Archive for December, 2019



Payback's a Witch (Witch Detective #1)Payback’s a Witch by Constance Barker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this and the second book out of order as I wasn’t sure which was which. I wish that the Kindle people would put a large number on the little image of books so that it wouldn’t happen the way it did for me.

That said, I wasn’t as far off in what I believed happened in the second book and first book. I was prepared to read number two again if I needed it, but it all straightened itself out in my head.

This series is very light and fun a kind of cozy mystery. So if you are looking for a fun quick read, check these out. And the plus is that they are free with Kindle Unlimited. I hope you get the chance to check them out.

View all my reviews

Happy Birthday, Number One Son


So I knew the birthday was coming. But I only started making his hat yesterday morning. It turned out cool, and very warm.

The brim was a fold-over so double warmth. It was a mix of wool and I think the Homespun. It was all flat-knit stitch. BUT the green (32 pegs) Knifty Knitter is too small for a lot of adults. It was tight on me and fit like a little clown hat on my son’s head.

So I started again with the bigger loom (yellow-41 peg).

In a way, I like this one better. It is reversible. The only difference between the sides is one brim is e-wrapped. the other side is purled. Then folded up. The rest of the hat is a garter stitch until the crown. Then one-row u-stitch and the last flat wrapped. The garter stitch makes the head part very stretchy. It seems to fit my son better with the purl side inside. It’s been a long time since I made anything in a day. I prefer the fine-gauge looms which take longer but make a nicer fabric. I think he liked his hat.

Then with the same colors, I decided to try to make socks. Not sure they are going to be big-wide-enough. But if so they will go to my charity, Hat Huggers. This is with the donated yarn, as were the hats for my son. But the nice part is that I will claim it and make something from my own yarns to make up for it. My color yarns were too girly for an adult male. Anyway, when the socks are done I will share the results.

I want to make a proclamation. No more birthdays any time near or after Christmas. Or at the end of a month (paycheck)! I know it won’t change anything but maybe the universe is listening? That is not to say, Universe, that I don’t want the people attached to these birthdays, rather, maybe we can change when we celebrate? At least, should I get the chance for a do-over, I might do a better job of planning. I know… Keep wishing! Happy birthday, son.


No Crones About It (A Spell's Angels Cozy Mystery #2)No Crones About It by Amanda M. Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a fun distraction, nothing too heavy or crazy, this is it. This series is about fun. Of course, you have to be the kind of person who enjoys a bit of snark.

There is a bit of shapeshifter and witchy romance but it is far from angsty. It is just the right amount of tension and fun between two people.

I am grateful to Kindle Unlimited to get to read this little gem.

View all my reviews


Per LindaYour Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “year.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

 

This has been quite the year. I always have heard that time passes when you are having fun. I figured when I reached my sixties and (gulp) as of the ninth, seventies, that time would drag. I mean, without the energies of youth, I figured I’d be so bored that time would drag. But it has been the opposite. Since my fifties, time has sped up. So much that it seems a snap of a finger between one year and the next. Heck, why even put the tree away, tomorrow will be Christmas again. But I guess it is the same reason we make our beds every day. Leave the bed undone, and it gets full of itchies and scratchies. Make it, and it welcomes you at night, smooth and cool.

Many don’t put up trees. Especially at my age. Why put it up? Kids are grown, or you never had them, It’s a lot of work. But it signified another year done well. It means warmth at the beginning of winter. Those glowing lights seem to go into my soul and, well, just make me happy.

I have friends and relatives that keep up their trees and just change the decorations according to the seasons and holidays. That sounds like fun. The couple times I’ve tried that I found that I just don’t have enough ornaments for other holidays and I don’t have the money to buy more, even at the dollar store. And last year, I just got tired looking at the trees. I don’t know why. It kind of lost its hope that it had as I decked those halls. And the snow outside was way prettier than my fake trees. This year, no snow. First time for Christmas Valley since we got here. Disappointing! Though the forecast says 40% chance of snow tomorrow. I’m not holding my breath. The cold is here and has been VERY! So maybe the trees will stay, just to keep inside warm and cozy.

