Monday, December 28, 2020

Movie Monday - 12/28/2020

Hello out there! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays!


I’ve watched a couple of current movies!


The Midnight Sky, starring, produced and directed by George Clooney is set in 2049. A catastrophe has happened on Earth, causing radiation levels to rise and soon to destroy all life. A scientist who is terminally ill, chooses to stay behind at a base above the Arctic Circle that's being evacuated. His aim is to try to alert any spacecraft returning to Earth to stay away. Also starring, Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo. I liked it.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is adapted from a play by the same name. It documents the African American experience in 1920s America. Ma Rainey was a real person, by the way. In the story, Ma and her musicians are assembling to record a new album, but first, there are obstacles to overcome. Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman star. It was good.


MK out.

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Book Chat - 12/17/2020

Santa’s workshop is operating full steam ahead; so, I haven’t had very much time to sit down and read. I do have one book to discuss:


Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance

This book is a memoir. While recounting personal experiences, Vance describes the socioeconomic culture of the Appalachian region of the United States. I wanted to read the book before I watched the movie starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close. I really liked it. 


MK out.



Thursday, December 10, 2020

Book Chat - 12/10/2020

 This week, I’ve come with books to share:


Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle
Glennon is the creator of the blog Momastery. This book is a collection of many of her blog posts and some readers had issue with this fact. I still like it, because it is basically autobiographical essays. She's had quite the life, vastly different from mine, but her stories are very relatable to me. I find her pretty wise. I really liked it.

Anxious People by Frederik Backman 
A crime may or may not have been committed. The perpetrator may or may not have gotten away. That's all I can say without giving things away. It was good. 

MK out.


Friday, December 4, 2020

FO Friday- 12/4/2020


If you came here to see a finished sweater or something, you will be sad. I do have one finished thing to show you, and I finished it last Saturday:




I must emphasize that the Christmas tree was up and decorated BEFORE December 1st. And it’s Covid approved:




My Summer Sorrel did come out of time out and looks more like this shot:




I knit a few rounds here and there, but the dash has been quite active. Of course, that didn’t stop me from buying some shiny, new yarn for another sweater:



I mean, I had to support my LYS on Small Business Saturday. Right? I plan to make a Silver White Winters sweater. It’s my first time to carry fingering weight and lace (silk and mohair) together. Wish me luck! 


MK out.

Monday, November 23, 2020

Movie Monday - 11/23/2020

I’ve watched only one movie in the last week, aside from Hallmark Christmas movies. I need to get on the good foot, because they are starting to release movies that have been getting Oscar buzz.


Wadjda is a feisty young girl. She lives in Saudi Arabia, where girls aren't supposed to ride bikes. She wants one to be able to race against her friend Abdullah. Her mother refuses to buy her one; so, Wadjda finds ways to earn money to buy one herself. It was cute.


I’m happy that my PBS station has been airing two episodes of Miranda per week. I love that show. It’s silly, but it’s funny. You can watch all seasons on Netflix too.


I recommend the following shows I’ve binged:
The Vow - HBO
Flesh and Blood - PBS
Seduced - Starz
The Trouble With Maggie Cole - PBS 


I need to start watching The Crown. The latest season just dropped on Netflix.


MK out.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Book Chat - 11/19/2020

I have reached my goal of reading fifty books this year; (I may have mentioned that already), but I’m still reading. 


The Last Flight by Julie Clark

Two women on the run exchange identities and flights at the airport. Both are running from desperate situations, hoping for better futures. One of the planes crashes, altering their trajectories. It was so good.


In knitting news, I am not sure what is going on inside my head. It’s taken forever for me to finish the yoke of Summer Sorrel. I don’t know why, because the pattern isn’t hard. Anyway, I started to separate the sleeves and didn’t have enough stitches left for the second sleeve. I realized that I missed a whole round of increases about 18 rounds back. I think this project might have to go into time out.


Christmas is coming, Y’all! 


MK out.

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Book Chat - 11/12/2020

Since the last book chat, I’ve only read one book and it was a good one.


The Last of the Stanfields by Marc Levy  

Two virtual strangers receive anonymous letters that set them on a path to find out about their mothers. Apparently, the two moms had been involved in some sort of crime. It was so good.   

   

I’ve started another good one.


MK out.


Wednesday, November 11, 2020

WIP Wednesday - 11/11/2020

Months ago, I alluded to a knitting project I was about to start.

I did knit a swatch and blocked it right then, but it wasn’t until October that I started the Summer Sorrel top. 

