Knitting, Wine, Yard Work ...Thank Goodness for Audio Books.

 

Making headway with Snail Hollow Shawl.  Infact, I'm on the last section.  Not sure if you can see in the picture but am picking up stitches on the straight side to do the edging.  Then I'll need to tuck in tails where all the color changes happened.  I've mentioned before how difficult I find these colors to work with on the eyes.  Trying to pick up stitches is a chore.  I'm only part way through that process.  But, since my last picture I've completed two more sections, so I'm getting there.  This pattern has been problematic.  Both my daughter and I feel it's poorly written, as do a few folks over on Ravelry that made it.  The designer is Erika Flory.  I probably would shy away from purchasing another of her designs.  Not because I don't like the look; but because the pattern isn't well written.  Too many opportunities to guess at what should or shouldn't be.

Hubby and I really enjoyed this bottle of Chianti, Nippozzano Reserve 2018.  We purchased this at Costco's.  Chianti isn't generally a favorite for us, often we feel it's a bit heavy...but this was quite good and I think from memory was under $30.00.  We'll definately get this one again.  Very smooth.

I've mentioned before how many books written by Pam Jenoff I've read and liked (listened to actually).  The Kommandants Girl (book 1) followed by 

The Diplomats Wife (book 2), are 2 more I highly recommend.  I blogged about the author and why her historical books are so riveting.  That post is HERE.

Yes both are about WWII.  Add them to your list to read folks.

I mentioned in my previous post I had been doing lots of yard work which is why I hadn't been knitting, so thought I'd share a few more pictures of the flowers in my yard.  Cone flowers in the back ground, and an old fashion Flocks in the center.  Sadly most of these flowers are now done and I'm losing the color in my yard.  

Black eye Susans provide lots of contrast to the Cone Flowers.  I took these pictures over the last couple of weeks at the peak of the color.

Stella d'Oro generally bloom before the rest of the lillies, but, if you don't cut them back, they will bloom a bit later, just not as many blooms.  I love the yellow.

Hope you're all enjoying the end of summer.  It's gone too fast for my liking, and soon fall will be upon us.  I never look forward to fall as I know winter follows it.  I am not a fan of winter, cold, snow or ice.

Flowers Instead of Yarn, Oh My!

 

Mallows from my backyard.  These beauties orginated in parents yards many years ago.  My folks are long since gone, but I have a bit of them in my yard.  Well not them, but remembrances of them.  They loved these flowers.  I have red and pink ones.  The red tend to bloom first and aren't generally as large in diameter as these pinks.  Many years ago I gave starts of these to my younger brother as well.  

Rose of Sharon's (sorry it was so sunny, the picture got a bit washed out.  These are lavendar, I also haver white and pink ones blooming in various places around the yard.  I'm showing you pictures of flowers instead of yarn and projects, as I've not knitted in slightly over a week since return home from Park City, Utah; where hubby and Darling Daughter and I vacationed for a couple of weeks.  Also, because the reason I've not knitted is because I had TONS of yard catch up to do.  In the first 2 days of returning I mowed 3 times (man did things grow in our absence).  Likewise the flower beds were a mess with weeds (mostly Thistles, thanks to a neighbor who refuses to dig or spray his they blow and grow under the fencerows in our yard.  

Cone Flowers in a bed on one side of the house, with some Flocks mixed in (white, pink, and lavendar).  I weeded so much during the week I had 4 of those large yard bags, and 3 very full large trashcans to tote to the curb for pick up this morning.  Our community collects yard waste on the same day as our recycling and trash pick up happens.  It's all then taken to a city dumping area and composted.

I don't know what type of Lilly this is, as I didn't plant it.  Was here at the house 40 ish years ago when we moved in.  I call themn double ruffle orange lillies.  I did so much yard work and mowed so many times (not just 3 x in the first 2 days), that I injured muscles in my pectoral area and should blade...or have inflammed an overworked tendon.  Not sure which.  So, while I am not actually done with all the yard work, I'm taking a few days off to heal.  I'll share other flower pictures.  This is the time of the year when I have a very colorful yard (front, back, and sides).

This book is another WWII book about occupation, but initiates in Holland and is an autobiographical memoir.  Corrie ten Boom, and her family were very religous and because of that protected their Jewish neighbor in their home, The Beje which was above Corrie's father's Watch Shop.  As a religous woman her strength to survive the brutality both physical and psychological in Ravensbruck Death Camp comes from deep within.  I've read stories from Germany, France, and Poland; but this is the first one that intiated in Holland.  I highly recommend this book.  The book came out in 1971, and in 1975 a Billy Graham film was produced based on this true story.    Here's the link to the trailor (Click here)

On the exercise front, pretty as I thought it would be.  Did better with walking and good with planks, and not so well with yoga.  We were gone 2 wks, spent time on planes with travel and I figured I wouldn't do well with yoga; as I couldn't pack my yoga mat.  Since we were in Park City, Utah I was able to walk more which was great.

