I have finished knitting Clue #3 on my Stephen West Mystery MusiKAL shawl. There is also a shop update and a reading discussion at the end.
Knitting
I am now preparing to embark on Clue #4, which involves very long rows. A lot of those rows are in brioche knitting. Pray for my fortitude. I love how it looks but it is time-consuming to knit.
I am knitting exclusively on this project until it is complete. I am fine doing that, but I may need a quick little project to work on after this as a palette cleanser. Maybe a pair of socks? Then maybe something lacy.
Shop Update
We have been working on that batch of Cherry Yarn Swifts as I mentioned recently. Those are now mostly finished and some are listed on the website. We tend to sell a lot of Yarn Swifts over the holiday shopping season. We bought more lumber yesterday to start another batch to get ahead for next year since we needed more wood anyway for dowels.
Reading Discussion
I have completed a few books in the last few weeks. I have been reading a lot of new releases lately and less interested in my classics.
Recently completed:
King Sorrow by Joe Hill – This book was amazing! I gave it ***** and I think it is maybe my favorite book of 2025. Highly recommend if you like slightly gritty but well told horror stories. The apple definitely didn’t fall too far from the tree in this case.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix – This was a first read by this author. I picked up the hardback at a clearance rack at an indie bookshop. I had heard good reviews and decided to give it a go. I quite enjoyed this and gave it ****. I then found the new release from him at the library, as you see below.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix- I was surprised that I liked this one. I had been leery of reading it because I didn’t think I would get on with it due to the subject matter. I found I was able to suspend my reservations enough to appreciate the positive elements. I gave it ****.
6:40 to Monteal by Eva Juscyzk – I picked this up in a recent book store browse as an impulse buy. It was one of the monthly staff picks. I liked it as a quick psychological thriller read. I sort of guessed the ending but not completely. It surprised me right at the end. I gave it *** I think.
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan – I have this on Audible. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It was pretty good but it’s not in my top 10 of 2025 or anything. I did give it **** though so I guess I liked it.
Currently reading:
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant – I borrowed this on Libby after seeing a review on YouTube. I am only a few chapters in at the moment.
House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons – Same as above. I finally got the book today as there was a hold list. Have only read a few pages.
The Haunting Season – by Various Authors – I am listening to the audio book on Libby for this one. It is a collection of eight ghost stories for the long winter nights. It’s in the Victorian tradition of reading/telling ghost stories during the holidays. These are contemporary authors but so far they are written in Victorian settings and styles. I am on the second one.
I’ll see how these go and maybe I’ll start a classic soon too. I haven’t decided what I am in the mood for yet.
Closing
I’ll leave you with a bit of Christmas decorations that we put up on Monday. This is as far as I go in on decorations though. I like the lights but don’t care for the mess and bother of a tree anymore.
Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas in case I don’t talk to you again before then.