Crochet Time

Hope everyone had a pleasant holiday. Mine was quiet but did spend some time at my friends house on Christmas afternoon. Chatting with people and eating!

Weather continues to be quiet, good for those traveling. I have no place to travel to other than local trips, so no issues for me at all. I am not one who likes to travel during the holiday period. Too many crowds, delays and such. I want to relax when I travel. 

Lots of time to read and crochet as well. That relaxes me, just taking it easy at home.   

Latest finished product. Yarn is from Michael's Loops & Threads, Skinny Chennile, color Beetle Multi. Lavender color with bits of darker purples and occasional yellow spots too.

Very soft to the touch yarn but because it is a bit fuzzy it sort of tangles on itself. I would use the yarn again, especially for a baby blanket. I think I might also use a smaller hook. That would give a tighter stitch which might make it look better.  

 

 

I'm not that bad, I have about an 8-9 month supply of yarn, so unless I go within the next year, I can't be a member! I have been looking at the catalogs I get for yarn, but haven't purchased anything since last spring. I should do a new post on the state of the stash. Take a picture this next week at year end to see where I am at.

 

 Happy Weekend.  

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Happy Christmas Eve! 

The weather looks to be quiet, no storms and warmish temperatures. Almost all of the snow that has fallen is gone. Only the snow plow piles and some ice is left. 

More than usual sunshine too. We have gained four minutes back on our earliest sunsets, but still losing time on the sunrise. Our latest sunrise doesn't occur until the first few days of January. So we are at the shortest time between sunrise and sunset right now. 

Last trivia night of the year on Monday. We met early to do dinner as well for the holiday. We had a typical trivia night, not doing well on boy band and movie stuff. We had what I consider to be a typical score for us, but we ended up in fifth place this week. Oh well, we have fun.  

Hail to the Chef the second installment of the White House Chef Mysteries. Holiday time is upon the White House. Thanksgiving dinner, receptions, family conflicts, possible matchmaking and showing off the holiday decorations for the press. But things get a little extra buzz and a gingerbread replica of the White House has some issues. 

Beautiful Ugly a wonderful twisty thriller. Grady is an author who has just gotten his first New York Times listed best seller. Then his wife disappears. He goes into a writing funk so his agent sends him to a remote Scottish island to write. No distractions, no contact with the outside world and no way to leave. There he swears he keeps seeing his wife, but the residents, who are all women, say can't be. But is it? 

Deep Cuts story of the relationship between Percy and Joe. Both into music and she has a knack for over analyzing songs. Can they make music together? Both literally and figuratively? Books set in the early 2000s and refers to music from that era, so hard for me to relate. 

The Stolen Queen - Charlotte is part of a crew on an Egyptian dig in 1936 and helps find a fabulous necklace. A tragedy occurs and the necklace disappears. Fast forward to 1978, Charlotte is working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when the necklace appears as part of the display for the Met Gala. During the gala there is a disruption to help cover a theft, which sends Charlotte back to Egypt to track the stolen item back. 

 

 

I say yes to this. You might see something interesting, new author, then you can ask host about book. Also, when they are interviewing people on TV and they have books in the back, I try to read the titles. Another way to find more books to read.  

Happy Reading.  Have an enjoyable and safe Merry Christmas. 

Work in Progress

Made it to Friday, just one appointment today in the morning, then I can chill out. All of the peanut brittle I made has been given away. No more goodies tempting me to come and snack!  

The weather warmed up, most of the snow has melted except for the plow piles. Roof is clear of snow as well. Not likely to have a white Christmas, or what I call a barely white Christmas.  

I had an interesting visitor on Wednesday afternoon. Rocky Raccoon showed up to snack under the bird feeders. 

 

Ducky snuggling under a blanket in progress. It was cold last weekend and we both needed the extra warmth. Thankfully it has gotten milder this week and is supposed to stay mild.  

