Aaaah, nice long weekend, makes me SO HAPPY. I have big plans, to sleep and knit and read and go to dinner and the movies. The weather is lovely, too.
I am reading Through a Glass Darkly, and I am wondering if the damn thing will ever end. I can't remember why I thought I would like it. It's kind of stupid. Yeesh. I guess I don't hate it enough to stop reading it but still.
I broke down and bought yarn for Something Red by Wendy Bernard. It's Blue Sky Alpacas cotton - so soft! If I start it now I'll probably be finished in September (it's short sleeved - more of a spring/summer garment). And yes, I'm still slogging away at Ariann. I have ripped the sleeves out more times than I can remember. I dropped a bunch of stitches off the needle and couldn't figure out how to put them back on so I went to knit night at A Knitted Peace, but I didn't really get it put back together right to I ripped it yet again. and I had made huge progress, too. I kind of feel weird about asking for help with a project when I didn't purchase the yarn at that store.
I also bought some basic felting yarn (Ella Rae) - I want to make another felted bag like my beloved red one. I just love that thing. But I'm telling myself that I need to finish Ariann and the Lizard Ridge before I start on the bag. I might cast on for Something Red sooner. Just so I'll have time to wear it before it gets too cold. It's also knit from the top down in one piece. Yay - hate finishing, I do.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Books, books, books
I've been reading a ton (just started with Paperback Swap, and I really like it - I'd like it a lot more if the people to whom I'm sending books would acknowledge receipt promptly...) so I thought I should update my list.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards. Blergh. The one thing I will say about this book is that it held my interest and made me a little weepy at the end. A doctor delivers his twins in a snowstorm in 1964 (two months before I was born, interestingly). Son born healthy and the daughter born with Down Syndrome and dad impulsively gives the baby to a nurse and tells her to deliver the baby to a home for disabled children. Oh, yeah, and he told his wife that the girl was born dead. The nurse ends up taking the baby herself and raises it. The dad's secret slowly tears the family apart. The mom/wife drove me absolutely insane. Hated this character. She was insipid in the beginning, and then of course turned into this hard driving career woman. Honestly, aside from the deception, I had a lot of sympathy for the father and very little for the mother. Not an awful book but just kind of annoying. The prose was lovely at times, but kind of overdone. I got sick of hearing about "Norah's delicate wrists," and "Norah's delicate feet," and let's not forget "Norah's slender neck." It made me almost embarrassed for the author at times. The jacket said that she went to the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and it surprised me. The author is no Ann Patchett (another IWW alumna).
Good thing I had a book that I completely enjoyed after reading that drivel. Avalon, by Anya Seton. I completely enjoyed this book and I liked it more than The Winthrop Woman. I thought it was a little tighter than TWW. Kind of meandering like TWW. I love this author and I'm so happy that I've found a new obsession. Anyway, Avalon was the story of an English girl, Merewyn, in the 900's. She thinks she is a descendant of King Arthur, but actually her mother was raped by a Viking. Her mother confessed to Lord Rumon, who promises not to tell Merewyn. Anyway, long and convoluted - Rumon takes Merewyn to King Edward's court and he falls in love with a scheming evil queen, Merewyn of course loves Rumon. She is taken to Iceland after a Viking raid and is reunited with her father. Okay, so it's completely implausible, but I liked the book enough to overlook this silliness. She marries and has two children and eventually returns to England (after residing in Greenland for many years) and claims to be the heir to King Arthur. Rumon finds her in Greenland, she wants nothing to do with him, he becomes a monk and upon her return she finds him. They don't end up reuniting, but rather Merewyn finds a new husband whom she doesn't really love but who takes good care of her. Finally on Rumon's deathbed, he asks her to stop claiming to be King Arthur's heir and she agrees, and her husband still loves her and she's still accepted... That's kind of a crappy review, but it was very meandering. I liked the era, it is something that I know little about (kind of like the Winthrop Woman in that sense). Just so good. I loved this book.
I'm reading my first PBS book - Through a Glass Darkly, by Karleen Koen. It kind of looks like a romance novel (embarrassing - I wish I could get over that, but I can't). I can't remember where it was recommended, but it's pretty good so far.
