Episode 294: If It's Not Real Estate, It's Nothing

Recorded on November 28, 2024 Book talk starts at 29:40   Our 2024 Fall Sweater KAL is continuing.  You have until January 15, 2025 to complete an adult sweater and post a photo in our FOs thread.  It must have some type of sleeves - short sleeves are fine!  Check out our bundles of patterns for inspiration and join the discussion on our Sweater KAL Chatter thread!   Our Zoom group is continuing.  Please join us on Saturdays, 12 noon Pacific time.  All the info you need is in our Ravelry group!   EVENTS We will be at the New Years Fiber Retreat at the St Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, CA in January. Dates for NoCKRs will be April 10-13, 2025, and registration info letters have been sent out. If you haven't received one and are interested in going to the retreat, please contact Tracie.     KNITTING Barb has finished: Yume by Isabel Kraemer, using Indigodragonfly R.O.U. Sport in the Is She all Green and Fuzzy and Mossy colorway   Tracie has finished: Scraps Chaps by Barbara Prime #6 -“Chihuahua” in Encore Worsted …a hint of summer by Isabel Kraemer in Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace in Jen S. Green and JuniperMon Fibers Findley in Curacao Knit Hat with added earflaps and pompom by Kathy Green in Berocco Vintage in the Mochi colorway Baby/Kids Earflap Hat by Julie Hentz in Berocco Vintage in the Mochi colorway Barb is still working on: Granito by Joji Locatelli, using Serendipidye Dyeworks 24 Carrot Fingering MCN in the Peppermint Julip colorway Two by Two beanie by Anne Gagnon using a mystery worsted yarn in a Heather gray colorway The Market Bag by Davina Choy, using a DK white cotton pima and a DK blue cotton pima   Tracie has Cast On: Koko Bean hat by Judithmarieknits in Lisa Souza Blue Face Leicester Worsted in Styx Gno Fun Like Gnome Fun - 6 Gnaomis in Plymouth Select Worsted for class at Rumpelstilskin LYS Alignment sweater by Katrine Birkenwasser in Seattle Sky Dyeworks Mismated Rhododendron   Tracie is still working on: Davis #5 by Pam Allen in Western Sky Knits Merino 17 Worsted- Nightfall colony Socks for Ryan in Marinated Yarns Practicality 75/25 in Melted Box of Crayons colorway   BOOKS Barb has read: Everyone is Watching by Heather Gedenkauf - 2.5 stars Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty - 5 stars   Barb Did Not Finish: The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham   Tracie read: Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes - 4 stars Reread - Razor Girl by Carl Hiaason - 4 stars The Hive by Gregg Olsen - 3 stars None of this is True by Lisa Jewell - 5 stars Saint Xby Alexis Schaitkin - 4 stars This episode ends with our usual Thanksgiving Thumbs Up/ Thumbs Down from our whole family! 

Recorded Friday, November 1, 2024 Book talk begins at 19:20   Our 2024 Fall Sweater KAL is continuing.  You have until January 15, 2025 to complete an adult sweater and post a photo in our FOs thread.  It must have some type of sleeves - short sleeves are fine!  Check out our bundles of patterns for inspiration and join the discussion on our Sweater KAL Chatter thread!   Our Zoom group is continuing.  Please join us on Saturdays, 12 noon Pacific time.  All the info you need is in our Ravelry group!   EVENTS We will be at the New Years Fiber Retreat at the St Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, CA in January. Dates for NoCKRs will be April 10-13, 2025, and invitations will go out by Thanksgiving!    KNITTING Tracie finished: Rialto Baby Hat by Haley Waxberg in Universal Uptown DK in Aqua and Lavender Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn   Tracie continues to work on: Davis #5 by Pam Allen in Western Sky Knits Merino 17 Worsted- Nightfall colony Scraps Chaps by Barbara Prime #6 -“Chihuahua” in Encore Worsted …a hint of summer by Isabel Kraemer in Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace in Jen S. Green and JuniperMon Fibers Findley in Curacao Socks for Ryan in Marinated Yarns Practicality 75/25 in Melted Box of Crayons colorway   Barb is still working on: Yume by Isabel Kraemer, using Indigodragonfly R.O.U. Sport in the Is She all Green and Fuzzy and Mossy colorway   Barb has cast-on: Granito by Joji Locatelli, using Serendipidye Dyeworks 24 Carrot Fingering MCN in the Peppermint Julip colorway Two by Two beanie by Anne Gagnon using a mystery worsted yarn in a Heather gray colorway The Market Bag by Davina Choy, using a DK white cotton pima and a DK blue cotton pima   Barb has frogged:  Thundertwist hat by Knitting Daddy (Greg Cohoon) using a mystery worsted yarn in a Heather gray colorway Fibonacci Love by Hinterm Stein - wrong yarn for the pattern     BOOKS Tracie read: The Monk (DS Cross #5) by Tim Sullivan - 4 stars A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - 3.5 stars Re-Read the last two Cormoran Strike books - The Ink Black Heart  and The Running Grave.  Liked The Ink Black Heart better this time!  5 stars for both.  Can’t wait for #8, The Hallmarked Man. Sunny Days: The Children’s Television Revolution That Changed America by David Kamp - 4 stars   BOOKS Who Could Ever Love You by Mary L. Trump - 4 stars Mystery of L’Inconnu by Dan Grylles - 3 stars   Barb recommends Anatomy of Lies, a true crime limited series on Peacock

