Unraveled Wednesday 10/14/26

 Good Morning My Friends,

First of all I successfully dropped off ALL the donation bags yesterday without ever second guessing what I was doing.  I would not look in the bags again for anything and now they are gone!  Freeing.  Also I was able to check a few chores off my list - dropping books at the library, going to CVS, getting wine.  All the important things.  There is still cleaning to be done obviously.  But I have Thursday for that.

Today is Wednesday and usually we all link up with Kat for Unraveled Wednesday, but Kat is taking a bit of a break, so no link today.  Instead, I do have finished Iris socks to show you!

I actually finished these last Friday and gave them to Iris on Saturday when we were there for dinner.  She loves them!  And they fit - even with a bit of room for growing (which she seems to be doing constantly).

After finishing the socks I couldn't figure out what to knit next and didn't feel like going through the stash.  Lo and behold:  Semplice came out of hibernation!  It had been some time.  I was able to knit about 8 rows (and they are getting longer and longer).  

But, you know what?  I actually don't care for this now.  The pattern is ok, but I dislike the color of yarn I chose.  The whole thing was almost ripped out on Saturday when I made a tiny mistake (later fixed), but I decided I'm close enough to the end I will finish it, block it and then if I still don't like it, it will be donated.  Someone may appreciate it!

Reading has been steady.  I finished The Amateur by Chris Behjalian and found it to be ok.  Admittedly, he is not a favorite author of mine.  To me, the book was less about golf (which is fine as I don't really care for it) and more about bad or unsavory relationships.   I found a lot of it tedious and boring and actually fell asleep several times while reading the last section (trial).  I did like the ending and did not see that coming, so that's good.  Otherwise for me the book was really just meh.

Also read was a very good interview with Barbara Kingsolver in The New Yorker.  It's in the September 28th issue if anyone is interested.  I don't subscribe and can't share it with you (Colin subscribes and passes the magazines on to us).

Fletch and I are enjoying our latest Robert Macfarlane book - Underland: A Deep Time Journey and I also picked up Theo of Golden at the library and have started reading that.

Around here, leaves are finally really beginning to turn and be brilliant.  This is a tree I pass on my way to Colin's.

How are you on this mid-October Wednesday?  Tell me, what are you making and reading?

Unraveled Wednesday 10/7/26

 Hello My Friends,

Well, so far today is not going as planned.  I'm supposed to be at the vet's with Mabel right now (her annual check up), but she is outside somewhere and not coming when I call (which is not unusual).  I know I should not have let her out this morning, but she was so vocal and I figured she would go out and then come right back for breakfast.  I guess she is on some kind of walk-about.  Fortunately the vet is very understanding and said when she shows up to call and they will do their best to fit her in.  Nice people.

Yesterday was a good day with Iris but oh my!  I was so sleepy and tired.  I couldn't knit or read while she napped - couldn't focus or concentrate.  And, I actually went to bed a little after 8 p.m. last night.  Not sure what's up or if I'm fighting a little something, but I slept almost 10 hours last night!  

But here we are at Wednesday and it's time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday.  Always fun.  Originally I thought I would finish the second sock for Iris over the weekend, but time got away from me and then I didn't finish it yesterday as planned (see above).  So here we are, just rows from the toe decrease:

One done and one almost done.  Maybe later today??  Since I'm home today I'm also planning to make the French Apple Cake that Kat blogged about on Monday.  YUM!!

Reading is still a bit on the slow side for me.  I did finish Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.  This is a book I started years ago and then it sat on my nightstand.  Periodically I would pick it up and read some pages.  Now I want to go back and start it over again.  There is an awful lot of wisdom in this book!

Fletch and I finished listening to Robert Macfarlane's book The Wild Places which was quite interesting.  Some of the glossary chapters became a little long winded, but overall a good listen.  Last night we started listening to his book Underland: A Deep Time Journey which we are both enjoying.  What will we do when we run out of Macfarlane books?

One of my brother's recommended the book The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog: And Other Serious Discoveries of Silly Science which I've started.  Carly Anne York is a good writer and the book is fun and interesting.  I think a number of my fellow bloggers would enjoy it.  I also picked up The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian and am hoping this pulls me out of my fiction reading slump.

Here's hoping Mabel shows up before too long and I can get her into the vet's later today.  I hope your Wednesday is a good one.  Have some fun!

Unraveled Wednesday 9/30/26

 Good Morning My Friends,

How can it possibly be the last day of September 2026?  The days are flying by.  And, as they fly by, the temps are warming.  It could be close to 90 by the end of the week!  Yikes!!

Let's see:  my new credit card arrived and I've successfully (I think/hope) updated all automatic payments.  Today is my last day caring for Iris this week.  Bonnie is back from Paris and she will take over starting tomorrow.  I have a massage booked for Friday which will feel SO good!!

Now it's time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers for an Unraveled Wednesday update/post.  I may not be doing any stitching lately, but I am doing some knitting.  Woo-Hoo!

One of Iris' socks has been completed and the second is well on its way.  Yesterday morning I knit the cuff on the second before leaving the house and then the first half of the leg (in red) was knit while Iris napped.  I hope to finish the leg and perhaps the heel flap today while she is napping.  Socks generally go pretty fast (unless I put them aside and forget them), but Iris socks go really fast!  There are just 52 stitches around (rather than my usual 64) and I'm using size 1 needles rather than my usual size 2.