How many of you are Sagittarius or Capricorn? When you are young, it seems unfair. Did your brothers have the choice of coat or sweater for a birthday or Christmas? No on their birthdays, there were art kits and scuba gear. That didn’t mean they went without coats and sweaters when it got cold.

Flip that to adulthood, three of my four are Capricorns, born just after Christmas and early in the new year. There was never enough money to have parties or get presents of any worth. But the blessing was that when my kids were young enough to enjoy the crazies of present unwrapping, my mother had a great job and could afford to get them anything in that wishbook that they needed. For their sakes, I was happy I was even glad my mother could finally give what I think she wanted to do for her own offspring.

Now, retired, with a tiny bit of money, I can’t afford to give to anyone. Even those in my house. My saving grace now is that I can make and give things all year long. My offspring are all adults with fairly good incomes, and if there is anything they need, it is within their own reach. And as I get the yarn I need for each person, I can make them something. The rest of the time, I feel I am creating for people who need the comfort items I am working on. So in a way, I feel richer than any other time of my life. As each new piece is made, it gets a home. It is Christmas all year long.

With all that in mind:

Pixabay

 


2019 READING CHALLENGE

2019
READING
CHALLENGE
Congrats!

You have read 86 books of your goal of 85!

86/85 (101%)

Round Loom Knitting in 10 Easy Lessons: 30 Stylish ProjectsRound Loom Knitting in 10 Easy Lessons: 30 Stylish Projects by Nicole F Cox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a gift from my daughter. At first, I thought it was going to be too easy. I’ve been loom-knitting for a couple of years now. And though I didn’t read the book word for word I did enough examining the patterns and instructions to know that this would be a great book for beginners. But there are lots of more advanced patterns. Many I have bookmarked to try later.

I highly recommend this book for anyone into loom knitting or thinking about getting into it.

View all my reviews

Magical Yarn


My daughter sent me a package of yarn, a book about knitting socks and a Kindle book about loom knitting. Oh, yeah, two footprints. Hers and her boyfriend’s. I was ecstatic! I love knitting (Loom) socks! And this yarn is super magical. It appears gray with bits of blues and reds. But look at what happens as it is knitted. Oh, and the thought that I have made my daughter toes one more time isn’t lost on me. Smile. Sigh!

Stripes of magical yarn!

(Thank you, daughter, I love you!)


Pixabay

 

Pixabay2

 

Pixabay3

 

Another Sh-h-h But Finished! Yay!


I love this sort of scrappy hat. The colors called to me and I just knitted them in.

Oh, the yarn is just acrylic. I had very little turquoise so I used it sparingly. This is knitted on the white KB (72 peg) fine gauge.  One-by-one brim. then according to the tension, I used the flat-knit, u-knit, or e-wrap. I used the Russian join to change colors. It turned out kind of small for my head but I think it will fit a friend. Sh-h-h! (Sorry for blurry or dark pictures. I blame the photographer-me.)

Music and Dance


Extra arts education boosts students’ writing scores — and their compassion, big new study finds

EFINO FIT LIFE

Transform your health and wellness with our expert tips and insights. Discover the latest trends in nutrition, fitness, mental health, personal finance, entrepreneurship and learn how to make meaningful changes to live your best life.

In The Rounds

Life, knitting, and everything in between

Fit and Fabulous

weight loss

Leva med psykisk ohälsa

Berättelser från mitt liv

Well Health Hub

Your Path to Total Wellness

Thinkpeculiar

Think away from the box ;)

Holistic Health Talks

Holistic Health and Wellness Site

Adult Fantasia

Your Weekly Dose Of Amazing Adult Entertainment

Ken's Life

Welcome to my personal blog site. I see myself as a free thinker, life explorer, and wisdom collector. Some of my favorite subjects are psychology, philosophy, relationships, society, reading, writing, technology, and lifestyle.

Destination's Journey

Travel Blog - About the Journey Not Just the Destination

Lazarus Book Store

Something For Everyone!

Systemeio Funnel

All you need to know about Internet Marketing

progredi.online

Mental Health

%d bloggers like this: