Unraveled Wednesday 1/8/25

 Good Morning!

Mabel was kind enough to not wake me up until almost 7 this morning!  That was wonderful and enabled me to get 8.5 hours of sleep.  Bliss!  It is a crisp 23 degrees outside and the birds are coming to the feeder at my office window.  Mabel is somewhere else in the house - she is not on her ledge where she can bat against the window.

Last night's Book Zoom meet-up was good.  Even though I had not read the book.  And even though the discussions did not led me to want to read the book.  LOL.  It was nice to see everyone again.

Now it's Wednesday.  Hump Day.  Mid-Week.  Time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk all about making and reading.  Two of my favorite subjects.  As I mentioned the other day on my blog, there was a bit of unraveling that went on.  In fact all that I had knit on the Heart Warmer Cowl was ripped back to the very beginning (meaning cast on).  I had gotten through the first round of lace work and was starting on the second round when (somehow) I was distracted and really messed it up.  I tried for over an hour to un-knit or tink back what I had done but honestly I could not make sense out of any of it.  Finally I realized it would be faster to rip it out and start over.  So, that is what I did.

This is how it looks now.  Ten rows of ribbing (1x1) are completed and the first two rounds of the cable and lace pattern have been knit.  Yesterday I did no knitting thanks to being busy and my finger bothering me.  Today I am hoping for some quiet time when I can get back to work on this (no distractions and no irritating background noise!! - wish me luck...).

Reading has been good.  I finished The Return of the Light - Twelve Tales From Around the World for the Winter Solstice which I enjoyed.  This is a book I had suggested to Fletch that we read after dinner, but he did not enjoy it.  The tales are short and easy to read and they are all about light (sun).  Easy to read a tale before turning out the light to go to sleep.

I also read The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - another book that I enjoyed.  At first I thought it was one I had already read, but as it moved along, I realized I had not.  (I guess I may have read a number of books like it - slavery in the South in the early 1800's.)  The book was a good read for me - easy to read and not too taxing on my brain.  Exactly the kind of book I like to read in early January.

I'm happy to say that Fletch and I have agreed on a book that we are listening to after dinner:  The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson.  The narration, so far, is wonderful.  This book has been on my TRB list for quite some time and Sunday the post from MDK was about it which was the reminder I needed!  For those of you who have already read the book, and for those interested in it, I had a newsletter from our local PBS station and it mentioned that Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (of "Finding Your Roots" fame) has made a documentary titled "The Great Migration."  The four part series will start airing on PBS at the end of January.

And that's a wrap for me.  Today is a day where I have absolutely no plans and that suits me just fine!  I hope everyone has a wonderful day and remember to check out Kat's blog to see what everyone else is up to in the making and reading worlds.

Tiny Needle Tuesday 1/7/25

 Hey Everyone,

Good Morning!  Man is it cold here in Eastern PA.  It snowed all morning yesterday!  Despite that, we only got about 2" or so of snow.  Which is fine with me.  Then it snowed again last night for a couple of hours, but just a dusting.  And the wind!  Still howling around outside.  It's hard to remember back to those sweltering summer days when I was wishing for winter!  LOL

Finally, finally, I got back to stitching a little over the weekend.  It felt like years since I had picked up a needle.

Another sunflower was added to the left of the house as well as a third black cat and another red squirrel.  So many critters!!  A little more of the woman's dress was stitched, but there is still a long way to go on that.

Winter has taken a toll on my hands.  Or, more specifically, my right hand.  I have a crack that has formed at the top of my thumb.  My right index finger is covered in eczema (at least that's what I think it is).  It's a wonder how something can itch and hurt at the same time!  At any rate, this has made stitching a little difficult and also knitting.  I have a dermatologist appointment at the end of the month and I'll be happy to have my doctor take a look at my hand.

Looking forward to seeing some of you tonight for our Zoom book discussion with Kym, Carole and Bonny!

Weekending 1/6/25

 Hello and Good Morning!

First of all, Happy Birthday to my friend Carol!  May this year be one of joy and good health for you.

Second of all, it's snowing!  Yup, we had a dusting (again) on Friday, but today more is expected.  They are forecasting 1-3" for us.  But, of course, they don't really know what they are talking about.  When I look at our radar map, it appears that it could snow through 1 p.m. - that is 6 plus hours of snow, so we shall see.  Meanwhile, it is cold and periodically the wind is still howling around.

