Monday, What Am I Reading?

I haven't joined in on this in awhile, but I actually did some book reading this summer.  I read a lot of online articles and things, so I'm always reading.  But I haven't been actually book reading in awhile....

Several years ago I read Game Change and Double Down  by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.  I was really looking forward to their book of this past election.  But then Mark Halperin got caught up in the #metoo movement and the publisher canceled the book,  I am hoping that John Heilemann can some how release some kind of book at some point.  So when I saw that Katy Tur released a book about her being embedded in the Trump campaign, I was interested.

It was a good read.  At one point, I actually had to check to see if she was still working for NBC because she was very blunt about the business and her bosses....(she actually has a show on MSNBC now)

I'm not going to get all political....those of you that have read my blog, know which way I lean....but the book was very interesting for that behind-the-scenes look....and yes I know since it is one person's experience, it can be biased....but she tries hard not to be....

My husband brought me home a book to read:

He said, "It's your kind of book."  Which it is.  It is based during WWII and concerns the hiding of Jews. I've read many, many books about this topic.  Non-fiction and fiction...I am fascinated by the different ways people acted during that time.  I also think it is the highest honor that anyone can receive to be considered a Righteous Among Nations by Yad Vashem. 

It's also a fairytale that has been re-imagined.  I also love those kinds of stories.  I collect Cinderella tales.  In almost every culture, there is some type of CInderella tale.  I own about 30-40 different versions.  This is a re-imagining of the Hansel and Gretel story.  I'm only a little into it..but it was engaging from the very beginning....

The other day I was Netflixing (can you believe that wasn't flagged as improper?  The words we can turn into verbs...) Anyway I saw...

I remember LOVING this book!!!  So I watched the movie...it was very good....and Lily James is a great actress...I had just seen her in Mama Mia 2.....she was perfect in both roles....and of course, she does a great job as Cinderella too ;)

I do recommend the movie, but decided to pull out the book again to re-read...

Obviously there are some differences...but I am enjoying the re-read very much....

So here's the thing...the medication that I take for the auto-immune disease that I have affects my memory.  It is a low-dose chemo drug and you get "brain fog" and memory loss.....so I don't actually remember the book...I just remember that I LOVED reading it and thought it was one of the best books I'd ever read.  So this is like reading a whole new book.....and enjoying it immensely....

How about you?  What have you read lately? Join in with Kathryn at The Book Date

Year of Projects: Week 31

Good morning!  I did not post last week.   I was exhausted on Sunday, as we traveled all day on Saturday.

So where am I at? Let's update those monthly goals:

July goals:
- finish or close to finish the Kiss Me, I'm Irish - did not work on these.
- figure out and work the Fish Kiss Lips heel on Keep Swimming - WOOHOO, did my first one yesterday!
- swatch for the Waves Tank, then knit- cast on for the Tegna top,- nope
- swatch the Vintersol sweater and the Rainbow Cardi - nope
- finish the Beekeeper Cardigan - I put another couple of repeats on it
- finish the Venetian Cowl - I have been working on this, but it is slow going
- finish the Colourscape Cowl - DONE!
- start kid gifts, bear sweater, elephant sweater, sheep hat, girl sweater - Started the elephant sweater

So moving into August, knowing that unpacking the classroom is coming and I go back the last week of August.

August Goals:
- finish the Kiss Me, I'm Irish socks
- FInish the Keep Swimming socks
- Work on the Beekeeper Cardigan (finish?)
- swatch for the other projects: Vintersol, Waves Tank, and Rainbow Cardi
- Cast-on Tegna
- Cast-on the Bear Sweater
- finish partner gifts for swap

2018 Finished Projects:
Millennial Slytherin Mitts - Jan 6, 2018 
KG AMi - Jan 10, 2018
Shamrock Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Snowflake Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Elephant Reserve - February 11, 2018
Bunny Hat - February 12, 2018
Blue Wave - February 12, 2018
Folding Chairs - March 4, 2018
Jessica Jones 2 - March 7, 2018
Chicken Scratch Sock (test knit) - March 8, 2018 (only one sock)
Zombie Latte Socks (Zombie Valentine) - April 8. 2018
Fortune's Shawlette - April 11, 2018
Hudson Bay Socks - April 12, 2018
Chemo Hat for Deirdre - April 16, 2018 
Farewell Sockhead - July 4, 2018
Multnomah - July 10, 2018
Colourscape Cowl - July 24, 2018
A & C Vanilla socks - July 30, 2018

So look at that, I do have a couple of finishes!  A pair of vanilla socks started back in July of 2015!!  Got to get faster with my vanilla socks! Which I posted about on Thursday

I also finished my Colourscape Cowl.  I posted about it here. This only took me about a month...this was my travel project...so I'll pick up my Jessica Jones Cowl 1 to use for that now....

And yes, I have finally done my first Fish Lips Kiss Heel!!!!!

Now to see if it actually fits me.....as the heel flap, I've got it adjusted to fitting me well.  So I'm going to finish this one up today and then if it does fit me well, I'll use that heel on the Kiss Me, I'm Irish....so I can get going on those....