Walking, I doubled from 7 walks in June to 14 in July 134.4 miles up from 103 miles.  My best day was 9 miles and my worst day was 2 miles, averaging 4.33 miles per day across the 31 days of July.

Planks I matched June's number of 12 x during the month in July

Yoga I only managed to do it 3 x.  I did so much yard work, I sorta thought the bending, twisting, pulling, digging, etc probably took care of the yoga?

The last movie I watched while hubby was away, A Marriage of Convience with Jane Seymour and James Brolin from 1998.  I did not read the book prior to seeing the movie, so no clue how closely the movie follows the story line.  I've always liked Jane Seymour and thought James Brolin was rather good looking; though perhaps not the best of actors.  She raises her dead sisters son knowing nothing about the boys father who suddenly appears.  Entertaining even if unbelievable.  Hubby definately would not have enjoyed this movie....he would indeed classify this as a "chick flick".

Knitting, Watching, Exercising, and Audio Books!

 

A new project, a scarf.  I needed a project with thicker yarn easier to see and no pattern to follow for a recent plane ride to keep me occupied.  So, I started this.  This is 100% superwash 218 yards per skein/cake and I have 2 cakes/skeins.  This color combination will work I think for a male or female.  If I don't have enough yarn for a decent sized scarf, it will be a mobius or cowl.  The yarn is very soft and nice work with.  Remember you can always click on the pictures to see them better.  The colors look a bit washed out to me in this photo.  I miss my photo software that I had before I switched to windows 11 and now I just have an app.  Not sure if I have other options...does anyone know?

I've worked a couple of hours on this since the last picture, though it may not look much different.  I was on a zoom call and could work on this during the call without paying a ton of attention to the scarf/shawl.  It's currently 106 stitches on the needles.  You increase only 1 stitch every other row; so it takes awhile...but it's farther along than it was.

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Lots of headway with Snail Hollow Shawl.  Section 1 is the large blue section on the right, section 2 is the large color works section that I thought was going to make me blind, section 3 is the blue section following the color works section, section 4 is the small colorworks section, and section 5 (where I'm currently working) is another blue section.  This will be followed by section 6 which will be purple, then there are large edging sections to do where you pick up stitches.

A close up of the last couple of sections.  I like the small colorworks section with blue on each side better than the large colorworks section.  I think the colorworks actually shows up better than the larger section.

LOVED this award winning book by Kristin Hannah.  The book is another WWII book, shocking I know, lol.  It's a historical fiction about 2 sisters who are as different as night and day, but both struggling to survive in German occupied France.  They take different paths to survive.  There are many stories within from resistence, to love, to abuse both physical and emotional, and the stories of two SS officers, Wolfgang Beck and Von Richter who were billeted in the home of one of sisters.  And it to your list folks.

The Greatest, a movie from 2009 with Pierce Bronson and Susan Sarandon available on Prime is another one of the movies I watched while hubby was recently awat on a business trip.  A very different type of roll for both these leading actors and actresses.  Sad in parts, frustrating is parts, and uplifting too.  Not a favorite of the movies I watched, but still good.

Believe I've done well with walking and planks, but not yoga to date during this month of July.  I wasn't able to pack my yoga mat for my lastest travels.  Soooo, we'll see how the month shapes out. 

Day by Day, Progress is Slow

 

Making headway with the Snail Hallow Shawl.  The colorworks section is 9 repeats and I'm part way through the 4th repeat.  Bad lightening when I took this picture, which is also why it's slow going.  We've had rain, making the house darker, which makes working on this harder, even with my special neck light.

Close up of the color works section that continues to get wider as there are several increase rows within the 12 row repeat.  

Another of the moves I watched on Amazon Prime while hubby was away on a business trip.  I've always liked Pierce Bronson and Emma Thompson and this movie is just plain fun.  They're divorced and get involved in a scheme to retrieve their hard earned retirement money.  The film was filmed on location in Versailles, Frances and came out in 2013.  I always thought he made a very good James Bond, so seeing him in a comedy was a bit different.

Yes here's another World War II book about incredible things women did that until lately no one knew about.  This is a true story that takes place in the Jewish Ghetto's of Poland.  A cadre of Jewish Women (some only in their teens), transform Jewish Youth Groups into resistance cells to fight The Nazis.  The book is a New York Times Best Seller, received The Natwional Jewish Book Award,, The NPR Best Book, and The Canadian Literary Book AWard.  All the awards were in 2021.

Still working on exercises.  Plan to double my efforts in July.  So, wish me luck.

No headway on either of the asymmetrical scarves, but hope to as time goes on.

Knitting, Audio Books, Movies, Exercising, and The Supreme Court

 

Making headway with the worsted weight asymmetrical scarf.  Trying to decide on size.  I'd like to start and end with the same color (purple), which is where I currently am; but it doesn't seem quite large enough...but I think doing 3 more sections of jade, gray, purple will be large.  Soooooo, do I make this purple section wide and call it?  Do I make the next round smaller sections than I have been doing?  Would love some input folks.  Worked on this while listening to the hearing the other day.  I've watched almost all of them, but this latest one with Cassidy Hutchinson.  WOW!!  I really couldn't work on something that required much attention.

