Perking Along

Hello on a damp drizzly morning. The view outside my window is dreary but a few daffodils near the basement door are up out of the ground. It is March and the Spring Equinox will be here soon. I look forward to the return of color in the landscape. 

The big news is we replaced my Grandmother's Corning Ware coffee pot. I don't think she used it often but we made up for that in the last forty years. The coffee maker was one of the first Corning Ware models with the little blue flowered pattern and a good sturdy handle. We loved the coffee. Other models with plastic handles were recalled and the company quit making coffee pots. This one had a good run. Several weeks ago, the cord and the plug-in area on the coffee pot (I don't know the correct terms) became unsafe. Reluctantly, we retired it. 

I read reviews and ordered a Black and Decker drip coffee maker with a thermal carafe. The unit shut off after brewing. Theoretically the carafe kept the coffee hot but avoided the burnt taste of cooking on a hot plate. However, the coffee cooled quickly and tasted terrible. The basket and reservoir were plastic and the coffee had a bitter chemical taste. I wondered if chemicals from the plastic were leaching into the coffee. Since life is too short for bad coffee, I did more research and ordered a Hamilton Beach electric percolator with stainless steel parts. The coffee tastes great to us. It works much the same as the good old Corning Ware. It also cost $10 less than the Black and Decker. Egad. Next week I'll write the story of our thirty year old clothes dryer. We seem to be wearing out around here. 

As usual, I'm linking with Kat and the Unravelers to post about making and reading.  I made progress on both the Misti Woodlands Shawl and the Spring Hitchhiker. I'm enjoying both pieces. The purple shawl has become a meditative knit as I slow down to make sure I'm catching both strands of yarn. I pick up the hitchhiker when I have a few minutes here and there or for some variety.

Just because I felt like it, I cast on a pair of socks. The pattern, Strawberry Milk, has a small easy eyelet pattern running down the side of the sock. It's barely visible in this yarn but it keeps me entertained. 

As for reading, I found The Master Butchers Singing Club excellent. Erdrich writes well and this novel is no exception. Humor is sprinkled throughout the story and beautifully written descriptions are the norm. Although Native Americans play a small role in the story, their actions are important. I'd say more but don't want to spoil the story. Currently I'm reading The Bingo Palace by Erdrich and Tales of a Journey Through Scotland, Walking, Spinning, and Knitting Socks by Debbie Zawinski, published by Schoolhouse Press. The photographs of rural Scotland and her trip are gorgeous. On her adventure, she collected bits of breed specific fiber left by sheep and then used a spinning stick to spin and ply yarn. She designed and knitted a pair of socks for each yarn. Patterns are included in the book. I will never take that kind of journey so reading about it in this beautiful book is the next best thing.  

Sometimes I get carried away with words so thank you for sticking with my stories. Until the next post, have a good few days and keep perking along. (I couldn't resist.)

Ravelry Links

Birthday Shawl

Spring Hitchhiker

Raspberry Cordial Socks