Unraveled Wednesday 1/3/24

 Good Morning Everyone,

My it's a chilly morning out there.  My friend Carol told me it is supposed to snow on Saturday, but who knows?  It is cold enough to snow though.

Before we get into the fun things - making and reading - some BIG news!!  Yesterday I gave notice to my bosses that I will be retiring!!  Woo-Hoo!  The deed is done and it is such a good feeling.  My plan is to work through the end of February and then be finished.  I'm excited and cannot wait.

Now it is time to join Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk making and reading.  Surprisingly, I do have a finish!!  I had hoped to have a new cast on Christmas Eve which did not work.  Then I thought I would cast on Christmas Day, but when we got home I was too tired.  Instead, I cast on 12/26/23 for a new sock and I finished it New Year's Day!  A speedy record for moi.

Initially I thought I would do the cuff and heel in a different color, but decided to go with mini stripes instead and then the toe in the second color.  The gold yarn is Stroll from KnitPicks and the colorway is "Treasure," so this is the first Treasure Sock.  The blue was some left over I had of Miss Babs Yummy 2 ply in the colorway Dark Orion.  The pattern at the top was taken from a free pattern:  Summit Socks from October House Fiber Arts.

I also made sure to cast on Treasure Sock #2 yesterday!  I have not gotten far, but it's a start.

This year I did manage to have a New year's Day cast on - something I don't think I've ever done before.  A few weeks back when out with Dee I picked up a skein of worsted weight yarn to make some fingerless mitts.  Specifically the Appleseed Mitts by Thea Coleman from the 8th MDK Field Guide.  This pattern calls for a cable cast on which I had never done before (easy-peasy and fun).  I've only managed to get the ribbing done so far, but I like it (the yarn I'm not crazy about though - Malabrigo Worsted).

Finally, remember the hat I had cast on and was knitting in Lopi?  This hat:

One Saturday I was out with Dee and was joyfully knitting along on this when all of a sudden:

Out of nowhere, the yarn was broken.  I knit a sweater (Sigla) out of Lopi and never came across this problem.  So, I was annoyed.  The hat has been in time out ever since, but will soon come out to be worked on once again.  I have some hot pink Lopi which should look very nice with the black.  Perhaps I'll have something to show next Wednesday.

Very little reading was done over the holidays!  That is so unlike me.  I guess I have been in a reading slump of sorts.  Anyway, Fletch and I are continuing to listen to Fox and I: an Uncommon Friendship but in my opinion it is not great and honestly I have a hard time remembering what we have listened to!  Actually, that's a problem I have with audio books in general.

I'm about a third of the way through George: A Magpie Memoir by Frieda Hughes.  It's a bit unbelievable to me that someone would let a bird "poo" all over them and their kitchen, but maybe that's just me.  An interesting bit is that the author is the daughter of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes.

The next Read With Us discussion is slated for Tuesday, January 9th.  I have yet to start the book!  I'm anxioius to read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store but I'm still a long way from moving up in the queue at my library.  I did download a copy from Audible (I have so many credits!!), but am reluctant to start it since I don't really enjoy audio books and since I don't typically remember what I listened to.  Someone (I think Mary) suggested that I "up" the speed of my listening - thus making me pay more attention.  I may give that a try this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the work emails are flying back and forth so it is promising to be a somewhat busy day.  I have an eye doctor appointment at 11 but otherwise intend to stay inside on this chilly day.  Happy Hump Day!