So updated the Works in Progress list, took off the completed items and added the new items....I'm hoping to have another finish for Friday....let's see if that happens!!

Works In Progress:         
WIPS: Crochet:
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)-not sure he'd want this anymore, being a high school freshman and all, but I think I'll finish it for him. He is now a sophomore.
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done - I looked at this recently and I'm still liking it, so I'll keep it...maybe make it a baby blanket instead.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. I still love the look of this.
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14) - Haven't made a final decision on this yet.
Throwback Poncho 2/19/17 - would like to finish for the fall
Venetian Cowl (July 1, 2018)
Swap Gift 7/23/18

Knit: 
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done, I put this in the giveaway yarn bags..not thrilled with colors....will use squares at school for water bottles..
Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)- I really love this, but it's a lot of cabling and I'm not a fan..about 1/2 done.
Vanilla fingerless mitts (12/25/15) - Think I'm going to frog and do different mitts or crochet them.
Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)- why I may crochet the others...have these and still working on them, again cabling
Garter Path Shawlette (5/30/16)- I have frogged this a couple of times...
Swinging with Winkle (6/4/16)- I love this so much!  Just need to finish it! Added a few rows
Meandering Top (5/20/16) - Took it out, at the separation of arms, looks really big!
Bulky Cowl - this hurts my hands to work on...think I need slippery needles...
Splediferous Blanket - (4/15/17) Roald Dahl club, mitered blanket
Selbu Mitts - 3/26/18
Beekeeper Cardigan - 7/1/18 
Lucy's Elephant - 7/24/18


Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - has not changed, 
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...
Just Keep Swimming - (6/16/16) 
Muertos - 8/13/17
Games Socks- 2/15/18
I'm Irish - 3/3/18
Cloudy Rainbows - 5/11/18 
Sunny Skies - 5/12/18
Northampton Socks - 5/26/18
 
Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011) - add a motif scarf, don't see that being finished soon...
Light in Shadows (1/14/14) - I love this so much...need to start the new direction, so need to sit down and figure it out.. 
Willow Fields (9/6/14) - ran out of yarn, waiting on yarn 
My Shelly Valentine (2/10/16) - should finish for this year's Valentine's Day, yeah, that did not happen

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in, I used it this year without the lining...so may just call it a day on this.... 

 KAL/CALs: 
Fire and Blood (5/4/14) - not anytime soon
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14)  - possibility of finishing this..the yarn is so yummy

I'm 50 Today!

Once Upon A Sock: August Edition

I am very late in posting this...it's a crappy, grey humid day here and I've just been a blob...well not really...Teachers Pay Teachers was having a sale, so I was on that site for awhile looking for some things for my classroom.....

Have been having flare-ups for the past two days, so no knitting or crocheting....I've realized when the humidity is above 70%, it makes me hurt...yesterday it was over 80%, right now it is 64%, but it is also going to rain...and that makes me hurt too.....hopefully in the next day or two, the weather will clear up....just got an alert that there is torrential rainfall on its way....yeah!

And tomorrow is my 50th birthday!!!  I'm actually pretty excited by it....I'm having a "surprise" party...my friend forgot I was on a group text and mentioned it...too funny!

I do have a finish!

Yarn: Carlos and Arne Regia Design Line in Winter Night

Pattern:  Vanilla with Slipped Stitch Heel and round toe

Started: July 3, 2015

Completed: July 30, 2018

Yeah three years for a vanilla sock!  I've got to get better at that!

I am now a member of the Sockalicious Group on Facebook, which is an offshoot of the Exquisite Yarn and Fiber Group

They have monthly challenges...but it's all pretty relaxed....this month is either toe-up or scrappy socks...neither of which I have...you can finish WIPs during the month and they count as long as they fit in the challenge....so may need to start some scrappy socks...been wanting to knit some shorty socks...so that might be the answer....

If you knit socks..join us...hope over to Spin a Yarn and join up...

Stitch Along: Week 30

Good morning...almost afternoon.....I'm a bit late this week...which usually means not many will read it or join in.....oh well.....

Yesterday we went to pick up Fergus, our Timneh Grey...he is three months old....

Isn't he the most adorable thing?  We miss our Pionus Baloo...but this is going to be a whole new adventure...totally different type of bird....

So what about stitching?  I finished a pair of socks...that were started in 2015!!!! I'll post them on Friday....

I have also started another Elephant Reserve sweater for a friend's daughter.....

I've added a few more rows...I'll almost done with the increases....trying to decide if I want to do the elephants in the lighter pink or in grey...what do you think?

I'm also still working on the first gift for my swap partner....it's slow going....

This past weekend, we went up to New Hampshire for my aunt's 75th birthday.....Technically, she is no longer my aunt...she is the sister of my step-father and he passed away in 1996...but I've been part of that family since I was 10...so yeah...the drive up was frustrating....so much traffic and we missed exits twice!  And very bad weather once we were in New Hampshire

A backroad the GPS took us on.....it was poring rain....and the road was not completely paved...

So how about you?  What did you do this week????