11 December 2019

Only the Plot is Unraveling

Hello all!  Here's hoping you are enjoying your December, and not feeling stressed or overwhelmed.  Wednesdays are usually The Tim's day off, so he is planning to get a Christmas tree today and have it set up when I get home.  He'll likely have the lights on, so all that will be left is to fill it with ornaments, which is always fun.  

And of course, the cats and Hamlet will think it's all very exciting!  :-)

Do any of you ever watch or listen to a knitting podcast and think that the person or one of the people on it (if it's more than one) is just too something to be able to take?  I realize that everyone has different tastes, and I'm not gonna name names because that is unnecessary, but there are a couple that I have tried, and in one, the person's voice just annoys me, and in the other, the one person is just too precious, if you get my meaning.  Both are ones that so many others just love, so I know it's just a personal thing with me, but fortunately there are tons of others to try!  I guess in some ways that is the difference between a "professional" podcast and one that someone just does on their own - if you are a professional, you generally have to have a voice that most people can tolerate.

OK, that was a ridiculous digression, sorry about that!

Back to the original reason for this post - I wanted to join in this week with Kat and everyone else for Unraveled Wednesday, since the past few weeks have been busy, and I'm missed the chance.

What am I knitting these days?  Well, as I have said previously, now that the gifts are finished, I'm making a pair of socks for myself.  This is my progress so far on the first sock.


You can't really see it in the photo, but there's an interesting pattern after the cuff for a few rows, and then the remaining texture is from purling and knitting through the back of the loop.  I'm about 7 rows from starting the heel, and I've been enjoying the knit.

As for my reading, I've noticed that an awful lot of others are reading Meaningful Books, and unless that is an assignment for a class, this is not a time of year when I can do that kind of reading and enjoy it at all, regardless of how interesting the book may or may not be.

Right now, I'm nearing the end of this book:


I am really enjoying it, mostly because it contains two of my favorite things: Flavia de Luce, and Christmastime.  The writing is so good, and Flavia is one of my all time favorite characters.  I'm actually a bit upset that I only have about 60 pages left in the book, I'm enjoying it so much.  I haven't quite decided what will be next, so I should start giving that some serious thought!

Other than that, I'm just working on getting rid of my cold, or at least keeping it from progressing.  I want to get started on some Christmas cards as well.  Yes, I still enjoy sending Christmas cards, and I love receiving them, even though there are fewer and fewer every year, which I think is really sad.  So far, we have received four cards - one from Chewy.com (!), two from longtime family friends, and one from Kim - YAY KIM!!!  Last year we received only twelve cards in the mail, which was really depressing.  I know most people prefer to send e-cards if they send anything at all, and those are just fine (I mean, you do you, OK?), but it's not as fun if you ask me.  You didn't, but now you know anyway.  ;-)

Well, before I go on and on any more about what I like or do not like, it's time to get going on the day.  Have a good one!

19 comments:

Kym said...

I still send Christmas cards, too. I love Christmas cards! I get fewer and fewer each year, though . . . (Maybe we need to exchange addresses and send each other cards.) I have a real love-hate relationship with podcasts, and I have yet to find a knitting podcast I can stand to listen to. (There. I said it.) Enjoy your tree decorating this evening! I hope you'll share photos. . . XO

Vera said...

I still send out cards and enjoy doing it. And we still get quite a few which is fun. I haven't been able to get into ANY podcasts. They seem to just annoy me all around. LOL

Nance said...

I'm glad you're getting your cold over and done with before Christmas. And how lovely that you're able to knit yourself a gift well ahead of the holiday!

Bonny said...

I've tried many knitting podcasts, but don't listen to any of them for just the reasons you gave. Thank you for the Flavia de Luce recommendation. I quickly checked the library, saw it was available on Overdrive, and I feel lucky to have it to listen to. If you want to let me know your address, I will be happy to send you a Christmas card!

Anonymous said...

