FO Friday - 2/14/2025

Hello Dear Readers, I hope you’re having a good day.

I would like to show you two recently finished hats:

First, Jason’s Cashmere Hat. Sadly, I did not use cashmere. I used Caron’s Simply Soft leftovers from a chemo cap I made last year. I love a good cable and this pattern does not disappoint.

I’ve made the Basic Norwegian Star Hat before. This time, I forgot to deduct one pattern repeat, and it’s wider than I like. I’m sure it will fit somebody. I used Lion Brand Wool Ease and Plymouth Encore leftovers. I need to do more stranded knitting to improve my tension, although I did pretty well with this one.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

MK out.

Book Chat - 2/13/2025

Y’all! I’ve read ten books since the last time I’ve written. Let me tell you about the rest of the ones I read in January:

 

Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

The second in the series is a collection of short stories that give more insight into many of the characters that were introduced in the first book. I enjoyed reading it.

 

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich

The book is based on the life of the author’s grandfather. It’s a fictionalized account of how the US government tried to pull a fast one over the Indians, and how the Indians dealt with it. I always enjoy reading Erdrich’s books. Her characters are so well crafted and interesting. I liked it very much.

 

The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center

I read a later book by this author a few years ago and I loved it because the story took place in my hometown. Plus, it was a good story. I learned that the author actually lives close to the G; so, I checked out her first book, hoping her story location stayed local. It did!Jenny’s fiancé leaves her the day before she goes into labor. She is left to pick up the pieces and go on with her life, while navigating single motherhood. It was cute and I’m planning on reading all this author’s books in order of publication.

 

Alrighty then, I’ll be back someday to tell y’all about the books I e been reading in February.

 

MK out.

 

 

WIP Wednesday - 2/12/2025

As I’ve previously stated, I haven’t had much knitting mojo lately. I really haven’t had much mojo of any kind, but I digress…

I’ve made three hats so far this year. I’ll be showing two of them to you, hopefully in a couple of days. I have a couple of bags of yarn left over from other projects. I have also been saving loads of hat patterns. Instant gratification continues to hold sway around here.

Anyway, all that to say that I’m making another hat. 

MK out.

Movie Monday - 2/10/2025

Hey, hey, hey! I hope everyone is doing well out there. I am down to four movies to watch before the Oscars and I don’t think I’m going to make it. Maybe, I’ll get to watch one or two, but I am going to be out of pocket for a while. I won’t be back in pocket until after the Oscars. Boo.

Oh well.

I rewatched Dune: Part One since Dune: Part Two was nominated for Best Picture, and I liked it much more than I did the first time around. As far as Part Two goes, the story continues with Paul reuniting with the Fremen people to fight House Harkonen. The movie was alright, but I did not like the turn that Paul takes in the story. I haven’t read the book; so, I guess I don’t get it. I hear that another sequel is coming based on the book, Dune Messiah. For the Dune lovers, it was probably very good. The visual effects were top notch and it resulted in earning nominations in technical categories.

I saw The Brutalist, about a European architect, Laszlo, who came to the US after WWII to rebuild his life. He is taken under the wing of a rich (and frankly, unstable) man, Harrison, who hires Laszlo to build a community center in honor of his late mother. As one would expect, life is not a bowl of cherries in this situation. Adrien Brody plays Laszlo and he has been nominated for Best Actor. It was good. 

A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet playing the Bob Dylan. The film chronicles the singer/songwriter’s arrival in New York City at the start of his career, through his rise as one of the most revolutionary and iconic artists in the 20th century. Chalamet actually sang all the songs. He was also nominated for Best Actor. It was a very good movie.

That’s it folks! Catch y’all on the flip side…

MK out.

Movie Monday - 1/28/2025

The Oscar nominations have been announced and I have seven movies to watch before the ceremony. I’m not impressed with many of the films nominated for Best Picture. They really need to go back down to five nominations in this category.

Here’s what I’ve watched in the past week.

 

Mother’s Instinct, starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, is about two women who live next door to each other and are best friends. Each has a son, and the sons are best friends as well. That is, until a tragic accident changed the dynamics. It was a thriller, but kind of predictable. It was alright.

 

In Late Bloomers, Louise, an unfocused young woman meets Antonina, a cranky Polish woman while recovering in rehab. Rather grudgingly on both sides, Louise becomes Antonina’s caregiver post discharge. The two are a very unlikely pair and have a lot to learn from each other. It was cute.

 

I cannot believe that The Substance was nominated for Best Picture and that Demi Moore was nominated for Best Actress. She plays an actor whose career is fading now that she’s turned fifty. She learns of an illicit drug that would restore her youth, but it has conditions. I could accept the science fiction/horror and the relatively entertaining first two thirds of the movie. The last third was absolutely beyond the pale. A critic opined that this film elevates the genre (of horror movies). I beg to differ. And while Demi is a decent actor, this role should not have garnered an Oscar nomination. This film is not worth a watch.

 

MK out.

Movie Monday - 1/20/2025

In the past week, I watched Maria, starring Angelina Jolie as the titular character, Maria Callas. I’m not sure how factual it is, but the movie depicted Callas before she died. She was said to have been reflective at the end and we watch her looking back on her life. It is a heavy movie. Her life was not easy. Jolie’s performance has garnered well-deserved awards buzz. I enjoyed watching.

 

Recent binge:

Nobody Wants This – Netflix

MK out.

 

 

 

 

Book Chat - 1/16/2025

I only have one book to discuss today that I finished in the last week. I’ve already started the second one in the series of four.

 

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

Lucy is a grown woman who came from a humble, yet abusive background. She overcame her troubles and moved away. Now, she’s lying in a hospital bed in a prolonged recovery and her estranged mother comes to stay with her for a few days. There are tensions between the two, and some are examined. However, they mostly spend their time gossiping about people from the past and giving the nurses silly names – all the while talking around the substantive issues. I liked the quirky characters. The book is by the author who also wrote Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again. It was good.

 

We’re supposed to get colder weather again next week. Yay.

 

MK out.