Morning Glory Studio

unraveled wednesday | travel entertainment ...

 

Tuesday, three friends and I gathered for our bi-monthly Recent Reads session: sharing what we've read or didn't (as in complete, for any number of reasons) and culminating the day with a delicious light brunch. We've been doing this for nearly a year and each session is interesting, bringing forth new titles to read...or at least consider.

I am still reading Louise Penny's third:  Cruelest Month and now have TWO  copies of the 4th: The Murder Stone (also published as A Rule Against Murder). All three are hardcover...I'm debating about taking any on the trip ... That may be a last minute decision. Currently, I'm  thinking  I'll take:

• Cruelest Month - tho' I may change my mind;
• Gretchen Rubin's newest: The Four Tendencies;
• A is for Alibi  (download either as audio or Kindle) to renew my acquaintance  with Sue Grafton  - I started her ABC series when she first began writing them -1982. When I started reading less and less fiction, of course did not continue...and
• Women in the Castle (the audio version) - one of the titles from my Summer Book Bingo list; and
• Quilting Lessons - started a while back; about halfway through. It's a fun memoir of a writer (academic) who lost her mojo and chose to quilt, instead

Looking over my knitting PiPs (projects in progress or not) against TSA regulations: needles, wood, 4 inches or shorter, I shall take two Top This hats- one on 4" needles and one in the queue -  and a pair of socks I started...I'm almost done with one sock. Since I will also be on the train for a portion of my trip, I can probably do a tad more knitting then. I'll pack my poncho that's nearing it's end. 

 I also plan to journal and write! A day without is to me, a day without sunshine.  I'll take Natalie Goldberg's Old Friend From Far Away. 

I think these plans will keep me well occupied and entertained...after all, it's not as though I'm going around the world! 

Joining Kat and others for Unraveled Wednesday. 

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | a menagerie and more ...

 

 
(yellow st st =  poncho)

Monday evening, I  completed a fourth Top This Hat and have two more in the wings: one for a little girl who was born three months premature but is now at home, a whole month ahead of schedule! Friends and I are planning a surprise shower for her grandmother, who is the baby's  middle name sake and the grandma's first grandchild. We'll do this when I return from my trip...The other hat is a Christmas elf...all are good knitting practice and an easy pickup during the evening news or a medical appointment wait...

Several years ago, in 2015, to be exact, I started a Churchmouse Classics Easy Folded Poncho (for me). I made pretty good progress with it...just plain StSt. I guess I got bored and ignored it...you know, just plain StSt...but yet, good practice and an easy pickup during the evening news or a medical appointment wait... Monday, I finished the main portion and today, I blocked it. Next, I will seam and then, add the cowl. I think I'll take this to Oregon...that is where it began.

Over the past few days, I also inventoried my knitting stash and PiPs;  I selected about 4-5 projects to complete and/or start...

Being a big Gretchen Rubin fan, I of course pre-ordered her newest book: The Four Tendencies, published/arrived yesterday. I have not begun reading it yet...working on clearing a few items on my docket, still. The book is definitely going along on my trip. Mornings find me writing, my memory joggled by Natalie Goldberg's Old Friend from Far Away. And Inspector Gamache is right on the scene, working on solving the latest mystery in The Cruelest Month  - which I'm still reading, albeit slowly.

And that's the way it is this Wednesday 13 September. Again, I'm joining Kat and others for Unraveled Wednesday. Do hop over and see what others are unraveling. And you?

Cheers~

 

unraveled wednesday | this n that ...

Yesterday, during our all day rain, the sky was peppered with birds...they were small, sparrows, I think...Today, the sky is clear and blue with puffy white clouds. Earlier this morning, I looked out the window and got a glimpse of Canadian Geese, in perfect formation, winging their way south ...tho', it looked like they were going NE...but, perhaps they were just practicing. My they are precise and fast! By the time it registered that the geese were flying overhead and I should get my phone to snap a pic, they were out of sight! Oh, maybe 20 seconds had elapsed? If that many. 

I have finished the Top This giraffe hat and started a fourth one...t'is good practice as I'm trying to establish the habit of knitting practice everyday...and the hats are so darn cute...I will be moving onto somethings a  tad more difficult, in the weeks to come. 

Summer Book Bingo will be extended for me... Today, a friend sent me a note with a news clipping about Louise Penny's newest title, released yesterday. The note said the book will be my birthday present (November)...at the rate I'm reading the novels, she will probably have written her fourteenth by the time I'm ready for the thirteenth! Something to look forward to. My friend is buying all the books - she decided she wanted to reread and add them to her personal collection...so,  I think I have a very available source. 