Some reading has been done.  Still no good fiction although a Bruno book is waiting for me to pick it up at the library.  That is a good thing.  I did read Thoreau On Man and Nature which is a slim volume (62 pages I think).  It is a compilation of some of Thoreau's writings.  There are gems in this book, though some of it seemed a bit "preachy" to me.  Still, worth reading.

Also completed was Local Wonders Seasons in the Bohemian Alps by Ted Kooser.  Another slim book that is just filled with wonder and beautiful words.  Broken down into four sections for the four seasons of the year, I had intended to read each section during its own season, but I couldn't stop reading!  Filled with kindness and caring, this book has been perfect for me right now.

Be sure to check out the links on Kat's blog post and let me know what you are making and reading these days.

Unraveled Wednesday 9/23/26

 Hello!

And greetings from the still dark Eastern PA region.  It's been a sleepy kind of week with cloudy skies and rain and cooler temps.  Each afternoon Iris tucks some of her friends (Bunny, Dodo [a dog], Marcella [a mouse], Blueberry [a cat] and Doll [an Amish style doll that was mine] under a blanket so that they can nap while she does too.  So darn cute!

Now it is Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday.

While Iris naps I either knit or read.  I would love to nap, but Iris tends to roll some and she naps on the couch.  Yesterday she almost rolled off!  Quick Grandma hands grabbed her before she plummeted!  What is surprising is the amount that I am able to get done:

Fletcher's Birthday Socks were finished yesterday around 1:30 - including weaving in ALL the ends!!  I am so pleased with the way they turned out and I sure hope Fletch likes them.  And I already wrapped them this morning!!

The Farmer's Daughter August Sock Squad yarn (color way Harvest Lantern) was used for the main color and the olive or loden green parts.  The cuff and toes were knit using a mini skein I bought at the NJ Sheep and Wool several years ago.  I love the name of the color way - American Robin.

Last night I cast on for a pair of socks for Iris.  The cuffs will be American Robin and the main color is a dark red.  Hopefully these will knit up quickly.

My reading seems to have stalled a bit.  I was reading a library book and actually got through 150+ pages when I decided that it was just a ridiculous story and was not something I enjoyed.  I returned that yesterday morning on my way to Colin's.  I tried to start another book from the library and looked at a third and neither are appealing at this point.  I will return those this morning.  Yikes!  Am I in a reading funk?  Or slump?

Local Wonders is still providing good entertainment and waiting on my desk is The Wheeling Year.  There are also several books that I have started but not yet finished on my nightstand (including Braiding Sweetgrass and Amy Tan's Backyard Birds), so I am not without reading material.  I just can't seem to settle in on any fiction that I am enjoying.  I have not yet finished John of John (I keep forgetting to listen to it which tells you something).  And I have what I think (hope) are some good books that I am in the queue for at my library.  I am trusting that my funky slump will end soon!

Meanwhile, tell me what you are making and reading!

Unraveled Wednesday 9/16/26

 Good Morning!

I'm sipping hot coffee and have a shawl wrapped around my shoulders as I type this post.  It feels wonderful!  Yesterday morning I actually turned the heat on in the bathroom when I took a shower.  The days do warm up a bit, but these deliciously cool mornings are bliss.

Yesterday we had flower beds weeded and mulched.  It looks so nice!  Fletch is no longer able to weed and I tried it but I'm not really a gardening type of person.  I don't enjoy it.  So...I called the guy who sends a crew out to mow our lawn and they took care of doing the job.  It feels good to have that done.

It's Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat about what we are making and reading.

Though I have not done any stitching in two weeks, I did manage to find a bit of knitting time and the first of Fletcher's birthday socks is finished and the second one started!

I wish the colors were showing more accurate in the above photo.  The heel and toe are knit using a mini skein from The YarnSmith in the color way "American Robin."  The other two colors are from the Farmer's Daughter - the August Sock Squad colors called "Harvest Lantern."  The band below the ribbed cuff, the heel and the rows before the toe decreases are knit in the mini - it is really a very pretty loden green color.  The main color is very light.  I like how the first sock turned out and am eager to complete the second.  Hopefully by Fletcher's birthday which is next week (I'd best get moving on it).

Reading has slowed for me a bit.  As I've mentioned, it has been a busy time and there are many nights when I'm too tired to pick up a needle or even read more than a page or two.  I did finish another Bruno, Chief of Police book, The Children Return by Martin Walker.  This is just such an enjoyable series.

I am continuing to listen to John of John by Douglas Stuart.  After last night's Zoom meeting and discussion, I am more interested in finishing this (I still have about 9 hours of listening left), but I tend to forget about it!  

I'm also continuing to read slowly Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps by Ted Kooser.  The short little blurbs (for lack of a better word - some are only a paragraph) about life where Kooser lives (Southeastern Nebraska) are just delightful.  I'm taking my time with this one to thoroughly enjoy it.

After some false starts with other books, Fletch and I have settled in to listening to Landmarks, another book by Robert Macfarlane.  This one has been described as a field guide to the literature of nature.  We both enjoy his writing so much.

Now it's time for my day to begin!  I hope to get a bit of knitting in this morning before I have a haircut appointment.  No other plans at this point which is just how I like it!  I hope your week is going well.

Unraveled Wednesday 9/2/26

 Hello My Friends,

Hoo-Boy it is hot and humid this morning.  Not what I consider to be typical September weather (but who knows?  That could be changing...).  We had a lovely thunderstorm last night which cooled things down for a short while.  I was hoping to fall asleep to the rain, but it ended before I went to bed.  But...nonetheless...I slept much better than the night before and I am thankful for that.