Recorded Sunday, October 6, 2024 Book talk begins at 32:20   Our 2024 Fall Sweater KAL is continuing.  You have until January 15, 2025 to complete an adult sweater.  It must have some type of sleeves - short sleeves are fine!   Our Zoom group is continuing.  Please join us on Saturdays, 12 noon Pacific time.  All the info you need is the Info in our Ravelry group!   KNITTING   Tracie has finished: 42-6 Dream in Blue Cardigan by DROPS Design in Universal Uptown DK, mint green and lavender Karina Headband #2 by mariana Mel  (no need to Panic Sweater by Casapinka in JodyLong Summer Delight in the Tomato colorway Fiddly Bits Cowl #11 by Jana Photo in fingering scraps Never Not Gnoming 28 and 29 by Sarah Schira in fingering scraps   Barb has finished: Peony Top by Minimi Knit Design using Berroco Remix Light in the Peony colorway   Tracie has cast on: Davis #5 by Pam Allen in Western Sky Knits Merino 17 Worsted- Nightfall colony Scraps Chaps by Barbara Prime #6 -“Chihuahua” in Encore Worsted …a hint of summer by Isabel Kraemer in Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace in Jen S. Green and JuniperMon Fibers Findley in Curacao Socks for Ryan in Marinated Yarns - Melted Box of Crayons colorway Rialto Baby Hat by Haley Waxberg in Universal Upton DK in Aqua and Lavender   Tracie is working on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in A;;le Fibeer Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in the Autumn colorway   Barb has cast on: Thundertwist #2 by Knitting Daddy using mystery yarn   Barb is still working on: Yume by Isabel Kraemer using Indigo Dragonfly Sport ROU in the Is She All Green and Fuzzy and Mossy color-way   BOOKS Tracie has finished: The Book of Essie by Meghan McLean Weir - 3.5 stars No One is Perfect: The True Story of Candace Mossler and American’s Strangest Murder Trial by Ron Smith - 4 stars Practice to Deceive by Ann Rule - 3 stars Swimming with Ghosts by Michelle Brafman - 4stars The Lost Girls of Penzance by Sally Rigby - 3 stars Wilder Intentions: Love, Lies and Murder in North Dakota by CJ Wynn - 4 stars Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great and Then Again Maybe I Won’t - both by Judy Blume - enjoyed both   Barb has finished: 1.  The Measure by Nikki Erlich - 4 stars  2.  Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson - 4 stars 3.  Death Cruise by Don Davis - 3.5 stars

