Book Chat - 11/13/2025

Do y’all ever read books and then weeks, years later, you hear about a book that sounds good; so, you add it to your list of books you want to read - not realizing that you’ve already read it? Or is it just me?

It’s November! And I mean, it’s two weeks until Thanksgiving! Time is passing faster than my hair is growing around here. I have such a list of things to do, but here I am at the beach as if I haven’t care in the world. I’m acting like there aren’t only six weeks before Christmas. Yes, you read that correctly. Six weeks!!!

I won’t think about that today. I’ll tell you about the books. I read in July instead.

Death Row by Frieda McFadden

A woman has been convicted of killing her husband. She’s on death row and she’s losing all her appeals. Time is of the essence. One day, She sees a man who looks exactly like her dead husband, leading her to believe that he isn’t dead. So, who is the person she allegedly murdered? It was good.

A Sky Full of Love by Lorna Lewis

After being held captive for quite a while, a woman is returned to her family. Much has happened while she’s been away. Something has been kept from her that will likely have devastating effects when she finally learned about it. It was very engaging.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Sometime in the future, the world has advanced so that illnesses can be bioengineered out of children, and their friends are so powered entities. Klara is one such AF (Artificial Friend). While waiting to be adopted by human family, she is a keen observer of her environment. When she is adopted, she soon discovers that her human is ill. Klara makes it her mission to cure her. It was good.

Abscond by Abraham Verghese

A young teen with a promising future in tennis has to grow up quickly, following a tragic event. It was very good.

Back to my lollygagging.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 11/3/2025

I only watched one movie last week and it was This Is Spinal Tap - the 1984 film, in anticipation of watching the sequel that came out several weeks ago. The movie is a parody of the craziness surrounding heavy metal bands of the 1970s-early 1980s. It was clever. I enjoyed watching.

It is the beginning of prime movie watching season and the last couple of weeks of the birthday season; so, we will see what happens.

Until next time…

MK out.

Book Chat - 10/24/2025

People, time keeps marching on. I have been reading books fairly steadily, but how would y’all know? When we last talked about books, I had shared the ones I read in April and May.

Ha! I didn’t read any in May. I did read a few in June: 

Lola is Never Drinking Again by Maria Elena Sandivici

I loved this book because one of the characters is my beloved Galveston. Not really, it’s set on The G, but to me, it made The G come to life. A troubled woman returns to the island to help settle her newly deceased aunt’s affairs. She had to reckon with more than her past. It was good.

The House of My Mother: À Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke

I watched the documentary series, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (and then promptly forgot to tell y’all about it) recently. The doc was about mommy blogger/Influencer, Ruby, and how she was convicted of child abuse. The book by her daughter tells us about how she escaped her mother‘s clutches and how she tried to save her younger siblings from their mother. It is a sad story.

Death Row by Frieda McFadden

This short story is about a woman who is awaiting her death sentence for killing her husband. It was very good.

I may tell you about the ones I read in July soon. I mean, it’s only the end of October…

MK out.

FO Friday - 10/11/2025

Hello everyone! I have two projects to show you:

This little blanky started out as part of a KAL (knit-a-long, for the muggles) hosted by Fifty Four Ten Studio. It was a gentle KAL - one did not have to complete the project by the deadline. Good thing - because I finished after the deadline. I finished this blanky in August. (And I’m just now showing it off - I know...)

The pattern is one of theirs called Summer Sidewalk. I had some skeins of Wool Ease lying around in purple. If anyone knows of someone with a baby coming and purple will fit into the color scheme of the nursery, please let me know.

AND

I made some bags to donate to the local children’s hospital on the G. The hospital fills them with books and art supplies and gives them to children who have undergone some sort of trauma.  

It’s an easy- peasy pattern. I lined mine, but it’s not a requirement. This bag is a good way to use up leftovers!

See y’all later!

/MK out.

Movie Monday - 10/13/2025

Lord have mercy! You’d think I’m just sitting on my couch, staring at the wall and eating bonbons. I can’t get anything done around here. And that includes watching movies. I did watch a few in the last few weeks though.

I had been wanting to watch Kajillionaire ever since it came out in 2020. Evan Rachel Wood, Deborah Winger and Richard Jenkins star in this quirky film. They play a family and their motto seems to be: “A family who crimes together, stays together.” It was good.

A cook to a group of fur trappers and a Chinese immigrant on the run become fast friends in First Cow. Set in the early 1800s, The pair steal the milk of a wealthy trapper’s cow in an effort to make some money baking treats for the town. I liked it.