Last Wednesday, I had gotten this far:



I’ve knit two pattern repeats since last week. At this rate, it will be ready by next summer, just in time to wear it!


MK out.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Book Chat - 10/22/2020

I’ve been a reading fool.

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis.                      The two intertwined stories are set in 1913 and 1993, in New York City, specifically, the Fifth Avenue branch of the New York Public Library. In 1913, Jack Lyons is the superintendent of the library, where he and his family live in a 7-room suite. Laura, his wife, longs for a life passion and enrolls in journalism school. In 1993, Sadie Donovan works for the Berg Collection, a foundation under the auspices and housed within the Fifth Avenue branch of the library. One of the artifacts that Sadie will include in an upcoming exhibit is feminist author Laura Lyons' walking stick. Unwinding the strands of connection between the two timelines was an enjoyable read. I liked this book.  


Deep Fried and Pickled by Paisley Ray
Freshman Rachel stumbles onto an art forgery operation, while navigating the culture shock of attending college in the south. It was cute. 

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Evvie is unhappily married to a prominent physician who is loved by the whole town. On the day she plans to leave the marriage, her husband dies unexpectedly. She struggles with feeling guilty for not grieving his death as everyone else around her is. Her best friend talks her into letting a struggling baseball pitcher rent her extra room, thinking that the two might be able to help each other. It was good.

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
This book is about the differences and the similarities between two Indian women. One is upper class and the other is her house servant of more than twenty years. The two have weathered many storms. It was very good.

The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar
This book is the sequel to The Space Between Us. Bhima, the servant, now finds herself unemployed. While she does finally find two cleaning jobs, for the first time in her life, she feels herself askew. An unexpected opportunity presents itself that shows her a different path. I really liked the first book, but this one was even better.

The Heart Echoes by Helena Von Zweigbergk 
Set in Sweden, the bond between three sisters who have had many issues throughout the years is tested when one of them becomes ill. It was good.

The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel
Set in France in World War II, this book is about a young Jewish woman who becomes an accomplished forger. With the help of a priest and another forger, she helps move hundreds of Jewish children to safety, but not without personal cost. It was very good.

The Storytellers Secret by Sejal Badani 
I read this book in less than a day. Jaya, after suffering her third miscarriage and subsequently, a fractured marriage, finds herself utterly lost. While staying with her folks, her mother receives a letter telling her that her father in India is dying and requests to see her. The mother refuses but will not open up about her reasoning. Jaya decides to run from her own problems and heads to India to try to get some answers. It was very good.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
I read this book months ago and forgot to mention it. A security guard accuses Emira, who is black, of kidnapping the white toddler who is in her charge. This event sets up an examination of race and privilege throughout the rest of the book. It was a good reminder that not all racist events end in violence, but they are still wrong. It was good.

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
The town executioner and a doctor race to solve the mystery of why children are being murdered before an innocent woman is burned as a witch. It was a good read. Interestingly, there really were executioners in Bavaria with the last name of Kuisl and the author is one of their descendants.

Me and Carlos by Tom Perrotta
Digger is not a big man on campus, but finally, he gets some recognition on the soccer field. Then comes Carlos, a new student from Honduras. Digger and Carlos become good friends. Carlos gets popular. Life gets messy. It was cute.

By the Book by Julia Sonneborn 
I read this one earlier this year also, and forgot to mention it. An English professor is on track for tenure. Things are going well. She's working on a book and a promotion. She's dating a hot guy. Then, her ex-fiancée is appointed president of the college and her life gets a little ruffled. It was also cute.

MK out.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Movie Monday - 10/20/2020

Well, Peeps...I watched a movie recently. It’s an oldie:

In 1946, Olivia de Havilland starred in To Each His Own and won the Oscar for Best Actress. It's about a young woman who has a one night stand with a pilot. He's later killed and she is pregnant. She gives up the child for adoption. John Lund also stars. It was really a good movie, although not as risqué these days as it was in 1946. I enjoyed it.

I hope to get back in the groove of watching new releases or more recently released films. With all the streaming services I have at my disposal, one would think I would be here telling you three all about dozens...no, hundreds of movies. Alas, my dash has been challenging and my head has been in a weird space. 

Here’s a list of shows to binge that I recommend:
Mrs. America
Lennox Hill
Space Force
Dr. Foster
Upload
The Keepers  
Challenger: The Final Flight

Y’all have a great week!

MK out.

Friday, September 25, 2020

FO Friday 9/25/2020

 I finished this project a month ago and kept forgetting to post about it.



