What I've been...

Reading: I started A Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney a few days ago, based on Anna's review of it. So far, I'm really impressed by the writing and characterization and am completely sucked in, wanting to know what happened and why and how all of these people and events are connected. It's a dense and chewy kind of book, which I mean in the best possible way. It needs attention and rewards it.

I interviewed the author of Eleanor vs. Ike last week and read about half of the book before I had to hand it over to the reviewer. I'll go back to it after she's done. It's an interesting, well-researched look at what might have happened if Eleanor Roosevelt ran against Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.

And my drifting-off-to-sleep book at the moment is Madeleine L'Engle's A Swiftly Tilting Planet.

Cooking: I made one of my favorite quick, good-for-me dinners last night: pasta with broccoli rabe and dandelion greens last night, which was delicious. It was also the only time I've ever really, really wished I had a sous chef or personal assistant or helper monkey — anyone to do my prep work for me. I'm used to greens, especially farmers' market greens, having literal dirt on them — and I expect them to. But both batches of  greens last night were so sandy and dirty that I had to rinse each of them at least five times in the ol' salad spinner. I could have repotted a plant with the dirt I rinsed away. 

Knitting: Gina recently posted about counting her active projects, inspired by the Knitting Daily poll. I figured that I might as well take stock of mine too.

Active:
1. Kerry Blue shawl. I just finished the last patterned section last night and have a lot of stockinette to go, then the outer border, then I need to figure out what kind of edging I want. I don't like the crocheted loops especially.
2. Hex Coat. Still working on the sleeve
3. Flicca. No progress
4. Black cashmere scarf. I don't know if this should really be on the list since I finished the knitting yesterday, and just need to wash and block it. This will be quite possibly the least exciting knitted object that you will ever see. Also, I will quite possibly wear it every single day this winter.

Not Quite Active But Still in the Game:
1. Entrelac scarf. No real reason I haven't been working on it. It takes attention and the shawl has been scratching that itch for me, really.
2. Cotton cardigan. I need to do some math and see how I can maintain the patterning while doing the yoke decreases.
3. Opal socks. One done, one started. I want to finish these up soon and give them to my mom for her birthday in December.
4. Red and white socks. I wasn't happy with the heels, not sure about the fit on the foot. Might just start over, top down.

Spinning: Some grey romney and something(?) with a little bit of glitz from Fantom Farm. Bought at Cummington maybe five years ago? I don't have much of it, so it'll probably end up as a scarf eventually. I love scarves.

Watching: Just finished the first season of 30 Rock, working my way through Freaks and Geeks. Thinking I want to get back to the movies in my queue. And go to the movies.

Plotting and planning: Good stuff. Lots of good stuff.

Comments

[Anne]

Just found your blog recently, I love your eye for hats and scarves. The family and I watched Freaks and Geeks over and over this summer. Fantastic show, shame it was cancelled.

[Becky]

That's a great photo for the upper right hand corner blog-shot. 1) you look great, 2) the hat looks great and 3) your eyes are pointing to the top of the blog post.

[Gina]

Pasta and broccoli rabe is one of my favorites as well. I am always astounded by the amount of dirt on our farm veggies. It makes sense, but it's a nuisance nonetheless.