Crocheting, World War II Books, Sunsets and More

 

Pastel Petals.  Pinks and purples, various sized squares and rectangles, but believe these pieces parts are closer in size than the previous afghan I made from donated squares.  

Ta Dah!  It's finished and laying here to dry/blocked.  I had enough of the light lilac color yarn in my stash that I didn't need to use multiple colors to edge and join, as I did with the previous "Little Boy Blue" afghan.

I don't typically do more than a basic straight edge for these afghans assembled from pieces parts, as most are colors that work for either a male or female; but this one is decitely female, and so I made a scalloped edge to finish it off.  You can see it in the picture with the whole afghan, but here's a close up.

We've had another dinner party, but not as large.  6 instead of 14 at our last one where I served chicken enchildas.  Which is not what is pictured here.  This is Chicken Marsala that I fixed for just hubby and I a few nights ago.

We enjoyed this Spanish wine so much we ended up ordering a few more bottles.  If you've not tried it, add it to your list.

We had a gorgeous sunset a few nights ago as I looked out the walk way making my way to take out the trash.  Was almos to late to get the picture.  Probably 5 minutes earlier was the best time.

Another beautiful bunch of flowers.  We've kept this, rather, hubby has kept this vase filled for me.  We've both enjoyed having flowers daily in the condo.  He brought these home to me ono Valentines Day.  I much prefer yellow roses over red, in case you're wondering.

This is the 3rd book of Louise Fein's I've read/listened to.  This is an historical fiction, but inspired by the authors fa,mily history with lots of addtional research done.  The book is extremely reviting, hard to put down.  There's what she knew as the daughter of a high ranking Nazi official vs what she begins to learn through her Jewish Friend, Walter.  Courage, love, danger and picking ones path are choices she makes during this difficult time.  I highly recommend this book folks.

Helmet for my Pillow is a personal narrative or Marine Corp Veteran, Robert Leckie.  You travel with him from basic training on Paris Island, South Caroline to the raging war in The Pacific Theater.  This book was published back in 1957.  He was inspired to write this book after seeing South Pacific on Broadway.  He thought it was important to let the public know, the war and all it's horror were NOT like a musical.  I thought I might not enjoy the book, since it seemed like it might be too masculine for me to enjoy; but I was totally enthralled with the book and highly recommend it.

Little Boy Blue, Yarn, Walk, Bike, Yoga and More!

 

Another project started.  I call this one, Car Scarf.  Not very creative a name.  I don't usually name my scarves, just the afghans; but I needed an easy on the eyes, no counting stitches for a car project.  Thus, Car Scarf.  LOVE these contrasting colors together, teal and gray.  This is my favorite go to yarn (Encore, Plymouth worsted weight).  Each skein is 200 yards, it's 75% acrylic and 25% wool, therefore washable; is in my opinion the softest everyday yarn.  I also have a teal tweed skein with me here in Hilton Head that would blend; but not sure how much yardage I will need since I'm not using a pattern...just knitting.  Stay tuned.

This was step 1 (see previous post)

Step 2, where everything had been edge with the dark blue for 2 rows.  Once you edge you can really begin to see the variety of sizes.

This is step 3, 4, and 5.  TaDah!  Light blue was then used on each square/rectangle.  Some squares (the larger ones), have 1 row of light blue, others 2 or 3 rows, but several had 4, and I think one had 5 (can't remember).  Then it was edge with 3 rows of the dark blue, tossed in washer (this is washable acrylic), then layed out and stretched a bit (blocked).  It's drying as we speak.  Typ;cally things soften up in the wash; but this didn't as much as others I've worked on.  Some pretty course yarn used here and there.  Once it's dried, I'll decide whether or not to wash a 2nd time to soften more.  

"Little Boy Blue"  

For those of you perhaps younger than me and unfamiliar with this childrens nursery rhyme.  This is what came to mind when I named this afghan.  It will be donated to The Homeless Families Foundation on my return to Ohio.

Chicken Enchilda's before plating it up

Awesome coffee with great froth

Stuffed mushrooms, parsley pasta, chicken parmesan with sliced tomatoes

Almost an omlet with fresh strawberries, sliced avocado, banana nut bread with cream cheese.  With a breakfast (brunch) like this you don't need much the rest of the day.  We've been eating well on this trip.

We're keeping fresh flowers in the condo.  Two sides of the same vase so you can see the whole thing.

WOW!!  Back to my love of WWll books.  This is a fusion of biography, letters, note, and diaries smuggled out of a prison in Berlin.  American, Mildred Harnack at the age of 26 travels to Berlin to enter a PhD program when the rise of The Nazi party took hold.  She orgnaized secret meetings in her apartment and was the ONLY American to head the German Resistenance to Hitler with acts of sabatage and more.  A truly remarkable young lady during a difficult time.  Mildred Harnack's Great-Great Niece is Rebecca Donner, the aurhor of this book.  PLEASE put this on you list and let me know what you think folks.  Highly recommended.

Can't compare January 2023 to December 2022, as I forgot to get a tall;y from my calendar before we left town; but I'm sure Janaury is better.

Bike:...have gone for 4 bike rides 3 miles each.  I don't ride at home, no decent trails, plus I really don't have a bike, so indeed better.

Planks 11 planks of 4 repeats of 45 second planks with 13 seconds of rest between.  I know I didn't do that many in December, just don't know how many I did.

Walks.  Went for 8 walks of varying distances.  Total steps for the month 281,528 for a total of 116.89 miles.

Yoga twice for the month, though I think I did a few more and forgot to record them.  

All in all, not a bad start to the New Year.  Now if I can only build on this.