Recorded Thursday, September 12, 2024 Book talk begins at 30:30   Our annual Mother Bear KAL has ended, and we will announce the prize winners at the end of this episode.  Our Fall Sweater KAL is starting!  You have until January 15 to finish an adult-sized sweater with some kind of sleeves.  WIPs less than 50% complete are fine.  Come join our sweater discussion thread, and check out our pattern bundles. Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom   Tracie is teaching a class on making knitted toys at Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento, and it has been rescheduled to September 28 and November 2.  See the class listing here for details!   Events - We will be at Lambtown at the Dixon May Fairgrounds in Dixon, California on Saturday, October 5.   KNITTING Barb finished: Mother Bears #299 - 301 Water is Life hat by Lavanya Patricella, using Mary Maxim worsted Bankhead hat #31 by Susie Gorley Spinwheel Beanie by Benjamin Matthews using 2 colors of Plymouth Encore   Tracie finished: Mother Bears 331 and 332 Digital Citizens stuffed toys Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva in Sea Change Fibers by The Dye Project Bayshore Fingering in Pink Frock Scraps Chaps Cat #2 by Barbara Prime in Malabrigo Rios in  Tubey by Woolly Wormhead in Red Heart for Addie Doodie by Woolly Wormhead in Lion Brand Mandala Ombre for Harrison Karina Headband by marianna mel in blue and yellow for Ellie   Barb is still working on: Peony Top by Minimi Knit Design in Berroco Remix Light in Peony   And has cast on: Ribbed Beanie #4 by Vanessa Ewing using Western Sky Knits Biggie Yume by Isabel Kraemer, using Indigo Dragonfly Sport ROU in the Is She all Green and Fuzzy and Mossy colorway     Tracie has cast on: 42-6 Dream in Blue Cardigan #3 by DROPS design in Universal Uptown DK mint green and lavender (no need to) Panic Sweater by Casapinka in Jody Long Summer Delight in the Tomato colorway   And continues to work on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota   BOOKS Barb read: When the Night Comes Falling: a Requiem for the Idaho Student Murders by Howard Blum - 5 stars The Good Wife: The Shocking Betrayal and Brutal Murder of a Godly Woman in Texas - 4 stars None of This is True by Lisa Jewell - 5 stars   Tracie read: Things Aren’t Right: The Disappearance of the Yuba County Five by Tony Wright - 4 stars.  Not well written and gets into the weeds, but so interesting Holly by Stephen King - 4.5 stars Shiner by Amy Jo Burns - 3.5 stars Toxic Rage: A Tale of Murder in Tucson by AJ Flick - 3.5 stars   Barb recommends the podcast The Idaho Massacre    Tracie recommends the following shows to stream: Homicide: Life on the Street on Peacock Blue Lights on Britbox Dublin Murders on Starz  Troppo on Prime Video

Friday, August 16, 2024 Book talk starts at 10:10 Studio 49 Retreat - October 18-20, 2024 at Tuolomne Trails outside Groveland, CA.  Enrollment is still open! This episode is NOT brought to you by Alaska Airlines, but we are all big fans. Knitting  Eileen is working on the Habitation Throw by Helen Stewart in scrap yarn and is getting back into her Zephyr Mark II by Celia McAdam Cahill in Quince & Co. Chickadee Shelley is working on the Misurina tee by Caitlin Hunter in two different silk yarns Susan is working on a Luminos Tee from a kit from Yarn Snob for her niece  Barb finished her Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass and is working on a  Mother Bear, a new tee, and a hat Tracie finished turtles needlepoint project after 15 years!  She continues to slog through her Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva in Sea Change Fibers by The Dye Project Bayshore Fingering in Pink Frock Books Barb read Internal Combustion: The True Story of a Marriage and a Murder by Joyce Maynard Eileen is reading Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe by Carl Safina and Broken Harbor by Tana French, and catching up on some favorite series by Jacqueline Winspear, Dana Stabenow, CJ Box and Tony Hillerman Tracie read Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel - 4 stars Shelley is looking forward to reading Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home by Chris La Tray Susan recommends Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes

Recorded July 22, 2024 Book talk begins at 30:19 Our annual Mother Bear KAL has begun and will run until August 31.  To find out all about this wonderful charity, please go to the Mother Bear Project website.  Talk bears with us in the Mother Bear Chatter thread and post your finished bears in the FOs thread.  Any bears you have knit in 2024 are eligible!   Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom Tracie is teaching a class on making knitted toys at Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento, and it has been rescheduled to September 28 and November 2 .  See the class listing here for details!   KNITTING Barb finished: Mother Bear #296 - 298   Tracie finished: Mother Bears 328, 329 and one that I sent to my uncle Davis #4 by Pam Allen in Knit Picks Snuggle Puff in Hatchling (pale mint green) Scraps Chaps by Barbara Prime: Rabbit in Sea Change Fibers by The Dye Project Ecola Worsted in Mushroom Hunter Cat in Plymouth Yarn Worsted Merino Superwash Solids in Caraway Heather   Barb continues to work on: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway   And has cast on: Mother Bear #299 Spinwheel Beanie by Benjamin Matthews, using a mystery gray yarn   Tracie cast on: 42-6 Dream in Blue Cardigan by DROPS design in Universal Uptown DK in Baby Blue and Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in Banana Cream Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva in Sea Change Fibers by The Dye Project Bayshore Fingering in Pink Frock   And continues to work on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota Digital Citizens stuffed toys   BOOKS Barb read: Cook County ICU: 30 Years of Unforgettable Patients and Odd Cases - 3 stars.   Written in 2016 - he headed the ICU 1970s thru the 1990s Bitter Blood: a True Story of Southern Family Pride, Madness, and Multiple Murder by Jerry Bledsoe - 5 stars.  Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach - 4 stars In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - 5 stars   Tracie read: Inside Out by Demi Moore - 4.5 stars Before He Wakes by Jerry Bledsoe - 4.5 stars The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - 3 stars Blind Rage: A True Story of Sin, Sex, and Murder in a Small Arkansas Town by Anita Paddock - 2.5 stars