I used to watch the Ed Salmon show when I was a young thing. Sunday Best is a documentary about how Sullivan could make people’s careers. I enjoyed reminiscing as I watched it.

Stupid Streamer:

The Hunting Wives - Netflix

That’s all for now!

MK out.

Movie Monday- 9/15/2025

The study of Led Zeppelin continues. There’s overlap of information between all the documentaries, but I still find everything fascinating:

In Led Zeppelin - The Original of the Species Unauthorized, People in the music industry, some who have worked with the band, tell about the origins of Led Zeppelin. They also cover the first two studio albums. There are concert clips as well.

In Led Zeppelin- Physical Graffiti: A Classic Album Under Review, again, people in the industry go through the tracks of the double album. It’s one of my favorites, but I am not alone. My favorite part is watching clips of the performing.

I have a couple more LZ things to watch. Hooefully, I will get to them soon.

Good Binge:

I just finished watching season 3 of Fisk on Netflix. It’s an Australian comedy. You can fly through a season quickly. The episodes are 30 minutes long. It is very much worth a watch.

Today is the start of the Birthday Season. I have some fun things planned.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 9/8/2025

Back in the day, when I was but a wee girl, Led Zeppelin was in the background of my life. Of course, the song Stairway to Heaven was big, and I owned some of the albums, but Led Zeppelin was just there. I didn’t think too much about it. I listened to their music, apparently more than I had remembered. In the last few days, I found their YouTube channel on which they’ve uploaded several of their albums in their entireties. As I listened to Houses of the Holy, I was surprised when I anticipated the first cord of the next song, without looking at the song list. It was the same with Physical Graffiti. Hmmm.

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been watching different interviews with each of the remaining members of the band. It has been fascinating. And then, I found some movies and documentaries; so, here we go…

Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same opens with an unexpected mob hit scene. Keep watching; you are in the right theater. Filmed live at the 1973 Madison Square Garden shows, but released in 1976, this documentary also includes fantasy sequences starring each band member. Up to them, there hadn’t been any footage of Led Zeppelin performances. The band members wanted to give their public what they wanted. 

The documentary, A to Zeppelin: The Story of Led Zeppelin, gives insight about how the band started from other musicians and people in the music industry that knew and worked with the principles wayback when.

Led Zeppelin IV is a documentary that goes through the songs on their fourth, untitled studio album. As with the previous films, there’s concert footage and some interview clips are interspersed throughout. I loved it.

That’s all I watched last week in my study of Led Zeppelin.

I also watched Happiest Season - Since Christmas is around the corner. In the film, we meet two women. Harper loves Christmas, but Abby has issues with it. Harper invites Abby to her family home where Christmas is big. Abby plans to propose without realizing that Harper hasn’t come out to her parents. I appreciated the levity. Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie DavisMary Steenburgen, Dan Levi, and others starred in this ensemble cast. It was cute.

That’s all for now, Peeps. I hope to be back soon.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 9/1/2025

I have slacked in the movie watching department. 

In honor of Christmas in August,* I watched a movie I recorded on the DVR - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It was a highly predictable film about redemption. À woman takes over the church’s annual Christmas presentation. She causes concern when she allows a family of children who are widely considered the town hoodlums to participate. It was cute.

I did watch some good streamers:

And Just Like That, 3rd and final Season - HBO Max

The Gilded Age - HBO Max

The Legacy - PBS

MK out.

*What? That’s not a thing?

Movie Monday - 8/11/2025

I have a mixed bag of movies about which to tell you this week.

Nonnas, starring so many fun actors - Susan Sarandon, Vince, Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Linda Cardellini, Talia Shire, Joe Manganiello, Drea de Matteo and Brenda Vaccaro, is based on a true story. After his mother dies, a man opens an Italian restaurant and all the cooks he hires are grandmothers. It was cute.

In David Cassidy: The Last Session, Cassidy documents the recording of an album of standards that his father used to sing. Despite the fact that the two had a difficult relationship, Cassidy was trying to honor his father’s memory. Sadly, the album was released posthumously, as he died of liver disease secondary to his long-standing alcohol abuse. It was bittersweet. 

From the old, classic movies department, I watched Mrs. Miniver. I’ve been wanting to watch it for a long time. Greer Garson stars as an English wife and mother trying to keep the home fires burning during World War II. Walter pigeon also stars, along with several other actors you might recognize if you watch old movies. It was good.

I totally binge watched Leeann on Netflix. I love Leeann Morgan. She’s pretty funny and her personality shines through in this streaming sitcom. It’s about a woman putting her life back together after her husband‘s infidelity. It was fun and a total guilty pleasure.

See you next time.

MK out.

