Knitting Galore and So Much More, 50 Years Ago!!

 

A  new project!  I've mentioned before that I sometimes have start itis, as I know many knitters and crocheters do.  This is very light sock yarn.  The blue is variegated slightly with shades of blue and purple.  Using a size 3 needle, this will take some time.  Currently there are 66 stitches on the needles.  When I reach 74 stitches I move into phase 2 of the pattern for this shawl which will be color work using the purple and the blue.  The Shawl pattern and yarn were a kit from Crafsty using Superwash Merino Sock Cloudborn fibers.  The pattern is called Snail Hollow Shawl.  My daughter and I are each doing this gifted shawl in different colors.  Linking up with GIFTED GORGEOUSNESS

Work Continues on both the asymmetrical scarves.  The 3 colored scarf currently has 94 stitches on it, and the variegated scarf has 98 stitches.  I'm using worsted weight and size 8 needle for the 3 colored scarf; and size 4 for the variegated scarf.  A fun comparison of the same pattern with different weight yarn, I think.

WOW!  So much to say about this book by Iris  Chang.  Yes this is another World War II book, but about a subject rarely known or discussed.  The horrible Holocaust by The Japanese Imperial Army against The Chinese people, male, female...adult and children alike.  The cruelty, in my opinion is worse than that of the Nazi's that is so much more widely known.  Most people today would say Japanese are quiet, polite people steeped in tradition...but, it's hard for me going forward to consider them that way.  They massacred Prisoners of War (150,000 males), and an additional 50,000 Civilians (males), and raped at least 20,000 women of all ages including children.  They mutilated and killed many of the females they raped.   Though many Nazi's were imprisoned and held accountable for their heinous acts; The Japanese have never been accountable or admitted wrong doing.  This book was a real eye opener for me, as this just wasn't something I knew.

And because we need to smile after reading and discussing the above book, I'm sharing a few more of my fun cocktail napkins.

Hope you're all doing well with this massive heat wave.  Exercise continues, with a week off for a Mother Daughter Trip.

Sharing a picture from 50 years ago, tomorrow.  I was so young then.  My Mother made my dress and we got married outside in the Park of Roses.

And here's hubby, back in the day.  We had a small wedding and he wore a suit.  

Here we are celebrating our anniversary at the same park, many years later.  41 years later to be exact.

Work in Progress, Month End Exercise Up and Down

 

Two asymmetrical scarves on the needles.  The smallest one is sock yarn and small needles so it goes much slower, and remains smaller despite it being started first.  The 2nd scarf is worsted weight yarn and larger needles and as you can see is much larger even though I've not worked as much on it.  The two have almost the same number of stitches on the needle, only about 15 more stitches on the larger one (the tri-color) scarf.  This is the same pattern, so it's fun to see how different they look.  Not the best background to see the colors, will photograph on a plain background next time.

 

Well another month has come and gone.  I have some improvements and some backslides:

PLANKS, backslide, went from 9 x in April to only 6 x in May (was surprised to see that when I checked my calendar)  Boo me

YOGA  Improved from 8 x to 11 (yeah me)

WALKS Status quo sorta?  I walked 12 x in May which is the same number as April....but, my miles are down booo.  Dropped from 128.34 miles to 119.62 miles.

I did do some circuit work outs, only twice which was new.  I'm doing lots of yard work, which is probably why my miles are lower.  When working in the yard, I'm not going for walks.  But, the yard work is hard work.

I was out of town a week during the month, and will be out of town a week in June as well, so not sure if that helps or hurts with regard to exercise.

Loved this book by Janet Skeslien Charles.  This book is based on a true story about The American Library in Paris, and how it was a beacon of Hope during the dark days of The War.  What do Odile Souchet in Paris in 1939 and Lily in Montana in  1983 have in common?  Quite an interesting mystery.  Consequences of ones personal choices can alter whom you become.    Add this to your list of books to read folks.  You learn about World War II, and how even a library can join the resistance.  