Recorded Wednesday, June 26, 2024 Book talk begins at 18:28 Our annual Mother Bear KAL has begun and will run until August 31.  To find out all about this wonderful charity, please go to Mother Bear Project website.  Talk bears with us in the Mother Bear Chatter thread and post your finished bears in the FOs thread.  Any bears you have knit in 2024 are eligible - post photos on the FO Thread Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom Tracie is teaching a class on making knitted toys at Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento on July 13 and August 3.  See the class listing here for details!   KNITTING Barb finished: Mother Bear #295 Stashbusting Helix Hat #10 by Jessica Rose    Tracie finished: Mother Bear 325 - 327 Staycation pullover by Susanne Sommer, using Zealana Performa KIWI fingering in the Rococo colorway   Barb is working on: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway   Barb has cast On: Mother Bear #296 Tracie has cast on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn Davis by Pam Allen, using Knit Picks Snuggle Puff in the Hatchling colorway   She continues to work on: toys - Scraps Chaps for class and Digital Citizens  Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota   BOOKS Barb read: Things I Learned from Falling by Claire Nelson - 4 stars Alien by Alan Dean Foster - 4.5 stars Aliens by Alan Dean Foster - 4.5 stars Stranded by Sarah Goodwin - 4 stars   Tracie read: Virgins by Carol Rivers - 4 stars.  Tracie does not recommend the audio version The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4-5 stars Smoke Screen (Alexander Blix & Emma Ramm #2) - 3.75 stars    

Recorded Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Book talk begins at 16:04   Our Summer Top KAL is has ended.  Thank you so much to everyone who participated, and please listen to the end of the episode to hear our list of prize-winners.   Our annual Mother Bear KAL has begun and will run until August 31. To find out all about this wonderful charity, please go to Mother Bear Project website.  Talk bears with us in the Mother Bear Chatter thread and post your finished bears in the FOs thread.  Any bears you have knit in 2024 are eligible. Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom Tracie is teaching a class on making knitted toys at Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento on July 13 and August 3.  See the class listing here for details!   KNITTING Barb finished: Mother Bear #294 Bankhead hat #30   Tracie finished: Mother Bear 324 Elisenberg Jacket by Guri Pedersen in Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in Spearmint Green and Blush Pink   Barb is working on: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway   Barb has cast On: Mother Bear #295 Stashbusting Helix Hat by Jessica Rose #10   Tracie is casting on: Just Float by Stephanie Lotven (TellyBean Knits) in Apple Fiber Studio Sparkling Cider in Malachite and Life in the Long Grass Silk/Merino Sock in Autumn   She continues to work on: Staycation pullover by Susanne Sommer, using Zealana Performa KIWI fingering in the Rococo colorway Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota toys - Scraps Chaps for class and Digital Citizens    BOOKS Barb read: Woman 99 by Greer Macallister - 4 stars American Girl by Wendy Walker - 3.5 stars Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown - 3.5 stars Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout - 4 stars   Tracie read: Death on Ocean Boulevard: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case by Caitlin Rother - 3.5 stars Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind by Gavin Edwards - 3.5 stars   Tracie recommends watching River Phoenix in:  Running on Empty (1988) - available to rent on YouTube and Prime Video Dogfight (1990) - available to rent on YouTube and Prime Video