Luckily, I have no pressing need to go out.  Saturday I spent ALL day inside.  I did manage to get dressed (just barely).  I found time to knit, stitch, read, nap and cook.  It was (for me) a perfect day.

Some unraveling occurred.  The entire cowl that had gotten to the 20th row or so was taken off the needles.  Apparently I cannot work on lace work when there are distractions (TV) in the background.  I'm back to where I need to start the lace work and cables, so wish me luck (and some peace and quiet).

Yesterday I did venture out.  We were low on sunflower seeds and with the storm predicted, wanted to be sure we had enough for our feathered friends.  And, since I was out I also picked up wine - it would be horrible to get snowed in without wine!  LOL

Yesterday I did more stitching and some knitting and also cleaned off my desk.  That took some time.  I have journals out that I will use for 1) books that I read or listen to in 2025 and 2) a journal to record my walking.  More things were pulled together for the donation bag.  I would like to pull things together to donate to our local food pantry - a bunch of "food stuffs" are on shelves in our basement, so if I can tolerate being in the basement (it's cold!!) I will do that.

Today the plan is to do more knitting and stitching, a bit of reading and maybe some more organizing of "things."  It is so easy for stuff to pile up and before you know it, it's overwhelming to deal with it all.  I also took Thanksgiving turkey out of the freezer so that I can make mini turkey pot pies for dinner.

How was your weekend?  Please stay warm and safe - especially if you are in the path of the storm.

Unraveled Wednesday 1/1/25

 Hi All,

Greetings and Happy New Year!  We had a wild (and loud) thunderstorm last night.  Crazy.  We had expected rain, but not thunder and lightening.  Today is overcast (like January often is)...on the mild side, but quite windy out.  40 degrees, grey and windy is not appealing to me for a walk, so I will probably stay in.

How were your celebrations (if any)?  The crab cakes I made tasted very good...but they did not stay as cakes.  They fell apart.  Most likely I should have kept the mixture in the frig longer to really firm up, but I was late getting started mixing things together and then didn't really want to wait.  There is a lot of crab left over, that's for sure.

As usual, Fletch and I stayed in.  We watched two episodes of Poirot (neither of which I remembered seeing in the past, so that was fun).  And then we watched a program on the Folk Music Hall of Fame.  Interesting to see Peter and Paul (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame), Livingston Taylor (I remember listening to him in the early 70's, but he never became as popular as his brother), Joan Baez, Judy Collins and so many others.  I went to bed after that...Fletch stayed up to watch the ball drop.

And here we are at Wednesday.  The first day of the New Year and the first Unraveled Wednesday for 2025.  Time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to talk about all the making and reading.  If you've been reading my recent posts, you know that I finished Colin's second sock on the 21st of December and had not picked up any needles (knitting OR stitching) since then.  That, my friends, was rectified yesterday.

A tiny start!  I had caked up the yarn a few days prior and then yesterday afternoon cast on for a Heart Warmer cowl.  I've knit this pattern in the past and I LOVE the bobbles.  Fun to knit and fun to wear.  I am using fingering weight yarn from The Twisted Owl Fiber Studio (75/25).  The color way is "Honky Tonk Woman."  I often buy yarn for the name of the color way - LOL.  In this case, I love the colors in it as well.  This will be a gift for next Christmas!!  I'm attempting to get a head start this year.  And would like to knit more than just socks!  So far I've completed 3 rows of the 1x1 ribbing...hopefully more to be completed today.

On the reading side of things, I finished a few books since I last posted on an Unraveled Wednesday.  First up was "The Grey Wolf" by Louise Penny.  I'm interested to read how others felt about this book.  Though wonderful to be back in Three Pines with Armand Gamache, this book did not grab me like Louise Penny's other Gamache books have.  It was good, but some of it fell flat for me.  "The Black Wolf" is set to be published in October 2025, and I'm curious to see how I feel about that one.

Next up was "Long Island" (a sequel to Brooklyn) by Colm Tobin which I enjoyed (I think I liked Brooklyn better).

