Yarn, Books, and Flowers

 

Poppuri is completed.  This afghan started with much smaller squares than I typically have to work with.  There are 48 squares here.  I think this one probably changed more in the before and after than some of the others.  I used up a good amount of my stash in lots of different colors than was my original plan.

This is the before.  Some of the squares were almost circles with just a row or 2.  Quite small.  I had a lot of yellow and some blue, dark red, and very dark green that I had planned to use, but as I started working on it, decided it needed more variety, so brought in some pink, mint, turquoise.  Was pleased with how it turned out.  This is my 6th afghan since January.  They're all stacked up to be donated as the weather turns.  I also have 3 afghans I'm knitting at various stages.  Each time we take a plane or car trip I start new one so the project isn't too big and then work on them at home in between other things.  Pictures of them next time.

A family favorite.  Mac n cheese.  It's almost always the first meal I fix when our daughters comes home as it's her fav of all time.  I use 5 different cheeses, and we like a nice crusty top.  I use Italian pasta, not Muellers elbow.  A friend is constantly telling me I can't call what I make mac n cheese because of the mix of cheeses and different pasta.  

Mothers Day Roses from hubby..  One of two vases with a dozen each.  Yellow is my favorite color

And from Darling Daughter, a gorgeous arrangement.  Notice the support for Ukraine in the container!!

The Iris were plentiful this year, and so pretty.  I have these in clusters in all 4 flower beds in the back yard.  The fern are poking up between the greenery of the lilies.  Took this picture awhile ago.  Now the fern are beginning to wilt with the warmer weather and the iris are spent and have been trimmed back.  The lilies should start pretty soon.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.........WOW!  Couldn't put this book down.  With the current state of immigration in this country, this is truly a must read book.  You'll be sad, angry, and a cheerleader throughout.  Please let me know what you think of this book if you've read it already, and later if you do.

After the number of heavy books I've read of late, I needed to take a breathe.  Maeve Binchy's Chestnut Street did that for me.  Stories with different characters.  An enjoyable book, not a great one.  I would like to have stuck with some of the characters and had things have more closure than it seemed the book offered.

And if you know anything about Heather Cox Richardson, you know what to expect in this book, Democracy Awakening.  Another must read book in my opinion given what we're living through with this corrupt and deceitful administration and all Red Hat Wearers.

Ghosts of Sicily by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr. taught me things I didn't know about WWII.  I've been to Sicily and I would say it's probably my favorite of our European tours to date.  And yes, Mark Harmon of CSI fame is the author.  Those are two things that attracted me to this book.  I didn't know the MOB played any role in WWII, but they surely did.  A fascainating book.

Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis had me clued to the edge of my seat.  Small town in Alabama with all it's racial bigotry, deals with abortion up close and personnel.  With women losing their rights daily with this current administration, I found this book very thought provoking.

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole.  The transformation of a poet who's never left the island, beautiful letters, WWI and WWII, and love story.  Very very enjoyable book.

Trying to keep our sanity day to day is not an easy task.  But, smiling and laughing at some of these memes does help, IMHO.

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.

Yarn, So Many Possibilities, Reading

 

I've begun a project with all my fun colors.  Though these mocked mitered squares will make an afghan at some point.  I'm trying to decide how to arrange them.  Here's one possibility.  with the same color on the coutside 

Or the common color in the inside

Or stripes vertical or horizontal, sorry must have moved as this first picture is blurry.  Common color right left right etc.

Or the common color going the same direction?

Not sure what I think, but am interested in your thoughts and preferences.  One idea is to do one of grouping of 4 and then have 2 large triangles on either side (doubling the size).

Might not be able to decide until more squares are completed.  Then there's the pinwheel design idea.

A fascinating book!

Another WWII book, but focused on a woman!  Ladies do yourselves a favor and read this book.  This is a true story.  Women can be awesome when given a chance.  I won't do a review, don't want to give anything away.

Cutting these post a bit short, as I know everyone is rushing with last minute things to get done for the holiday season

Knitting, Reading and Decorating

 

Plymouth Encore, 200 yard skeins WW yarn.  Washable 75% Acrylic and 25% Wool.  This is my go to WW yarn.  LOVE the colors.  28 skeins here. 5,600 yards of yummy.  These colors were calling out to me, even though I have an afghan in the works that's close to being done.......AND a 2nd WIP, The Buckeye scarf (scroll back one post).  Have made progress with the scarf, it's bigger than it was in the  previous post; but I haven't taken another photo.  Maybe next time.  AND...do swing back to see what I'm doing with this 5,600 yards....or at least the first project using some of this.

The first book in 3 book series by Ken Follett.  If you like anything about history, the coming of age; you MUST read and or listen to this series.  I really enjoy listening to books and get them free from the library and use the Libby App.  The app is easy to search, to borrow, or be put on a waiting list.  Book 1, follows the lives of families in Germany, England, Russia, and a small Welsh coal mining town.  I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

Book 2 in the series, follows the lives of families in England, The United States of American, Russia and Germany.  And how what happened in their lives was dictated by events in and around World War II

Book 3, the final book of the series involves the same families (the 3rd generation) and the same countries: England, The United States of America, Russia and Germany during the cold war and lots of historical events including The Cuban Missile Crisis, The British Invasion, The Kennedy Administration, Watergate, and The Civil Rights Movement.  If you're my age, you lived through this period.  If you read or listen to these books, let me know your thoughts.