And now it is Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk all things making and reading.  Everyone always shares such interesting and fun projects and a wealth of books is explored.  So hop in and enjoy!

If you keep up with my blog then you already know that I finished the Honky Tonk Shortie Socks last week.  Needing something on the needles for easy knitting whilst Iris naps, I cast on for another pair of socks (naturally).  These will be for Fletch's birthday which is later this month...so I need to stay focused and get them done!

This is the start of the first sock.  The two solid colors (and the green is like a dark olive or loden green - very pretty) are the selections from The Farmer's Daughter August Sock Squad.  The variegated yarn that I used for the cuff is from another dyer (I can't remember who) that I picked up at a fiber festival (I think NJ a few years ago).  The color way is "American Robin" and I love how it blends with the two solid colors.

My Semplice shawl has been on my mind.  I really need to pick that up and finish it...I'm not far from the end.  But with a 4 stitch increase every other row, the rows keep getting longer and longer!  And though I like the pattern, I'm not thrilled with the color I chose.  Oh well.  Sometimes that happens.

Reading continues apace.  I did finish Country People by Daniel Mason.  The book started off great for me - lots of laugh out loud sections and the quirkiness of Vermonters came through.  But, after a bit it just felt ridiculous and a little stupid to me.  North Woods by Mason is a much better book in my opinion.

Next up I read Winter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermid.  What a delight this little book was.  I could have read it in one sitting but someone was hankering for dinner (not me).  This little gem was charming and cozy and made me look forward to winter days!

I am also continuing to listen to John of John by Douglas Stuart, but it is a slow listen for me.  My mind tends to wander while listening to this book and even though I'm keeping an open mind, I'm not really into this one at all.  But, I will continue to listen and hope that it gets better for me.  Our discussion is next week I think, so I'd best get moving on it.

Fletch and I did start listening to The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman, but we both are having difficulty getting into it, following it, and not falling asleep while listening!  I think we will go with another book.

What are you making and reading this week?

Unraveled Wednesday 8/19/26

 Good Morning All,

How are you this morning?  I am doing ok though I wish I had slept a bit better.  It feels as though I woke up every single hour!  But, the coffee is almost ready to pour, so let's get on with it!

Here we are back again at Unraveled Wednesday.  Time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat about what we are making and reading.  Though I did not get as far as I had thought I would, knitting has been good.  The first shortie sock was finished and the second one was cast on.

The heel flap on the second sock is about a third of the way knit.  Maybe I will finish that and turn the heel while Iris naps today.

As for reading, I am so happy to tell you that last night I finished The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett.  I even finished it in time to return it to the library before they closed (it was due back yesterday).  Whew - what a long, long book.  Stockett is a good story teller and this was a good one.  It just could have/should have been shorter (my opinion).  About half way through the book I got bored.  It felt bogged down.  After another hundred pages or so I just got annoyed!  But, I persevered and I am glad I finished it.  There were a lot of different story lines going on and not all of them were wrapped up (again, my opinion), but there were so many laugh out loud parts in the story and I loved Meg's character.

Last night I started Country People by Daniel Mason.  I'm only 20 or so pages in, so no review yet.  I am looking forward to this particularly since both my parents were from Vermont and I spent so much time in Vermont growing up.  Someone wrote that Mason does an excellent job of portraying the quirkiness of Vermonters (and they sure can be quirky!).

Thanks to enabling from Kat, I also have two new (to me) Ted Kooser books:  Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps and The Wheeling Year: A Poet's Field Book.  Neither of these are volumes of poetry, but rather snippets that Kooser has written about the area of the country where he lives (Southeastern Nebraska).  I started looking at The Wheeling Year and was immediately drawn into it.  I forced myself to put it down and get back to The Calamity Club.  Now I'm looking forward to delving into these two books.

Time to sit back and enjoy my first cup of coffee.  I hope today finds you with a good book and a fun project!

Unraveled Wednesday 8/5/26

 Hello, hello,

I was out early this morning to have a blood test done.  On the way home there were actually sprinkles on my windshield.  I don't think rain is in the forecast, so that was a surprise.  It is very, very humid.  Thankfully my knee continues to feel better...it's just so weird though.

You all know I'm not a huge list-maker, but today I have a list of things to do that is a mile long.  There are not enough hours in the day.  But first, it is Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about making and reading.  Two things very dear to my heart.

Though it seemed to take FOREVER, I got through the heel flap and turn on my shortie sock and I am now onto the foot.

There were several times whilst knitting the heel flap that I would end up with extra stitches...or too few...always on a purl row.  I think I was just plain tired.  At least I was able to fix it.  The gusset stitches were picked up and then the decreases were done.  I'm now 20 rows into the foot, so not quite a third of the way, but close.  With luck I'll be casting on the second shortie sock soon.

Reading has been a pleasure.  Fletch and I did finish listening to The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane and we are now well into The Wild Places.  I had not realized, but these are part of a series on "Landscapes" by Macfarlane.  "The Old Ways" is book 2 and "The Wild Places" is book 3.  We will need to go back and listen to #1 and then #4.  Macfarlane's writing is so enjoyable and the narration of these books has been great.

I also read a volume of poetry:  The Wild Iris by Louise Gluck.  Though as a review states these poems celebrate being alive, I found them to be a bit on the dark side.  Still, some of the poems were extremely beautiful.  This particular volume won the The Nobel Prize in 1993.  Colin had seen a write up about Louise Gluck in The New York Review of Books and then bought this volume (because of the title!!).  Once he finished reading it, he passed it on to me to borrow.  I do love having a son who loves to read!

