A little bit of this – A little bit of that

All things books, All things craft, All things weather

Yes, that’s all I have done recently.
Hopefully the sadness of the last few days will pass and my mind will settle again.

Thank you all for the comments on my last post.….one day I will be able to relate the events and the trauma they caused over the past eight weeks but just for today all I want to say is Thank You

I did do a little bit of knitting….after the green and white cardigan was put right it was popped into the ever filling charity box to wait for the volunteers to return from their summer break. Then I took pity on a neglected wip and finally the Teddy jumper (which had only been on the go for six months) was finished ….and instantly decided to make him a friend. Same as I did in 2016. Unlike back then I found the plain back and sleeves were ‘easy knitting’ and just what was needed to take my mind off other things so Mr Lion was finished in no time at all. Just right for 2yr olds don’t you think?

2021
2016

I did a little bit of reading during January.
Just a few books….some I enjoyed….some not so much.
And some went back unfinished.

* Cover her face by P.D.James
I certainly enjoyed my first time reading an Adam Dalgliesh mystery. Will look out for more in this series.

* The House between Tides by Sarah Maine
Debut novels can be a mixed bag. Also reading ‘new to you’ authors can be an interesting experience. This is one I thoroughly enjoyed and wanted to stretch out as long as I could by reading a little each day.

* The Binding by Bridget Collins
I wasn’t so keen on another debut novel by another new to me author. Told in three parts, each relating to the same time period. I really enjoyed the first part, not so the other two.

Then I dipped into a couple of self interest books, picking at bits here and there …..have renewed them so will be doing some more ‘dipping’ during February
* The mindfulness in knitting — Rachael Matthews.
* When things fall apart — Pema Chodron

The length of the day/night elements in our days are changing a little…..yes it’s that time of the year when the ‘days’ are getting a teeny bit shorter and the ‘nights’ are beginning to get a tiddly bit longer. The lights are needed just a fraction earlier in the evening and even though it’s daylight when we wake in the morning it’s hard to judge the time. There’s been so many dull rainy starts recently you don’t know if that’s the reason or whether the light’s not appearing as early as it did the week before.
And that’s good a good thing for those in the northern hemisphere because they can now look forward to a little bit more…..if you follow what I mean.

And if you’d like to find out a little more of what people have been up to – you really must visit….. Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat…….you’ll find it here at As Kat Knits.
Lots of knitting and reading to see there.

19 thoughts on “A little bit of this – A little bit of that”

    1. There are so many varying opinions on daylight saving aren’t there EC. I’m not too fussed about morning time (as long as it’s light by maybe 6.30am) but don’t enjoy early darkness, preferring the extra daylight in the evening.

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  2. At 8.30pm I am looking outside and you are quite right, the light is fading earlier. Before you know it, we will be complaining about the cold, but not quite yet. I suppose the usual remark will happen with my partner at some point, just as it probably has for forty plus years, ‘Hmm, it’s getting dark early now’.
    I am not a fan of jumpers but for children they can look good and your knitted ones are rippers.

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    1. Andrew, Even though I knit them (because the charity ‘calls for them’) I often think children these days prefer fleecy jackets to jumpers.
      And yes, it’s going to get darker a whole lot earlier over the next few weeks. Be nice it got warmer wouldn’t it 😊

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    1. Like it said Charlotte- I’d never read them before. Picked this off the library shelf and it happened to be the first so it came home with me…..more as a taster to see what I’d missed.

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    1. Helen, as I mentioned in another comment this was a ‘pick off the library shelf’ which I brought it home with me when I realised it was the first in the series. Will order the next in line and see if it appeals in the same way

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  5. As your days shorten, ours in California lengthen just a bit. Oh, and the sun has been shining in the mornings since our big rain storm. The air is still clean and clear. It’s all fools gold, though. More winter is coming, just as I’m sure you’ll have more summer days in the next month or more.

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    1. Lol we wouldn’t mind ‘some’ summer days…..La Nina has meant it’s been a much cooler and a whole lot wetter summer. Having said that, as you mentioned historically February (just as the school year begins) and March can be much warmer, bordering on really hot. Here’s hoping – as you can tell I’m not a fan of cool/cold weather.
      Fingers crossed yours doesn’t get too cold or even extreme

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  6. Those jumpers are gorgeous. Isn’t knitting a great distraction? I’ve knitted my way through the illness and death of both parents in recent years. It doesn’t block anything out, just sort of lets it filter through slowly, so you can examine and give context to each thought and feeling as it rises to the surface. It sort of stops them fighting with each other for attention and driving you mad in the process. I wish we could teach more people to knit. The world would be a more peaceful place.

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    1. Yes F I knit (which I’ve often mentioned is my ‘usual’ lifeline) but at times it wasn’t enough. It didn’t always work…You all heard my pleas for help….. I was 14,000km away from the ‘action’ (in Nicosia) and had no way of seeing or hearing (unless I got periodic updates) so had no control of anything but then nobody else did either because of ‘you know what’.
      I read once about wounded soldiers being taught to knit as an aide to their recovery- yes to take their mind off ‘the elephant in the room’

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  7. Those sweaters are wonderful, and are so pleased to be done and boxed. And I am so grateful for teensy, weensy more light in the evening. It could be warmer, too, by the way.

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    1. Thanks Joanne I’m sure Mr Ted let out a sigh of relief when he was finally ‘put together’. A few more things on the go that will join them in the box to be delivered in March.
      And I’m joining you in wishing the weather was warmer. Our summer has been very lacking in that dept.

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  9. God bless you and your family Cathy. I cannot express the deep sadness I feel for you. Finally I have an appointment for my first COVID vaccine and then after the second I will be able to drive to visit my sister.

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  10. I am so sorry, and hope that beautiful memories fill your heart and ease the pain. It is never easy to lose a loved one.

    Those sweaters are just adorable. (and I think I need to find that PD James series! Thank you!)

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  11. I’ve been doing a lot of little and at times nothing – somehow the two health issues which are basically cleared still giving me some jib. In some ways it’s all good, especially since the heat/air con machinery has been installed – but I miss wandering around my city on public transport and seeing the summer world unfold.

    My interaction with real people in the last couple of weeks, mainly tradespersons…who have been here off and on to try and unravel the water running away down hill. It looks like it’s basically sorted this Saturday morning, early to have to wake up…

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