I'm kind of on a historical fiction bender right now. Specifically British historical fiction.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards. Blergh. The one thing I will say about this book is that it held my interest and made me a little weepy at the end. A doctor delivers his twins in a snowstorm in 1964 (two months before I was born, interestingly). Son born healthy and the daughter born with Down Syndrome and dad impulsively gives the baby to a nurse and tells her to deliver the baby to a home for disabled children. Oh, yeah, and he told his wife that the girl was born dead. The nurse ends up taking the baby herself and raises it. The dad's secret slowly tears the family apart. The mom/wife drove me absolutely insane. Hated this character. She was insipid in the beginning, and then of course turned into this hard driving career woman. Honestly, aside from the deception, I had a lot of sympathy for the father and very little for the mother. Not an awful book but just kind of annoying. The prose was lovely at times, but kind of overdone. I got sick of hearing about "Norah's delicate wrists," and "Norah's delicate feet," and let's not forget "Norah's slender neck." It made me almost embarrassed for the author at times. The jacket said that she went to the Iowa Writer's Workshop, and it surprised me. The author is no Ann Patchett (another IWW alumna).
Good thing I had a book that I completely enjoyed after reading that drivel. Avalon, by Anya Seton. I completely enjoyed this book and I liked it more than The Winthrop Woman. I thought it was a little tighter than TWW. Kind of meandering like TWW. I love this author and I'm so happy that I've found a new obsession. Anyway, Avalon was the story of an English girl, Merewyn, in the 900's. She thinks she is a descendant of King Arthur, but actually her mother was raped by a Viking. Her mother confessed to Lord Rumon, who promises not to tell Merewyn. Anyway, long and convoluted - Rumon takes Merewyn to King Edward's court and he falls in love with a scheming evil queen, Merewyn of course loves Rumon. She is taken to Iceland after a Viking raid and is reunited with her father. Okay, so it's completely implausible, but I liked the book enough to overlook this silliness. She marries and has two children and eventually returns to England (after residing in Greenland for many years) and claims to be the heir to King Arthur. Rumon finds her in Greenland, she wants nothing to do with him, he becomes a monk and upon her return she finds him. They don't end up reuniting, but rather Merewyn finds a new husband whom she doesn't really love but who takes good care of her. Finally on Rumon's deathbed, he asks her to stop claiming to be King Arthur's heir and she agrees, and her husband still loves her and she's still accepted... That's kind of a crappy review, but it was very meandering. I liked the era, it is something that I know little about (kind of like the Winthrop Woman in that sense). Just so good. I loved this book.
I'm reading my first PBS book - Through a Glass Darkly, by Karleen Koen. It kind of looks like a romance novel (embarrassing - I wish I could get over that, but I can't). I can't remember where it was recommended, but it's pretty good so far.
I'm kind of on a historical fiction bender right now. Specifically British historical fiction.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Aaah, springtime
A perfect day! The weather was glorious, upper 70's.
I took a nice long walk and listened to my audiobook, A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah. Heartbreaking, but so compelling. I am almost ashamed that these horrible atrocities were taking place in this world and it never crossed my radar. It's all the more poignant because my son is the age that Ishmael is when he was "drafted" (for lack of a better word).
Anyway, I need to take more long walks - it felt so nice.
I came home and read my newest library find, 44 Scotland Street, by Alexander McCall Smith. Wonderful. It was written in installments for a newspaper, a la Armistead Maupin. Completely sweet and enjoyable. A perfect springtime patio read. I'm halfway through and just started today. I told K that I felt like I was on vacation, reading my eyes out on our lovely patio, watching the birds scold my cat and eating way too much chocolate.
I felt unsure of my work on the Ariann sleeve, so I ripped it out and started over - I probably didn't need to do that. It's actually kind of fun, it is knitting up quickly and I've got it all charted out so I feel pretty confident in my progress.
I also hauled out the pink and lime green felted slippers that I started last spring. I don't think mine will make it much longer so I am starting their replacement. I made a ton of progress on the Lizard Ridge too - I am cranking out those squares.
What a lovely day, I couldn't ask for more. I am so lucky to have such a life.
I took a nice long walk and listened to my audiobook, A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah. Heartbreaking, but so compelling. I am almost ashamed that these horrible atrocities were taking place in this world and it never crossed my radar. It's all the more poignant because my son is the age that Ishmael is when he was "drafted" (for lack of a better word).
Anyway, I need to take more long walks - it felt so nice.