Before leaving Colin & Iris yesterday I grabbed one of the cucumbers from their garden.  Last week Colin used about 15 to make pickles and there are now at least another 15 on the counter in his kitchen!  I had used the last of mine the other day and the one still in the garden has not grown large enough to pick yet.  I think the one I took had been sampled by someone...perhaps a little mole?

No worries - I can just cut that section out.

Well, time for more coffee and getting a move on my long list of things to do.  I hope your Wednesday is a good one!

Unraveled Wednesday 7/29/26

 Good Morning!

The forecast rain did indeed roll in late yesterday afternoon and evening and we ended up with an inch or so of rain!  Much needed and appreciated.  It sounded and smelled so good!!  And, more is in the forecast for late in the day again today.

It is so hard to believe that we are at the end of July.  Where did it go?  It's now the last Wednesday of the month and time to link up with Kat  and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat about making and reading.  I know it's difficult to believe, but I have finally picked up my Honky Tonk yarn and started a shortie sock!

The photo shows that I am part of the way down the heel flap. Honestly, I thought I would finish the heel flap, turn the heel and at. least pick up the gusset stitches.  But, I guess my less-than-stellar nights of sleep finally caught up with me - yesterday I had a two hour nap and woke up just in time to get dinner ready!

A new pattern that has caught my attention is Flyover by Alison K. Lee for Quince and Co.  Has anyone else noticed this one?  I love the looks of it for a nice Fall walk.  No plans yet to make it, but I'm thinking...

Meanwhile there has been reading.  I finished This Book Made Me Think Of You by Libby Page.  This was a quick read and a bit of fluff (my opinion).  A cute story but perhaps overly sweet.  However, it was the perfect book to read after consuming "Land" by Maggie O'Farrell the other week.

After that I read The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry.  Again, an easy read, but quite enjoyable.  And, it's based on a true story which I had not realized until I read the author's notes at the end of the story.  Plus, Beatrix Potter is mentioned, so what's not to love?

Today I'm back to watching Iris and looking forward to that.  Mailing is headed to Boston today for work and Colin & Iris are driving up there tomorrow for a long weekend.  After hanging in Boston, they will head over to Rhode Island for Saturday night.  They will be staying with Jan & Pete (Leslie's sister) and as it turns out, Leslie will be there too.  I'm so glad they will have a chance to see everyone.  I will still be going over to their house each day (twice a day) to care for and feed Talbot.  I also want to cook something to leave in their fridge so that they don't need to think about dinner when they return on Sunday.

More beans and tomatoes were picked yesterday - they are really coming in like gangbusters now!  I'll be able to leave a healthy serving for C&M&I and still have plenty for us!

And a surprise visitor yesterday - Froggy made an appearance!!

The green he is sitting on is a microfiber cloth sitting over the pump in our water feature.  The cloth helps keep debris from settling on the pump, so it runs better.

Well, time to sip some coffee and wake up.  Also I need to pull together a lunch for today.  May your Wednesday find you happily doing something you love!

Unraveled Wednesday 7/22/26

 Good Morning!

Despite some thunderstorms late in the day yesterday, it is still extremely muggy.  Ugh!  And, not that much rain fell here - less than third of an inch by our rain gauge.

Before I get back to watching Iris today, it's time for linking up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers for an Unraveled Wednesday post.  No, I still have not knit or started anything new, and I did not pick up Semplice.  I did, however, make a catnip toy for Talbot using the too-small-sock I knit.

After getting rid of all the stems and sticks from the dried catnip, there wasn't really enough for two toys.  Anyway, Mabel has her REAL plant outside!  I took the too-small-sock and tucked the cuff end down into the rest of the sock so it would have a double thickness, stuffed it with the dried leaves and then sewed it shut.  Hopefully Talbot will like it.  I'll take it to him this morning.

Since I last posted about reading, I have finished two books.  I read Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin.  I don't know why this book never crossed my path previously - so many have read it and loved it.  Food memoirs are one of my favorite genres to read.  However, I did not really care for this book.  None of her recipes appealed to me and I found myself disagreeing with many things she said about food and cooking.  Oh well, to each their own.  I'm glad to have read it anyway.

Next up I read Land by Maggie O'Farrell which many of you have already read.  I think most of you will be very surprised to learn that I absolutely loved this book!  Yes it was bleak and harrowing in places.  Certainly no good fortune but plenty of bad luck.  Yet, I found myself responding to how resilient the characters are and I even found the book hopeful in a way.  I thought the ending was great.  I also kept thinking about how strong the female characters are that O'Farrell creates - not only Rose and Enda and Phina, but also Agnes from Hamnet and Lucrezia from The Marriage Portrait.

Now I'm almost finished another book - much less intense than Land and I'll be able to talk about that one next week.  Fletch and I only have a couple of hours left in our listening to The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane.  I've already downloaded The Wild Places by Macfarlane for our next listen.

What have you been up to in the making department and what have you been reading?

Unraveled Wednesday 7/8/26

 Good Morning Fellow Makers!

How are you?  Gosh!  The air almost feels chilly this morning...I'm in a tee shirt and PJ pants and could almost use another top - a light flannel shirt or sweater!  And yesterday, whilst Iris napped on the couch, I had to turn the ceiling fan off at C&M's.  The door between the living room and sunroom was open and a fairly strong breeze was coming in.  We (Colin, Iris and I) walked outside to check on Colin & Iris' garden before lunch and even with leggings, a tee shirt and flannel shirt, I was cold!  Amazing after last week.  I've also noticed the morning light changing (already).  It's kind of dark now when I get up and the birds are not quite as loud early in the morning.  

