Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Unraveled Wednesday

I'm joining Kat and the Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday. I had hoped to be done with both sleeves, but a sleeve and a half is good, too. I suspect the body will take me just a bit longer than a week, but progress is being made. At this rate, I might just finish the sweater by spring, especially when a poor, neglected Hitchhiker is calling to me from a knitting bag that I haven't opened in over a week.

My big accomplishment this past week was figuring out how to get epubs on my Kindle. This might not seem like a big deal, but it took me several hours. In the end, all it took was sliding a switch on my Kindle settings and installing the Cloud Library app, but it's allowed me to read a lot more library books. Some books are only available in epub format and it isn't always convenient to read them on my laptop. Sometimes I need to see the words to really understand what I'm reading and I can now do that during the ride to and from MD. So I've been reading lots of books this week, but have only finished one. I'm reading the epub version of Matrix on my Kindle and enjoying the experience much more than the audiobook version I had tried to listen to previously. I'm also reading Immune and listening to Small Pleasures.

The book that I finished was a bit of a surprise - Laundry Love. Vicki read it, I put it on my list, and it was the first book I read once I unlocked epubs. I read this book it in one evening, getting a little more excited with each chapter. The author's respect and enthusiasm for textiles is contagious, and he really does provide scientifically-based ideas. I can't say that I'm ready to throw out my big plastic jug of detergent immediately, but I will at least give soap flakes, bleach alternative, washing soda, and Fels-Naphtha a try. I haven't tried any of the author's stain-removal techniques, but I will the next time Justin comes home with deer blood, diesel fuel, or transmission fluid on his clothing. A book about laundry might sound silly, but I really liked it!

What are you making and reading this week?

11 comments:

  1. I'm glad you were able to figure out that little technology bit and can enjoy more books now. Every once in a while I get a book from the library that is not in Kindle format, but I'm able to read it through the app (though that app isn't as good as the Kindle app). I'm reading on an iPad, though, and I really don't know much about how to work a Kindle device.

    Your sweater sleeves are looking good! I know the body is a bit more knitting than a sleeve, but I don't think it will take you quite as long as you think. And once you get to the yoke, you start decreasing and it gets more exciting because of the cables.

    I just started reading Great Circle yesterday, and I'm still working on that hat for Rainbow and socks for my brother (almost to the toe of the first sock).

    ReplyDelete
  2. isn't it amazing how much brain width space it takes to figure things out? I swear it's complicated but after noodling around you think 'what was the big deal?'.

    ReplyDelete
  3. YOur sleeves look great and I think knitting the sleeves before the body makes sense. That way you avoid Sleeve Island! Since the pandemic I have ignored my Kindle. I am enjoying holding a book and turning pages so much. Part of that, I'm sure, has to do with the fact that I'm on the computer most of the day for work and I don't want to be on yet another screen at night. I've never even heard of "epub" and my Kindle is old, so not sure I could add that, but as it turns out, I'm getting books faster than I can read them anyway!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your sleeves look awesome! Well done! (and go you for figuring out that app for your kindle!)

    I have long been a fan of Fels-Naptha and have a bar in a dish by my washer. It is really a miracle soap! (it also is awesome for removing Poison Ivy oils from your skin!) I have never tried laundry flakes... but I might have to find this book and give it a read!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think you are making stellar progress on your sweater, Bonny! It will be done sooner than you think. I have not found any knitting time yet, but I am still hopeful. OK, I have avoided figuring out how to read epub books on my Kindle simply because I have been too intellectually lazy to do it. I will have to figure it out soon as I am ashamed that I haven't already done that. Since my library seems to never add books of any kind lately, this would enlarge my choices quite a bit. Thanks for challenging me! I have been making soap for several years, and in the course of that learning process, I found that polysorbate 80 will take out almost any oily stain there is, often old ones. You should get some to take out oily stains in your clothes. Nothing else comes close to its effectiveness that I have found. Happy Wednesday, Bonny.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm impressed that you figured out the kindle/epub thing, I've never even tried!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That sounds like a fascinating book, Bonny! (Laundry Love, I mean.) And good for you with epub! I've always been curious, but haven't tried it yet. (You've just inspired me to do so, though.) I'm going to have to read Matrix again before we discuss it in January, so maybe I'll follow your lead and read the print-version next time. (I also listened to the audio book.)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Also . . . having those sleeves done (they're lovely, btw) first will make the rest of the sweater fly! (I hate knitting the sleeves and always appreciate having them done FIRST.)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Those sleeves are looking pretty fantastic! The body is going to fly. I also have not dealt with the e-pub thing and have resorted to reading a book or two on my phone in the past!

    ReplyDelete
  10. A sleeve and a half is great progress. I don't know about e-pub. I plan to investigate. Our library does have two digital options - Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla. With Hoopla, one either streams films, audiobooks, or an e-book or the work can be downloaded onto a device. There is always some new electronic thing to learn about.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It would be fun to go to Laundry Camp someday!! I chuckle about having a Laundry Room Reference Library now! Haha. I really enjoyed that book and am working at changing up my laundry routine! (I have to use up that big jug, first, though.)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment! :-)