Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Unraveled Wednesday January 26, 2022

 Good Morning,

Still dark here and a little chilly (18), but I think tomorrow morning it is only forecast to be 9, so I will take today.  Plus it is supposed to be sunny!  Yesterday did not turn out to be as mild as we thought for grilling.  There was a major wind chill going on in our neighborhood and it was grey and damp all day long.  Fletch still grilled our steaks and they were very good.

Today I'm heading to the office.  We bought some things - surprises - to ship down to Colin & Mailing, so I will send those out via UPS from the office.  I have some work to do and maybe I'll see Bruce (one of my bosses whom I have not spoken to in a couple of weeks!).

Colin called again last night and it was good to talk with him again.  They are doing well and still settling in.  The weather down there has been chilly (for Austin) and grey, but he is still managing to get out daily (sometimes twice) for nice, long walks.  They are once again vegan and picked up this cookbook from their local bookstore and have already made several dishes from it.  Sounds and looks delicious (but I would miss meat).  The cats are also settling in.  Talbot is having an easier time of it...Marcel is howling a bit.  Colin says the feng shui must not be quite right in the apartment!

Meanwhile, here we are at the last (how is that possible??) Unraveled Wednesday of January 2022.  As usual, I am linking up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk making and reading.  You know I (finally) finished my holiday socks (posted about them on Monday).  I love them and they are nice and cozy.  I still intend to pick up something already in the works, but you know I just had to cast on for another pair of socks.  It is always smart to have socks on some needles.


Obviously I have not gotten too far.  Just the 15 rows of 2x2 ribbing have been completed.  I'm pretty sure these will be for Fletch.  He had admired the yarn when I caked it up.  The yarn is Static from KnitPicks and the colorway is "Terrarium."  Lovely shades of green and then some lighter ivory or even a hint of yellow (pale) here and there.  It is very pretty.  I have not fully decided on a pattern yet, but most likely will make these Petty Harbour or Hermione's Everyday Socks - both free patterns on Ravelry (leaning towards Petty Harbour).

My reading in 2022 has been a little on the slow side.  Not sure why as I am enjoying what I am reading, but find myself nodding off quickly.  I am still reading "Agatha of Little Neon" which is the next "Read With Us" selection.  This is a little gem of a book - I am thoroughly enjoying it and all the quirkiness within it.

Last night I did finish "No Time to Spare" (Thinking About What Matters) by Ursula K. Le Guin.  I believe I already mentioned this book once or twice.  Le Guin wrote SciFi and Fantasy novels - neither genre a favorite of mine and I doubt I will pick one up to read.  This book, however, is a collection of essays, or rather posts, from her blog that she started when she was in her 80's.  I gave this 4 stars and really liked it.  Only 4 stars as some topics didn't appeal (or matter) to me, but a very good read.  Here are a couple of quotes from it that I love:

"How rich we are in knowledge, and in all that lies around us yet to learn.  Billionaires, all of us."

"A teaching, a blessing, may come in strange ways, ways we do not expect, or control, or welcome, or understand.  We are left to think it over."

These two quotes just resonated with me.

Mabel just came in and boy is her fur cold!  I'd best bundle up for going out.  After the office, I need to stop at JoAnn's for some more DMC floss and I need to pick up wine.  Dinner is a chicken dish in the crockpot, so easy-peasy.

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

18 comments:

  1. I'm not sure I could stick with being vegan while living in TX, surrounded by delicious barbecue! I'm glad you have a new sock on the needles and glad that you are enjoying Agatha. I haven't read any Ursula K. Le Guin, but I am tempted after reading those quotes. I'll be thinking about them all day!

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  2. No Time To Spare is one of my "night table books" -- I pick it up and read an essay now and then; always something insightful and wonderful in there! I consider myself almost-vegetarian (but I do eat fish now and again; sometimes turkey or chicken, too), but don't think I could become fully vegan . . . because I like cheese too much! Enjoy your day, Vera.