Time for me to watch the evening news and practice my knitting...plus complete two more loads of laundry...a late start today. Joining Kat and others again this week; do pop over...

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | it's august already?!...

 

 

Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday

The last post I shared about book bingo and knitting was July 19!

• I am close to completing two Bingos, possibly a third - currently reading Olive Kitteridge on my walks. I saw the HBO mini series and liked it.. I think I'd like to read, rather than listen to this book...
• I finished the second Top This hat (shown in the above  post), started a third and 
• I've two more in the wings... My plan is to reintroduce knitting into my life - I'd taken a sabbatical around  late 2015 and I've a few projects in the wings that'll fill up fall/winter evenings quite nicely...and dust off/sharpen my limited knitting skills...

I started my friend Pat on the Inspector Gamache series...she's already finished books one and two...she's a binge reader - once she starts and likes, just continues to read to the finish. I told her she was going to have to wait for the third one - especially since I've just barely begun it, myself! 

Saw the delightful yard sign on my walk this morning...

And that's the way it is on 2 August 2017! 

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | closing in...

 
(next up in the queue) 

"B*I*N*G*O...and BINGO was his name-o !"  This was/is a very popular singing nursery rhyme with little ones...and I'm close to two BINGOs. I have two books  each to read in 2 rows -and one is going to be an audio book as I need a new walking companion. Tuesday, I finished Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk  and did enjoy her ruminations about her life; the Audible book has an author interview that I have yet to listen to...but it's really been almost too hot to go walking...

I also finished Louise Penny's A Fatal Grace yesterday - in print and ready to start the third in the series (also in print) and that'll be good for another box!  Here's  a great interview with Louise Penny. One of my aims is to read more fiction and I'm pleased with my choices and results, so far...Also, next up in the print queue: Hidden Figures, albeit isn't fiction but that's OK: I need non-fiction titles, too... 

Knitting! Well, I can't say I'm in full swing - possibly that'll be never - but I did resume knitting the Top This hats. My sister has two more grands, both boys and I have three hats -one done; one- half done and one: to be started...soon, colder weather will be here and I'm figuring I'll be done, by then! 

Possibly next week I'll have a BINGO visual to share...Stay cool and read on! Joining in with Kat and others today, too! 

Cheers~

watercolor wednesday | this or that?...

 

            Yesterday (Tuesday), I debated about what to do: the hour was late afternoon - 5:15 pm - and I was torn between reading or starting a new knitting project. In my knitting queue I have five possible projects from which to choose...and of course, in my reading queue, I have at least 25 books on the docket for Book Bingo! Choices! Decisions! 

So, I threw a coin, three times and the results were: 2 Heads and 1-Tail. I had declared Knitting: Heads and Reading: Tails. Well, I really didn't follow the coin flip. I did think I'd start the new Transitions shawl but after reading (quickly) through the instructions, decided to read more of Louise Penny's A  Fatal Grace (which is probably what I wanted to do any way, truth be told). 

And so it goes: Today, I couldn't decide which Waterlogue version I liked best: the one on the left is Bold and the Right, Luminous. What's your choice? 

This morning, Mary commented on yesterday's post and asked about a couple knitting projects I've had on needles for quite a long time...the Top This Hat: Finished! The Poncho: one bindoff  to do and then, block the piece! 

I might also add that I had a Eureka moment pertaining to my knit or read dilemma: had I downloaded some of the books on my card that I plan to read via Audible books - or from the library - I won't need to toss a coin. I can multitask! Duh!

Joining in with Kat and others for Unraveled Wednesday.

The sun is shining! YAY!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | in the queue...

            My current stack of new books - all acquired last week. The top and bottom ones on the stack, I'm currently  reading; the ones in between, waiting for me to read. Textbook and Thank You for Being Late were gifts from my friend Kathy. Thanks to everyone for your feedback and encouragement re: reading the Inspector Gamache series in order. I'm on chapter two and did return the newest title to my friend.

Next weekend begins Book Bingo; I have two titles in the queue  - I think 'cause I've not downloaded my card, yet. Thanks to a bright idea from Mary, I am going to read at least 10 as audio books - between my credits with Audible and the library's resources, I might wind up doing all 25. That will be a real experience for me; I can nearly count on one finger the number of audio books I've read... Do join in Book Bingo...check out Mary's blog for all the details.

