by Kat | Dec 13, 2023 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Dear Unravelers!
Despite us being at the midpoint of December… there is lots of joy to be found. Yesterday was all day sunshine and it was glorious!! And yes… I have, of course, added to my list… but I should have those few things finished soon and my list finally complete!
I have done some Mystery Gnome Knitting this week… but I will share no spoilers until after the end of the knit-along. However, I do confess that I love the direction that this gnome is going! He is SO CUTE!!
Sadly, this week, there was some unraveling again… because of course there was. Rather than *look* at the pattern closely at the beginning of the “parting of the back” cables… I just assumed and knit along. I guess I am glad that I only had to rip back 12 rows and I am even more glad that I managed to get all the stitches BACK on my needle with no mis-crossed cables! A knitter warning… you might want to knit something entirely uncomplicated if you are going to watch Leave the World Behind… just saying. I am almost back to where I had to rip back… with the correct patterning in the “parting” section! Woo! (and I know this week’s photo does not look much different from last week’s photo… but that perfectly placed cable needle is pointing to the change!)
The reading this week has been so so good! I finished my second read though of Katherine May’s Wintering… and I loved it even more than I did the first time! Or maybe I just “got” different things listening to her. I finished a new mystery from Viveca Sten (of the Sandhamn Murder fame) and it was just okay.
As I finished the “just okay” book, a timely email offer me the opportunity to read Tommy Orange’s follow up to There, There… Wandering Stars. I jumped at the offer and this book has grabbed me from the opening sentences and I likely will finish it later today… some reading time with it will be my reward for doing a spot of housework.
What about you all… what has rewards await you this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
by Kat | Dec 11, 2023 | General, In This Moment
Involves a “sometimes” quote…
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. ― Thich Nhat Hanh
As December races by, I have been trying to focus on finding some joy in the days… And despite joy being most-times fleeting and hard to find as December marches on with all the stress it can bring. I am trying to slow down and look for joy in my days.
Slowing down is a very good place to start… and to smile!
This morning I am so happy for the slowing down process that is making sourdough bread… and what a joy it is to smell bread baking in my oven! The latter is absolutely something that puts a smile on my face!
My advice to you all… bake something today, and revel in the joy of it!
Have a Joy-filled Monday everyone!
by Kat | Dec 6, 2023 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Dear Unravelers!
December is almost a week old and I have the decorating done. I have one mystery gnome in process and one ornament gnome almost done (no image because I think the recipient checks in here occasionally!)
But I do have some Back Seas that are flowing along beautifully, as you can see above! With each row, I am more in love with this knit! The pattern is just so brilliant!
This week’s painting class dropped yesterday… so that is on my list for today. Thank you all for your kind comments about my painting from Monday! You are all so sweet!
The reading this week… brilliant! I finished The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store and a new mystery from Tess Gerritsen, The Spy Coast. Both were winners, for sure! Currently in my ears is Katherine May’s Wintering (which is the perfect listen right now) and at night I am reading a new series by Viveca Sten (of the Sandhamn Murder Mystery Series.)
What about you this week? What are you consumed with?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
by Kat | Dec 4, 2023 | General, In This Moment
Is for celebrating weekend successes!
Success Number One:
The schedule was much better. And Sunday’s bake… well, it was spectacular! This was a much lighter, airier loaf with tender crumb and a crisp crust!
Success Number Two:
Getting back on the Watercolor Horse might have been a bit scary, but it felt so good and it is a good start to this 4-week class!
And today… I hope attain the Put Up The Christmas Tree achievement. I have all the ‘bits’ ready to go… I am thinking that some Charlie Brown Christmas and The Polar Express will help keep me focused!
Happy Monday all! See you all back here on Wednesday for some unraveling!
by Kat | Dec 1, 2023 | General, Welcome
December’s wintery breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer’s memory. ― John Geddes
Hello dear December… I feel both that it took you no time and a long time to arrive. And I find that is much of what you are about… holding two opposing thoughts together at the same time.