I came home and read my newest library find, 44 Scotland Street, by Alexander McCall Smith. Wonderful. It was written in installments for a newspaper, a la Armistead Maupin. Completely sweet and enjoyable. A perfect springtime patio read. I'm halfway through and just started today. I told K that I felt like I was on vacation, reading my eyes out on our lovely patio, watching the birds scold my cat and eating way too much chocolate.
I felt unsure of my work on the Ariann sleeve, so I ripped it out and started over - I probably didn't need to do that. It's actually kind of fun, it is knitting up quickly and I've got it all charted out so I feel pretty confident in my progress.
I also hauled out the pink and lime green felted slippers that I started last spring. I don't think mine will make it much longer so I am starting their replacement. I made a ton of progress on the Lizard Ridge too - I am cranking out those squares.
What a lovely day, I couldn't ask for more. I am so lucky to have such a life.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Creativity
I am not a good blogger - so much knitting, so much reading leads to very little blogging. I am realizing that a blog without photos is b.o.r.i.n.g. but since we're running dangerously low on disk space on our home computer I don't want to download many pictures because they take up so much space. We are looking into getting a new computer after that stooooopid HELOC is paid off, which, fortunately, is on the horizon. Yay - debt free (notwithstanding a $120,000 mortgage, ahem). It makes it worth the wait.
Speaking of money, I have been able to save a ton since I've been taking the bus or light rail. Love public transportation! So much reading/napping/knitting time. And I listen to the beloved This American Life on my beloved Ipod. Life is good.
I justified the purchase of a few more skeins of Noro for the Lizard Ridge since I've been so frugal. I really need to take some pictures because I am quite enchanted with my little squares and should be documenting their progress. I've been trying to stay away from the fluorescent pink/yellow colorways, which is kind of limiting, but that would not go in my house a'tall. I really like the No. 185 (orange/purple/green) that I got from Supercrafty, and also No. 178, which is a really lovely blue/grey/green.
The LR is nice to work on at lunch, and while commuting in that it's so portable. I've been saving Ariann for the evenings. Last night I progressed to the part where I did the armhole bindoffs. I also started one sleeve (I chose the long sleeved version, but am considering frogging it and making the 3/4 sleeve version - it seems a little dressier, and hello! faster). I'm not understanding how the body and the sleeves connect, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. The Ariann is at the Slog Phase right now, but I don't want to stop. I've been making pretty good time on it.
I titled this post "Creativity" because I've been thinking how I'm lacking in this arena. I can't fathom writing a knitting pattern, or even really altering an existing one very much. What's the point when there are so many lovely patterns out there. And, I've been following Cara's progress on her miters and have become increasingly interested in trying out a mitered blanket. Coming up with the color combinations is more than a little bit intimidating, though. It's funny because as much as I love Mason-Dixon Knitting, the mitered blanket is not one that caught my eye until Cara posted about it (mostly for the seaming - that might kill me dead). Hers are amazing - I especially love the Chocolate one, #20. I'm kind of plotting out my next project - I should use the Brown Sheep cotton fleece I bought for the Cutaway, and maybe use it for Wendy's Sizzle (what was I thinking buying that pattern - I'm far too modest to wear something that low cut). Alas, part of my obsession with knitting lies in the acquisition of new yarn.
The mitered blanket project is one that I could buy the yarn incrementally, though, like the Lizard Ridge. That has been a great feature of the project.
I've been doing lots of reading, currently The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton. I just love her work and for some reason it's very surprising to me that these books were written in the '40's and '50's. She has a way of just making the era come alive. I've never been particularly intrigued by the Puritans and America in the 1600's, but this book changed all that. I also have her earlier novel Avalon on the nightstand. The King Arthur legend business has kind of skeeved me so I'll be interested to see what Seton does with it.
Spring is here - we had a lovely weekend and the first of the week was nice, but it's sunny but cold and windy out today. Wind sucks. I think I'll stay in and knit at lunch today. What a surprise!
No photos, no links - I am a sad sack of a blogger.
Speaking of money, I have been able to save a ton since I've been taking the bus or light rail. Love public transportation! So much reading/napping/knitting time. And I listen to the beloved This American Life on my beloved Ipod. Life is good.
I justified the purchase of a few more skeins of Noro for the Lizard Ridge since I've been so frugal. I really need to take some pictures because I am quite enchanted with my little squares and should be documenting their progress. I've been trying to stay away from the fluorescent pink/yellow colorways, which is kind of limiting, but that would not go in my house a'tall. I really like the No. 185 (orange/purple/green) that I got from Supercrafty, and also No. 178, which is a really lovely blue/grey/green.
