Honeycomb dishcloth

The Year of the Dishcloth is organized by the Kitchen Sink Shop. August's pattern is Honeycomb.

I used Bernat Handicrafter cotton yarn and a 5mm circular needle.

Cast on 36 stitches.

Border

• Row 1: *K1, P1*, repeat to end
• Row 2: *P1, K1*, repeat to end
• Row 3: Same as Row 1
• Row 4: Same as Row 2

Honeycomb Pattern

• Row 1: K1, P1 K1, P1, *K4, P6, K4* 2 times, K1, P1, K1, P1
• Row 2: P1, K1, P1, K1, Purl across to last 4 stitches, P1, K1, P1, K1
• Row 3: Same as Row 1
• Row 4: P1, K1, P1, K1, *P3, K1, P6, K1, P3* 2 times, P1, K1, P1, K1
• Row 5: K1, P1, K1, P1, *K2, P1, K8, P1, K2* 2 times, K1, P1, K1, P1
• Row 6: P1, K1, P1, K1, *P1, K1, P10, K1, P1* 2 times, P1, K1, P1, K1
• Row 7: K1, P1, K1, P1, *P1, K12, P1* 2 times, K1, P1, K1, P1
• Row 8: Same as Row 6
• Row 9: Same as Row 5
• Row 10: Same as Row 4
• Row 11: Same as Row 1
• Row 12: Same as Row 2
• Repeat Honeycomb pattern Rows 1-12 3 more times (4 total)

Border

• Row 1: *K1, P1*, repeat to end
• Row 2: *P1, K1*, repeat to end
• Row 3: Same as Row 1
• Row 4: Bind off in pattern

Bind off and weave in the ends.

Book ~ "Just the Funny Parts" (2018) Nell Scovell

From Goodreads ~ "Just the Funny Parts" is a juicy and scathingly funny insider look at how pop culture gets made. For more than thirty years, writer, producer and director Nell Scovell worked behind the scenes of iconic TV shows, including "The Simpsons", "Late Night with David Letterman", "Murphy Brown", "NCIS", "The Muppets" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch", which she created and executive produced.

In 2009, Scovell gave up her behind-the-scenes status when the David Letterman sex scandal broke. Only the second woman ever to write for his show, Scovell used the moment to publicly call out the lack of gender diversity in late-night TV writers’ rooms. “One of the boys” came out hard for “all of the girls.” Her criticisms fueled a cultural debate. Two years later, Scovell was collaborating with Sheryl Sandberg on speeches and later on Lean In, which resulted in a worldwide movement.

Now Scovell is opening up with this fun, honest and often shocking account. Scovell knows what it’s like to put words in the mouths of President Barack Obama, Mark Harmon, Candice Bergen, Bob Newhart, Conan O’Brien, Alyssa Milano and Kermit the Frog, among many others. Through her eyes, you’ll sit in the Simpson writers’ room ... stand on the Oscar red carpet ... pin a tail on Miss Piggy ... bond with Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy ... and experience a Stephen King-like encounter with Stephen King.

"Just the Funny Parts" is a fast-paced account of a nerdy girl from New England who fought her way to the top of the highly-competitive, male-dominated entertainment field. The book delivers invaluable insights into the creative process and tricks for navigating a difficult workplace. It's part memoir, part how-to, and part survival story. 

Nell Scovell is an American television and magazine writer, and producer.  I had never heard of her ... I came across her book on the Toronto Public Library site as a "Staff Pick".  I like getting the behind the scenes scoop on how things work and it sounded interesting.

Scovell started off as a magazine writer and then moved on to write for television. In 2009, after David Letterman admitted to having sexual relationships with his female staffers, she published an essay in Vanity Fair calling his show a "hostile work environment" for women.  She has gone on to write a book with Sheryl Sandberg, political speeches and more and fights for gender and racial equality in the workplace.

I thought this book was okay.  It was interesting to read about her interactions and friendships with famous people.  The writing could have been tighter, though ... or maybe it was just about some things I wasn't interested in.  As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Classic Ripple Afghan

Minnie, my late mother-in-law, was a knitter for many years. When she downsized two summers ago, Gord brought me home her knitting bag with an afghan she had started. 

I got the bag out about seven weeks ago to knit it. Minnie hadn’t gotten too far and I didn’t know when she stopped working on it so I took it apart to start over to ensure the gauge was consistent.  I finished it tonight.

The pattern is Classic Ripple Afghan and is obviously well-used and well-loved. It’s from 1974 and the price sticker says it was $1 at Sears.

What do you need?

