Unraveled Wednesday 2/25/26

 Hello and Greetings,

The last Unraveled Wednesday of February 2026 finds me looking out the window at more snow...  Yup, it snowed a bit overnight.  Nothing big - roads are clear, but the car will need to be cleaned off before I can drive to Colin's.  And last night was one of those nights where I hardly slept at all.  I'm tired at 6:30 in the morning!  Hopefully that sweet child will take a nice long nap this afternoon.

Well, it's time to link up with Kat to talk about making and reading.  I'm still plugging away on the Family Socks.  Specifically the last one.  I thought I might be finished or at least speeding down the foot on the final sock.  Instead I find myself meandering and pausing now and then.  It's ok.  It will get done eventually.

I've been thinking about/toying with ideas of what to knit next.  Definitely another pair of socks, but I will pick up something else as well.  Perhaps I should get back to Semplice - it has been in time out for a bit.  The last row I finished found my stitch count off by one and I have not really wanted to deal with it.  But, I'd really like this to be off the needles and blocked.  We shall see.

Reading has been good.  The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion continue to delight and entertain me.  I finished Volume 3 and am more than halfway through Volume 4.  Already I am wishing that there was not an end to these books.

Fletch and I are enjoying listening to Bernd Heinrich's One Wild Bird at a Time which is giving us some interesting and surprising facts.

Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards was read with my eyes and I loved it.  Historical fiction set in Bruges, it includes mystics, saints, anchoresses and beguines.  Not something I would normally chose to read, but it was truly lovely.

If Canticle didn't provide enough religion, I'm now reading (with my eyes) Gilead by Marilynne Robinson for our RWU group.  I know I read "Housekeeping" by Robinson decades ago (when it first came out) and I think I liked it, but honestly don't remember anything about it.  Gilead is proving to be a bit laborious for me.  There are times when I'm reading that I thoroughly enjoy it and the writing is beautiful.  What Robinson has to say about family, faith and life is truly wonderful.  But then there are times that I keep thinking, get on with it!  Fortunately it is not a terribly long book and I should be able to finish it well before our discussion on 3/27.

Here's hoping your Wednesday finds you immersed in a wonderful book or two and having fun making something!  Enjoy and be sure to check out the links on Kat's blog.

Unraveled Wednesday 2/11/26

 Good Morning One and All,

The warming trend is (thankfully) continuing.  Today it is 32 out right now which is roughly 10 degrees warmer than yesterday!  Woo-Hoo!  I'm still in comfy leggings and two sweaters, but I don't feel stiff and cramped with cold.

It's Wednesday!  The day when all the cool people link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about making and reading.  I'm happy to show you that the first of the last pair of Family socks (got that?) is almost finished!  I only have the toe decrease and kitchnering to do.

Honestly I think I could have (and maybe should have) finished this last night, but my eyes were getting a little tired and my hands were beginning to ache just a tiny bit.  Better to not over-do it.  Hopefully I will finish it up tonight and even cast on for the last one!  I kept weighing my yarn to be sure I would have sufficient and I'm pretty sure I can get the second sock to match this one (fingers crossed).

Reading has been so good!  I finished The Black Wolf by Louise Penny and found it to be much, much better than The Grey Wolf (which I didn't like).  Like Kat, I was happy to read that the next Ganache book will be centered in Three Pines and should include more of the "characters" we have all come to love so much.

A ton of books have come in for me at my library - many of them new and therefore not renewable.  I may have to return one or two before reading, but not a bad problem.  I'm in the midst of Seascraper by Benjamin Wood and the writing is just wonderful.  Because of Kat's review, I've started reading Wintering by Katherine May which is just beautifully written.  I'm going slow with this and reading maybe 10 pages or so just before turning out the light.  And Sarah prompted me to download Book 1 of The Unselected  Journals of Emma M Lion which I am finding to be just wonderful!  The narration is excellent.

Fletch and I are continuing to enjoy Run for the Hills.  I think we have about 2 hours left.

And, of course, I still have "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson for our RWU group. Other books waiting for my eyes are Canticle by Janet Rich Edwards and Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.  And yesterday I received notice that Heart the Lover by Lily King is ready for me to pick up.

Whew!  What a bounty of books.  Lucky me!!

What are you making and reading this week?

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!