one of my books. Take care, I wish you a happy new week!

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  5. You had a very productive year!

    The dinner sounds delicious.

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  6. nice weekend! I keep a reading log on good reads so I know what I've read and the tally and to not buy or borrow books already somewhere in kindle existence or on the shelves.

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  7. I'm glad you started out he first weekend so well! We had 39* this morning and chilly all week! Yikes! The hat turned out beautifully! Nice job. I always start out Jan and Feb keeping track of my projects in a journal and then it goes by the wayside! I guess that is what the blog does for me! lol

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  8. I was reading like a maniac last year for a while, then hit a slump. Likewise with knitting. I'm up and down a lot in those two categories. Your record of both is impressive!

    Your meal looks and sounds so delicious. I love grilled veg.

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  9. Your BBQ looks so yummy! I think someone was cooking out here the other day and it was all I could think of. It smelled so good.
    I love the hat. I've always liked that pattern but have never knit it.

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  10. The grill photo made my stomach growl: it’s time to fix lunch. Great tally of your projects and reading. You didn’t list your stitching, so your accomplishments are even greater. Nice job!

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  11. I like that hat! I think I've made one at some point. I'm sure I have the pattern!

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  12. I love that you and Fletch read aloud to each other. That's something we'd never do at my house -- I am not at all interested in my husband's business books, and he's not interested in my fiction! But it sounds like a lovely thing to do together.

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  13. You got lots done in 2020! Way to go Vera! I ordered a new notebook from Amazon to keep track of my projects this year. I'm trying to be more organized. So far I've finished a sweater and 2 pair of mittens, one for charity and a pair for Piper.
    Your kabobs look delicious. I'm craving a grilled burger but we're having non-stop rain too. I guess we could roll out the electric awning long enough to grill!
    Take care my friend and be careful out there.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  14. You had a really productive year. And you work!
    I love that you and Fletch read aloud. That is not something I can get Keith to do.
    My weekend was good because we had snow that that stuck!

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  15. You've read two books in the 3 days of 2021? And also knit a hat? Good grief Vera! I feel like a slug!

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  16. I love that Antler Hat. I knit a sweater in the Ultra Alpaca Light and loved knitting with it. You had a good year for knitting and reading. I firmly believe that it is not the number of books read but the enjoyment you get from them that counts. I have the Woodswoman books on my list for this coming year.

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  17. Thanks for sharing the snow.. we have not had one flake so far. Pout. Bravo on the wonderful hat.. who gets it? I need to make a new hat for myself. Have a nice week ahead! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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