• 2 4-oz skeins of colour A knitted worsted weight yarn - I used black
• 3 4-oz skeins of colour B knitted worsted weight yarn - I used white
• 3 4-oz skeins of colour C knitted worsted weight yarn - I used light pink
• 3 4-oz skeins of colour D knitted worsted weight yarn - I used dark pink
• 36 inch needle, size 4mm

Pattern ~ 303 stitches on needle

• 2 rows colour A
• 12 rows colour B
• 2 rows colour A
• 12 rows colour C
• 2 rows colour A
• 12 rows colour D

Do this 6 times, then ...

• 2 rows dark green
• 12 rows white
• 2 rows dark green

I could only do it 5 times because I ran out of light pink yarn halfway through the six row.

Row 1
K1, slip 1, K1, passover stitch, *K9, insert needle into next 2 stitches as if to knit them together and slip them, K1, passover 2 slipped*, repeat * to *, K2 together, K1

Row 2
P6, *P into front and back of next stitch, P9*, repeat * to *, P6

Keep repeating these two rows.

Easy Cottage Pie, Hello Fresh

This evening for supper I made Easy Cottage Pie, a Hello Fresh meal kit.

The kit came with everything but oil, butter and milk.

Ta-da!  It was good and homey and filling and one I would make again.

Thai Pad Krapow Moo, Hello Fresh

This evening for supper I made Thai Pad Krapow Moo, a Hello Fresh meal kit.

The kit came with everything but oil.

Ta-da!  It was good and one I would make again ... it would work for chopped up boneless chicken.  I was cautious with the chilli pepper.  I'm not a fan of green beans so just made enough for Gord.

Toronto Blue Jays 3 ~ Cleveland 0, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON

Gord and I went to this evening's Toronto Blue Jays game ... they were playing Cleveland.

There was a maximum of 15,000 permitted in the Rogers Centre (it holds almost 50,000).  Unless you were drinking or eating, you had to wear a mask.

Here are me and Gord in our Jays gear ... 

Great view of the CN Tower!

Ace, the Jays' mascot, was out and about.

RendezViews, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this afternoon on the patio of RendezViews, which is a collaboration of The Fifth and The Ballroom.  

This the second year for it and it's set up in the parking lot between the two restaurants on Richmond Street, just east of John Street.

There are two sides and we sat on the Ballroom side ... each side/restaurant has their own menu.

It's very colourful!

Parmesan Chicken Salad with Zesty Pesto Dressing, Hello Fresh

A friend and neighbour is out of town and hadn't cancelled her Hello Fresh box for this week.  It arrived at her door yesterday and she messaged me to go get it and enjoy it.  So I did!

This evening for supper I made Parmesan Chicken Salad with Zesty Pesto Dressing.

The kit came with everything but oil.

Ta-da!  This is not a kit I would have ordered but I'm glad my friend did.  It was good ... and surprisingly filling!  I'm not a fan of parmesan cheese so didn't put any on my chicken when I put it in the oven.  I put some on Gord's chicken ... he likes parmesan cheese but wasn't too crazy about it on his chicken.

Louis Cifer Brew Works, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening on the patio of  Louis Cifer (a play on "lucifer") on Danforth Avenue.

The labels on the washrooms are fun

Peaches for Me was refreshing!

Gord ordered Crispy Fish Tacos and said they were good.

Happy Simcoe Day!

It's Simoe Day, a statutory holiday, here in Ontario.

It is named for Col. John Graves Simcoe ...

• Hero of the American Revolution
• Commanding officer of the Queen's York Rangers
• Founder of Toronto
• First Lt. Governor of Upper Canada
• Builder of Yonge Street
• Abolished slavery in what's now Ontario 30 years before the rest of the British Empire did it and 60 years before Abe Lincoln did it

Pennies, Toronto, ON

After Gord and I left the Blue Jays game, we had supper on the patio at Pennies (on Strachan Avenue/Adelaide Street W).

Sliders and tater tots are all they serve.  We both ordered #5 combos (3 sliders and tater tots).

Gord’s sliders were Filet Au Fish (iceberg, pickles and dill ranch), Bacon Cheeseburger (onion, pickle and mustard) and Baha fish taco.

Toronto Blue Jays 5 ~ Kansas City Royals 1, Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON

Due to Covid, the Toronto Blue Jays have been playing their home games in Dunedin, FL, and Buffalo the last two years.

They came home on Friday to start playing their home games here in Toronto ... whoohoo!  And Gord were at this afternoon's game ... they were playing the Kansas City Royals. 

We got there about an hour before the game started ... we wanted to be there in plenty of time because of safety protocols, etc.  As it turned out, there was no line-up and we were in in minutes.

There was a maximum of 15,000 permitted in the Rogers Centre (it holds almost 50,000).  Unless you were drinking or eating, you had to wear a mask.

Here are Gord and I ...

The roof was closed but opened just before the game started and the threat of rain passed.  Yay!