Monday Reads

I almost forgot about this since it's Labor Day here in the states and it's a holiday.  But I have finished one book and started several others so I have some reporting to do!  First off.......I finished Runaway....
definitely a good book.  She was VERY honest and explicit and certainly lived fearlessly and I admired her strength of character as many in her situation could have gone down the wrong path numerous times.  I do want to read her bestseller, Castaway.  I would give this book a 6 out of 10.

I'm listening to Tales From Watership Down by Richard Adams.   It's a little strange but I just realized probably because I did not read the first book, Watership Down; "one of the best-loved works of imaginative literature".  Tales From Watership Down tells the lives of the rabbits after their defeat of General Woundwort.  See what I mean?  I think I needed to read the first book which I will indeed!  I love books about animals that talk and have their own societies and I try to see things from their perspective.  I picked this audio book up at the Thrift Store.  I think I'll check out Thrift Books to see if I can get the first book.  Always free shipping in the U.S.!

I'm STILL slogging through this one and really can't wait until it's over!!!  I'm on page 435 of 538 and it's only a slight bit improved but still makes no real sense.  There must be a cult following of a different generation than mine as I see no plot, no sense, nada.  It's like the author was on a "trip"...a drug trip, as it's all over the place and to think I thought I was the Queen of the run-on sentence! LOL! 
Maybe I'm missing the point or something?  If anyone has read this and has some insight please share it with me.

Just so you don't think I don't care for any books.....I am "over the  moon" for the next 2!  I was watching PBS and there was a guy on that had a show about his memories on a farm growing up in Wisconsin.  His name was Jerry Apps and for some ungodly price I could buy his book.  I used to support PBS until I retired but now it's not in my budget so I went on Amazon and found the book and many more by Jerry Apps.  I ordered this one and it takes me back to my little farm that I had and all the farms I've loved and visited in my life.  This is a keeper for sure and there will be many more books on here by Jerry Apps.  This particular book is one of his  most recent.   "It is the story of his land from the last great glacier that dug out it's valleys and formed its hills to his own family's forty-year relationship with the beloved farm they call Roshara."  I'll be sad when this book ends.  There are also beautiful photos of the farm and it's inhabitants taken by his son.

I have wanted this book/books for ages but only saw it once and couldn't quite remember the name.  All I knew was that it had the most beautiful drawings of little mice dressed up and living  in a world all their own so cozily!   This book is the entire collection as far as I know.  I read a book a night and had hoped to read to my grandson when he came but that didn't come about.  But I am thoroughly enjoying the stories and the artwork is simply amazing.  I want to live in their "tree houses"!  There are other items related to Brambly Hedge such as china, fabric and tins and patterns for knitting the characters.  I'm smitten!!!

I was forgetting about my magazine reading so here I go again.....attempting to stay on top of them!  Or else I won't allow myself to renew!  There, I said it!  Listen up Farmgirl Sam!
This one looks interesting though as I LOVE me a good makeover and these are speedy so they say.  I'll let you know.  Hope you enjoyed your Labor Day Weekend for those in the U.S. and for the rest of you I hope you had a wonderful weekend too!

 Thank you for stopping by and for your comments....they mean the world to me and I truly appreciate them and you!

YOP Sunday

I know I told you last week I probably wouldn't be blogging because of company being here but alas...my son ended up having oral surgery so it was not to be!  He's fine other than a little swollen and uncomfortable but I was able to Skype with him and my grandson last night which was really nice.  I told my grandson I was sending him a "care" package since he couldn't come to Grandma's house and his eyes lit up so hopefully he'll enjoy what I send him.
So, since they weren't coming I worked on a Bunny Buddy for him which will be worked on today and finished so I can mail it with some other things on Tuesday.  It might be a bit young for him but it's filled with Grandma's love so that can't be bad!  BTW...this is the crocheted version.  There are 2 patterns; one for crochet and one for knitted.  It's from Lion Brand and I used Bernat Velvetspun yarn with a K hook.  The yarn is a dream to work with and does feel like velvet!  I got it at Wal-Mart for less than $3 and it only takes one skein!  Great budget gift!  I only wish it came in other colors besides pastel...like a nice gray or brown...you know....rabbit colors! LOL!

 I didn't finish my hook holder but I did manage to get one edge done in the purple.

