My Day so far...

• This morning I ordered a manicure set from Amazon because no matter how clean my nails are the cuticles are trying to be the boss of me.
• There is a book I saw reviewed on MSNBC called An American Marriage written by Tayari Jones.  The book is included in Oprah's Book Club which I stopped following over a decade ago.  Most of the books were good quality reading but boring as in dead boring.  An American Marriage however has been endorsed by Michelle Obama so I'm in.  My dilemma has been whether to Kindle it or get the actual book.  
• I am grateful to my friend's Facebook post this morning stating that she was watching the Unsung episode on Minnie Riperton.  This helped me seeing as for over the last week I kept the television running on MSNBC and CNN.  For some reason  I need to know every single detail of the virus, the Michigan flooding, the George Floyd killing, the Minneapolis riot, Trump's careless comments all of it I need to stay in tune with it all.  I'm happy to say I'm watching Unsung with a bit of knitting.

How I'm seeing this craziness 

My friends and neighbors have asked me how I keep so disciplined staying in all the time without even sitting on the porch.  There is no need to explain since they have chosen to stop social distancing.  Staying in doesn't bother me.  My Mom in Michigan has been down about all of the people that have passed from the virus and are still passing.  It has helped that my daughter speaks with her a couple times a day.  They are close and look forward to each other's conversations.

This may sound funny or corny but I would say my attitude towards what's going on with the world right now has to do with the history of my reading.  In the mid-80s I became an avid science fiction reader but before that I was a Stephen King and Peter Straub fan.  So the strangeness of what we're going through globally is not so strange to me.  It all feels familiar.  Has anyone noticed how many deaths of band members and character actors there have been ?  These are not people that you would know right off but after a while you're like "Oh yea, I remember".  There have been loads of them and not all have passed from the virus.  No one can say for sure but is it possible that had the officer responsible for George Floyd's death been arrested immediately perhaps there may have been No riot or much less of a riot.  So after the riot began they decided to arrest the officer.  Very poor decision !  the fact that social distancing is being viewed by many as an imposition and a violation of civil rights instead of the government trying to protect people.  What about instead of seeing masks as a necessary protection they have become a political issue.  It  doesn't help that Trump just won't quit with his careless words.  Thank goodness no one really takes him seriously.  What about the flood in Midland, Michigan ?  As a Michigander I'm here to tell you that waters may rise but we never flood especially to that capacity.  How about it was reported that children were not affected by the virus then they were then a few passed then the virus has now been connected to the Kawaski disease.  All of this to show us for the millionth time that the scientists have made no headway with the virus.  There are just so many things that are happening at once.  It all feels Stephen Kingy, science fictiony to me.  We will probably never know the reason but there is a reason why this is happening. It is above our heads and not meant for us to know.

.

.

Projects

I'm still working on my Granny Striped afghan.  I just ordered a few more colors to give it even more punch.  It's coming along quicker than I thought.

Enjoy Your Weekend !

Crafts and more crafts...

The Conversation in My Head...

what is your true definition of an impulse purchase ?  Is it something that you think you like at that moment so you purchase it ?  Is it buying something because you're in the store and have to buy something ?  The determining factor or me to label an item an impulse buy is whether I keep the item.  In my younger years I was the queen of impulse buying but as time went on I hardly ever impulse but anything.  The reason I'm talking about impulse buying is because after the purchase of these Green Mountain Spinnery yarn I questioned myself.  I was watching a podcast and the hostess made a shawl out of this yarn in the denim color (mine's is the same but the photo looks a bit green).  I said to myself I must have that shawl in that yarn !  I found the yarn then ordered it in pink also then decided that I didn't want the blue yarn in that shawl.  I would find another pattern.  I'm checking myself you see to make sure I didn't slip into an impulse purchase.  Had I purchased the shawl pattern that would have been on impulse but I held back.  I did good because I love this yarn.

Sewing

I have not sewn anything by machine in a very long while.  I went into shock at Joann's Fabrics last week at how much patterns are these days.  There always seems to be a sale though.  The other thing I noticed was how thin the pattern books were and how few books there were.  There just aren't that many patterns to choose from.  I guest there isn't a market for loads of patterns anymore but it sure seems like it.  Seems like everyone is sewing.  Hmmm...

I like these two patterns and would purchase them in case I begin sewing this year.  Very simple and easy pieces.  I'm not crazy about the gray pants though.  Nope.

My granddaughter who is only three is not yet into the 18 inch dolls but I have a plan to start on the wardrobes this year.  I love crafting doll clothes.

Don't laugh but...

