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 

Crochet Time

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving for those who are US based readers. If you are shopping on this Friday, I hope you find what you want. I will be snoozing in bed as I don't do early Black Friday sales. Heck I rarely even shop on Black Friday. 

I do have to go out, acupuncture appointment in the AM and I really should peddle a few miles at the Y as well. Anticipating a significant snowfall on Saturday, around 6 inches. 

Lots of crochet time on Thanksgiving, three football games to watch and I was staying home and not having to drive anywhere for dinner. I could fix myself a nice simple meals, stuff I can eat while watching TV and then get back to my project. First time in five years I was at home and I didn't mind the year off from being a social butterfly.  

Work in progress from last week is done. Yarn is from Lion Brand, Ice Cream Roving Divagation, color is Razzle. I really liked this yarn and when I went to look the yarn has been discontinued. BOO. They have other Ice Cream styles but they are a lighter weight yarn than what I normally used for my blankets. Oh well. Nice mix of blues, white and a lemon-lime color and soft. 

 

 Happy Weekend  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Happy Thanksgiving Eve here in the US. Hope you have all of your food shopping done. I went for groceries on late Monday AM. A little bit busy, but not bad. No lines waiting for cashiers. As I was leaving two men arrived with 8x10 inch paper, lists that the wives probably sent them to get stuff.  

Library hours for holiday, closed on Thursday, but open again on Friday and Saturday. Not to worry, I have a nice stack of books to read. We may be getting snow so will be nice to curl up with a good book or two this weekend. 

Library changes are coming for next year. The village board reduced the library budget by $300K, moving it to the police department. They have announced open hour reduction, closing at 8 PM instead of 9PM Monday to Thursday. Now I have been in the library that late and it is usually super quiet. Most likely affect those who come to use the study rooms. They may also have fewer programs, especially in the evening since the building will closer earlier. Programs usually started at 6:30 and ran for 90-120 minutes. No evening moves now either. Not sure if staff will be affected. For me personally I don't think these changes will affect me much. Bummed that they took away the funds. When I was on the board I was amazed at what they were doing with what I considered minimal dollars. 

 

Sonny Boy is a memoir by actor Al Pacino. He relates his early life and how he got into acting. Recounts getting some of his iconic roles during his career including Michael Corleone in The Godfather series. Unlike some recent celebrity books I have read recently, Pacino gave you enough information without boring you. 

The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an age of Extremism. A deep look at how the religious movement of evangelicalism has been taken over for political purposes. The polarization of religion and faith to secular needs. That the United States should be the new ordained kingdom of God. The author is the son of a clergyman so he is very knowledgeable on what he writes.

 

Hmmm, I don't buy books but I do find authors that I will then read all of the books they have written. I look for book series, then I know I will have lots of books to read. Just wish they would write faster! I want to know what happens next! 

Happy Reading.   

Work in Progress

Yes, working on something, but not that hard. While I normally crochet while I watch TV, especially sports, I have been watching the PBS shows on the American Revolution. Those require actual watching paying attention. So no trying to multi-task.  

Friend Dan was over yesterday to do some minor chores that I can't do myself. Up on a ladder to fix the gutter screen, re-caulk the bath tub, and carry up the old dehumidifier from the basement.  Hauled off an old dehumidifier to a electronic recycling place and they didn't charge for it either! After my haircut and library run I was going to do more yard work after, but it was damp and misty. Saved the yard stuff for another day.

 Ducky trying to be helpful and sitting in my lap. Sometimes more of an obstacle than a help. 

Which is why I do one giant blanket and not little squares. I did make a granny square blanket a few decades ago. The only one I made. I think I still have it stashed away somewhere. 

 

Happy Weekend. 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Getting closer to having the fall yard work done. Windy, rainy and colder weather has brought down 99% of the leaves. I need to blow the leaves off one more time and then mow. I hauled the last of the stuff to the compost pile on Saturday.  

I keep the cane handy if I need in case the bursitis in my hip gets to me. Better since I got an injection a month ago. Wonder how long it will last.  

I found a place for my silver bowl. It fits and it is someplace where I will see it as well. Moved a vase with some silk flowers to do this, but I haven't found a good spot for the vase yet. Eventually.  