Pattern:  Simplicity Cardigan by Mary Annarella

Yarn:  Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Seven Seas

Comments:  I am very happy with this cardigan and know I will get a lot of use out of it. Seven Seas is the exclusive color way that Madelinetosh dyed up for West 7th Wool - my LYS. It’s really pretty IRL. Mary’s patterns are so well written. I enjoyed making this sweater.


MK out.

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Book Chat - 9/24/2020

The dash has been dashing along these last few weeks. I had to get a new phone and finally decided to switch from an Android to an iPhone. I’m still not 100% happy about it, but it is nice to sync info between the phone and the iPad. 

I think I may have to upgrade my iPad though. It’s no longer being supported through iOS updates and several apps are no longer useable. For one, Blogger updated its interface and I cannot post on the iPad anymore. (That’s what I don’t like about the Apple cult.) I’m posting on the phone as we speak...

The good thing is - I’m still healthy, alive and kicking. 

The beginning of the Birthday Season passed quietly, but I’ve been trying to celebrate daily. Today, I got a flu shot. What better way to pamper oneself than by doing things to make sure one will be around longer to enjoy life’s gifts? I’ve also been good about working out; so, there’s that. Don’t worry. There’s been a facial and a massage in the last couple of weeks...I’m not renouncing my crown yet.

Yes, I’ve been reading.

The Keeper of Lost Things
by Ruth Hogan Anthony Peardew lost an important keepsake from his fiancée on the day that she was tragically killed. He has spent the rest of his life rescuing lost things, hoping to reunite them with their owners. It's part love story, part ghost story and full on good. I loved this book. 

Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump Donald Trump's niece, who is a psychologist, offers her premise regarding the family dynamics in play that shaped (not just DT's but) the personalities and behaviors of the family members. It was interesting.

MK out.

Monday, August 31, 2020

Movie Monday - 8/31/2020

Let's just say that binge-watching shows is my chosen method of self-soothing these days. A one hour show and a few others following is longer than sitting down to watch a movie, but for some reason, it's so much more satisfying.

I did watch a two movies in the last week though.

Raintree County is set around Civil War times. The film, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift and Eva Marie Saint premiered almost 20 years after Gone With the Wind, but it reminded me a lot of that classic. Taylor plays a Scarlet-type Southern belle, who in this instance successfully lures her man from the clutches of the sweet Nell (Saint) by devious means. She's a troubled thing though, and things go awry rather quickly. It was a good story.

In a more recent offering, I watched The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. His ballad was only one of six unrelated shoft stories set in the wild, wild, west. The film was written, directed and produced by the Cohen brothers; so, quirky and a little out there. The Husb did not appreciate the small part he watched with me, and offered to skip the rest; so, I could enjoy it more fully. It was definitely entertaining. 

MK out.

Monday, August 24, 2020

Movie Monday - 8/24/2020

This week, we have a bit of a theme.

Welcome to Kutsher's: The Last Catskills Resort is a documentary about the last Jewish resort in the Catskills that finally closed. It was owned by the Kutsher family for over 100 years. 

Four Seasons Lodge is a documentary about another Catskills resort that was favored by a group of Holocaust survivors.

Both places were part of the Borscht Belt, so named because the resorts were patronized mostly by Jewish-American people. They were like summer camp, but for the whole family. Sounds like a lot of fun to me. I enjoyed both films.

MK out.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Movie Monday - 8/10/2020

Only one film to talk about this week:

Based on the novel, The Good Shepherd by C. S. Forester, Greyhound tells the story of a convoy of 37 allied ships making its way to Liverpool in the Battle of the Atlantic during WWII. Commander Ernest Krauss (Tom Hanks) is the captain of the USS Keeling, aka Greyhound and commander of the convoy. He has to navigate the passage through the "Black Pit," where they will not have cover from protective air cover. Naturally, the convoy comes under attack by enemy submarines. It was good. 

MK out.

Friday, August 7, 2020

FO Friday - 8/7/2020

I finished a thing!


Pattern: That Nice Stitch by Susan Ashcroft
Yarn: Dream in Color Jilly Cashmere in Congratulations Graduate
Comments: I earned this yarn from The Loopy Ewe by completing all four years of Loopy Academy a couple or so years ago. I finally made something with it. It took me a while to decide what to make.


A yarn with three very stark colors needs just the right pattern and I think I found it.

MK out.

