:Books:

This is a quick post today because I’m commuting to the city for work then racing back to get home before noon so I can run payroll — I need to pay myself … right?!!!! LOL!

Crafting:

My crochet throw/blanket is in timeout for now. It didn’t do anything wrong but I’m on a hat knitting binge right now. Three members of my executive team and a senior director really had my back in 2020 when I needed some extra support. I thought of buying them gifts but decided that some handmade love would be so much better. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, it’ll be hats, hats and more hats for the next couple of weeks because I gave myself until February 23rd to get them done so I can mail them all on the 24th. I’m using scrummy yarn so you’ll have something pretty to look at while I overload you with hats! LOL!

One of my coworkers gifted me some wine (you can read the story of that person here) so as a thank you, I made him a hat. I’ll be dropping it off at work today, I hope he likes it.

Project Details:

Pattern: Ribbed Watchman’s Hat (this link leads to Ravelry. Please note that the new interface has caused accessibility issues for some users).
Yarn: MadelineTosh Chunky in colorway Tart (yarn base discontinued)

Reading:

I’m still reading The Water Dancer (blogged here). I’m used to Ta-Nehisi Coates‘ non-fiction style so his fiction voice is throwing me off a bit. The story is an interesting read so I’m taking my time with it before I decide if I like it or not.

As a sort of palette cleanser, I read one of my favourite books — Maya Angelou’s “Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now”. My oldest copy I got in 1995 from a friend and I read this book EVERY YEAR since! My absolute favourite story in this book of shorts is “New Directions”. It’s a story of resilience and starting from where you are, no matter your age. It focuses on the aged old premise that its not how you start but how you finish. My copy of this book is well loved and once again, it hit the spot where content was concerned and an extra boost of inspiration welcomed.

I hope your week is going well and if you have Presidents Day off, I hope your long weekend is just what you need it to be.

Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesdays where you can see what everyone is making and reading.

a level of recovery from some of the dings of 2020.

I was already moving back towards crafting outside of spinning and joining the Unraveled Wednesdays blog hop has really been helping me accomplish that. In addition to connecting with a new group of lovely crafters, the structure helps keep me on track with starting and finishing the craft goals on my Sigma 21 list (found here).

As per the list, my Sigma 1 entry is a crochet throw. I started this previously, was almost at the end but decided I wanted to make it wider. So what you’re seeing now is version 2.0 of this make. The pattern is pretty easy and I thought it would go faster since the yarn being used is bulky, but not such thing! LOL!

I’m really loving the texture on this and can’t wait to get this done, tasseled and on my bed. If I stay monogamous to it, I can finish it in another week, however, as a cheating crafter (LOL) I have other items I want to finish by the end of this month.

2020 was “interesting” aside from COVID. I was diagnosed with an ailment in 2019 that took almost all my time and energy in 2020. I honestly could not have made it through the year without a few special people in my life. Now that I’m crafting more, I want to do something for each of them. Just a small thing to show how much I really appreciate them being extra support when I needed it most. In light of that, I’m starting on my Hope Holders makes (also part of my Sigma 21 project list). First up are the hats. I’ve wound the yarn, stashed them all in one Hatopolooza basket and casting on my first one later today. The goal is to get the ones (4 of them) for the Executive team at my job done and mailed out by the end of the month. I’m not the fastest knitter, you could truly say that I’m one of the slowest, but I think I can get these done in the given time-frame.

Reading:

I’m done the Raybearer book and give it 5 stars! Even if you’re not a fan of the YA genre, this is a book you’d enjoy. I was told that the second book in the series drops in August, I can’t wait!!!

February is designated Black History Month in the US so in celebration of that, I’ll be reading books from only black authors this month. You can find more details on the origins of Black History month here.

First up is a book I received as a gift from one of my cousins from noted author Ta-Nehisi Coates — The Water Dancer. This is his debut novel, its gotten rave reviews so I’m really looking forward to delving into it.

That’s pretty much all from me from this end. Heading outside a bit later to check out the snow levels in my neighborhood. In my neck of the woods we got around 15 to 18 inches and there’s more on the way for Sunday. I’m a snow baby who’s working remotely so I’m loving it all.

Wherever you are, be well, stay warm and if you’re heading outside, for the sake of yourself and people like me, please wear a mask. ❤

Linking up with Kat and all the Unravelers today.