The Book Supremacy Brooklyn and Derek are enjoying their honeymoon in France and Paris. Derek runs into an old MI-6 mate. Brooklyn finds a first edition copy of The Spy Who Loved Me in the bookstalls by the Seine. After they get home more of Derek's past with MI-6 seem to be surfacing and Brooklyn is dealing with jealousy from one of Derek's employees. 

Buried in Books, it is the week of Brooklyn and Derek's wedding. Just a few things to do, like book convention seminars, meeting old friends and finding a dead body. With a creepy guy who wants to crash the wedding. 

Yes I read these in story order, even if they aren't piled up that way. 

 

 Last one is for all of my librarian friends, past, present and future.  

Happy Reading  

Crochet Time

 The end of the outside yard work is in sight! The trees really started to shed leaves once we had a few nights of temps in the 20s. I worked really hard since Tuesday to get the leaves off the lawn. Every day a different section, not totally leaf free but I have to mow one more time which will get rid of them. Part of my motivation was that my lawn service was going to fertilize on Tuesday. On top of all the leaves not on the grass. So I asked if they could come back and they said they would delay until Friday.  Thankfully I had decent weather to work outside. 

Last weeks work in progress has become a finished project. Yarn is from Lion Brand Mandala, color is Warlock Sorcier. Colors look different in these pics than to the eye, stripes of browns and greens to my eye, but the greens look blueish here and the browns purple.

This was yarn I picked up at JoAnn's during the clearance and I was grabbing anything I think would work. When I started to work on it I noticed that the yarn was a 3 weight yarn, not a 4 like I normally do. I used a hook that was one size smaller as well. This worked up much differently in terms of how much yarn it took. I used 3.5 skeins which were 5.3 ounces each, normally I use nearly 6 skeins. 

Blanket is the usual size, approximately 30x50 inches. I can also tell that it is much lighter in feel that my usual weight yarn. I had been wondering how a 3 weight yarn would work, now I know in case I find yarn in that weight that I might want to use.  

I have two extra skeins that I didn't use. Those will be passed along to my friend and her church group will make good use of them. 

In some ways every day is a crochet day or at least a potential crochet day. I do need to give my achy hands a rest now and then. 

Of the following things I crochet and buy yarn. I don't do the others as what I make I use the same pattern. I might look at new patterns and stitches but really stick to my tried and true things.  

 Happy Weekend. 

 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

I came home on Saturday night with some extra hardware. I won what can be considered the member of the year. 

The Wuesthoff Award is Milwaukee Region’s highest honor, given annually to a member for long time meritorious service to the Region. The recipient is chosen by previous Wuesthoff recipients who are current Milwaukee Region members. 

You may only see a few names on the base, the bowl was out of room and there are around 60 more names on there. Award was first given out in 1955.  

I am trying to figure out where to put this for the next year. Then I turn it in and get a smaller bowl to keep for good.  

 A bit less reading time, trying to get the yard work done. It finally got really cold and windy. That finally is getting the leaves to fall off the trees. I spent over an hour on Tuesday just clearing one area. They happened to be working on picking up the piles in the street. They worked around me so I had time to finish that section of the yard. 

Plus my lawn service was going to do the final fertilizer application. Since I didn't have the leaves up I asked that they come back in a few days. So I have to finish up before Friday.  

All That Glitters an amazing true story of Inigo Philbrick who was plead guilty to wire fraud, schemes to defraud or obtain money or property. He was an art dealer in London. Author is a former art school student, business partner, friend of Philbrick. 

Selling Sexy the ups and downs of the business Victoria's Secret. Mainly a look at the business and marketing side of things. The development of the brand, the original catalog and the televised shows. The models who made their name by being the "Angels". Also the relationship of executive Les Wexner and Jeffrey Epstein. 

The Story of Perfume is a lovely book that covers the topic from ancient times in Asia, Middle East. On to Europe where in France it came to the fore front of use. Originally used as a way to mask odor before better personal hygiene kicked in. Now a billion dollar business. From collecting flowers and herbs to synthetic oils, mixed just right to please. Plus the gorgeous containers designed by Baccarat, Lalique and others. Lots of pictures.  

 Happy Reading