Haven't  worked on the variegated sock yarn asymmetrical scarf using the same pattern as above, so no no headway there.  Have continued to work on the Snail Hallow Shawl, but it doesn't really look any different, so didn't bother with another picture.

Two stars that I really enjoy.  Had not heard of this movie from , but then as I have mentioned before, hubby and I don't go to the movies.  And rarely know what's out; but often I hear people talking about a movie they've seen.  This is directed by Rob Reiner, so you know it's funny.  In my previous post, I said I tend to watch different shows when hubby's not around; though I don't think he would have called this a "chick flick".  I stumbled onto it while he was out of town on business.  Care to watch the trailer....Click Here.

Facing The Mountain by Daniel James Brown is a true story of Rudy Tokiwa, Fred Shiosaki, Kats Miho, and Gordon Hirabayashi and their families.  The families were in concentration camps after Pearl Harbor, while 3 of their sons fought bravely in The War.  The 4th gentlemen fought in the courts.  This is an award wining book.  A New York Times best seller, a NPR's "books we love in 2021, and Christopher AWard, among other awards.  Put it on your list folks.

Up's and downs.  I did better this month (June) with planks.  Doubled since May was 6 and June was 12.  Yeah!

Yoga...boo me, May was 11 x June only 6.

Walking...actually going for a walk was 7 x in June vs 12 in May, and mileage down from 119.62 to 103.07.  

**Still mowing and doing lots of yard work, so there's that.  Need still to get this recorded on my Exercise tab.

Expressing my disgust with the Supreme Court.  3 of those judges absolutely lied under oath with their hands on The Bible.  I feel like woman have been set back 50 years and fear more is to come.

Knitted Snail Hallow Shawl, The Hearings, TV Watching, Simon Kenton, Davy Crocket and ...

 

Moving on into section 2 with the colorworks area. of Snail Hallow Shawl.  No clue why that's the name of the pattern.  You continue to work increases, every few rows.  The blues and purples are so close I'm finding the color work hard on the eyes, and a bit difficult.  I've done color work before, but with heavier yarn and brighter colors.  So, I'm using one of those lights you were around your neck; (Thank you Sandie P) which seems to be helping.  Still though, can't work on this for very long at a time.

A close up of the color works area..  The shawl my daughter is working on from our gifted kits from Craftys has more contrast in her colors; though we both think it's odd that the kit chose variegated yarn which makes it look like your color blocks are a bit off, rather rather than 2 distinctive colors.

A bit of an example.  This is the start of an afghan I made 4-5 ish years ago using lots of color work.  Some sections are 2 colors, some are 3.  Some areas are lots of texture.   Was using up left overs here, thus the huge variety of color; but...see what I mean about how much more the color work shows up with solid colors that aren't close in color?  Yes, that's my broken foot in the picture.  Couldn't get it out of the way I guess when I snapped the photo.  Was non wearing bearing for awhile and used a walker, then was able to walk around in my boot.  No clue where this was in the long multiple month process.

Yes the exercise continues...some days, lol.  We'll see how things are when I count up my month end jazz.  I feel like it's been lighter, due to weather and travel and yard work; but we'll see.

I watch different TV shows when hubby's not around.  I think he would call this a "chick flick".  This movie is from 2004, though I don't ever remember seeing it advertised nor hearing anyone talking about it.  It's on Amazon Prime, and might be on Netflix as well.  I enjoyed it while sipping wine.  I've always liked Christine Lahti, though she's not in that many movies/shows.  Bryan Brown (who you might remember from Cocktail with Tom Cruise) is always a favorite and adds to anything he's in.  Abby Brammell (who I only knew from years later when she was in The Unit), is also in the movie.  The title is a bit misleading.....until it isn't.  

Shocked?  A book that's not about World War II, but it is historical.  Very historical!! The Frontiersmen by Allan W. Eckert is absolutely fascinating, all 31 hours of the audio book.  Living in Ohio, who's family hailed from Chillicothe, the stronghold of once impressive Shawnee Village it took on special meaning for me.  There are many places in Ohio and Kentucky where this book travels that I've been to.  As a child Daniel Boone and Davy Crocket were my hero's.  I had a coon skin cap, though as an adult learned that my hero Davy Crocket did not wear one in real life, only in the movies and on tv.  Davy is in the book as well as Simon Kenton.  Simon is the main character and while I knew he was the famous Indian Fighter and from Ohio, which I learned in 7th grade Ohio History ( a favorite class and teacher); I learned much more from this book.  I've been to the outdoor theater Tecumseh and Blue Jacket.  They both loom large in this book as well.  Put this on your list folks.

I've not worked on either of the asymmetrical scarves, as I'm currently focused on The Snail Hallow Shawl, and watching and listening to The Hearings.  January 6th and all that lead up to that.. is .such a dark period in the history of our country and it's democracy.