I have tried to identify this bush growing in my back yard.  Using Google search it seems to be Ligustrum obtusifolium (Border Privet), which originally comes from Japan, China, and or Korea.  It's also called Amur Privet, but....this bush smells heavenly, which doesn't match the description.  The description says it smells bad, and has berries.  This bush doesn't get berries and smells wonderful.  Additionally it says it's quite invasive.  This bush was here when we moved into the house close to 40 years ago and has NOT spread, therefore not invasive.  Several friends have indicated this is indeed a Border Privet, while others have said it's a Honeysuckle.  It doesn't look like pictures of a Honeysuckle.  Someone suggested it could be a White Potted Jasmine.  Well Jasmine smell nice, but all the info I found related to those plants aren't bushes.  Perhaps it's a Star Jasmine- Trachelospermum?  But, it seems they are often vines?  I'm at a loss.  Anyone out there know what this is.  I would love to plant another one.  Easy care and I love the aroma.  It fills the yard for several weeks; but is about done now.

Starts, Finishes, and Next Project

 

Finished!  As we speak this is in the washer and will soon be laid out block/dry.  Then it can be gifted. to my great niece.  I decided this was softer and more appropriate then the multi-colored blanket.

More fun cocktail napkins!

Not a cocktail napkin, but should be.  Got a kick out of this meme, and thought you might as well.

Code Girls, a New York Bestseller, award winning book tells the riveting secret story of over 10,000 women who were recruited from all over America and taught how to break codes.  They lived in difficult situations and worked long hard hours under much stress.  The vow of secrecy kept their life saving efforts out of the history books.  With much detailed research, their stories are now being told.  A movie was also made from this book.  Highly recommend this book.  Once again the accomplishments of women in The Second World War have been brushed aside and need to be told. 

A photo from my back yard of the purple iris.  I have a large back yard and these beauties line all 3 fence rows.

Am continuing to work on this, but having added about 10 rows, it doesn't look any larger.

Will be casting this project on shortly.  Not the best picture, but I love the teal, gray, and purple mix.  This will be a tri-colored asymmetrical scarf.  I will cast on before finishing the above scarf, lol.

Exercise continues, will see how the monthly stats are for May.

Knitting, Exercising, Audio Books

 

Lots of growth on the blue corner to corner blanket.  In the last picture I had just barely started the decrease and the 3rd blue section.  Since then that blue section has been completed and another white section and now I'm back to another blue section, the 4th.  May Gift Link Up

I believe I decided this will make a better baby blanket then my previous corner to corner with so many colors.

From time to time I've shared some of my fun cocktail napkins.  I'm always on the search for some I've not had before.  My favorite in this group of 4 is the lower left, "A day without wine is like...just kidding I have no idea..

We tend to eat lighter in warmer months.  Less meat and potatoes and more veggies!  These veggies were yummy and surely healthy.  Mushrooms, onions, lots of different colored peppers salt, pepper, olive oil, and garlic.  The left side of the cookie sheet is cut up butternut squash, salt, pepper, olive oil and cinnamon.   I don't remember whether we had pork tenderloin or chicken with this the night I took the picture.  Bake on 400 for about 20 minutes stir and another 5 or 10 based on how soft the squash is and how caramelized you like your veggies.  Enjoy!

Pulitzer winning book, "All The Light We Cannot See", by Anothony Doerr.  I understand there are plans for this to be a mini series on Netflix; but I don't know when that's suppose to happen...or if it already has.  The book is another WWII book.  Initially in Paris you're introduced to Marie-Laure a fascinating blind girl who lives with her father.  He does a wonderful job helping her see.  They escape to the walled citadel, Saint-Malo in a tall house by the sea.  I don't want to give more away, please add this to your book list and see how a blind girl meets up with a Nazi Boy.

Am continuing with walking, yoga and planks, though in the last handful of days have opted for mowing and lots of yard work over planks.  So, we'll see how the month shapes out.  We're about half way through.  Thought you might get a kick out of the meme.

Knitting, Voting, Audio Books and Exercise

 

Picked up the blue and white corner to corner blanket again.   You can see  HERE,  how much it's grown.  The blue section has been completed and the 2nd white section, and now onto another blue section.  The decrease has also been started, so am now over half way with this.  

Oh Ohio!   What hot mess.  I know it's been discussed in some detail around the country.  Ridiculous amount of Republicans running for one spot, all but one trying hard to get the endorsement of "the orange one" , which tells you how pathetic the race was.  All we can hope for now is the author of Hillbilly Elegy doesn't win in the election.  Sad to me that he won the primary for that party, given how dysfunction he is.  Several of the debates almost came to fist fights between the Republicans.  Anyway, did my part yesterday and voted against them all.