I also send out Xmas cards and with a little note, though less and less cards are sent and received every year, sigh.
I also like Flavia de Luce novels, such an intelligent girl/almost adult-like person who really tries and accomplishes her yearnings to know more. At this busy time, her books and other easy-read books are all that I can really manage, too many other lists and jobs to do ruminating around in my head. Those “meaningful” books I save for cold snuggly days in January.
Knitting, I am almost done, but then up pops my daughter’s suggestion of a knitted dance wrap for my granddaughter- who can resist that? I have more than a couple things I would like to knit for myself, but there again, January.
Have a good day, still 13-14 days till the holiday, sigh.
Anonymous Annette

Sally said...

My podcast list always fluctuates, but three of my favorites are Knitting Pipeline, 2 Knit Lit Chicks (knitting + book reviews) and Teaching Your Brain to Knit. There are some good sewing podcasts too if you are interested.

Sally said...

p.s. send me your address and I'll send a card too!

Kim in Oregon said...

I still send cards (I made all mine this year). I love that yarn--I love how it looks knitted up and love how it looks in the ball.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

The reasons you cited are reasons I pretty much stay away from podcasts in general. Most people are just too much "something" for me - but ESPECIALLY crafty people.
And then, I'm probably just to... picky. For instance, my Mom follows one quilting lady - and her ideas and patterns are nice... but the way she holds her mouth bothers me. It's obviously something she's got zero control over, but...
So maybe it's me who's just "too much". Lol.

Your sock is looking great. My knitting focus is on the never-ending poncho and the gloves from hell. (They aren't really that bad, I just hate knitting fingers.)

Wanderingcatstudio said...

P.S. I still send Christmas cards, but just a handful - my brother and family because they are three hours away, a out-of-town/country friends.

Dee said...

I am trying so hard to like the Vlogmas podcasts, but some of them just try my soul.

As for voices --- there is a newscaster (I think Channel 10) and he sounds like he is auctioneering the news. :::changethechannelfast:::

Jill said...

I am with you it's lovely to send and receive Christmas cards. Sent one to a new neighbour when I saw her in the street, she said don't know why you bothered I never do!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours. I too would send you a card if you send me your address.

Shirley said...

Love the sock you are knitting for yourself. Great colors. I do not listen to podcasts but there are a few actors/actresses that I cannot watch because their voice is like fingernails on a blackboard to me. (Yeah, that blackboard comment will tell you how old I am.) Hope you kick the cold to the curb soon! Happy tree decorating tonight.

Araignee said...

Hey....Chewy didn't send me a card and I'm sitting here right now looking out the window for my giant box of cat food that supposed to come today.
As for the podcasts, I hate them all. I'd rather listen to a good book or watch an old movie on TCM on my laptop while I work. Having said that I do watch Arne and Carlos The two dudes in Norway who knit on You Tube-but not while I am working. I have to see everything they are up to. They do some beautiful work.

AsKatKnits said...

Christmas cards had to move off the list this year - too many other things took priority.

Also, on knitting podcasts... a million years ago, I used to faithfully listen to Cast On with Brenda Dayne. She was brilliant, imo - not precious, not grating, but interesting and inviting! I find most podcasts tedious, however I do love the NYTimes 1619 podcast... it is not tedious and it is very educational!

PS! Thank you for joining us today!

Jane said...

I send and receive cards and do enjoy them. I didn't realize Flavia had a Christmas story. I'll have to look for it. I read a few in the past and enjoyed them. I listen to three or so knitting podcasts. I gave up on several where the emphasis was all about acquiring or selling yarn and a few that seemed boring. The socks look like fun. Pretty colors too.

karen said...

Lovely sock knitting! I have a few podcasts that I listen to for a while and they feel like friends. Some podcasts I bail on because I don't like the content. I tried a political podcast and it was too upsetting for me, I opt for knitting since it calms me down.

Mereknits said...

I am trying to reduce my Christmas card list as just so many people do not even send them anymore. Hope you get yours done and enjoyed decorating your tree.

kathy b said...

My husband loves to send a family card. But I prefer the whole family in one photo . This means it has to be a New years card. We are not all together until Christmas week.
I agree that some podcasts that others adore, I just cannot listen to and enjoy.
I am trying to carve time out to watch My Rhinebeck Sweater that came out weeks ago. So far I'm loving it.