Time marches on and now it is Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk making and reading.

Well, surprise, surprise!  I have a finished object to share:

The first slip stitch sock is finished!  It was finished Saturday morning, July 4th.  HOWEVER, it might just be the only one.  Looks pretty, huh?  But let me tell you, it is small and tight.  Tight as in my foot can't get into it!  Friends, I know I am a very tight knitter (I'm trying to ease up, but...) and this sock proves it.  I used size 1 needles (I really should know better).  There are 15 rows of ribbing at the cuff; roughly 70 rows on the leg; the heel flap and turn and then about 65 rows on the foot before the toe decreases.  This should fit my friend Janet, but I'm betting it's too small even for her.  As proof, all that knitting used only 32 grams of yarn!

There are still 75 grams of yarn left from the skein!  So, I'm debating what to do.  

• I could knit another sock like this and then donate the pair
• I could throw this one in the trash (or make a cat toy from it)
• I could unravel this and use the remaining 75 grams for a pair of socks using #2 needles and have this extra yarn "just in case."

I have yet to decide what to do, so no knitting has taken place.  I'm still looking at patterns and looking at my yarn and thinking I really (REALLY) should finish my Semplice Shawl or I should use the skein of Jane yarn that I wound and cast on a hat or this...or that...  I will cogitate on this a bit longer.

Meanwhile, reading has been good (at least I've been able to concentrate better and finish 2 books!).  Over the weekend I finished Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer.  This was one of those books that I wondered if I would finish.  At first I was confused with all the characters and the various stories, but I got into the rhythm of the book and ended up really enjoying it.  Nothing wrong with a story set in Italy!

Next up was another Bruno, Chief of Police novel by Martin Walker - The Templars' Last Secret.  Definitely not my favorite Bruno book, but the food and wine in the Bruno stories are always so good.  Also, Martini Walker obviously does his research and knows what he writes about.  This book dealt with archaeological finds as well as present day tensions between Palestine and Israel.  

Fletch and I are continuing our usual slow pace of listening to a book for 15 o 20 minutes after dinner.  We are still into The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane and thoroughly enjoying it.  The narration is good and the journey is pleasant.

Meanwhile, I received notice that 2 more books are in for me from the library:  "Land" by Maggie O'Farrell (hoping I enjoy more than Bonny or Kym) and "This Book Made Me Think Of You" by Libby Page.  I've been in the rather long queues for both of these novels, so I'm hoping to enjoy.  My plan is to pick these up on Saturday and hopefully between now and then I can finish 1 or 2 of the library books in a stack on my nightstand!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and enjoy checking out what all the Unravelers are making and reading.  My guess is that you will find something (or many things) to inspire you.  Have fun!

Unraveled Wednesday 7/1/26

 Good Morning!

I'm enjoying the early hours before the heat and humidity really settle in for the day.  Right now it is rather pleasant, but I know what this afternoon will be like....

So hey!  It's Wednesday (the first of July which does NOT seem possible) and it's time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about making and reading.

Monday early afternoon was actually quite pleasant outside.  I put a small table in front of my chair on the patio and set out my knitting, a book, and a glass of Pinot Grigio.  Bliss!  I had to bring out a different chair as the one I usually sit in is a deck chair with arms which doesn't really work for knitting.  Easy enough to remedy.

My first slip stitch sock is almost halfway down the foot.  I was easily distracted by bird song and Mabel roaming around.  Slow knitting is nice.  No one wants to wear a wool sock today, so there is no rush to finish.

Reading has also been a little slower, but so good.  I finished Whistler by Ann Patchett and loved it!  Honestly, I wasn't sure I would.  There has been so much (so much) buzz about this book and then, of course, Ann Patchett is set to win the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.  So I wasn't sure, but oh my!  What a wonderful book.  Strong, likable characters and a wonderful story!

I am now in the midst (roughly 100 pages in) of Villa Coco which (so far) is proving to be an amusing romp through Italy.  Such fun characters - but so many of them!  I might need a cheat sheet to keep all of them in my mind.

And, finally, Fletch and I are listening to The Old Ways - A Journey on Foot by Robert McFarlane.  We had enjoyed listening to "Is a River Alive?" so decided to try this one.  Very good.  Though I don't retain as much listening to books, it's a very enjoyable listen.  Kat - I think you recommended this one quite some time ago (at least that's what my notes say on my TBR list).

I'm still in queue (long queues) for a number of books (Theo of Golden, Land, Country People, etc.) so I requested some other books to fill time while waiting for the popular ones.  Well, late yesterday I received an email that four of those requested are waiting for me to pick them up!  When it rains it pours!  As I always say, not a bad problem.  I will not pick them up today (I'll be with Iris all day), but probably tomorrow.

Yesterday I did a thing.  I got my hair chopped!!  It had gotten long (like down to my bra strap on my back) and all I ever did with it was pull it back into a pony tail or with a clip or put it in a bun on top of my head.  I was bored and tired with that.  And hey!  Cutting so much off is kind of a weight loss plan.  LOL. Anyway, here is the new (slightly cooler) moi:

Just a chin length bob that hopefully will be easy to "do".  I'm not one to spend a lot of time with a blow dryer or product.  I'm a wash and wear type of gal, so we will see how it works out.  It looked fine this morning when I got out of bed, so that's a plus!

Wishing you a wonderful start to July.  Have some fun and stay cool and hydrated!