Monday, I was looking for double pointed needles in my stash (to finish the Tip Top zebra hat) and found these two projects: one a sock, long ago started and the other, a scarf  I'd planned to knit, primarily because I liked the yarn so. So, I decided to add these two projects to my current PiP (projects in progress - or not) collection. This brings my knitting to 6 items in the queue. That should last me for a while - if I stick to my plan and schedule... By the way, the word is complete,  one of my three for 2017. 

A very pleasant and unexpected visitor dropped by today: my soon-to-be 3 years-old great grand nephew, Chris! He and my sister came over and spent a couple hours. Chris came supplied with a notebook and colored pencils and the minute he walked in the house, spied my colored pencil-like crayons...of course, nothing would do but that he use them... When Connie and Chris arrived, Norman had gone to the store. When Norman returned, he and Chris bonded instantly and went for a long walk. 

What's in your queue? And do check out Kat's blog to see what's in others' queues...

Cheers~

 

unraveled wednesday | may 10 2017...

 

 

            This week I'm  joining Kat and others, sharing my take on knitting and reading. I don't have anything I've unraveled - or finished (shh, I won't tell) but I do have (at least) three projects on needles. Two are in the completion stage and one, waiting for me to begin - I think I have at least two rows knit. I think.

Last week, I finished  Louise Penney's Still Life, the first in the Inspector Gamache series. I had thought I'd read the current/newest one  next (because I didn't want to chase the books down from the library nor buy them all). My friend tried to convince me to read them in order; I resisted, so she lent me her pristine, unread, brand new copy, The Great Reckoning ... and then I decided to read the second in the series, A Fatal Grace, buying it after all last week...and I've begun it. I will  return my friend's book tomorrow. 

Sorting through my collection of stitching and quilting books, looking for a particular title I thought I owned,  I discovered Quilting Lessons: Notes from the Scrap Bag of a Writer and Quilter. The author, an art historian who specializes in Native American art - primarily made by women -  found herself with writer's block and severe depression. All she could do and wanted to do was quilt...and that's what she did for eighteen months. The book is a memoir, quite readable and very funny. Even if one doesn't quilt, I think the metaphor is apt and knitting - or any type of creative endeavor  - could easily be substituted  for the quilting. 

I am nearly finished with the zebra Top This hat...and have discovered that I don't have any double pointed needles - or at least if I do, I know not where they are so I shall make a quick trip today to get some when I go to have the oil changed in my car. 

Do hop over to Kat's blog and see what else is being unraveled today. Enjoy!

Cheers~

friendstitchin' Sunday...30 april 2017

 

                    We met for our monthly gathering and had a great time comparing notes about the quilt show; even tho' I was there Friday and Sat, I missed seeing Pat, Margaret or Theresa. Figures. Margaret and Theresa bid on silent auction items and lucky them, their bids were tops...so, I get to pick up their treasures tomorrow for them.

 

After a delicious brunch of quiche, spinach salad and chocolate, we settled into our projects - but first, Pat shared a "quilt" she's making with fabric she bought in Oregon the first of the month.  Theresa finished knitting a sweater and joined Pat and me in knitting one of the "Top This" hats :  Pat started the fish; Theresa  started the purple 'whatever' - I can't make the top out; and I began the zebra. Pat finished the dog and gave to Margaret  - who owns Watson and Crick, the dogs. 

We had a grand gathering and t'was a nice finish to what was a busy month for us all. I had taken with me my #the100Day Project to work on - since I hadn't done much this week but decided to knit instead...t'was a nice diversion. When I arrived home, I saw another Iris had bloomed...love the color - totally unexpected!

Tomorrow is May 1. Amazing! Time flies when you're  having fun!

Cheers~

dec days | dec 11 currently ...

~sunday 11 december 2016  5:57 pm   

 

 

talking to my friend Pat on the telephone ...

hearing some football game and the microwave beeping...

realizing Norman and his son have finished their phone conversation ...

smelling the pork cutlets  baking in the oven...

frogging the beginnings of my Project Peace cowl...

debating: do I like this yarn?...

thinking: it's awfully fine and perhaps all I need is a cat and/or to be cloned and another pair of hands ...

asking myself  if I really need another knitting project?...

 

reminding myself that the purpose is to bring a little peace into our lives, everyday, especially these days ...

recalling that my mother always said the best present my sister and I could give her was peace (in other words, stop squabbling as siblings are want to do)...  

deciding YES!