Cold is synonymous with December and those balmy summer nights seem like another lifetime ago. I do love the hushed stillness of a dark winter night. And though Sherman’s evening walk might be colder… the delight of all the twinkling lights of December in the neighbors yards makes our evening stroll one I very much look forward to! Granted, the noisy whir of the motors powering the “blow up” decorations overpowers the quiet, I still appreciate the neighborly efforts that make for a very festive walk.
But I do have some things that I both need and want to accomplish this month:
- Knit a few more wee Gnome Ornaments.They are a fun and easy knit… so their completion is not daunting and entirely doable this month.
- My December Mystery Gnome… the last clue always comes on the 24th… and I look forward to the way Sarah helps me ease toward that day!
- Swatch for a vest for Steve. I found a pattern which might be the backwards way to go about this… but he is so picky about clothes that finding one he likes was the biggest hurdle. I have the yarn, now I just need to “make it work”… which I am confident I can as long as I am close!
- Test drive a new schedule for The Making of the Sourdough Bread… I am testing out the new schedule this weekend, so hopefully my “time” math works for a Sunday morning bake!
- Paint… my class has started and I have my first lesson “masked” and ready to go. It is the ONLY thing on my list today! Yes, I am nervous! Haha
And I think that is MORE than enough for any December! What about you? What are you hoping to accomplish this month?
Have a great weekend, everyone! See you all back here on Monday!
**Photo by Jonathan Borba
by Kat | Nov 29, 2023 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Unravelers!
It felt so odd to type the November date because my brain is firmly in December already! But it is still November and I still have a bit of holiday making to do… so I should be glad for these November days!
It has been a banner week of making… really!!
Sorry for the Dark-Thirty photo… but the levain did not mind the light!
Carole kindly reminded me about Tartine Bread, a copy of which I purchased back when Carole started baking sourdough. So last Friday, I made my levain and set it aside thinking that it would take some time. Silly me, it was ready and raring to go very early Saturday morning, and so I began my sourdough baking journey! The “Basic Country Bread” recipe is for two loaves of bread… this worried me a bit but I jumped in the sourdough pool with both feet and started. I did not plan well because I was baking bread until 11PM Saturday night (with lots of complaints from Steve about the hunger pangs the smell of baking bread was giving him! lol) Two very edible loaves were the result of my efforts because more carbs was just what Thanksgiving week needs, right? I feel a bit more confident about the process… and more importantly the timing of the process having one batch under my belt. Next time, I am going to halve the recipe… one loaf is a LOT of bread… two loaves feels a bit over indulgent! My starter is perking along in the refrigerator… as is some sourdough discard which I will be putting to use this week in a batch of soft pretzels!
It seems entirely miraculous to me that this bread did its bread-y thing with no added yeast!
As you can see above, I departed Cable Sleeve Island and immediately set off for the Back Seas… so I am making good progress on my Sweater!
I also reminded myself that Gnomes do not knit themselves! And so I have one more to add to the Ornament Brigade. The first girl joined the ranks… with a slight adjustment to the pattern. I bound off upon finishing the hat and picked up stitches under the brim to begin the body. I did a simple nose for her… and she has two pigtails!
Fancy Gnancy!
Meet Fancy Gnancy… who is not fancy currently. I need to figure out a beaded necklace for her so yesterday I googled crocheting with beads… stay tuned!
The reading last week had some highs… and lows. I finished Black AF History… and loved it! I think Michael Harriot would be the BEST history teacher… ever. He combines history, wit, and a good measure of sarcasm in a brilliant look at the history of America. And that reading low… well, evidently I am just not smart enough to “get” Daniel Mason’s North Woods. Bonny’s review of it being a bit “impenetrable” was spot on. It all sort of lost me in the Bug Procreation Portion. A collection of short stories that are interconnected seems like it should work, but for me in this setting… it all just did not. (However, ymmv – especially if you are smarter than me!)
I did hit the Wait List Jackpot yesterday when The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store came up for me! Woo! (I have started it but have no thoughts yet!) I also have Katherine May’s Wintering waiting in the wings!
And there you have my end of November making and reading! What about you? What are you trying to finish November with?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
