Is This Our Last Week in October 1932?

So close, we are so close! 

The first sleeve is finished and I am on to the second sleeve. Will there be a finished object for next week?!

I love looking at popular culture of the times and how people were living. Magazines are a fantastic way to get a real feel for the era, in all areas - fashion, movies, reading, travel, homewares, recipes, popular culture.

Here are some magazine covers from October 1932. Let me know which is your favourite and why! Which one would you like to read?

Something here for everyone!

And thanks to Barbara and the Knitting and Crochet Guild UK, I now have a copy of the knitting patterns from the November 1932 issue of Stitchcraft. It is always so hard to choose - I have at least three items in mind from this issue! 

Unraveled Wednesday

Joining today with As Kat Knits for Unraveled Wednesday for all the knitting and reading. 

The three projects are coming along still. But it sure gets a bit boring, showing the same old things every time!

The Pool Party Leg Warmers are going to be a long-term addition, not because they are difficult but because I spend such a short amount of time on them!

I have knitted the head of the Naptime Doll but it needs to be stuffed as you go. I need to wash some more of my sheep's wool before I can keep going.

The Naptime Doll is from such an adorable book, Knitted Toys by Tatyana Korobkova. 

With Angora Tie, from my Adventures In Stitchcraft project, is getting so close to finished! Only a sleeve and a half, the tie and the sewing up to go!

And I definitely did not start a new project, after I promised that I would work on only three projects at a time until I had all my current WIPs in order.

This new yarn arrived from Yarn Stories on Etsy. How could I resist?!

It is Opal Glitter, colour 9672 which is called Flash, obviously named for my kitty! 

I have sneakily cast on my Sparkly Shawl, which is a free pattern on Ravelry called Silk Shawl by Connie Peng. 

I love the way the colours are coming together. I just love knitting with Opal. It keeps me up at night, just knitting until the next colour appears!

My current reading is Houses of Stone by Barbara Michaels. This was recommended in my reading challenge group on LibraryThing and I am so glad it was! 

This was published in 1993 - how have I never read it before now?! It has all the things!

The book is about Karen, a professor of women's literature, in particular early nineteenth century. She is offered an unknown manuscript, written by 'Ismene'. So ensues a treasure hunt to track down the author. The manuscript is a Gothic romance and as we read excerpts from the manuscript, Karen's hunt takes a decidely sinister, dare I say Gothic, turn. 

I am so enjoying this book - I am looking forward to finding more from this author, in all her many forms.

I am reading this book for a Bingo square in my reading challenge - read a book published under a pen name. 

Barbara Michaels is a pseudonym for Barbara Mertz. Barbara Mertz holds a PhD in Egyptology and has written a number of books about ancient Egypt under her own name. I love ancient cultures so will have to look for these as well. I am particularly interested in Red Land, Black Land which is about daily life in ancient Egypt. 

She is probably best known though for the Amelia Peabody murder mystery series, which has been described as Miss Marple meets Indiana Jones. I have read the first one, Crocodile on the Sandbank and it was a lot of fun. A travelling, mystery solving, Victorian feminist - what's not to love?!

There are twenty books in the series and as you can see from the covers (which are gorgeous!), the books combine her academic background in Egyptology with her story telling ability. 

Have you read any of these? 

And just a note to say thank you to anyone who has purchased using my affiliate links. It is SO appreciated! I only link to Etsy and Book Depository and only to shops/items that I have purchased myself and know are worth the purchase. I hope you enjoy your purchases too!

Happy knitting and reading, everyone! 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Joining today with Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.

The weather

Cool and grey - same old, same old! It hasn't been raining so I have been able to get outside and do some weeding. That is one problem with it not getting very cold in winter here - the weeds never stop growing!

Right now I am

Plotting and planning! I really want to sort out my vintage items so I can open a second Etsy shop. I have been going to and fro with this idea and have read any number of blog posts about the pros and cons of having a second Etsy shop. But I think it is the best way.

Thinking

Probably see above answer! What will be the best items to have in my shop?

On my reading pile

Today is the first day of the Visit Hogsmeade reading challenge (it runs 22-28 June), so I have quite a lot on my reading pile! This will, of course, be much too ambitious but I still like to choose a book for each category.

The categories are as follows:

1. The Marauder's Map - read a book with a map - The Way Home by Julian Barr

2. Three Broomsticks Inn - read a book that is part of a trilogy - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I have wanted to reread the trilogy for ages before I pick up The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

3. Madam Puddifoot's Tea and Cakes - start a book with a cup of tea - Houses of Stone by Barbara Michaels. This is an easy one as it could be any book I read; I always have my tea with me! This book was recommended to me and it sounds SO good. It has all the good things! 

4. Hog's Head - not the most popular (less than 10,000 ratings on Goodreads) - A Robot In The Garden by Deborah Install (has 1,858 ratings)

5. Honeydukes - has sweets/baked goods on the cover - Meet Me At The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan. Pretty sure I have read this before but Jenny Colgan is always a fun, relaxing read.

6. Zonko's Tricks and Jokes - a humorous read - Christmas At Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

7. The Shrieking Shack - read a horror or thriller - The Woman In Black by Susan Hill

8. Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop - book written by a person of colour - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

9. Owl Post - book you got via post - Transcription by Kate Atkinson

10. Dervish and Banges - steampunk read - The Bullet Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan

As you can see, I have no hope of reading all these in a week. But I will give it my best shot! 