And then Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawagichi.  This is not a book I had heard about until my friend Leslie had mentioned it.  A mutual friend from high school had recommended it on Facebook.  The concept was interesting and it was a very quick read.  The four stories are inter-related and (for me) just ok.  I rated this book at 3 stars.

Fletch and I did finally finish the lecture series book "The Mind of the Raven" by Bernd Heinrich.  Though funny and interesting at times, listening to this book was too much like sitting in a lecture room.  LOL. We started reading The Return of the Light on the 21st, but after several tales, Fletch said he was not enjoying it.  That book has been moved to my nightstand and I need to remember to pick it up and finish it (though by the time I go to bed I am often too tired to read).  We have not yet come up with a new book to read or listen to after dinner.  Hopefully one will speak to us soon!

Once again, wishing everyone a Happy New Year.  Cheers to 2025 - may it bring all of us peace, joy, love and good health!

A Little Review

 Hello, Hello,

Happy New Year's Eve.  Fletch and I will be tucked at home.  We stopped going out New Year's Eve decades ago.  Too many crazy folks out there and on the roads.  Usually I make a crab quiche and we have champagne or Prosecco.  This year I am going to make crab cakes instead and we will have some roasted asparagus to go along with the cakes.  And Prosecco, of course.

After a somewhat dark/moody/overcast and damp start to the day yesterday, the temperature rose a bit and the sun came out.While Fletch was still waking up, I took myself out to the River Walk in Valley Forge.  Although the temps had risen to the low 50's, there was a pretty strong breeze and I was thankful to have my fleece ear band to wear.

Such a blue, blue sky.  The river on the left was calm.  And, with a nod to Juliann, here is my picture looking down.

This rather small tree trunk was across the trail and I loved all the moss on it.  So pretty.

Now it's Tuesday and I am hoping to get out for another walk in another location this morning.  Usually on Tuesdays I post a Tiny Needle update, but there has been no stitching in a couple of weeks, so instead I thought I would give a brief review of what I made and read in 2024.

During the year I knit 12 pairs of socks and one hat.  No one wanted the hat - made of Lopi and very itchy, so that was donated.  The socks were a mix:  some for me, some for Fletch, some gifts and some for Colin.  I was surprised to find that I had actually made 12 pair!  Two shawls were started and I hope to get to them pronto and finish them up.

I completed 8 stitching pieces and enjoyed them all.  The Blessing (by Examplars From The Heart) is my current stitching project.  Still quite a bit to stitch on this one and I hope to get back to stitching sooner rather than later.  Nothing is a race though - the idea is to enjoy what you do.

It was a good year for books!  I read a total of 52, of which 43 were "real" books and 9 were audio.  I have a Kindle, but have not used it for a long time.  I prefer to read a book to a screen.  Apparently I did a pretty good job of choosing books:  I rated 14 of them as 5 stars and 21 of them as 4 stars!  Four were 3.5 stars, 8 were 3 stars, 2 were 2.5 stars and 3 were 2 stars.  Breaking it down further, 36 were fiction, 9 were memoirs/biographies, 4 were non-fiction, 2 were essays and 1 was poetry.

It is difficult (impossible for moi) to pick one favorite out of the books I read.  But, some favorites include:  James, Clear, North Woods, Suite Francaise, Musical Tables, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, the two Solstice books by Nina MacLaughlin, and The Ride of Her Life.  See?  No way I could choose just one above all others.

Meanwhile, the reading continues.  I've been doing more reading and no knitting or stitching!  Yesterday I picked up 3 more books from my library, so I have plenty to carry me into 2025.

I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions, so there will be none of that here!!  However you celebrate (or not) and whatever you do (or don't do), I hope you slip into 2025 with a smile on your face and joy in your step.

Catching Up 12/30/24

 Hello My Friends,

It's been a bit of time since I last posted.  I feel myself diving into hibernation mode these days.  Sleeping later, struggling to get up and out from under the covers (if it were not for Mabel, some days I would stay in bed all day!).  Yesterday I got up, pulled on PJ pants and a sweatshirt and never got dressed all day!  Instead I lounged around.  Did 3 loads of laundry (more today - sheets and towels).  Did some cooking (made some oat-carrot cups for breakfast, but they were a bust...not sweet enough for Fletch, so they went out for the deer who loved them).