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  3. I wish I could nod off while reading. My latest Nancy Drew mystery is such a page turner I'm up all night...lol.

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  4. I think I need to pick up No Time to Spare! Thank you so much for the recommendation, Vera!

    And Petty Harbor... oh my! I like that sock!

    I am so glad that C&M are settling in... but I am with Kym... Cheese is my favorite food group! lol

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  5. I'm with Kym and Kat -- I'm pretty sure I could live without meat, but I'd never make it as a vegan without dairy!

    I agree with you that it's always good to have some socks on the needles. I didn't knit that many pairs last year because my sock drawers were overfull, but I've worn out quite a few pairs now, so I feel like I can start knitting socks for myself again. I have a pair in progress that I'd like to finish up soon, and I'm thinking I need to make myself a thicker pair for walking on these cold days. I've been wearing regular (fingering weight) socks in my boots, but the boots aren't truly waterproof and start to leak a bit toward the end of my walk.

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  6. Cold but sunny here too. We got a good dumping on Monday, and Dave got to use his snowblower. Everything is very pretty. But still... I want spring!
    I think the Feng Shui might be off in my office, Relic walked in this morning, growled and left. I have no idea what that was about! Lol.

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  7. How great would it be if JoAnn's had a wine section? One stop shopping for so many of us!

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  8. Poor Marcel — sometimes I feel like howling a bit, too. I’m headed out in the cold, as I have another volunteer shift at the Sr Cntr.

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  9. I would miss meat too if I went vegan, but mostly I would miss cheese.

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  10. I'm so glad you heard from your son and all is well, it's sunny here too! but chilly and I'm not sure I should take Frodo for a walk or not. Lovely new sock!

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  11. It's very cold here, too, and I'm not a fan! You and Kat both mentioned that January has gone quickly but that is not my experience, LOL.

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  12. Hearing the ordinary parts of your 1ife is a gift you give to us. I'm g1ad Co1in is doing great. A1 and Wi11 are visiting Austin soon. They 1ove it there.
    Minus 12 when I awoke this morning. I am not 1eaving the house. It is si11y to chance a s1ippery step into a fa11, there is a 1ot of ice out on the drive despite our best efforts.
    Some times, I just 1ove staying home. Todays that kind of day.

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  13. For whatever reasons I didn't know that you were a DPN sock knitters. You are so brave!

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  14. It was very cold here yesterday and today so maybe our cold weather is heading your way.
    Both Hermione and Petty Harbour are two of my go to sock patterns, especially for men.
    I packed up some of my snowmen this morning as I want to get the Valentine's day things out sooon.
    I just started reading a book on decluttering. Where does stuff come from anyway? We got rid of SO much when we moved and I just took a carload to the Goodwill this morning and I have more.
    It's multiplying!
    Blessings and hugs,
    Betsy

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  15. This dull and chilly has to be along the whole east coast! Brrrr!
    It's always fun to have a new start of socks on the needles!

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  16. It is always a good idea to have a pair of socks on the needles. Your husband is a hearty guy to be grilling in such weather. He probably needs wool socks to keep that going. Glad your kids are settling in to Austin.

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  17. Your failed dinner made me laugh. Dave ALWAYS wants something "different" for dinner, so I'm always on the hunt for new recipes. It's tough, because I'm a picky eater. Sometimes I just end up making something new for him, and something else for me (it's not that bad because three days a week he doesn't eat dinner until 9 or so after teaching, so I'm not making two meals at once).
    It seems to be a 50/50 chance that the new thing will be terrible (which is why I hate making new things!!!)
    Dave and I have had quite a few laughs over some of the meals I've tried!

    That beer bread is interesting. I have a recipe for a cheddar quick bread that I've wanted to try FOREVER. Maybe this weekend is the time!

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  18. The Petty Harbour socks look beautiful, I've added the pattern to my library, thanks so much for the link! I've not tried the Static line yet, but the Terrarium color is beautiful and would be perfect for that pattern!

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