The only rule is you must read your Marauder's Map book first as the map allows you to sneak out of Hogwarts and begin your visit to Hogsmeade!

The challenge is hosted by Book Roast. You can see the Youtube video explaining the challenge here. 

On my TV

I have been rewatching Glee over the last month or two. Yes, I am a Gleek!

I am now up to the final season and I never did enjoy this one or the fifth season as much as the others. This one has got slightly crazy, what with Sue Sylvester and her crazy doll figurine!

I do like rewatching series so I will have to decide which one I would like to head to next - maybe Doc Martin or The Crown or Victoria or Poldark or Pride and Prejudice? So many to choose from! 

I also watched Win The Wilderness, which is a reality series where couples compete to win a wilderness property in Alaska. The owners of the property are such an inspiration. The last episode, where they had to leave the home they had built, had me tearing up. I cannot imagine leaving a place that you had put so much into. 

Favourite blog post from last week

It would have to be Jes' May Newsletter over at Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth. It is just so great to have her back, sharing with us!  

Something fun to share

Not my cat, but I do have a black and white boy like this one. He has mismatched paw pads - some are pink, some are black. 

On the menu

I definitely need to get back to proper meal planning. Hopefully this weekly post will help me do that!

I am moving on to my next book in the 'actually use my cookbooks' project - The River Cottage Australia Cookbook, which I think is now out of print.

The original River Cottage TV series was one of my first inspirations.  I cannot believe how long ago that was! 

On my to do list

The big job on my to do list this week was to clean out the chicken pen completely. And I did it today! The chooks will be happy with their new deep straw. But guess who was even happier?! Flash very quickly found the straw and has happily set himself up in there, much to the chooks' disgust.

In the craft basket

My current three projects: 

Pool Party Leg Warmers

Naptime Doll

With Angora Tie - from my Adventures In Stitchcraft project

 

Looking forward to this week

Hopefully having lots of time for reading!

Looking around the house

I spent some time last week sorting out the piles of paper that had accumulated on one end of the dining table. It looks much tidier now!

I am also looking at my pile of knitting project bags. Each has a WIP that I need to make a decision about. 

From the camera

Two sets of triplets were born this week. Lambies are so cute!

Inspirational quote

This is some inspiration for myself at the moment.

I want to push myself to live the life I have always wanted to. I was watching Win the Wilderness and the owner of the house said something along the lines of being so glad that they built the house and had the time they had there as it is better to have taken a chance and at least tried rather than not doing it and always regretting it. 

Looking forward to a lovely week! 

What Happened In October 1932 - And Some Knitting

I wonder how much longer we will be in October 1932? The knitting is speeding along so we might be moving on very soon.

I like the blousy effect of the sleeve. I am looking forward to seeing what it looks like made up. 

Before we leave October, let's take a quick look at a few of the events of that month.

October 3, 1932 (Monday) - Iraq gained independence from Britain and was admitted to the League of Nations.

October 7, 1932 (Friday) - The London Philharmonic Orchestra gave its first concert at Queen's Hall. Queen's Hall was later destroyed by bombing in 1941.

October 19, 1932 (Wednesday) - Henry Ford gives his first radio speech, in which he appealed for the re-election of President Herbert Hoover.

October 24, 1932 (Monday) - Britain signs a trade treaty with USSR.

October 25, 1932 (Tuesday) - Benito Mussolini promises to remain dictator for 30 years. He also stated in his speech that all Europe would be Fascist within a decade.

See you next week! 

Homemaking This Week Was . . . . . .

Obviously, we must begin with a cute granddaugter photo. I cannot wait to see them again! I love how little Willow has her Rosie the Riveter look going on! That turban is too cute! 

The new, very loose schedule is working well. It has been particularly helpful to give myself a blogging limit as I can very easily get lost down the rabbit hole and spends WAY too long looking at blogs. I want to see them all!

The morning tea projects is also working well. I finished one of the projects from last week, the Waiting For Winter beanie. 

My daughter chose this fur pom pom to top it off. It came from Lovely Loops Designs on Etsy. You can get any colour of pom pom here!

This week's three projects are now:

1. Pool Party leg warmers 

2. With Angora Tie jumper - from my Adventures In Stitchcraft project

3. And adding in the Naptime Doll. This pattern is in a cute book I own called Knitted Toys by Tatyana Korobkova. This book has so many adorable patterns. I want to knit them all, just to sit them on my bookshelves!

The Big Project of cleaning out and organising the pantry was not completed this week. Terrible failing on my part as I had  the time blocked out for it. I used all the allocated time but still didn't get it done! It will certainly be organised by next week.

My one recipe a week this week was from Chicken and Egg. I made Warm Village Salad. It was easy and delicious! Not very challenging, I admit, but hey, I need some quick and simple recipes that everyone will like.

I love these multicoloured cherry tomatoes. I want to plan to grow a few different varieties next summer to have my own!

The pantry assignment this week from A Working Pantry's boot camp was to make at least one meal that can be frozen for future consumption. I do normally do this but at the moment my freezer is overflowing! We received lamb from two different farmer friends recently and now there is a lot of lamb in the freezer! But every week I make some spaghetti sauce to freeze for the next week, so in that went. I will often make pizza bases to freeze too. 

How has your homemaking week gone?