FO Friday - 8/1/2025

I’ve gotten a little knitting mojo back.

Well, I finished this hat in April and then didn’t really knit much til a few weeks ago, as you have probably deduced by the dearth of knitting posts…

The pattern is called 131-11b Sweet Caroline Hat by DROPS design. I used their yarn, called DROPS Alpaca in Creme, that I’ve had for almost 20 years. I suppose it’s well aged.

I finished Astro Pop a week ago - in 21 days, not four.

I used Berroco Modern Cotton DK in Sandy Point, aka white, and Warbler, aka blue. The green is Cascade Yarns Ulta Pima in Antique.  It was a fun pattern to knit. I look forward to wearing it.

I am about a third done with Proserpina. I hope to finish it soon.

MK out.

WIP Wednesday - 7/23/2025

Hello all. I might actually have a summer sweater to wear soon. Currently, I am on sleeve island on one sweater…

…and on the yoke of another.

MK out.

Start Something Sunday - 7/13/2025

Remember my swatching dilemma? I started knitting that very next day.

But, I started knitting the Astro Pop sweater because the pattern dropped a day early. At the end of that day, I hadn’t gotten far.

I’ve been knitting on it daily, but have not finished it yet. My aim has never been to knit the entire thing in four days. Here’s how far I had gotten the day before yesterday:

It’s further along now, but I’ve been struggling with finding stretches of time to knit. I’ve been distracted. 

MK out.

Movie Monday - 7/7/2025

Whelp, I’ve only watched one movie since I last wrote about movies…

My Mom Jayne is a documentary about Jayne Mansfield, directed by her daughter Mariska Hargitay. It was really good. There was lots of archival footage of Jayne being interviewed, performing and just being being filmed in home movies. I knew about Jayne, how she died and that she was Hargitay’s mom, but it was really nice to know a little more about her as a person. It was a lovely tribute. I liked it. 

That was it! In the last week, I’ve been reading, knitting, watching a couple of streamers and just living the dash.

Recent Streamer:

No Good Deed - Netflix

MK out.

WIP Wednesday - 7/2/2025

I was hoping to be well on my way on the Proserpina sweater by now, but I was having gauge issues.

I swatched on the needle size the pattern suggested, and the next two smaller sizes, and I still was not getting anything near row gauge after blocking. 

A friend suggested changing to wooden needles, because needle material makes a difference with row gauge. I did and it did, and I am close enough to row gauge to start knitting.

In other news, I swatched for Astro Pop, the sweater whose pattern drops on Friday. I got perfect gauge using needles one size smaller than suggested.

Should I start Proserpina tomorrow and Astro Pop on Friday? Or wait til Friday and start Astro Pop only?

MK out.

Book Chat - 6/27/2025

I read the following books in April.

Some Other Time by Angela Browne

A couple has become empty nester when their only child goes off to college. The wife is very unhappy and decides they should divorce. After a trip, to break the news to her parents and their daughter, things are very different when they return home. I didn’t find the book well written because the post trip part was clunky. It was aA couple has become empty nester when their only child goes off to college. The wife is very unhappy and decides they should divorce. After a trip, to break the news to her parents and their daughter, things are very different when they return home. I didn’t find the book well written because the post trip part was clunky. It was a little hard to follow. Some of the situations weren’t plausible, even if belief was suspended. It was all right.

The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle

Ruben and Beth broke up six months ago. He still has feelings for her, when he finds out six months later that she is getting married. He and his friends plan a day a very bachelor activities to describe him on the day of the wedding. Everything is all set, until he receives a phone call. Another one that was just all right.

The Sublet by Greer Hendricks

This short story is about a ghost rider who starts working for demanding client. Who circumstances, she said lease is an amazing apartment that will be more convenient for her work with this woman. She soon finds that she is in over her head. It was quirky, but I’m not sure it was in a good way.

American Housewife by Anita Abriel

Appearances were everything in the 1950s. A talented young woman becomes a popular television star. She had to watch her Ps & Qs because it was all about morality. It was good.

The Best We Could Hope For by Nicola Kraus

Three children are abandoned by their mother because she feels her older sister can best care for them. She returns years later and turns everyone’s lives upside down. When the children are older, they go looking for answers. It was pretty good.

And then, I read nothing in May.

MK out.

WIP Wednesday - 6/25/2025

It’s been a while since I’ve written a WIP Wednesday post. I do have a hat that needs blocking before I’ll show it to y'all, but I also have two baby blankets on the go, but they are “long term projects.” Long term projects are those I work on in between projects that don’t have a deadline, per se - I just want to finish them sooner, rather than later.