Decorating has begun at my house.  How about yours?  Do you decorate the same each year?  Do you buy a real tree or have an artificial tree at your house?

Hope everyone is getting their Boosters and getting the young ones vaccinated.  As the numbers of cases, and hospitalizations has risen in many states.  Sadly, my state is one of those.  And just a few days ago, the states first cases of Omicron have appeared here.  Oh how I wish I could wave a magic wand and get rid of this virus in all of our lives.

Happy Mothers Day to Me!!!!! Espresso Anyone?

This fantastic package came for me from my Darling Daughter!  Thank you Christine.  She told me something was on the way, but would be delayed with shipping and that I might be able to make something...see me smile, that means yarn, wonderful wonderful yarn.  This is hand dyed, DK weight from Honey Girl Farms. 218 yards each..........

AND

Look at the reverse side of the labels.  Click to enlarge if you can't read the names.  This yarn is from The Outlander Series!!!

The gold is Fall at the Ridge (when they were here in the states at Fraser's Ridge.

 Jamie Fraser is the darker blend right next to the gold.

This series is soooooooooo good.  I'm not done watching, so no spoilers please.  I watch this with 2 girl friends when we have "Girls Week" in Hilton Head, typically in the spring and fall.  Though this years spring trip was cancelled due to Covid.

Lallybroch Castle, Jamie's home in Scotland (fictitious name for the series).  It's actually called Midhope Castle.  I got to tour that castle with one of my girl friends several years ago on a tour we did of Ireland and Scotland.  Was very cool to see it in person.  It's the purple blend on the far right.

This is Brianna MacKenzie, Jamie's daughter.  I think I need to find a pattern like the shawl she's wearing.  For some of this yarn.  This blend is the one on the left, blues and some lavendar primarily.  

Will take some time to decide what to make with this yummy yarn.  I like Jamie Fraser and Fall at the Ridge together, so might pare those.

Soooooo excited.  Love you Darling Daughter and thank you for this awesome Happy Mothers Day Gift.

 Trying to show you a close up of Espresso.  It's grown about 3 x the size when I last showed you.  Please click to see the pattern.  I'm in section 2 now where I'm reversing the garter and purl blocks.

It's a bit hard to photograph, as it curls a bit.  No doubt will need a substantial edge when completed.

AND because we've had lots of bad news lately with Covid cases climbing...thought I'd post a wee bit of hope.  Please stay safe.  Stay home as much as you can, avoid groups, wash your hands, and wear your masks when you have to go out.

Looking to get cash back when you shop on line?  I just joined this a few weeks ago and have already gotten money back.  Join today, you've got nothing to loss folks.  https://www.rakuten.com/r/SANDYC3117?eeid=28187

Yarn Purchases, Potato Chip Scarf and.............Dieting?

I've got a case of start-itis.  I've been fighting it for awhile. 

•  The red and gray are very basic sock yarn but, it's Berroco's Comfort Sock and is beyond super soft.  AND these are Buckeye Colors, and each skein has 447 yards soooooo plenty to make something.  I'm sorta seeing a striped shawl, or scarf...perhaps a Diagonal scarf, or something along that line where the stripes really make the project.
• The larger cake upper right Plymouth Yarn Hot Cakes is 404 yards of WW yarn, also kinda Buckeye Colors, which I bought before the solid sock yarn. Since this is self striping and due to being heavier weight yarn would work up quickier, perhaps this is the one that should be a diagonal scarf.  Or might this make a fun potato chip scarf?
• Then there's the 2 yummy Queensland collection, Perth....like the fun purple and gray I'm currently using to make the potato chip scarf.  But, oh look at those yummy jewel tones

No, I'm not done with any of my current projects (2 afghans, plus the yellow shawl, and the purple potato chip scarf.

But, it is now just over 33 inches, so lots of headway since my previous picture showing you how well the 2nd lucky skein matched.

 Then there's also this Cooper Corgi YUMMY YUMMY yarn from Savannah, Georgia I bought while in Hilton Head a few weeks ago.  Two pictures so you could see the front and back of the hank to see the colors.

It's hand dyed and twisted thus the $45.00 price tag for 460 yards of 100% superwash Merino.  Softer than butter...

This is the sample of a shawl on display at the yarn shop using the above hand dyed.  I really wanted to be able to lay this sample out so it could be seen but was limited with space.  I did purchase this pattern.

We've all just eaten a bunch no doubt at Thanksgiving, so perhaps we're thinking how to drop a few pounds before Christmas and New Years.  I am not vegan or vegetarian and have NO desire to be, but this tickled my funny bone.

Do you get start-itis?  Which one would you start with?  Is there a pattern that calls out to you using above fibers?

Are you dieting after Thanksgiving?  Let me know in your comments.