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Book Chat - August 5, 2020

I'm reading three books right now. I need to focus on them one at a time; so, they will get read. I also have been meaning to tell y'all about the following books:

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
This book examines the emotional and sexual lives of three real women. It was an interesting read, but I didn't really connect with any of these women.

Housekeeping, A Novel by Marilynne Robinson
Transient Aunt Sylvie comes to care for Ruthie and Lucille, a pair of orphaned sisters, after a series of relatives have come and gone. For a time, the three fall into a good rhythm of creating and keeping a home, but Lucille tires of the irregular lifestyle and moves out as soon as she is able. It was alright.

MK out.

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Start Something Sunday - 8/2/2020

I am on the sleeves of the Simplicity cardi; so, it's as good a time any to start a new project.

I'm going to make Summer Sorrel...



...using this yarn...



MK Out

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Book Chat - 7/30/2020

I'm doing well in my challenge of reading at least 50 books this year. I'm up to 34 with these two books:

Holly Banks Full of Angst by Julie Valerie
Holly Banks and her family have just moved to a posh community where everything looks perfect. The Village of Primm is touted for its superior school, which is run by the dictatorial president of the PTA, Mary-Margaret St. James. The book is described as comical and hilarious, but I found most of the interactions between not-so-perfect Holly and the exacting Mary-Margaret silly and a bit over the top, especially early on. Otherwise, it's a cute summer read. I liked it.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center
This book is set in my hometown. It was fun seeing familiar street names and landmarks mentioned. Even two of the main characters had a familiar last name. Samantha (Sam) Casey is an elementary school librarian who expresses the happiness she feels about her life by dressing in a colorful manner, but it wasn't always that way. When the principal of the school suddenly dies and his successor is announced, Sam is shocked. He happens to be a man from her past, one of the main reasons she left California and settled in Texas. It was a light-hearted read with a bit of a message. I loved it.

MK out.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Movie Monday - 7/27/2020

I haven't watched many movies in the last month, but here are a few:

Murder on the Orient Express, the 2017 iteration, is a very well done telling of the story:    A fancy train ride through Europe turns sinister when one of the passengers is murdered and the killer is still on the train. The ensemble cast, including Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp and Olivia Coleman, to name a few, is wonderful. It was good.

The Good Liar features Helen Mirren as a wealthy widow who meets a man through an online dating site. It turns out that the man is a con man (Ian McKellen) who cannot believe how lucky he is to have made this match. Jim Carter (yes, our Mr. Carson from Downton Abbey) plays his partner in crime. We follow the story as Roy, the con man, is welcomed into Betty's life and he plans the ultimate heist. It was very, very good.

MK out.

Friday, July 24, 2020

Book Chat - 7/24/2020

Since there are no finished objects to see, i thought I'd talk about books. We've been on a trip and I've read more books than usual; so, might as well talk about some of them.

The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis
To the rest of Salem Creek, the Moon women have always been different, at best and  dark, at worst. What was true was each Moon daughter was expected to cultivate her gifts and carry on the family legacy, but Lizzy Moon wanted nothing of the sort. Eight years ago, when two dead girls were dragged from the pond on the Moon property, the whispering of witchcraft and malfeasance grew loud enough to implicate her grandmother and to drive Lizzy away to school and to the normal life she craved. Now, her grandmother has died and she must return to take care of matters. It was very good.

What Remains True by Janis Thomas 
Five-year-old Jonah is killed in an accident. His father, mother, sister and aunt each feel responsible and cannot get over the guilt to help with their grief. This story is told through each person's perspective, even Jonah's and Shadow's, the family dog. It's very moving and heart rendering. It was good.

From Ash and Sand by Amy Harmon
Set in WWII Italy, two kids, a Jewish girl and a Catholic boy grow up together and fall in love. As war-related tensions in Italy increase, the boy works towards the priesthood. He is tasked with keeping the girl safe. She doesn't make it easy for him because she doesn't want to hide. She wants to fight. It was good.

MK out.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

WIP Wednesday - 7/22/2020

I am liking how my latest project is coming along. Deets here.


The bathroom shot is not so flattering, but it's a thing in the knitting world.

MK out.

Friday, July 17, 2020

FO Friday - 7/17/2020

The Swoop Tee, she be done!


Pattern: Swoop Tee by Amy Gunderson
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in black
Comments: I think this top could use a little shaping. It also stretches with wear. I liked making this top and am considering making it again using a different yarn.

Sorry for the bad picture, but am away from the dress form, who needs a name badly. Suggestions?