Yarn that I bought at a fancy yarn shop to make hats to go with my new jacket. The jacket is the background for the picture so you can see the color. I was wearing the jacket when I went yarn shopping so I could check how things looked. 

I got one hat done this past week and I edited the yarn sequence which I normally don't do. But I wanted more of the green and purple in the hat, not the browns. I think it turned out pretty good.  

 

 Happy Weekend.  

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

We came out of the deep freeze of last weekend. Back to more normal temps which makes it nicer to be out and about. Which I have to be out doing things, seeing friends for Christmas lunches.  

It is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. Maybe I should re-read some of her books this coming year. Born December 16, 1775. I have a hard cover book with all of her novels inside, so I can do them anytime. I know for a while I was reading Pride and Prejudice every year after it hit 200 years after its first publication. 

Have to balance my book pile to read and the library hours with the holidays. Closed on both December 24 and 25 and I am getting close to being finished with my current check outs. So that means I need to get more books by December 23 to have some over Christmas and into early next year. Better put my requests in! 

The Late Mrs. Willoughby blends together characters from Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility along with the adult son of Elizabeth and Darcy, Jonathon. Invited to a house party of a former schoolmate, Jonathan arrives to find that a fellow guest is Juliet Tilney. When his schoolmate's wife is murdered, Jonathan and Juliet figure it out. 

The Merlot Murders is the first in a series set in the wine country of Virginia. Lucie comes back from France for her father's funeral. Accident but things don't sit right, she thinks he was killed. When her godfather is also killed she knows something is up. Will Lucie be the next victim?

The Business Trip - Jasmine and Stephanie meet on a flight from Madison to Denver and notice their physical similarities. Jasmine is running from an abusive relationship, Stephanie on her way to a conference for TV news directors. Lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending. Of note is that the author is a TV news director in Milwaukee!

The Inheritance a family reunion to celebrate the parents 40th wedding anniversary on a remote Scottish island. The adult children are also anticipating the division of their father's wealth. Old issues surface, new ones created. One thing, family first. Even when it means murder. 

I can't choose just one!

 I think that would be Pride and Prejudice. I may have read books as a kid multiple times, like the Black Stallion series, but can't remember how many times for any of these books! 

Happy Reading. 

Crochet

More snow and cold. Since we have snow on the ground earlier than we usually have been getting it seems like a long winter. It isn't even Christmas yet and I want warmth, green grass, flowers!

Ducky got to meet the "green paper man" on Thursday. He forgot to have me initial something last week for an internal report on my invested money. So know Ducky knows who keeps us in treats and yarn and everything else.  

The latest finished project the yarn color is Candy Bowl, a Big Twist yarn. Another color from either my last huge order or the close out sale at JoAnn's. I haven't gone into Michael's yet to see what they are calling their "Knit & Sew Shop", there is a Michael's close to where I live. Not going in since I want to work down my stash some more. I probably have enough yarn to hold me for another year! I should take a picture of my shelves with the stash again soon. Maybe at year end.  

 

 

Happy Weekend. 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Winter continues, below typical temperatures which are likely to continue. So the snow we have so far will likely stick around for a while. Which means a white Christmas for a change. Some people are happy with the colder weather, the local ski hills which can make snow. Then everyone can come out and snow board and ski. 

We had a successful night at trivia this week. We won with 64 of 84 points and the next closest team was 58. There were five teams this week. Got to keep those brain cells firing. Lots of laughs, fun talking with our favorite guy on the wait staff. Good guy, student and a responsible person. Maybe there is hope for the future. 

Not making much progress on Christmas stuff. I did carry up the small Christmas trees from the basement. Barely started on cards, I have at least printed out the mailing labels and got the box of cards out. Made sure I have enough stamps. One of these days I will sit down and finish. 

I did finish one thing which was making the last three batches of peanut brittle. Gave each of my trivia gang a quart size storage bag and some for the wait staff too.  

