Tuesday, August 16, 2022

While Miz Kittling Knits: Dark Winds

 


I told you that I'd been knitting up a storm while Denis has been in the hospital and the rehab facility. One afghan took me only eighteen days to complete. I forgot to keep track of the length of time this one took, but it has to be in the same lightning-fast neighborhood. Since this latest one came off my needles, I've started knitting scarves (what we always used to call mufflers) and needlepointing some things for the house. I wanted to give myself a breather from non-stop afghan making as well as give myself a chance to see what changes to routine I would have to make now that Denis is home, but guess what? I have to admit that I'm feeling the itch to start another afghan. I didn't realize this could turn into some sort of disease!
 
Let's take a look at my newest afghan. It's a bit of a departure for me since it uses more than one color of yarn.
 
Joining its cousins on the quilt rack.

 
Stripe detail.

I got the free pattern called "Two Stitch Easy Knit Blanket" from the Mama in a Stitch blog. The original pattern calls for yarn in six shades of the same color, but I decided to go my own way in both choice of colors and choice of knitting needle size. On my (US) size 15 circular knitting needles, I used a double strand of both Lion Brand Homespun "Shaker" and Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo "Cafe Latte". I knit the afghan in alternating bands of garter stitch and seed (or moss) stitch. I've been avoiding using more than one color of yarn, but working on this afghan has given me the confidence to try it again in another easy pattern. Then who knows what will happen?

 
What was I watching while I was knitting this afghan? A new series on AMC based on a Tony Hillerman mystery. 
 
 

 
Dark Winds is so good that I've watched it again so Denis could see and enjoy it, too. Before the series aired, I read about it and got really excited. When I learned that Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Anne Hillerman, and Chris Eyre were all involved, I knew Dark Winds was going to be good. Another plus? All the Indian roles are played by Indians-- something I've felt strongly about for decades. The actor playing Joe Leaphorn is Zahn McClarnon, whom many of you will remember from Longmire.
 
Dark Winds introduces us to the Navajo culture and language, and reading a list of the filming locations shows you that it was filmed right where it should be. I've been all over the areas mentioned in the series: Gallup, New Mexico, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Kayenta, Flagstaff... and although the series tries to give viewers an idea of the vast distances involved, unfortunately, you really aren't going to get the whole picture unless you've been there. 
 
The Navajo Nation is larger than some U.S. states. It's starkly, incredibly beautiful, and a perfect place for a television series like Dark Winds. If you haven't seen it already, I hope that you will make an effort to do so. It's so good that it was renewed before the first season had even finished airing. I look forward to this excellent team bringing us more of Tony Hillerman's stories. They've deserved to be filmed for a long time.

14 comments:

  1. I love the visual texture of that afghan, Cathy! It's fabulous! And those are nice shades, too. They sort of go with the Southwestern feel of Dark Winds. I think Hillerman was a skilled teller of tales who really placed the reader in the setting, so I'm glad you're enjoying this show as much as you are.

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    1. I recently watched a virtual event with Ramona Emerson and David Heska Wanbli Weiden in which they talked about Tony Hillerman. It was very interesting to listen to them.

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  2. That afghan is beautiful but then all your afghans are. I'm looking forward to watching "Dark Winds." Just now we are watching "Joe Pickett." We only do one episode per night and we are four episodes in. My husband is the "Keeper of the List" for shows that we want to watch and "Dark Winds" is definitely on it.

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    1. Denis and I watched and enjoyed Joe Pickett. I wouldn't be surprised to find it in a future While Miz Kittling Knits post!

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  3. We watched Dark Winds and liked it for many of the reasons you listed. My husband has not read the Hillerman books as yet, but I have. I will say that Jim Chee was bit different (and that's all I'll say about that - spoilers). Look forward to what comes next in the story.

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    1. Yes, I'm looking forward to the next season myself.

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  4. Dark Winds sounds like an amazing series, I'll have to check it out. I do love Hillerman's books. :)

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    1. I hope you get a chance to watch and enjoy it, Lark!

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  5. I had the same reaction you did to hearing about the team behind Dark Winds, so I'm glad the show lived up to the promise. I'm interested, but I don't seem to get around to watching too many TV series at the moment, so for now the memories of reading Hillerman's books will suffice.

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    1. Redford tried a few years back to bring us Hillerman, and the story and the acting were good, but they had to film it around Globe, Arizona, and-- having been guests in the Navajo Nation many times-- every time I saw a saguaro, I was thrown out of the story because I know darned good and well that saguaros don't grow on the rez!

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  6. Very nice pattern. The Dark Winds TV show sounds good. I have to check AMC's schedule. Listening to PP, Hayley Scrivner, whose Dirt Creek has been praised.

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  7. Omigosh. It worked! I can comment.

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