MK out.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Book Chat 7/16/2020

This week's selections:

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
A set of twins grow up in a small Southern town in Louisiana. The residents are all Black, but pride themselves for being light-skinned. The girls escaped to New Orleans, but after a time, they separated and didn't speak to one another again. One girl married the darkest Black man she could find and the other girl lives a different life, passing for white. It was very good.

Alabama, Again by Susan Sands
Disgraced chef Cammie Laroux is called back home to Alabama to help her sisters with their mother's recovery from surgery. It might've been a good respite from her troubles, until she learns that the ex-boyfriend who stomped on her heart all those years ago is renovating her childhood home. For a beach read, it had a bit more complexity than expected. It was good.

The Room Where It Happened by John Bolton
This book is a memoir of Bolton's time as a member of the Trump Administration. It was short-lived, but his book felt like an eternity. It was as if every paragraph was a run-on sentence full of high opinions of himself and low opinions of just about everybody else. I just couldn't finish this book; so, I didn't.

What are you reading?

MK out. 

Friday, July 10, 2020

FO Friday -7/10/2020

I finished The Swoop Tee! I don't have any pictures right now because I am going to block it a little first.

I finished a shawl a couple of weeks ago and finally blocked it.



Pattern:  Azzu's Shawl by Emma Fassio
Yarn: Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball in Cranberries
Comments:  This project was a fairly quick knit. It might have taken less time, but I've been a little Covid-fatigued and haven't felt much like knitting. That's why it took me forever to make Swoop Tee too. I won the yarn (and two other skeins) in a contest on my friend Lorette's blog a few years ago. Years. Y'all, I have yarn that's more than a few years old. I guess one good thing about #therona is life is a little slower these days, and I can stop and shop the stash.


Anyway, I'm happy with the way the shawl worked out.

MK out.

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Book Chat - 7/9/2020

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Daphne is a plus-size Instagram Influencer who is asked to be the maid of honor in her former best friend Drue's wedding - never mind that they hadn't talked in the past six years since Drue had totally humiliated her. Lena, a new collaborator loves the idea because Daphne will be wearing her fashions in all the pictures that will be posted throughout the wedding weekend on social media. Everything is going well, considering, until Drue turns up dead the night before her wedding. Who killed Drue? I liked this book. It was a delightful beach read.

Your Perfect Year by Charlotte Lucas
Set in present day Berlin, a stiff and reserved book publisher finds a diary whose pages are filled with inspirational quotes and activities for the coming year. At first, Jonathan tries to find its rightful owner, but having not luck, he starts to live the life the diary offers. It was good.

Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch
Cleo McDougal is a US senator with a list of regrets - 233 of them to be exact. She's thinking about running for President, but her past is threatening to derail the campaign before it even begins. It was very good.

MK out.

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Start Something Sunday - 7/5/2020

Even though I am still working on the Swoop Tee (I have five rows to go until bind-off) and I have a cowl on the go, I started something new just now:


...because I can.

It's a Simplicity Cardigan by Mary Annarella.

MK out.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Book Chat - 7/2/2020

There's been knitting, sewing, binge-watching and reading happening at Chez Merry Karma. I've been cooking more; therefore eating well. I need to work on my sleep and exercise. Those two things have been off lately. Despite those two lapses, The Rona will not defeat me. 

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
This novel is about Ana, the wife of Jesus. She's a rather strong, independent character for her time. The story focuses on Ana's spiritual journey. She was born into a wealthy family and she married a humble craftsman, whose calling was not yet apparent. Jesus saw her and loved her for who she was. It was a beautiful love story, but also a powerful tale of being true to one's self. It was good.

MK out.

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Start Something Sunday - 6/21/2020

Azzu's Shawl is done. The Swoop Tee is 75% done. I was feeling twitchy and swatched for the Simplicity Cardigan. While the blocked sample is drying, I started That Nice Stitch Cowl.


I'm not sure about it.

MK out.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

WIP Wednesday - 6/10/2020

Three weeks have gone by and my Swoop Tee has only gotten this far:

I would be further along, but it was looking really big on top - as in, too wide along the neckline. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep the top on. I stopped where I was and finished the sleeves and neck edges and tried it on. It fits nicely.

Another big reason why it's not further along is that I started, and have now only the bind-off left on, a shawl:


There's so much going on in the world right now, that focus and concentration are challenging; so, flitting from project to project seemed appropriate. I don't recommend it in the long run. At least, I don't for me. You do you.

MK out.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Movie Monday - 6/8/2020

A new week has begun. I've been binge-watching and reading and trying to catch up on movies.