Unraveled Wednesday 6/24/26

 Good Morning!

It is just barely 60 degrees out and I am wearing a sweatshirt!!  It feels wonderful.  Yesterday was a cool day as well.  Perfect for making eggplant parmesan for dinner.  I added sautéed mushrooms to the mix and will be doing that from now on.

It's Wednesday.  I'll be back with Iris today (and tomorrow), but before then it is time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat a bit about what we are making and reading.  There has been no unraveling this week.  And, other than a few moments while at Colin's there hasn't been much knitting since I was focused on finishing my Appil sampler (see yesterday's post).  But there was a little and my slip stitch sock is now at the point where I will knit the heel flap and turn the heel.

I'm liking this sock a lot.  The colors and the pattern.  At this point, I'm planning to continue the pattern down the top of the foot (leaving the sole plain).

Reading has been good as well.  The mystery I was in the middle of last week was Missing by E. A. Jackson.  It was good - not great, but kept my interest.  And Fletch and I finished In a Pig's Eye by Karl Schwenke.  We had a few good laughs while reading this.

Most surprising for me was The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout.  I liked it!  A lot!!  Strout is an author who - for me - sometimes hits it right and other times does not.  I think it was Jane who said she felt the book was melancholy.  I did not feel that at all.  I would have preferred less about the current political situation, but that is really my only complaint.  For me, the book was about hope and kindness.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

Unraveled Wednesday 6/17/26

 Good Morning All,

It's another delightfully cool morning in Eastern PA.  I know our temps are climbing, but I'm going to enjoy a cool morning while I can.

My eye appointment was a good one which is always nice.  Today I'm back to watching Iris (and tomorrow too).  My days of watching are increasing at a rapid pace!  Bonnie (Mailing's Mom who shares watching times) has a number of planned trips in the next few months:  a 2 week trip back to China; an Alaskan cruise and a trip to Europe.  All of these are 2+ weeks long which means long weeks for me.  I do love caring for Iris and I love being able to help Colin & Mailing...but I sure hope my back, arms and shoulders hold up!  LOL

Now it's Wednesday and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers for another fun romp through the world of making and reading.  Yesterday ended up being quite busy, so no making time, but I do have a new start to show you!

Oh look!  It's the start of another sock.  I like having a sock to work on when I spend the day with Iris - sometimes I can knit while she has lunch with Colin or when she naps.  This time I am doing a simple slip stitch pattern.  The yarn is from Twisted Owl (I think no longer producing) and the color way is Honkey Tonk Woman.  This is the very same skein of yarn that I attempted to turn into a cowl.  The yarn was not pleased and the cowl was unraveled.  But, now the yarn is very happy to become socks.  Whew!

Meanwhile my swatching was unsuccessful.  Ugh.  I was using Ito Kinu in the hopes of making a Shakerag Sweater.  The pattern calls for a gauge of 20 stitches and 26 rows in stockinette on size 6 needles for a 4" square with the yarn held double.  I got 3".  Moved up to a 7 needle and got 3.5".  Moved up to an 8 needle and got (just barely) 4" but I honestly did not like the fabric.  I also went on and continued knitting with just one strand of yarn (as the pattern calls for) and I really did not like that on an 8 needle.  So, my Ito Kinu is back in the cone stage while I think about things.  Maybe a little vest...or maybe a little tank top.  I have some old (like from the 90's) Rowan books that have some lovely patterns.  I'll look through them.  Later...

Since I last posted about my reading I have finished 2 books.  First is Kin by Tayari Jones.  This has been quite a "buzzy" book being on the NYT bestseller list and a pick for Oprah's Book Club.  I found it to be average.  Kind of what I expected.  It was good.  The writing was good.  It just did not pull me in like some books do.

The other book I finished is Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg.  I think, like Kin, a number of you have already read this book.  Berg is an author whose books I sometimes like a lot (The Pull of the Moon is one of them), but many of them just fall short for me.  This book was just ok.  Good, but slow in many places and a bit "schmaltzy" in others.

Yesterday three books came in for me at the library and I'm excited to get started (finishing up a mystery before starting though).  Again, many of you have already read them and I am sure hoping they engage me!  They are:  Whistler by Ann Patchett, The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (another author whom I enjoy sometimes, but not always), and Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer. 

Now it's time to pour another cup of coffee, have a bite to eat and get ready to go see Iris.  May your Wednesday find you immersed in something that brings you delight - enjoy!

Friday Cooking and Other Things

 Hello My Friends,

Today is a later-than-usual post from moi.  My morning was busy, but all in a very good way.  Our temps are rising (as is the humidity) and I knew I wanted to get a crostata in the oven before the heat of the day.  And voila!  A blueberry/peach/rhubarb crostata was made.

I wish there were sniffable monitors - this just smells amazing and I cannot wait to try it (but I will!).

My socks were finished this morning!  They are matchy-matchy up until the very tip of the toe.

Sock #1 on the left has a little bit of the next color showing in the toe.  The sock I finished this morning had no need of that additional color.  Maybe I knit tighter?  Maybe the length of colors was slightly different?  No matter...matchy-matchy doesn't matter to me and I am very happy with this pair of socks.  They are now tucked away to be gifted later (recipient TBD).  The yarn is from Fibernymph Dyeworks    - Lisa is amazing with her dying.  The color way is "Mountain House Winter" but they remind me of polo or rugby stripes.  Whatever, they are lovely.  And, if you have not tried Lisa's yarns (I know most of you have), you really should give them a try.