Orbital, winner of the Booker Prize, best fiction written in English published in the UK or Ireland. It also has the distinction of being the second shortest book every to win the prize. Story is of a day in the lives of six astronauts in the space station. 

Wild Houses I found this book to be confusing and I didn't read the whole book. A couple of brothers kidnap a drug dealers brother. Stash him at their cousin's house. Set in a small town in County Mayo Ireland. 

Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism or how the ultra rich get richer by using tax and investment havens. While the average person gets by and in some countries actually support the system of the rich. Author went through a two year training program to become a wealth management advisor which then gained her access to the people she wanted to interview. 

How to Read the Constitution and Why a timely book for this point in our history. A law professor lays out what is in the constitution and what it means now versus when it was written. Published in 2019 it draws heavily on examples from the more recent political issues. Also addresses if there is a need for a new constitution. 

 

 

I once read a non-fiction book of World War II written from the perspective of the German side. It was interesting but a bit weird.                               

 

 

 That is why there are book marks to keep you in place!

Happy Reading 

Work in Progress

After the snow, comes the cold. We are 15-20 degrees below our typical early December temperatures. More like January weather right now. Hopefully this will be a short dip of cold, then back to seasonal temps. Maybe it can get warmer is January too!

Woke up early Thursday AM and thought the room was bright, the huge, nearly full moon was shining in my bedroom window. Beautiful sight. 

One fancy picture during the snow, the snow covering the lights outside and making the snow glow.  

 

Also spent last weekend making peanut brittle, or at least the first three batches. I don't make cookies, I do brittle and give it away to my friends. Already gifted three of the people on my list, more to come this next week. 

Ducky helping to keep my lap warm and snoopervise the crow-shay! He seems to have perked up for now. Been joining me in bed for some cuddles at night. He hasn't done that in ages. He seems to prefer is heated cat cup! I don't blame him on these cold nights!

 

 

 

I met a friend for lunch this past Tuesday and visited a small yarn shop near her. Yes, I did make a couple of purchases. I got some yarn to make hats for me to go with my new winter jacket. The jacket is the background for the yarn. One softer, the other bright. 

  

 

 Happy Weekend 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

In regards to the library budget reduction, yes there was lots of community reaction to this back at the start of the budget process several months ago. However our current village board isn't one that supports the library, at least not like they have in the past. Based on the people on the board, most of whom I didn't vote for. They want to control the library, have a say in what books are on the shelf. Very conservative people. 

Winter arrived with a bang this past weekend. I had nine inches of snow to take care of. So everything is white for now. Streets plowed and clean so no issues to get anywhere. 

Made three batches of peanut brittle on Saturday. I've already started to give it away! I do brittle versus cookies. Here is a pic of one of the batches. 

 

On to the books for the week.  

The French Ingredient a delightful memoir of an American in Paris. Author started working in banking and was assigned to an international role, first in London, then Paris. While in Paris she decided to start a cooking school conducted in English. Not for professionals but for the average person, local and tourist. While there have been many ups and downs, La Cuisine Paris is still in business. 

Golden Years a deep dive into the system of being old in the United States. The evolution, even revolution, of aging in the US in the 20th and 21st centuries. From the creation of Social Security, Medicare, development of communities aimed for those over 55, assisted living and nursing homes. Not sure I want to get old!

If Something Happens to Me is a great thriller. Action from Kansas, Philadelphia, Italy, England and France. Ryan is haunted by the man who attacked him and his girl friend five years ago in a car in Kansas and he spies him in Italy. Back in Kansas a rookie sheriff's deputy is working the revived cold case when the car is discovered. Massive page turner!

Why I Cook author is Tom Coliccchio who is the head judge on Top Chef. He recounts his journey of becoming a chef from cooking at home as a teenager, on through his professional development by working in various kitchens. He did not go to culinary school. Includes lots of recipes. 

 

Based on this I would say I am a B and E reader. I have gotten so I check books and authors to see if they are a series. Then I test out the first book. If I like it I will add the rest of the series. 

 Happy Reading