Haven't done anymore work on the pretty asymmetrical scarf pictured in the last post.  Nor anymore work on the brown afghan.

My yoga mat on top of my Life Board.  I did much better in April with Yoga.  March was only 2 x, April was 8 x and in March the sessions were 30-35 minutes, in April 30-45 minutes with a total of 367 minutes or 6.11 hours.

PLANKS...I did them 9 x in April, which is the same as in March.  No going backward which is good, plus the last couple of days in March I increased the time from 4 x 40 seconds with 11 seconds of rest to 4 x 45 seconds with 13 seconds of rest.  So, that brings up to 3 minutes of planks.  I did side planks a few times which is the same as March.

WALKING...I jumped from 9 walks in March to 12 in April (which includes a couple of times mowing the yard). Fitbit says 128.34 miles which is up from March at 104.61.  I had 2 days of 8 miles.  April's mileage is the best of 2022 so far.

Elie Wiesel's "Night", is a memoir of his life in 1944 and 1945 in Auschwitz and Buchenwald.  Parts of heart breaking, parts are inspiring as so many of these stories from Nazi's horrific treatment of the Jews and others they didn't side with Hitler.  While many of these books from WWII aren't pleasant or fun or light reading; they are important.  We must NEVER forget what happened so that we may keep it from happening again.  History must be our teacher and our moral compass.

Can anyone identify these yellow flowers?  I spotted them on a recent walk through the neighborhood.  I know they're a perineal from a brief conversation with the homeowner who happened to be out in his yard.  He told me what they were, but I didn't remember by the time I got home, darn it!  He said I could come and get a start if I wanted.  I might take him up on his kind offer.  Now to remember which corner I was on.  I rarely walk the same route, and when walking get engrossed in listening to my book...so it may take me some work to locate this corner again.

TA DAH, Another Finished Project

 

Corner to Corner colorful blanket done.  I  laid it out and debated about an edge.  To edge or not.  Changed my mind several times, but ended up deciding to add an edge.

Decided on the bright blue and did 3 rows of single crochet.  Here it is after being laundered, as it's laid out to dry/blocked.  I think adding the edge gives it a bit more of a finished look, as does laundering it.  This will be gifted to my great niece, as she's recently had a baby.  A boy, I think the bold stripes will work well for that vs traditional light blue.

This is Pam Jenoff, author of many award winning books, and best sellers.  She's had eleven best sellers.  As I was adding my most recent finished book, "The Lost Girls of Paris" to my Goodreads Bookshelf, I noticed how many of her books I had read/listened to.  I knew I had read a couple but was surprised to see how many.  Which prompted me to look her up.  She writes Historical Fiction and Love Stories.  I've not read any of her Love Stories.  I found her background interesting.  She has a degree in International Affairs from George Washington Unv. and a History degree from Cambridge, and her JD from UPenn.  She worked as a diplomat for the state department handling Holocaust issues in Poland.  She currently teaches law at Rutgers.  All the books of hers I've read to date are about WWII and the struggles of families in the ghetto's, as well as those arrested and sent to camps and more.  It certainly makes since given her background.  And, now that I've read about her, it gives her books more credibility.  

I highly recommend yet another WWII book.  This one has a bit of a twist to it.  A mystery unfolds as you connect the war years and what follows.  Questions arise about how governments use people.  Another story about how much Women gave to the War effort and how little their stories were known until recent years.  It's past time for Women to be given the credit and notoriety they deserve.

Me hiking in Colorado a few years ago.  I've added my March exercise stats to the exercise tab.  Sadly my mileage for the month is down a bit to 104.61 miles.  But, I'm happy to say I did better with my planks and my yoga. in terms of how many days I did them.  My best day mileage wise  was 5 miles and I averaged 3.37 per day in March.  Hopefully I'll do better with planks, yoga, and miles in April.  Though the end of the month is fast approaching and while I was out of town on a Girls Trip, I didn't do as well as I should have, so we'll see how the stats turn out.

WIP (work in progress), the light blue corner to corner blanket, the yummy asymmetrical scarf pictured in the last post, and a brown afghan that's been tucked away for a LONG time.

Seriously, I last worked on this brown afghan in February of 2021.  I tucked it aside to work on projects that were date sensitive and totally forgot about it.  I'm very close to finishing it.  So, trying to push myself to work on it.  I rarely make something in one color, but this does have some texture to it for interest.