I only read 10 books last year.  It was a busy year for me.  Playing it safe I signed into the Goodreads challenge for only 8 books.  Things have shifted positively for my life recently and if all goes well (and it will) I could actually read triple the 8 books because I will have more time to read.  I will continue to play it safe through and log in much less than I can actually read.  I hate writing plans and numbers down then failing.  I don't mind being a chicken about it.  You can laugh now.

Projects in the Works

I have decided to make my first project of 2020 a crochet project.  In terms of needlework the crochet hook came first for me as a teen while knitting came much later.  I was pretty good at it too.  I made mostly scarves, hats and vests but it was easy.  Now I'm a bit crochet-insecure so I don't see too many crochet projects in my future but I will give it a try.  My gauge tends to be wonky (I think so anyway).  I found the cutest little hat for one of my grands that I started this morning.  I just have to to-do some top stitching then I'll post it.  It's sooo cute !

Talk to You soon.

Enjoy your weekend !

Gardening and Books

This weekend the sun was out and shining, the grass is green, tulips and daffodils have bloomed.  This can't help but uplife my mood.  I want to work on projects such as butterfly appliques, bookmarks or crocheted coasters.  Yes.  Working on small projects for gratification would add to my cheerfulness.  

Gardening

I'm a person that will collect plants from the side of a road or from a neighbor.  I will offer to reroot a plant for you which of course means I get one of the newbies.  Yes.  I am that person.  These habits I got from my Mother and Grandmother.  I don't ever remember my mother purchasing a plant.  A packet of seeds yes but plants ?  No.  Some years ago a coworker gave me a few snippets of pink hydrangea and white iris.  Last year I didn't Garden so all snippets were thrown into pots with prayers.  The hydrangea looked pretty bad and  I thought for sure it was a goner but no.  It survived. It's budding.  I'm finding hydrangeas to be strong fighters.

 My phlox were close to six feet tall and had been that way for two years then there was a mishap with a chemical and the maintenance man (it's a long story).  After a month or so the phlox began to die.  I had someone cut them down to the quick which tends to rejuvenate perennials.   The phlox fought for it's life and won.  There are a bunch of newbies which won't stretch to even five feet this year but they will at least bloom.  They look rather delicate but Phlox is another strong plant.

 

Early last year I stuck about four in this pot but as you can see they do what iris does best.  They multiplied.  I'm going to wait a month or so before digging an idea spot for them.

Hopefully  my next gardening post will show more progress.

🌱

Reading News

I finished Grisham's "The Racketeer" Friday evening.   It's was an easy read with a fairly mild storyline for Grisham.  I enjoyed it.  Saturday morning I decided to start Anita Shreve' s "All He Ever Wanted".  My instinct kept pulling me to go into Goodreads  and check out the reviews.   I'm a big forum and reviews follower/believer.  The reviews were not good.  Though Ms. Shreve is beloved this book is not.  According to the reviews the main character has been described as flat.  There were debates as to whether Ms. Shreve purposely created that flatness.  The main comment regarding the  storyline was that it is "boring" and that was enough for me to push the book away.  I'll be donating this to the Goodwill.   

I'm at the very beginning of Al Roker's "The Morning Show Murders".  Within the first seven pages I found myself chuckling.  So far the writing is engaging, witty and fast paced.  It may be too soon to say but I'm feeling this book.  I'm enjoying it. 

Knitting

I'm contemplating working on a more significant project.  Either a sweater, cardigan or shawl.  A lot will depend on what my stash has. 

Talk to You Soon !

The Picking. The Choosing.

I have decided that 2019 is going to be a wonderful year !  2017 and 18' were a bit rough. Not the roughest I've had in my life but they were definitely out of my control and no one likes that.  Between being hospitalized 4 times and surgeries the goal is to recuperate.  Take it easy, sitting still and relaxing ?  Who me ?  Well I had to. My concentration had not been what it normally was and I could hardly finish a book or complete a craft project.  Now that my health has improved I can get back to being myself  🙄.  I  am thankful for the great health I'd been given before middle age.

Since my reading was close to nil for the past two years I dedicated myself to the "Goodreads 2019 Reading Challenge".  The photos below are books I've recently purchased.  The Morning Show Murders and The President is Missing I had on hold for almost a year within the Georgia Pines Library System which encompasses 275 libraries.  When I put The President is Missing on hold I was #169.  I figured it would take a few months but no even as the new year rolled around I was still holding.  Just recently I purchased them used.   Al Roker's book is just as popular as ever. It's hard to find used but I got it !  At present I'm reading Racketeer by Grisham.  In the meantime I picked up a Ludlam, Ken Follett and an Anita Shreve just in case I need more books added to my list.

This is a great read.  It's going really fast.

Happy Reading All !