Listen Recorded on May 28, 2024 Book talk begins at 22:55 ANNOUNCEMENTS and NEWS: Our Summer Tops KAL is almost over, going until to June 1, 2024.  Prizes winners will be announced in Episode 288! Our next KAL will be our annual Mother Bear KAL.   DATES:  6/1/24 - 8/31/24 To find out all about this wonderful charity, please go to Mother Bear Project website.  Talk bears with us in the Mother Bear Chatter thread and post your finished bears in the FOs thread.   Tracie and Barb had a discussion about the excellent YouTube video that Susan B. Anderson made showing how she embroiders faces on toys: " />  Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom   EVENTS Tracie will be at: Treadles to Threads Spinning Guild's Fiber Frolic - June 1 at the Soul Food Farm outside Vacaville, CA   KNITTING Barb Finished: Mother Bears # 292 & #293 Bankhead Hats #28 & #29 Tracie finished: Mother Bears #321 - 323 Dream in Blue Cardigan by Drops Design in pink and mint acrylic scraps Elorie by Elizabeth Doherty, using Berroco ReMix in the Artichoke colorway  Barb is working on: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway Barb has cast On: Bankhead hat #30 by Susie Gourlay using Knit Picks City Tweed HW in the Marsh Colorway Tracie continues to work on: Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota Tracie has cast on: Staycation pullover by Susanne Sommer, using Zealana Performa KIWI fingering in the Rococo colorway Eisinberg Jacket by Guri Pederson in Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in the Spearmint Green and Blush Pink color ways BOOKS Barb read: The Rip by Holly Craig - 3 stars The Light of Farallon Island by Jen Wheeler - 4 stars   Tracie read: The Harbor by Katrine Engberg - 3.5 stars Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - 4.5 stars The Vanishing Class of 3B by Jackie Kabler - 3.5 stars Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler - 5 stars   Tracie recommends these two videos about what organizing is NOT: Jordan Theresa: The Cult of Organisation & The Celebrity Kitchen Complex Hannah Alonzo: The unhinged consumerism of “restock” influencers, so unrealistic!    

Recorded May 9, 2024 Our Summer Tops KAL has begun and goes until to June 1, 2024.  To enter your  top in our prize thread, it must be an adult-sized top that you consider to be appropriate for use in the summer, and we will leave the parameters of that to you!  Come chat with us about summer tops on our KAL thread, and check out our Summer Tops bundle for pattern ideas! Every Saturday at noon Pacific time - Virtual Knitting Group via Zoom EVENTS Tracie and Barb will be at: Treadles to Threads Spinning Guild's Fiber Frolic - June 1 at the Soul Food Farm outside Vacaville, CA   KNITTING Barb Finished: 2 Knockers Rock It Tee #2 by Tanis Lavalee, using Knit Picks Lindy Chain, in the colors Clarity, Rouge, and U Blue Mother Bear #291   Tracie finished: Knitted Knockers - 10 f0r 2024 3 Mother Bears Posie Doll by Manon Lemaire in worsted weight from stash Scraps Chaps Pig by Barbara Prime in Plymouth Encore in Peach Rachel #3 by Josée Paquin in white Juniper Moon Farms Zooey and other assorted bits of cotton/linen/silk   Barb working on: Knitted Knockers Pinnacles Hat by Nancy Bates, from the Knitting the National Parks by Nancy Bates, using a kit   Barb has frogged:   Tresoro Cardigan by Isabel Kraemer, using Knit Picks Hawthorne in the Bare colorway   Barb has cast On: Gardengate by Jennifer Steingass, using Cloudborn Merino Superwash Sock Twist in the Graphite Heather colorway and Cloudborn Fibers Highland Fingering in the Petal colorway Bankhead hat #28 by Susie Gourley Tracie continues to work on: Fiddly Bits cowl #11 by Jana Pihota Elorie by Elizabeth Doherty in Berroco Remix in Artichoke     BOOKS Barb read: The Last Dive: A Father and Son’s Fatal Descent into the Ocean’s Depths by Bernie Chowdury - 5 stars Red Zone: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the San Francisco Dog Mauling by Aphrodite Jones - 4 stars Calypso by David Sedaris - 5 stars   Tracie read: Butcher on the Moor by Ric Brady - 3 stars Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Iggie’s House by Judy Blume - 4 stars Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson - 4 stars Ms. Demeanor by Elinor Lipman - 4 stars While She Slept: A Husband, A Wife, A Brutal Murder by Marion Collins - 4 stars