The LR is nice to work on at lunch, and while commuting in that it's so portable. I've been saving Ariann for the evenings. Last night I progressed to the part where I did the armhole bindoffs. I also started one sleeve (I chose the long sleeved version, but am considering frogging it and making the 3/4 sleeve version - it seems a little dressier, and hello! faster). I'm not understanding how the body and the sleeves connect, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. The Ariann is at the Slog Phase right now, but I don't want to stop. I've been making pretty good time on it.
I titled this post "Creativity" because I've been thinking how I'm lacking in this arena. I can't fathom writing a knitting pattern, or even really altering an existing one very much. What's the point when there are so many lovely patterns out there. And, I've been following Cara's progress on her miters and have become increasingly interested in trying out a mitered blanket. Coming up with the color combinations is more than a little bit intimidating, though. It's funny because as much as I love Mason-Dixon Knitting, the mitered blanket is not one that caught my eye until Cara posted about it (mostly for the seaming - that might kill me dead). Hers are amazing - I especially love the Chocolate one, #20. I'm kind of plotting out my next project - I should use the Brown Sheep cotton fleece I bought for the Cutaway, and maybe use it for Wendy's Sizzle (what was I thinking buying that pattern - I'm far too modest to wear something that low cut). Alas, part of my obsession with knitting lies in the acquisition of new yarn.
The mitered blanket project is one that I could buy the yarn incrementally, though, like the Lizard Ridge. That has been a great feature of the project.
I've been doing lots of reading, currently The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton. I just love her work and for some reason it's very surprising to me that these books were written in the '40's and '50's. She has a way of just making the era come alive. I've never been particularly intrigued by the Puritans and America in the 1600's, but this book changed all that. I also have her earlier novel Avalon on the nightstand. The King Arthur legend business has kind of skeeved me so I'll be interested to see what Seton does with it.
Spring is here - we had a lovely weekend and the first of the week was nice, but it's sunny but cold and windy out today. Wind sucks. I think I'll stay in and knit at lunch today. What a surprise!
No photos, no links - I am a sad sack of a blogger.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Merry Easter
It's a cold and snowy Easter - perfect for knitting, which I intend to do after our Easter dinner at Mom and Dad's (where we'll see my adorable little tiny nephew, Thad).
I have some catching up to do - Hawaii was all that I expected and more. Loved it. I read an entire book - Innocent Traitor, by Alison Weir, that was fab, and I knit three Lizard Ridge afghan squares. I've got the pattern down pat and so it's going pretty quickly. I'm running out of yarn so I bought three more skeins from Supercrafty that I'm anxiously awaiting. Good price, too. I'll put up a picture of the six squares - they look pretty good if I do say so myself. I tend to like the more earthy ones, but Kureyon's colors are pretty bright, shall we say. It's a good, portable project.
Still working on Ariann, too -# (*&^% buttonhole and all. I kind of screwed it up, but I'm not about to go back. I can't imagine wearing it buttoned anyway. I used the technique in The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques, and I screwed up somewhere along the way. Oh well. I'm still enjoying the process - it's a very enjoyable knit. I haven't figured out why it looks the way it does - gnomes as Crazy Aunt Purl would say.
I have more books from the library: The Winthrop Woman, by Anya Seton, Avalon also by Anya Seton and Mistress of the Art of Death, by Ariana Franklin. I think I'll read the Franklin book since there's a wait for it at the library, but I'm anxious to read The Winthrop Woman - Seton's book Katherine is one of my all time favorites.
I have some catching up to do - Hawaii was all that I expected and more. Loved it. I read an entire book - Innocent Traitor, by Alison Weir, that was fab, and I knit three Lizard Ridge afghan squares. I've got the pattern down pat and so it's going pretty quickly. I'm running out of yarn so I bought three more skeins from Supercrafty that I'm anxiously awaiting. Good price, too. I'll put up a picture of the six squares - they look pretty good if I do say so myself. I tend to like the more earthy ones, but Kureyon's colors are pretty bright, shall we say. It's a good, portable project.