   The scarf looks the same....just longer! LOL!  I was able to find another skein in the same lot number at Wal-Mart this past week so hurray for that!

I managed to cast on another washcoth too....I SO love casting on and starting new projects!

I also found some really nice patterns and designers for toys and thought I would share with you as there are so many cute ones out there in case you hadn't seen these.  I would have cast on one of these but I need to order some DPN's in sizes I don't have.  My favorite so far when it comes to toys is Rabbit Hole Knits and then there's Wendy Phillips 
and Vendula Maderska
I'll be by later to see what everyone's been up to!  I'm doing a happy dance this morning as it is pouring rain outside and I don't have to go out and water early as I've been doing for the past month or more in this heat we've had here!  The rain is bringing in a cool front supposedly and what a gift for the first day of September!  Yippee!  Plus, football has started and Fall is coming!  I love Fall and Winter best especially down here in the South where it's too hot to enjoy the Summer.   Although I must admit, it really wasn't too bad this year until August.  Have a great Labor Day Weekend everyone that's celebrating it and the rest of you have a great weekend too!
  

WIP Wednesday

 

Not too much on the needles right now but I am getting ready to cast on to do 3 washcloths (not all at the same time...LOL) and then I need to revisit my list to see what's next!  I do have an FO which I'll post on Friday and maybe by then I'll have another?  A girl can hope!  So exciting to pick out new projects....I'm pretty sure it will be socks!  I also have to get going on my granny square blanket and I have a few finishes to do.  But for now this is what I am working on.......

The gift scarf is 15 inches long now and I have 2 more skeins which means it will be 45 inches long when I run out of yarn unless I can find more skeins with the same lot number?  Is 45 inches long enough for  a heavy and bulky scarf like this?  I'm thinking it's not long enough to throw over your shoulder which I think it should be capable of.  We'll see.

This next project I started and wouldn't say what it was but "curious minds wanted to know" so.......... 

 It's going to be a crochet hook holder...........like below

 This is another "beginner" project out of Cute and Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench.....love this book!  I am making everything in it...eventually! LOL!  You could do this without a pattern really as it's just single crochet 11 1/2 inches by 8 inches and then a cute crocheted edging, line it and before you line it sew the pockets for your hooks.  I think it's just one pocket and then you machine stitch the pocket to separate for each of your hooks.  Then you sew it to the crocheted rectangle.  We'll see how I do....I'm sure it won't turn out as nice as Nicki's, regardless but "practice makes perfect" and the more I do the better I'll get...I hope.

I'm so glad I decided to intersperse little projects in with bigger ones.  It has made it so much more fun and gratifying to have some finishes more often.

I also want to do some toys this year....knitted, and I am in love with Beatrix Potter and Brambly Hedge animals.  I think they are just so adorable.  I found knitting patterns for them but OMG they are SO expensive!  They run between $30 to $60 for just one pattern!  The designer is darn good but they are now out of print thus the top dollar.  The designer is Alan Dart and his website has all kinds of toy patterns and they are exquisite!  They are in English pounds but I don't think they're too expensive and there are so many to chose from.  There is also a Ravelry Group for "Alan Dart" people.  They are very popular and he gets high praise for well-written and beautifully designed "stuffies".  So, before I plunk down serious  money for a BP or BH pattern, I think I will give some of his other patterns a try first and see how I do.  The Ravelry group is also there to help and answer any questions along the way so that is very reassuring.  Have any of you knitted up any of his toys?  I'm also looking at Susan Anderson's (designer on Ravelry also) and of course there are some really nice ones that are totally free on Ravelry too.  Here are some of Alan's toys...........

 Aren't they just precious?  

I'll be by to visit you and see your WIPs later....I have to get some work done around here first or there will be no clean clothes and no food to eat! LOL!  Have a great  day and thank you always for your comments....I appreciate them so much!

P.S.  Don't forget to go visit all the other gifted participants in the WIP...just click on the icon for WIP Wednesday on the right side of my blog.

YOP Sunday

I have an FO!!!!  Can you believe it?  I loved making it and I can't wait to hang it up somewhere.

There are 6 triangles but you could make as many as you wanted and a great way to use up leftovers from other projects.  This counts as the first finished project from my goal to crochet everything in Nicki Trench's book Cute and Easy Crochet.  I have started the blanket made of small granny squares but I forgot to take a picture.

