Category: Unraveled Wednesday

unraveled wednesday | 2.12.20…

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~ nearly sunrise/ 6:55 am ~

6:55 am: I turned on my phone and discovered a txt message from friend K…we had a lot of fun with MeMojis – hers is too much like her! Looks, animations, just perfect. I have yet to create mine …. but I want one! Ahhh, just another item for my someday maybe list. I should live so long!

After that unexpected and much treasured treat, I prepared to microwave water for my morning cuppa tea and set my place for MSQT.  I picked up the phone again to search for today’s focus on Ali Edwards’ Pieces of Us photo – capture and got distracted by Google’s news clips, in particular two articles: 1- a review from Consumer Research on the “best microwave ovens and 2 – an article from nbcnews.com , “Are Audiobooks for You?”

The audiobooks’ article provides a brief history of the talking book, beginning with Edison’s  1877 phonograph record to today’s offerings… and a list of five books to start an audio book reading journey. Some books on the list I’ve read; one I might and one I’m pretty sure I won’t, ever.  A while back, I shared a goodreads  article that weighed in on the question: Is listening to an audiobook the same as reading the print version? What say ye?

Why microwave ovens? Long story short: March 2019 I bought a new oven (after much consternation) only to have it begin to freak out in the past week. Bottom line: the oven is not serviceable. Mais oui (but of course)! Some manufacturing flaw in newer-made versions of the original model I had (that had also lasted 14 years after multi use daily!) GE will honor the warranty and reimburse me after I jump a few hurdles: produce receipt (I have) and wait 6-8 weeks for a reimbursement check, minus depreciation. So, sometime in the next 72 hours we go get another new oven; we use the oven a lot!

In the stitching arena, I’ve made more progress on the Log Cabin/9 Patch lap quilt : One more block to make and one to finish – approximately 70 rows of garter stitch … and then on to the next phase, joining the blocks and knitting medium and small ones. I’d planned to finish my second Tree Quilt Block for Australia this afternoon – after a hair appointment and very.quick.trip to the grocery store for bananas – but those plans were waylaid by unexpected company.

It is now after 6 pm, later than planned and I’m finally finishing what I started early this morning: this blog post! Time to move on to the other items on my agenda, especially my scrapbook layout for today’s LOAD.

Joining Kat and friends for unraveled wednesday!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 2.5.20…

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Yesterday was Alexa’s* day to attend to some household chores. She did pretty well with ticking off tasks but ended the day with a few leftovers, so this morning after MSQT, she:

  • rolled up her sleeves, cleaned the frig …
  • washed salad greens for this evening’s dinner…
  • made out the grocery list, tho’ she’s not sure when she’s going to shop or perhaps try home delivery again?

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Knitting and reading thus far this week have been catch as catch can, especially with the addition of LOAD 220. She’s starting a new block – the yellow on the needle. And right after she (Alexa) publishes this post, she’s going to make/finish** the second quilt tree block for Australia.

Joining Kat and friends for unraveled wednesday!

Cheers~

*this is just a spoof on the Amazon echo home device.

**and well, she ran into a little problem with photos not downloading so she just spent  an hour+ on the phone with Apple Support!

unraveled wednesday | 1.29.20 …

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Tree quilt block #1 for Australia done! Background not included. I will begin the second, using different fabrics and design.

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Wishing loads of love, congrats and many more years of happiness to this young lady, my grand niece Kayla, who celebrates her 19th birthday today.  This photo was taken 7 years ago and despite the words on the shirt, she – the total antithesis of difficult!  – is now in her first year of college.

Winding up Fever this week, going this afternoon to see “Just Mercy” and joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday.

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 1.22.20

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My plan for today included beginning a tree block to send to Australia and that entailed finding fabrics – my favorite part of quilting: mixing and matching fabrics with the end in mind.  I chose from my stash fabrics to make two blocks…and I cut the pieces for one. I looked up and realized the afternoon was rapidly disappearing, the temp had risen to 40° – we started out mid 20s – and I had time before sunset to go for a walk… So, out I went.

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#walk 20in2020

On my walk today, I listened to this week’s Gretchen Rubin Happier podcast and

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captured this lovely picture of the sky just before sunset. Arriving home, I planned to stitch and wound up ordering groceries from Whole Foods, instead. We have been talking about trying the service someday and today turned out to be it.

I’m probably half way through Fever and plan to go see Just Mercy next Wednesday with a friend. Joining Kat and friends for another Unraveled Wednesday.

Cheers~

 

unraveled wednesday | 1.15.20 …

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Yesterday – Tuesday – was our bi-monthly Recent Reads gathering. My friend Margaret who is a fan of contemporary poets/poetry introduced us to the newest Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo, shown above. Joy, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is the Nation’s first Native American Poet Laureate. She is also a saxophonist ( and for that alone, she wins points from Norman, who plays/ed the sax). I’m looking forward to delving into her poetry and listening to her music.

I started Fever (reading the Kindle version) and  finding the book fascinating – it reads less like fiction than I expected. I was particularly surprised that I adapted to the e-version so readily. I actually prefer print on paper… For my ears, I’ve downloaded  Louise Penny’s 6th Inspector Gamache novel:  Bury Your Dead for my next walking companion (not tomorrow, tho’; forecast is for high winds, sleet, snow? Time will tell).