After that, I had a massage booked for 11 a.m.  Bliss!  Mallory, the massage therapist I have been seeing for months now, is a miracle worker.  She found knots I didn't know I had - lol.

When I got home, Fletch and I had lunch and then I started cooking again!  We want a cold dinner tonight, so I set about making a Lobster Orzo Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette.  It's fast to make and quite tasty.  I used Langoustinos (tail meat) that I found at Trader Joe's instead of lobster.  It tastes like lobster but is much, much less $$$.  It is now in the fridge chilling.

We'll have some more radishes from Colin's garden and sugar snap peas to go with this.  An easy, fast, cool dinner for a warm/hot day.

Did any of you see the MDK post about the road trip to Florence, Alabama and The School of Making?  So tempting.  I would love to do that, but I don't think the timing is good for me right now.  Are any of you considering it?

And with that...let the weekend begin!  We have no plans (which is so nice).  I want to get to Target (I need printer paper).  Maybe I'll do some laundry...maybe not.  I'm sure I won't be doing cleaning.  I hope to swatch this afternoon for a Shakerag and maybe pick out yarn for the next socks.  I'd also like to sit down with my stitching.

Here's hoping you have some fun ahead of you!

Unraveled Wednesday 5/20/26

Good Morning!

Mon Dieu but this weather!!!  Yesterday my car thermometer was showing over 100.  The temps are now dropping and rain is coming in.  The high for Saturday (when we are going to C&M's for a cookout...) is only forecast to be in the mid-fifties.  This back and forth is enough to make one crazy (or crazier than one already is).

My cleaning went ok...I did not get it all done, but c'est la vie.  I did grocery shop and wine shopped and we are now well stocked in the fruits and vegetables department as well as wine.  And my wallet is much, much lighter.  Prices keep rising, and let's not talk about gas prices.  Anyway, I will try to finish up a little cleaning and straightening tonight.  The basics are done, now there is just some touch up to be completed.

Between cleaning, shopping and heat wave weather I have not done much making at all (therefore the lack of a post yesterday).  But time marches on and now it is Wednesday, so let's link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat a bit about making and reading.  My 2nd sock is progressing, but not quite as quickly as I had thought.

  The leg is finished and I am poised to start the heel flap.  Theoretically I could get that done today while Colin and Iris have lunch.  But time will tell.

It has been a good week for reading though.  I finished the Bruno, Chief of Police book that I was reading.  Fatal Pursuit was not my favorite Bruno book, but it was engaging and dealt with a car rally.  I am finding this entire series to just be delightful - a bit of mystery and murder, a little romance, and lots of food and wine and life in general in the French countryside.

Cleaning the bookcase in our bedroom I discovered Have You Heard the Cricket Song by Winston Abbott.  I'm sure this was once my Mom's book - just her style.  Inspirational and filled with nature.  It's short (under 60 pages) and reads like a poem.  Very enjoyable.

A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst was a fast read.  What an adventure!  A couple sailing the world has their boat hit by a whale and then the boat sinks!  The couple survive (barely) on a dinghy and raft for just over 4 months before finally being rescued.  Yikes!  And (amazingly to me), all they talk about is their next boating adventure (to Patagonia)!  As the title states, a true story of love, obsession and shipwreck.

Last night Fletch and I wrapped up listening to The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson.  This is such an epic tale and I cannot recommend it enough.  Colin gave us a copy years ago that we read out loud and loved.  My Dad then read it and enjoyed it immensely - so much that it inspired/encouraged him to do on-line research (he was in his 80's at the time).  This time we listened to it on audible.  The narration is excellent and we discovered much more humor in this adventure than either of us remembered.

And that's a wrap for me.  Time to fix another cup of coffee and look for some nourishment.  Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Unraveled Wednesday 5/13/26

 Good Morning Everyone!

Once again we find ourselves at the mid-point of the week.  It's time to link up with Kat and her Band of Merry Unravelers to talk about making and reading.  Always a fun day for posts.

If you read my blog, you know that I finished the first "rugby sock" last week and I'm happy to say that sock #2 has been started.

Not only started, but halfway down the leg heading for the heel flap.  You all know that I am not a match-matchy person, but for those of you who are, the stripes on sock #2 line up with the stripes of sock #1.  

Voila!  Matchy-Matchy.

None of the swatching I had intended to do was done...but there is always tomorrow.

Only one book was finished last week.  A Good Animal by Sara Maurer is a coming of age story set in Sault Ste. Marie, MI on a sheep farm.  It was an ok read - not great, but good at the time I read it.  I found it to be a bit predictable and even a little "schmaltzy" but, as I already said, ok.

As I wait for some books to come in at my library, I'm back in the French countryside with Bruno, Chief of Police.  More deaths and plenty of wine and food - perfect!!

Today I'll be back with Iris and am looking forward to that.  I hope your Wednesday is a good one.

Unraveled Wednesday 5/6/26

 Good Morning Fellow Makers,

Hoping this Wednesday morning finds you all doing well.  I'm doing well and looking forward to winding down my cat duties with Talbot.  Still a few days to go, but it is going well.  He's been fairly talkative this week and also a bit needy for affection.

How about we link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about what we are making and reading.  The sock is progressing:

The foot is about halfway done, so it shouldn't be long now to wrap up this first sock.  The yarn is from Fibernymph Dyeworks and is Lisa's Mountain House Winter color way.  The stripes remind me of a rugby shirt, so I may just call them Rugby Socks.  Just plain vanilla socks, letting the stripes show all their glory.

Though I had hoped to do some swatching this past week, that did not happen.  The yarn is sitting patiently waiting to be caked and swatched.