My batting for the quilt finally arrived so I am working on that too which I've never done as I've had previous quilts machine quilted so this is all new to me!  I'm down to the wire as company arrives next week so I may not have a chance to blog next Sunday.

I've already started on the next project from the book but I won't tell you what it is...it will be a surprise as I am assuming it will be well in progress 2 weeks from now when I blog again.  But here's a glimpse...

I'm loving the yellow and purple combination.  

The scarf is coming along great.  There's been a few errors and I am learning to "back out" of stitches.  It won't be perfect but it is a great project except the heavier yarn makes my hands tire a bit faster. I doubt if my son will notice the errors.  This is a project I pick up during the day on "breaks" and knit a few rows and then put down again.  I don't think I could knit this for hours on end unless it was in a lighter yarn.  This is the Irish Hiking Scarf and it counts towards my Christmas presents category.  As you can see I'm almost finished with the first skein (1 of 3) so I think 3 will probably make a nice length.  I'll have to get more for the hat.

I'll be by later to catch up with all of you.....I have to get some work done around here and get dinner on.  It's down to the wire with company coming but I can't wait to see them! 

WIP Wednesday

I only have 2 WIP right now.....key word being progress! LOL!  I have lots of other projects unfinished....LOTS!  But these are the ones that I'm actually picking up right now.  This is my bunting from the crochet book I am working through.  The basic triangle is done and one is completed which I noticed I placed with wrong side up in the picture.  I just have to edge the others and crochet together.  Hopefully I'll have an FO by Friday!

Below is a Christmas present I'm working on.  It is the first time I have knit cables and Ruth, they ARE fun!  Who knew!?!?!  It's turning out great I think and although right now it seems like it could be more of a rug than a scarf, it is soft and pliable but is stiff on the sticks.  I am using Lion Brand Wool-Ease, a Super Bulky I got at Wal-Mart and it is so nice.  I bought 3 skeins so that is how big the scarf will be! LOL!  I'm using size 10/6mm needles for it.  It is the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern free on Ravelry.  I'll be making a matching hat too. 

 

   That's all for this week so far.  I have to go visit and see what you all have been up to!  Be sure and click on the WIP button on the right side of my blog to see what everyone else is making.  TTYL!

Monday Reading Material and a couple great links!

Still slogging away on this...another crrrrrazzy book unless I'm crazy and therefore nothing normal makes sense to me?  I'm on page 308 so you'd think by now there would be some semblance of a plot or a storyline of some kind?  How much do they have to pay these people to write these glowing recommendations on the covers?  From now on I'm not trusting them or anyone  under 50 who recommends a book to me! LOL!  Maybe I spent too many years reading computer manuals?  I understood them but this?  Not so much.

Did I tell you I finished this one last week?   Another good mystery by Maggie Sefton.  If you like knitting, yarn shops, Colorado, mysteries (but not gore or extreme violence), and recipes and feeling like you belong to their "group", you will love her books.  They are what I call "cozy".  In fact, if you want lots of "cozy" book titles visit Cozy Mystery and she also has a blog which is interesting.  I like it too because you can discover new authors and also get lists of their books in order and see what you might have missed!

This book is turning out to be quite interesting and well-written.  This girl had guts for her age or were we all brave when we didn't know how scary the world can really be?  I remember I wanted to bike across the U.S. with my dog during the Summer between high school and college but my parents wouldn't hear of it.  I could not understand what THEIR problem was! LOL!  Actually, I still think it's a great idea but maybe with a group of friends...not solo.

I finally finished listening to Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson.  This was very good and a tear jerker!  I highly recommend it as it is a great story and I still can't get over the fact that James Patterson wrote it!  I only listen to audio books when I have things to do that are boring enough that I can listen and do what I'm doing....such as ironing, some needlework, and house cleaning for sure! LOL!  This one is a "keeper" for me also and goes in my "special" bookcase.  This audio has 4 cd's and was $34.00 new....I got it at the Thrift Store for less than $2.00.  Don't forget to check your localThrift Stores for books and cd's.  Once I got a whole bunch  of PBS video tapes, travel ones, and audio books of Agatha Christie and other great mystery writers.  I thought I'd died and gone to heaven....some were only $.50!

  Here's the next audio I will be listening too.  This was from a library sale.  I never pay full price if I don't have to unless it's special and there are lots of those too.

