Movie Monday - 1/30/2017

The Oscar nominations were announced recently, and I've only seen two movies Y'all. I'm so sad. I need to get my act together!

I've have seen a couple of  (non-nominated) movies in the last week. 

The Lobster is a weird - yes, I said it - WEIRD movie about a dystopian society that demands single people find their lifetime mates in 45 days or they are turned into animals. Rachel Weisz, Colin Farrell and John C. Reilly star in this film written by two Greek dudes. Seriously? Meh.

Rebecca Hall plays a widow trying to write a biography about her dead, folk singer husband in Tumbledown. A college professor (Jason Sudeikis) comes into town wanting to interview her, as he is writing his own biography of the deceased man. Blythe Danner, Richard Masur and Joseph Manganiello also star in this rom-com that was a little short on the com(edy). It was alright.

That's all I got.

MK out.

FO Friday - 1/27/2017

Woohoo!!!

I finished something.

Pattern: Hermione's Everyday Mitts by Erica Lueder
Yarn: Shibui Maai in Fjord
Comments: I've always loved making Hermione's Everyday Socks. It's a meditative pattern. When I came across this mitts pattern, I just had to make it! 

I am participating in the year-long Harry Potter KAL being hosted by Katie of the Inside Number 23 podcast. You know I will be making another pair of the socks as well as the Dragon Pox Beanie, which uses the same stitch pattern.

MK out.

Seriously?!?

I was cruising along on my Find Your Fade shawl. Last Thursday, I was using the third color and into the sixth section.

Soon after the picture was taken, I noticed a dropped stitch in the first couple of rows of the lace section. I frogged back and put the project aside to cool off for a bit.

Through the weekend, I picked it up here and there and did a few rows.

Last night, as I was finishing the last row in the lace section and I noticed a dropped stitch.

Son of a Beach!!!

I really don't have the heart to rip back all that work. I think I will put the shawl aside for a while and think about what I want to do.

Suggestions welcome.

MK out.

FO Friday - 1/20/2017

I finished some things!

Pattern: Seaside Blanket
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Heathers and Solids in a nice gray.
Comments: This afghan is a gift. The occasion has passed. Several months ago, I was three-fourths finished with this project, but noticed a glaring mistake about a quarter of the way in. 

I...just...couldn't. 

So, it went into time out until around Christmas time, when I decided it was time to finish it.

Pattern: Self-Striping Socks with the Fish Lips Kiss Heel
Yarn:  String Theory Colorworks Continuum Self Striping in Kinectic Energy and Safronie Fish Tales Gradient Mini Skein in Christmas Red.
Comments:  I had hoped to make these socks in December for my Christmas socks, but there were too many other things that needed to be done. So, since part of the Twelve Days of Christmas are in January, these became my first pair of socks for my Box of Sox 2017. I loved working with this yarn.

MK out.

Start Something Sunday - 1/15/2017

There's illness at Chez Merry Karma. The Husb and I are both being treated for respiratory infections, but there's also a case of startitis going around.

I have completed 2 projects in the last week, but there wasn't an FO Friday post because the weather has been kooky, the lighting has been bad and of course, illness. Then, of course, startitis reared its ugly head and got a hold of me in my moment of weakness.

I've started a pair of Hermione's Everyday Mitts

and I've found my fade (Find Your Fade is a new pattern taking Ravelry by storm).

I hope y'all are staying well.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 1/9/2017

Going to the theater to watch a movie has been a hit or miss proposition for a while now, BUT in the last week, I've been four times!!!

As soon as the credits were rolling after the screening of La La Land, I turned to The Husb and declared, "This movie is going to win the Best Picture Oscar." Well, it has my vote, at least, but apparently The Golden Globes feel the same way that I do. I liked it because it's a fresh take on the musicals of yesteryear. It's nothing like anything else Hollywood is churning out these days, and for the most part, that's a good thing. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star as a musician and an actress, each trying to make it big in their respective fields. Loved it!

The weather plays an important role in Manchester by the Sea, acting as a sort of Greek chorus. This movie is as heavy as La La Land is bright and airy. Casey Affleck plays Lee Chandler, an unassuming maintenance man, who is named guardian of his nephew (Lucas Hedges) when his older brother (Kyle Chandler) dies suddenly. He returns to his hometown where he must confront his past, including his ex-wife (Michelle Williams). Gretchen Moll and Matthew Boderick also star in this film. It was beautifully shot and well acted. It was very good. Take Kleenex.

Rogue One isn't the best Star Wars movie I've seen, but it certainly isn't the worst. The die-hard fans of the brand love it, I'm sure, but for me, it just served to add a little context to the big picture. Felicity Jones, Diego Luna and Forest Whitaker are among the actors in this movie. It was alright.

Imagine being one of the over 5000 people on a spaceship bound for a new world that's 120 years away from home.  Everyone is in suspended animation for the journey, but after an incident with an asteroid, your pod malfunctions and you awaken with 90 years remaining until the destination is reached. It's not long (relatively speaking) before you determine that the lives of everyone on board are threatened. This story plays out in Passengers. Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen and Lawrence Fishburn star in this film. It was pretty good.

That's all for now.

MK out.

Start Something Sunday - 1/1/2017

Wow! That's the first time I wrote 2017 this year!

I couldn't pass up the chance to start something on the first Sunday of the new year.

It's my first pair of socks for the year, in my quest to knit a pair a month.

Happy New Year!!!

MK out.