Reading and A Martini

This week I was ready for another Unraveled Wednesday, with my current book and three - count 'em, three - knitting projects underway.

I am nearly halfway through this book:

First of all, I'd never even heard of The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, so you can be sure that when I saw this, I was more than ready to find out all about it. This book is just so good, putting human stories of survivors along with official records and newspaper stories together to tell the story of what led to the flood, what the flood was, and how it changed everything. Like so many stories, it's about how the business/corporate desire for profit overrode considerations for smaller companies and immigrant populations in the area. I got to a certain point last night and had to put it down, because I was feeling so heartbroken for the victims and their families. But I'm ready to pick it up again and keep reading.

Knitting-wise, I've got three projects underway - all of them gifts. You already know about the Musselburgh hat I'm making for Pat, my niece Amanda's husband. That will be a Christmas gift.

 

I also started a pair of socks for The Tim that will be an anniversary gift, and have about 8 rows of the top ribbing on sock #1 done, so - no photo. 😊

The third project is going to be either a Christmas gift or a birthday gift for my niece Amanda (her BD is December 29). Since Amanda - as well as the rest of us - loves a good martini, I decided to knit her the Martini Party Shawlette.

Years ago, I participated in a yarn club where you got yarn and a pattern every two months. One of the months, yarns from The Plucky Knitter were featured, along with the shawlette pattern. I knew I would want to knit it someday, but it has lived in my stash waiting for its turn in the limelight. And the waiting has paid off, since I'm finally getting around to using it for the intended project.

This photo doesn't show them as bright as the colors actually are, but these ar the yarns I'm usings. On the left, the pinkish shade is called Cosmopolitan; the green, Appletini.  

What about you? What are you reading and/or making? If you are curious to see what is going on with some others, click on the link at the start of this post and treat your curiosity!

Well, That Was Fun

Monday has arrived once again. Here in Philadelphia, the public schools are starting the school year, and so there are tons of kiddos on their way - some looking excited (younger kids) and some looking resigned and/or miserable (older kids). I get it. Going back to school was always a mix of emotions for me, even from day to day.

Our weekend was a good one. Pip started by making sure that he did an adequate amount of serious relaxing on Friday. He barely moved from this position all day.

As I mentioned in my last post, we had tickets for the Phillies vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game on Friday night. We had a wonderful time, and once the sun decided to set, there was even a cool breeze!

I had to tell myself that I was hoping that the Phillies would win, NOT that the Pirates would lose. I know that is semantics, but it made me feel less conflicted.  The Phillies did end up winning on Friday evening, and it was a good game. Even the people in the seats around us were not annoying, and you may know from personal experience how much that can make the difference in enjoying something and wishing you'd just stayed home.

Look at that wonderful sky!

One thing that was funny was something The Tim said. Whenever we watch a baseball game, it really annoys me when the pitcher will get ready to throw to the batter, and then suddenly turn and throw to first base. I will be sitting at home saying, "Oh stop that!" or "Honestly, how stupid," or some other kind words. You know, as one does. Anyway, at one point during the game, the pitcher did that, and the whole stadium went "Boo!" and The Tim said, "Oh God, it's like being in a stadium of you." That just really cracked me up! (Also - Philly fans of any kind yelling "Boo" - what a shock! 😄)

Saturday we didn't do much - a short trip to the Farmer's Market, and The Tim baked some cookies. But the bulk of the day was spent with The Tim and his latest project. We have not had cable or satellite TV of any kind for years. But recently, he had read a couple of articles about YouTube TV, which is a streaming service. After doing a but more research, he decided we should try it, and so with all the necessary things ready to go, he spent a good part of the day setting it up and trying to figure out how it works. It was a mixture of fun and frustration - one of those things where you think you finally figured it out, and you go to do something only to find out that WHOOPS, you have not in fact figured it out.  At this point, we are closer to knowing how it works, but there are still plenty of hiccups to keep us on our toes.

Yesterday was a day for me to work at the yarn store, and also one of the days of Knitting Circle.*  There was a big turnout for Knitting Circle, a class happening in the classroom, and a ton of customers buying things so the time zipped by. I have to say, it's so much fun to see what people buy and hear about what they are planning to make, or to see how their projects turned out when they come in to show you. It's the best combination - people actually *want* you to ask them about it, and you can ask without being considered rude or nosy.

Also, one of the women who came to Knitting Circle yesterday brought her service dog with her. The dog is a big black dog, a Great Dane/Poodle mix named Brienne, and she is such a sweet pup! So I also got to get in my dog fix, which was a bonus on top of everything else. I'll try to get a photo of her to show you if they come again.

So now it's time to get the week started. I have some house projects lined up for the day, plus an outing to get more of the sunscreen I use on my face, and then hopefully this afternoon I'll have some time to knit and/or read. 

This coming week looks like it will be a busy one, which is fine with me. I hope your week treats you well, and that you have some time each day to yourself to read, knit, bake, garden, or whatever pleases you.

*Knitting Circle at Loop is twice a week - from 1-3 on Wednesdays; and, from 1-3 on Sundays. I thought I'd mention it in the event that anyone nearby wanted to make the trip.

Happy Last Friday of August!

Today is not just a Friday, it's the last Friday of August. Which used to mean that school would start soon, but these days a lot of schools have already been open for a week or two by now. In any case, this month is finishing up, and soon all things fall will be showing up, along with cooler weather. Meaning that I will be a lot less grumpy!

