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.