All that to say, I am swatching for a sweater:

I also have yarn to make this sweater, although I don’t think I will complete it in 4 days:

MK out.

Movie Monday - 6/23/2025

Ah, dear readers - it’s been a while. What have I been doing? Not much movie watching, apparently.

I finally was able to watch Joker: Folie à Deux, starring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix. Both did a great job acting in the movie, but the material (especially for Lady Gaga) wasn’t much with which to work. Arthur Fleck is awaiting trial for killing those people (in the last film). In the meantime, he is being held at Akrham State Hospital. That’s where he meets the love of his life. It was all right.

Good streamers:

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 (final) - Hulu

Hacks Season 4 - Hulu

Funny Woman - PBS Passport

Pernille - Netflix

And now, I’ll go back to doing something, maybe involving watching a movie. 

MK out.

Movie Monday - 5/26/2025

This past week wasn’t documentary heavy.

I had to watch The Perfect Host when I saw that David Hyde Pierce stars in it, and because it is leaving Prime soon. I loved the character Niles in Fraser, but the character he plays in this movie is very different. Warwick has his own OCD issues but I digress. John, a former convict and current bank robber needs a place to hide. He picks Warwick’s house, but Warwick has his own agenda. It’s an older film and it’s rather dark. It was good. 

Stephanie and Emily meet again in Another Simple Favor. It’s a few years later and Emily, now out of prison, is getting married again. She invites Stephanie, not only to the wedding on Capri, but also to be her maid of honor. Nothing is ever that straightforward with these two, and the plot gets pretty thick. It was entertaining.

Good binges:

Cold Case The Tylenol Murders (the only documentary this week) - Netflix

Sirens - Netflix

Reba (all six seasons) - Netflix

And Just Like That returns this week!

MK out.

Movie Monday - 5/19/2025

So many movies, so little time. 

I enjoyed watching The Lady Bird Diaries, a documentary that included recordings of Lady Bird Johnson’s voice diary during LBJ‘s presidency. Actual footage and pictures were provided as well. It was very interesting.

The documentary, Remembering Gene Wilder, is a look into the life story of the funny man. I have watched so many of his films and enjoyed all of them. It was good.

ABBA: Against the Odds tells their story from the beginning. I never knew, until watching this film, that they got started by winning Eurovision Song Contest back in the day. All I know is, I’ve always liked their music. I enjoyed it.

The Quilters is a short documentary about an organization within a prison in Missouri, where inmates make quilts for children in the foster care system. The film is about humanity. The quilters, at least the ones shown here, own their mistakes that resulted in their incarceration. They are trying to give back, and I think they realize that while it does not “even the score,” they feel proud and accomplished, knowing that they had touched the life of a child in a positive way (evidenced to them by the thank you notes that they receive), They take their mission very seriously, and want to do their best for each child for whom they make a quilt. I thought it was a beautiful and poignant film.

I didn’t watch just documentaries last week:

Sean Hayes helped write Lazy Susan. He also started in it, along with Allison Janney, Matthew Broderick and others. He plays Susan, a sad, bumbling character who is too lazy to live. Really. Her life is a real mess and it’s her own doing. It was quirky and a little fun.

That’s all, Folks!

MK out.

 

Movie Monday - 5/13/2025

I didn’t have many appointments or tasks last week; so, I watched more movies than I have in a while. I don’t have a book going right now; so, that might have contributed to my having more time.

 

The documentary Family Band: The Cowsills Story answered my question, “Whatever happened to the Cowsills?” It was interesting.

 

A bereaved couple enlist the help of a company to see their deceased son again in The Resemblance – a short film. This company gathers information about the deceased and with its extensive book of actors, creates a person to fill in a desired role. It was poignant.

 

Nicole Kidman, Gael Garcia Bernal and Matthew Macfayden star in Holland. Holland, Michigan is a quaint little town with big secrets. There’s breaking and entering, murder, adultery and, of course, the Tulip Festival. It was darkly entertaining.

 

Breaking News in Yuba County is a little madcap – it kind of reminded me of Fargo. There’s abduction, adultery, the mob, money laundering, murder and comedy. Allison Janney, Mila Kunis, Awkwafina, Wanda Sykes, Ellen Barkin and Juliette Lewis are among the stars. It was entertaining.

 

Alan Alda, Carol Burnett and Rita Moreno were in the cast of The Four Seasons (the 1981 film) about three couples who would take seasonal trips together. When one couple divorces and brings his new squeeze along, dynamics change. I watched it after watching the streamer (see below). It was cute.

 

Recent Streamers:

The Four Seasons – Netflix

Until we meet again…

MK out.