On the left is Ito Kinu in the color way Cayenne Red (doesn't really look red to me, but...) which will (hopefully) become a Shakerag Top and on the right is a skein of Jane in the color way Caladium with which I intend to make Jacob's Hat by Norah Gaughan.  Or, I may opt to knit up some fingerless mitts with it.  As usual, I seem to have more plans and ideas than I have time!

Reading has been good.  This past week I finished 3 books.  First up, I listened to A Year of Marvellous Ways. by Sarah Winman.  Magical realism is not typically a genre that I enjoy, however I did like this book.  Filled with mermaids war, love, loss, and thoughts on aging.  Marvellous is a wonderful character.

With my eyes I read The Safekeep by Yale van Der Wouden.  I can't remember where I heard about this book.  It is set in the early sixties in a Dutch Province and deals with the aftermath of WWII.  The book is filled with desire, obsession and suspicion and is very atmospheric.

My last read was Under Water by Tara Menon.  This was fairly intense, dealing with the tsunami in Thailand and years later Hurricane Sandy in NYC.  Survival and guilt all wrapped up together.

Now I'm in the midst of a much less intense read!

And, finally, a picture of sweet Talbot who stayed by my side for an hour one day.

The yellow in the above photo is a blanket I knit for Colin several years ago!  Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Unaveled Wednesday 4/29/26

 Good Morning All,

It's a mild morning.  I woke up too warm this morning...thinking it would be cool overnight I lowered the back window in the bedroom and threw an extra blanket on the bed.  Oh well, at least I slept well.  We have rain in the forecast for later today and then, I think, heavy tonight.

Our Iris have started to bloom and they are gorgeous!

Even though Kat is taking a bit of a blogging break, I still want to post about knitting and reading for an Unraveled Wednesday post.  My first Mountain House Winter (Fibernymph Dyeworks) sock is progressing.

I'm a little over 2/3 of the way down the leg and should get to the heel flap soon.  This is what I knit when I go over to feed Talbot.  Yesterday I only got 5 rows completed, but some days I'm able to get 12 or 15 done.  

Yesterday was a little busy at the Wu-Lane house.  Talbot had a bit of an "issue" on the office room couch - not sure if it was a hairball or something (....) else.  But I cleaned that up and then scrubbed the cushion a bit.  I'm afraid the cushion might be a bit stained.  After that I checked on seedlings that Colin has started (cucumber, tomatillo, cantaloup and cherry tomato).  He has trays in the office room window and also in the upstairs bedroom window.  They all got a good spritzing.  I'll water house plants today.  I remembered to get the trash cans out for pick up today.  Anyway, all that left less time for knitting.

Reading has been a little slower.  I did finish The Patriarch by Martin Walker.  This is another Bruno, Chief of Police book.  This series is such a pleasure to read.  Yes, a murder, but plenty of talk about food and wine and life in the French countryside.  When I spoke with one of my brothers last week, it was ironic to discover that we were reading the same book!

Time for me to get moving.  I promised Fletch blueberry pancakes this morning, so I need to mix up the batter for those.  Wishing you all a lovely Wednesday!

Unraveled Wednesday 4-22-26

 Good Morning!

It's a little wet outside this morning.  I heard heavy rain during the night, but looking at my phone, it appears that the rain is over for the day.  However, a sweatshirt and leggings will be my outfit today for watching Iris.  I tend to feel cold when it is damp out.

The other day when I pulled out of our driveway heading to Colin's I stopped and stared.  At first I thought I was seeing a wild turkey (we used to have them all around the neighborhood).  But, it turned out to be a turkey vulture.  Friends, these birds are HUGE!  He/She was in Rob's yard pulling up something with a bone attached.  He/She flew off as soon as I snapped the picture and that wing span was just amazing!

Happy Earth Day!  It also happens to be Wednesday, the day I usually link up with Kat for Unraveled Wednesday, but Kat is taking a little break from blogging, so there is no link up today.  I'd still like to show you my knitting and talk about what I've read.

The second Panning for Gold sock is progressing nicely.  I'm a little more than halfway down the foot.  Some mornings at Colin's I can knit a row or two as Colin and Iris finish up their morning walk.  And, usually when they have lunch I can manage 5-8 rows.  Not fast progress, but it is progress.

This sock will be finished up in good time. 

Reading has again been great!  I finished our next RWU book (our discussion will be in June).   Good People by Patmeena Sabit is a powerful book.  I wasn't sure that I would like the format, but I thought it worked quite well.  Even though I would have liked to hear the voices of the family, I think the absence of those voices gave a certain strength to the novel.  I'll reserve my other thoughts/comments for our discussion in early June.

Next up I read Everyday Sacred: A Woman's Journey Home by Sue Bender.  I read and enjoyed "Plain and Simple" by the author decades ago when it came out and enjoyed it.  The story of the Begging Bowl in "Everyday Sacred"was interesting.  The book is a very quick and peaceful read.  Looking in one of our bookcases, I found a copy of "Plain and Simple" and I may re-read that some point (right now I have way too many library books on my nightstand!).

The last book I finished this past week is The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey.  Oh my!  I absolutely loved this book.  So many fascinating details...I almost want to find a snail of my own!!  A very beautiful and thought provoking book.

As if I don't already have enough library books on my nightstand, yesterday on my way home I picked up 3 more!  Two are poetry books that I'm looking forward to reading.  One will go in my bag today when I head over to Colin's.

Have a wonderful Wednesday and tell me what you've been making and reading lately.