The Girl on the Train is an adaptation of the book by the same name. Emily Blunt plays Rachel, a divorced woman who rides the train to and from Manhattan daily. On her commute, she observes a couple who, in her mind, epitomize the happiest of relationships. It so happens that the house in which they live is a few doors down from the house she used to inhabit with her ex-husband. He still lives there, with his new wife (Anna) and baby daughter. One day, Rachel sees the woman (Meghan) kissing a man who is not her husband. Rachel, who is also an alcoholic, tries to confront Meghan for shattering the perception Rachel had of Meghan's marital relationship. When Meghan goes missing, Rachel wakes up bloody in her bed, but she can't remember any events that would explain her state. Many good actors also starred in this film, including Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson and Justin Theroux. It was really good. I had forgotten the ending, and it was a nice ride til the end.

On the Basis of Sex is based on the true story of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the cases that she won early in her career. These cases were among those that eventually garnered her nomination and confirmation as a  Supreme Court Justice. Felicity Huffman plays RBG, Armie Hammer plays Martin Ginsberg. Incidentally, the movie was written by RBG's nephew. I really liked this film.

MK out.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Book Chat - 6/4/2020

I've been pacing well to meet my goal of reading 50 books this year. I've been pretty lucky so far, because I haven't come across any stinkers. 

The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted, And Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg 
This book is a collection of short stories about deliciously ordinary people. I've read and enjoyed novels by Elizabeth Berg before. I like the way she makes the everyday count. I enjoyed all of the stories. 

In Five Years by Rebecca Searle
Dannie, a corporate attorney, was asked "Where do you see yourself in five years?" by the interviewer of her dream job. She gives a very detailed answer - she'd be married to her current boyfriend and working for the interviewing firm. That night, she fell asleep and woke up five years later with a very different result. It was very good.

MK out.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Movie Monday - 6/1/2020

I watched a great documentary in the last week. Eva: A-7063 tells the story of Eva Mozez Kor, a Holocaust survivor. She and her twin sister were separated from their mother at Birkenau. They, along with other twins suffered torturous experiments under the direction of Dr. Josef Mengele. Her journey to forgiveness has been fascinating. I really liked learning about this interesting woman.

MK out.

Friday, May 22, 2020

FO Friday - 5/22/2020

I needed a little summer sweater; so, I made one:



Pattern: Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Yarn: Emma's Yarn Practically Perfect Sock in Stiletto
Comments: I'm pretty late riding the Featherweight Cardigan train, but I'm glad I finally jumped on. The pattern is great. I didn't make any modifications. I really enjoyed knitting with this yarn. I'm so happy to have a cute, little sweater to wear this summer in venues 
where the air conditioning is blasting.



Maybe, one of these venues will be a restaurant sometime soon.

MK out.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Movies - 5/19/2020

Based on the novel by the same name by Maria Semple, Where'd Ya Go, Bernadette? is a quirky dramedy. Cate Blanchett stars as the main character. She plays a mom who has cocooned her family in a house literally falling down around them, as she avoids people, places and things. Of course, we don't know why at the beginning of the story, but it gets juicy as it goes on. Billy Crudup, Emma Nelson and Kristen Wiig also star. It was good!

I watched The Chaperone on Masterpiece on PBS. It's loosely based on the life of Louise Brooks, who was a famous movie star in the 1920s. Elizabeth McGovern plays the chaperone hired by Brooks' mother to accompany her 15-year-old daughter to NYC to study dance. Haley Lu Richardson plays Brooks. Blythe Danner also stars. I enjoyed the show.

In other news, I've caught up with (binge-watched) the following shows. I recommend all of them:
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - Amazon
Grace and Frankie -Amazon Prime
Little Fires Everywhere - Hulu
Shrill - Hulu
Why Women Kill - CBS All Access 
Picard - CBS 
After Life - Netflix

MK out

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Start Something Sunday - 5/17/2020

The Featherweight Cardigan is off the needles. I'm hoping to block it this week in time for a Friday debut. 

Since the needles can't be empty for long, I started a Swoop Tee today.


I've already figured out what I am making next.

MK out.

Friday, May 1, 2020

FO Friday - 5/1/2020

I have to show you this little FO. I made it in 2011. I still had to do a little embellishing, but I called it done and moved on. It was put in a safe place for an at-the-time unspecified recipient.  I came across it the other day and remembered about a birthday coming up soon. So, after a little fringing:




All the info can be found here.

I hope the recipient likes it.

MK out.