Tonight we are going to a baseball game - the Phillies vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. This is something we've wanted to do for a long time, but the timing didn't work out until this year. Yes, I hope the Phillies win, because they are having a decent season. But, both of us grew up as Pirates fans, so we'll be happy either way. And it's a chance to see the Pirates play, even though they are not having a good season. In any case, we are looking forward to it, and I know we'll have fun.

Now, for something else that is fun - announcing the winner of the surprise box celebrating sixteen years of this blog. I wrote every name on a piece of paper, mixed them up in a sunhat, and then put them on the floor. I let Alfie choose the winner, since he is the newest member of the family. And Alfie chose:

Kim in Oregon!!

Congratulations, Kim! I know I used to have your address, but all of the addresses I'd collected previously were on my previous computer whose hard drive died a tragic death. So if you could send it to me again, I'll get myself organized and let you know when the package is on its way.

Thanks to everyone who entered, and who left such nice comments and congratulations. As usual, it made me wish I had goodies to send to everyone. But then I decided that especially since I missed Christmas in July, I'll do a few giveaways over the year, since I enjoy them, and love sending packages to people. So be on the lookout.

Have a good weekend, and I hope the last few days of August treat you well. Here's a Friday Funny for you:

See you next week!

In Which I Read, Knit ... And Become Suspicious

Hello all, and Happy Wednesday! This week is moving right along for me, though I am still having a hard time keeping track of what day it is. I'm not sure why I'm having that kind of issue, but why ask why, you know?

Today I'm joining Kat and the others for Unraveled Wednesday. Even when I don't participate, I love seeing what everyone is making and reading.  

I just started this book on Monday:

Not great literature, but I had just finished a few intense books in a row, and needed a palate cleanser. I had read one of the installments of this series - OK, it was a Christmas one, so sue me - a few years ago, and remembered that I enjoyed it. So I thought maybe I'd start at the beginning to see if I wanted to fill in up to the one I'd read. So far, it's just what I was in the mood to read, and having never been to Key West in Florida, I'm enjoying getting a sense of the place through this book.

As far as my knitting goes, I've started on a project that will be a Christmas gift. You may remember that last year I made my niece Liz's husband Greg a Musselburgh hat. (Ravelry link) I had put my niece Amanda and her husband Pat in charge of "explaining" it to Greg when he opened it. When I was showing them how it worked, Pat said, "That is so cool, I would LOVE one of those!" But at the time, it was only about a month before Christmas, and there was no way I was going to make another one in a short time at the holidays.

But I tucked that away for later, and this year, Pat will get his own Musselburgh hat. So far, it looks like I'm knitting a pyramid:

But, having made one last year, I know that it will really and truly turn into a hat. 😀

Now ... you may be saying to yourself, OK, that's what she is reading, and what she is knitting, but why does she mention being suspicious? Well, I started the hat above earlier this week. Then, yesterday at my LYS job, I was assigned my next project for there. As a bit of background, we are assigned projects to work on while we are there, to showcase various yarns carried in the shop. I finished a watch cap on Sunday, during my shift, and so it was time for another project, and I was given the yarn and pattern to make another hat.

Well, here's why I'm suspicious, at least right now. The pattern that is for my "shop project" is from a very well-known designer. And granted, I didn't get very far into it yesterday, but at first read through, it seems suspiciously close to the Musselburgh pattern. It's the same concept when it's finished as well. Now I know that certain designs are kind of universal, and everyone tweaks them to make them their own, but I am just suspicious at this point. Since I'm knitting a Musselburgh at home and this other project two days a week at the shop, it will give me a unique chance to contast and compare, as it were.

I'll keep you posted. I kinda wish I had a deerstalker hat and a pipe, to be honest, LOL.

Sweet Sixteen

This past Saturday, August 20, 2022, this blog turned Sweet Sixteen!  

I thought about posting on Saturday, but ... well, I was too busy doing pretty much nothing. 😊 (God forbid I make an effort to do something, right??)

I remember when I started blogging, it was mainly because at the time, I had few knitting friends, but thought it would be a good way to make some online friends. I also liked swaps and knitalongs, and most of them were hosted via other people's blogs - this was before Ravelry and most social media!

I have to say I am both pleased and frankly surprised to find that 16 years later, there are people who read my posts about knitting, crafting, baking, cooking, cats, dogs, reading, and whatever happens to come into my brain on any given day. There have been different "waves" of followers through the years, but some people have been there from the start. And it's given me no end of happiness and comfort to have those friends - I think I've said it before, but I feel incredibly close to some of you, even if we have never/maybe will ever meet in real life.

Two people who are extremely special to me in real life that I would have not met otherwise, Dee and Vera, came from having this blog, and knowing them alone has been worth the price of admission! 

Since my bout with Covid meant that I had to skip Christmas in July this year, I have decided that my blog turning sixteen is worthy of a giveaway. It will be a surprise package, so I'm not going to show you any of the goodies it contains.

All you have to do to be eligible is leave a comment on this post by Thursday, August 25, by midnight (EDT), and I will announce the winner on Friday. I really want to do this, because I so missed having our July giveaways, and one to celebrate my blog's birthday seemed like a good way to have some of that fun.

The giveaway is open to anyone, living anywhere, in any location where you can receive mail.

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog, and also to those who comment. I really love being able to come here and see what everyone has to say. It's the best feeling to have friends!