Still working on Ariann, too -# (*&^% buttonhole and all. I kind of screwed it up, but I'm not about to go back. I can't imagine wearing it buttoned anyway. I used the technique in The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques, and I screwed up somewhere along the way. Oh well. I'm still enjoying the process - it's a very enjoyable knit. I haven't figured out why it looks the way it does - gnomes as Crazy Aunt Purl would say.
I have more books from the library: The Winthrop Woman, by Anya Seton, Avalon also by Anya Seton and Mistress of the Art of Death, by Ariana Franklin. I think I'll read the Franklin book since there's a wait for it at the library, but I'm anxious to read The Winthrop Woman - Seton's book Katherine is one of my all time favorites.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
I just couldn't take anymore...
Of this book, that is. I have a hard time not finishing a book once I've started, and this one was intriguing in certain aspects but I started to feel that there was some stupid gimmick that would be revealed in the end. Hated the characters. I don't really know why I picked it out from the library because the other book I read by the author Jennifer Egan, Look at Me, was pretty awful as well. I think I gave myself permission to quit because I didn't want to haul the thing to Hawaii. I need to stop thinking I have to finish reading what I start (it's not like I'm that way in other aspects of my life, sadly). Anyway, I picked out Blowing My Cover, My Life as a C.I.A. Spy, by Lindsay Moran and started it on the bus this morning and it looks light and fluffy, just what I need right now.
I ripped out my work on Ariann - I did the first buttonhole too soon. I could have fixed it by just spacing the other buttons differently, but I really don't want to have to figure out how to do that. I love the pattern and I love the yarn. I'm a little unsure how the sleeves will attach but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I want to bring it with me on the plane - the TSA guidelines recommend bamboo circular needles, but it's still up to the screener. I hope I don't look too threatening with my little knitting project. I'm actually quite annoyed about it. I'll bring the envelope to mail the needles back if need be. Sheesh.
I cannot wait for Hawaii! Four more days... Not that I'm counting or anything.
I ripped out my work on Ariann - I did the first buttonhole too soon. I could have fixed it by just spacing the other buttons differently, but I really don't want to have to figure out how to do that. I love the pattern and I love the yarn. I'm a little unsure how the sleeves will attach but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I want to bring it with me on the plane - the TSA guidelines recommend bamboo circular needles, but it's still up to the screener. I hope I don't look too threatening with my little knitting project. I'm actually quite annoyed about it. I'll bring the envelope to mail the needles back if need be. Sheesh.
I cannot wait for Hawaii! Four more days... Not that I'm counting or anything.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Progress
I finished all the blocking for the Princess pulli - the fabric is so incredibly soft and wonderful. I'll definitely be using the yarn again. And I am almost finished with the zipper for Ribby. Now that it's spring I have two nice new winter sweaters. I did not plan this well at all. At least my Ariann will probably be finished in time for fall '08.
I broke down and got a subscription to Interweave Knits. I'm looking forward to it. I barely read the Self magazine that I subscribe to and I end up buying IK at the grocery store anyway.
I am loving the book that I'm reading, it's Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. She wrote Mrs. Kimble which I read a few years ago and really enjoyed. I could actually concentrate on it while I was on the train this morning, which is rare.
Tonight is the last Lizard Ridge class. I finished a square and it looks pretty good. It's weird how the colors come together. There are mistakes - a couple of wraps that I didn't hide, and the night before last when I was working on it I got off track when I was counting, but it isn't apparent. I don't think I'll re-knit it. Hopefully I'll get better at recognizing the wrapped stitches when I'm on a purl side. Julie re-wrote the pattern to show exactly where to hide the wrapped stitches - I got a little careless towards the end.
I broke down and got a subscription to Interweave Knits. I'm looking forward to it. I barely read the Self magazine that I subscribe to and I end up buying IK at the grocery store anyway.
I am loving the book that I'm reading, it's Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. She wrote Mrs. Kimble which I read a few years ago and really enjoyed. I could actually concentrate on it while I was on the train this morning, which is rare.
Tonight is the last Lizard Ridge class. I finished a square and it looks pretty good. It's weird how the colors come together. There are mistakes - a couple of wraps that I didn't hide, and the night before last when I was working on it I got off track when I was counting, but it isn't apparent. I don't think I'll re-knit it. Hopefully I'll get better at recognizing the wrapped stitches when I'm on a purl side. Julie re-wrote the pattern to show exactly where to hide the wrapped stitches - I got a little careless towards the end.
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