It is suddenly cold here. By the time I went for my walk it was 15 degrees (-9.4 C). The sockhead cowl stayed up the entire time. I was comfortable behind the pretty sparkles. I think I’ll be making one for John soon.
Last night John and I had a really great date. The only problem was we ate too early and we had to fill time before we could go home. I made him do a video to tell you about it.
Now I’m going to brew some tea and knit while watching knitting podcasts because Mondays call for self care.
Yesterday I got to the point in the sockhead cowl where I needed to just finish it. Tonight I accomplished that. I love the yarn. I like the finished product. I just got to the point where I was done having it as a WIP.
I think I will love having this on really cold days. I can pull it up over my nose and pull a hat down over my eyebrows and stay less frigid.
With the completion of this project I have knit all of the yarn that I purchased at the Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival this year. I am now free to buy the yarn I want at the festival next year without any guilt. I will probably hold back though, as I have a fun trip planned to the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival next September.
Big News: I read actual grown up books this month. Good ones. Books that I’m not embarrassed to tell you about. I guess the weather is finally cold enough to get me out of my extended beach reads mood. I read five books this week, four of which were actual books (I usually read more on my Kindle).
What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand. This is the second book in the Winter in Paradise series. It was engaging and kept me reading. If you read the first book in this series you should read this book. If you haven’t read the first book you should wait until the third book comes out and devour all three at once. This book ends with one heck of a cliff hanger. I can’t wait to read the third book. I give this book four out of five stars.
The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child’s Education by Ainsley Arment. I was very excited to read this book, as it is all about my style of homeschool (Play is important. Get outside a lot. Follow your passions.). The first few chapters I was very into this book, but after that I was annoyed with her overuse of quotations. It was like she wrote the book with an open copy of Bartlett’s Book of Quotations next to her. She also lost me when she said that everyone could homeschool if they want to enough. I understand that being able to stay home with my kids and homeschool is a privilege many people don’t have. I have a wonderful support system which allows me to attempt homeschooling (we’re trying it next year. The kids will go to public school at some point in elementary school). I give this book two out of five stars.
Playing House by Ruby Lang. I remember very little about this book, but I preordered the next book in the series as soon as I was done, so I must have enjoyed it. I gave it two out of five stars.
The Shepard’s Life by James Rebanks. This book was calming and interesting. I loved hearing about sheep farming in the Lakes District of the UK. It is easy to read the stories Rebanks writes in this book, like a modern James Herriot. If you love sheep this book is even better. I give this book four out of five stars.
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory. This is a romance novel that starts when a woman declines a jumbotron proposal and is rescued from the paparazzi by a handsome man and his sister. You know how this book will end. This book was good but not great. If you are in to romance novels, or your brain needs a break, this is one for you. I give this book two out of five stars.
I’ve got a big stack of books I’m looking forward to reading on my nightstand. I’m not sure how many I’ll finish this month, but I hope I enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed the books I read this month.
Oh my goodness, this week has been crazy. I am surprised that I’m writing this on Wednesday, because I’m so discombobulated I would have assumed I would write it a day late.
I’ve had lots of knitting time this week, but almost all of it has been in social situations. Because of that, my Farmhouse Cardigan didn’t get as much love this week. The more I knit on this the more I love it. I really hope that I’ll join the sleeves to the body this week. I only have about three inches to go until that happens.
I’m loving the Darwinian Evolution scarf even more with every stitch. This is the coolest yarn I’ve ever worked with.
The project I’ve worked on the most this week is the Sockhead Cowl. This was the perfect project for both of our Thanksgivings, a birthday party, a coffee date and a knit night. I’m back to ribbing, and really hope to have this done soon. I’m not casting on socks until I’m done with this.
I should start mittens for my sister, Kathleen, soon. She requested them for Christmas, I have the yarn, and I am excited to knit the pattern. Maybe I’ll make myself do that before I cast on another pair of socks. We shall see.
I forgot to write my Thankful Saturday post yesterday, so I’m going to catch up today. We had a busy day yesterday, and I’m thankful for that.
I’m thankful for sisters who take family photos for us. Mary-Claire makes it possible for us to send out New Years cards.
I’m thankful for having two Thanksgiving celebrations filled with families that are caring and drama free. I’m also thankful that I can drink wine and knit at both Thanksgivings.
I’m thankful for friends who come over to knit on dreary nights. I’m thankful for the support and advice they give.
I’m thankful for kids who get very excited about new Christmas pajamas, even when they are hand me downs.
I’m thankful for a husband who gets so excited about turkey salad he comes home from our second Thanksgiving and prepares enough for the kids to eat for days.
I’m thankful for all of you. I’m thankful for this season of thankfulness.