Christmas Day was lovely.  Some Iris snuggle time.  Delicious food.  Family time.  It does not get any better!  A funny story:  we bought several outfits for Iris.  Turns out that Anna bought 2 of the same outfits!  And...those 2 outfits were some that Colin & Mailing already had!  What are the chances of that?  It works out though:  Anna bought newborn size; we bought 3 month size; and C&M already had 6 month size.  Too funny!

Since finishing Colin's birthday socks on the 21st I have not picked up a needle of any kind!  No stitching, no knitting.  But yesterday I did pick out a skein of yarn and caked it up.  I'm planning to make another Heart Warmer cowl for a friend.  Yup - attempting to get some gift knitting completed early this year.

Our days and evenings have been lovely and relaxed with candle light for dinner.  The above candle holders (and tray that they fit on snugly) were a Christmas gift from our friends Jan and Pete.  Pete made the holders and tray.  If you click to enlarge you should be able to see how beautiful the wood is.

Today feels like Spring.  It has been raining, temps are high and it is very overcast.  But, we did have snow on Christmas Eve Day and our temps were low enough that the snow stuck around for Christmas.  Just a dusting, but pretty.  Christmas Eve night I was in the kitchen making and baking a dessert for Christmas Day when I looked out the patio door and spotted a visitor!  

Not Santa and no reindeer in sight, but rather a possum!  He walked around a bit and we were amazed at how furry he was.

I was glad that Mabel was inside.  I don't think Mr. Possum would bother her, but I don't want to take any chances.  There has been no sign of him since.  I'm happy to know he is around here somewhere since he eats ticks and other undesirable things.

Last night we finished watching Oppenheimer.  We had watched the first half weeks (and weeks) ago, but finally got around to seeing the end.  I admit to being a bit bored with it all.  The jumping back and forth in time was annoying to me.  Oh well.  I have (finally) gotten Fletch to agree to ditch cable TV!!  That is on my agenda for this week - to call Verizon and end that.  We already cancelled Acorn TV and will be cancelling Britbox as well.  I think we will add Apple TV though.  I really want to watch Slow Horses and we both like Shrinking.

Well, this post is long enough already.  I will be back tomorrow...not for TNT since I have not picked up a needle, but rather for a brief review of my making and reading in 2024.  Enjoy these last two days of 2024!

Weekending 12/23/24

 Good Chilly Morning!

Single digits here this a.m.  My phone says it is 6 degrees outside.  Whew!

Did anyone watch the Kennedy Center honors last night?  Bonnie Raitt!  One of my most favorites.  I remember seeing her in concert a number of times.  Most notably at Lenox back in the 70's.  After which my friend and I went to Alice's Restaurant (yes, THAT Alice's Restaurant) for dinner.  Good times.

Is everyone ready for Christmas?  I thought I was, but I need to run out this morning for two last minute gifts.  I found out that Anna's boyfriend, John, will be joining us on Christmas Day, so I am picking up a little something from PA's Fine Wine & Spirits store for him.  And I realized I never got a cigar for Colin (always put one in his stocking).

The cookies are all done.  I cut back this year and did not make as many as usual.  Which is fine.  I don't want a lot left over.  We put together a box of goodies for our neighbors Rob & Eva.  And, Saturday afternoon they walked over with a plate of goodies for us!  Like minds and all that.  Interestingly, Rob and I made all different kinds of cookies, so no repeats.  He also made his wonderful peanut brittle (I cannot get enough of that!).

Finally, all the presents are wrapped.  Except for the few I will get this morning.  Also presents for my friend Carol (Christmas and her birthday) and her family, but I won't be seeing her till after the New Year, so no rush.

Despite the baking and wrapping, I did find time to finish Colin's second sock!!

Just in time!  We are heading over to Colin & Mailing's for lunch today (and to see Iris of course).  We are taking over stocking gifts for them as well as cookies and candied and roasted nuts.  There is also something for Talbot and something for Iris.  When Fletch delivered cookies to his former clients, Connie & David, they gave him a set of 4 board books for Iris that were written by their daughter.  How sweet is that?

Whatever you are up to this Monday, I hope you stay warm and cozy and find time to relax and just enjoy life.  Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday Season however, whatever and wherever you celebrate.