Not much has changed in my knitting situation since Monday’s sock-filled post, but I have made progress on the second leg of my Tropical Travelers and put a bit more time into the Fiasco’s neglected pair.

BMFA Socks That Rock Heavyweight, colorway Tea & Alchemy

I’m now up to the heel flap and will get to it when I have time to focus/remember what I did the first time (siiiiiiigh). I also spent a happy evening last night plying up most of the rest of the 17 oz of Ashland Bay Falkland wool that I’ve been spinning on my Lendrum.

I love my skein winder from The Woolery.

Image from the @hotdudesreading Instagram account.

Current reading.

I’m not a big drinker at all, but I’ve recently discovered the allure of the fancy cocktail. When I visited my friends in NYC over Christmas, we went to a French restaurant and an upscale bar where I had, by far, the most delicious drinks of my entire life. The one at the French restaurant involved rosemary and rose wine (as far as I can remember) and something I drank at the bar contained egg whites, which made for a delightfully frothy drink. As with everything that catches my attention, I wanted to know MORE. I didn’t want to just drink what was put in front of me, I wanted to know the why’s and the how’s and the history behind it all. Since my dear friend Katy knows me so well, she gifted me the book above for my birthday (along with Shake, a super hipster but super awesome cocktail recipe book) and now I can’t stop reading. It proceeds alphabetically through all of the plants, spices, seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plant parts that have been ingredients in pretty much any kind of alcohol, ever. She provides a little botanical information about the species as well as the history of its use by humans and its effect in various drinks. (In that way, it reminds me quite a bit of Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire, which details the mutually beneficial relationship between humans and four domesticated plants: potatoes, apples, tulips, and cannabis.) For an information sponge like me, it’s pretty awesome, and I’m fiercely looking forward to hosting a cocktail party during which I not only mix you a delicious drink to cure whatever’s ailing you, but also spout Fun Plant Facts at the same time. BWAHAHAHAHAHA. I’m so fun to party with, guys, for reals. #Katycreatedamonster

I’m linking up to this week’s Yarn Along at Small Things as well as Stitch Along Wednesday at the Life and Yarn or Yarn and Life blog. Have a lovely week, all!