The hat is finished! I have left over yarn; I think I’ll add it to the Log Cabin/9 Patch  (LC9P) when I get to the smaller blocks. The LC9P and the Christmas stocking are next on the knitting list. Every stitch moves me closer to the finish line – 5 knitting projects to complete in 2020.

And that just about wraps up Unraveled Wednesday for me this week. Hop over to Kat’s blog to see what others are unraveling.

Cheers~

(Photo of Joy Harjo featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Winter 2019 , p 24.)

 

 

 

unraveled wednesday | 1.8.20 …

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SNOW! Yesterday we had more than a dusting: enough for government workers to close up shop/go home early; all told, I guess we had about 2 inches or so of the white stuff. Elias was delighted that he got to don his new snow suit.

This morning, the snow remains and the sky’s dark grey but the forecast: sunshine and a high of 45°… sooo long SNOW!

Today would be a great day to snuggle up with a cuppa hot tea, the last of homemade Christmas cookies and a good book. Alas, I have dental and hair appointments so I will take my iTools (Pad and Phone) to begin The Dutch House (ears) and/or Fever (ears & eyes).

On the knitting front: the hat is an almost finished… last 6 stitches to bind off and still, the tassel to make… Knitting continues on the Log Cabin lap blanket; and in my stash are several projects ~ all with a 2020 complete date!

*the second sock of a pair;

*a blanket started several years ago;

*a shawl that has been patiently waiting for me to finish the above – hang tight; your day is coming! And

*oh yes, lest I forget: the Christmas stocking! One of these years…

Time to get ready for my appointments. Joining Kat and Friends for Unraveled Wednesday! Sun’s out!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 1.1.20

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Happy New Year! Yesterday, the UPS driver rang the bell and delivered a package with the two books shown; I’d completely forgotten I’d ordered and they were to be delivered the 31st! Tiny Habits will be a great follow-up to Bad Habits. Good Habits. I’m almost done reading it.

Whizz Bang is by an Australian quilter; her book – in both French and English simultaneously – has taken the quilting world-wide community by storm, according to the press I’ve read. I’m eager to dive in the book and play with the technique but will hold off until I’ve strengthened  a few habits (habit, my 2019 word, I’m continuing in 2020). Good things come to those who wait…

The knit piece is a hat I started last year; I’ve about two rounds of knitting to do before I bind off and it’ll be done except for the tassel. 

One of the things I’m focusing on as I work on recalibrating my creativity habits is to identify UFOs that I will keep or donate. My goal is to donate most and finish any I keep from years gone by before 2021 arrives.

Joining Kat and friends for another year of Unraveled Wednesdays.

Cheers~

 

on Christmas morning | 12.25.19…

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I awoke to witness another lovely sunrise following Christmas Eve’s glowing sunset. Quiet as I write; the furnace, chugging along, keeps the house warm. A dog’s bark – that momentarily shattered the peace- has ended. Frost adorns rooftops and grassy surfaces.

~a friend is a present you give yourself~

Arriving just yesterday, a package from friend Kathy; I open this morning and am greeted with a delightful mug and all sorts of Christmas/Holiday themed paraphernalia to include in my Christmas album/journal. I squeal -only to my ears – with delight!

My second cuppa tea, graced by a delicious Christmas cookie made by friend Betsy. Yum! Betcha can’t eat just one! Right. I treat myself to two!

Two new books, under the tree, ahem, await my perusal. Gifts from me for me. Simple Abundance is an updated version marking the 25th anniversary of the original publication. 366 days of reading await! Norman’s gift is in the freezer: steaks; burgers; pork chops…what he requested. In my car, new floor mats…

Today, this morning, will be quiet; we’ll join family mid afternoon. I’m excited to see what Santa brought the little ones: Chris, 5 and Elias, 2. Two Christmases ago, Elias, after a two months’ early arrival and nearly a month in the NICU, was home for Christmas. We are so grateful that both he and his mom are doing well.

unraveled wednesday | 12.18.19

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~a friend is a present you give yourself~

Is unwrapping the same as unraveling? Of course not, silly. Today, Pat, my longtime friend of 33 years and I met for a long overdue lunch and reconnection. We’d not seen one another for nearly three months! We had a lot of catching up to do…and we did. We also celebrated my birthday (Nov); the lovely journal – despite the light’s glare – a gift from Pat, is made by an artist who lives in Oregon. After lunch, we stopped at a delightful store that sells all sorts of art supplies… I needed to replenish ink for my LAMY pen. And we both had our creative juices stirred a bit by some gorgeous iridescent watercolor paints; for sure, we’re coming back in 2020, just around the corner!

After two days of rain, today was sunny, lovely and cold! Perfect for spending quality friend time. Tho’ I have not included any knitting or other fun craft update in this post nor nary a word about this past week’s reads, I encourage you to join Kat and others for Unraveled Wednesday… lotsa good books and fun knitting projects are shared there!

Cheers~