There was a great list of books I ran across today of " 32 books that will actually change your life".....not so sure about "change" but maybe books you will never forget?  I've read a few on it, a few I've started and not finished and a few I would probably never read but here's the list in case your interested.  I LOVE book lists!  I will try and find one to include each week as I can't possibly read fast enough to hold anyone's interest! LOL!  Have a great week everyone and "Stay Calm and Read On"!

YOP Sunday

 

Say goodbye to Blackberry Salad blankie...for awhile anyway.  Remember last week when I said it really wasn't crooked on the end of the blanket?  Well, I was looking through the camera lens and I really did believe in my heart of hearts that I had just stretched it when I laid it out to take the picture.  In fact, I went on this last week to do several more rows and then I decided to weave in the threads on the end that was when I noticed the HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE edge of the blanket!  Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Here it is in all it's miserableness...........what the heck?????  I must not have seen it for all the ends that were hanging there before I wove them in.  Anyway, I am putting it "aside" for now and maybe forever as I have had way too many failures in the needlework area lately.  I chose to believe that I am supposed to be doing other things as the pc has been crashing a lot too.  So, I did landscaping and cleaning and clearing and decluttering and I must say it's a good feeling!  The guest room is almost ready for my guests and I'm waiting for the Warm and Natural quilt batting to arrive as I could not bring myself to use the stuff from Walmart....pure chemicals.  I have decided that when I have a heartbreaking and disappointing failure that I will get back in the saddle by starting a new project!~   LOL!  Who doesn't love to "move on" to something better?  Tear off those rear view mirrors and don't look back!

So, on that note I bring you my crocheted bunting.....not done but having fun doing it!

  The one in the middle is done and then I decided to do all 6 of the triangles and then crochet their edgings and then crochet them all together....bunting style!  One of my projects this year is to crochet everything in this book...........

I was going to go in order but the first project is a huge blanket of small Granny Squares which I am starting but which will take a long, long time so while doing the squares I thought I would continue through the book and the next project is the bunting.  

I also started on Christmas presents which will accomplish both a present and learning cables at the same time.  This is Lion Brand Wool-Ease which I found at Wal-mart and I love it.  It is Super Chunky yarn and I am doing an Irish Hiking Scarf and hat to match.  So far, so good!  You knew I couldn't totally put the sticks down and lose my knitting edge? LOL!  The picture doesn't show it but I've actually done a row of the cable stitches since I took that picture and no problem so far.  I did find that it was easier to use a DPN as opposed to a cable needle to hold the cable stitches.  I also adore my Lantern Moon wooden needles.  I think the dark heathered gray and black yarn will also help me not be so knit-picky (bad pun) about my stitches and will hide any sins I make along the way.  The yarn is soft yet feels like wool and is machine washable and dryable which is good because it is a gift for one of my sons who would machine wash and dry it regardless! LOL!  They don't read my blog so I don't think I have to worry about them finding out.

I hope you had a great week and please say a prayer that I don't mess up these new projects! LOL!  

P.S.  BTW, my pc is having REAL problems...it heats up because the fan no longer works and then it shuts down (better than starting a fire...thank you) but it does it a lot and that is why I am not blogging or reading as much.  It crashed 3 times while writing this blog!  So, please don't take offense if I haven't been by or commented.  I'm trying but after awhile I give up and go do other things which in many ways is a good thing!  Ha! Ha!  TTYL if my pc stays up!

 

Monday's Musings

I hope you had a lovely weekend.  I did!  It rained and thundered.  It was so cozy and great for all sorts of indoor activities....one of which was reading......

 These are my current reads:
1)  Little Big by John Crowley -  I'm on page 240 of 530 and it's just as confusing now as when I started.  This man had to be smoking something when he wrote this.  Maybe that's why the main character's name is Smokey?  I will finish in the hope that it pulls out of this nose dive before the end.  And "so it goes" for  the critically acclaimed authors and their stories. Take them away I say...take them away!

2) Runaway by Lucy Irvine - (on page 50 of 255) I got this "bargain book" years ago at a Waldon book store I used to frequent.  This is Lucy's own story in her words of how at the age of 12 she ran away from home and school and her parent's failing marriage.  She returned at times but never again to the family that "was".  I've only just started this book but it amazes me that she lived to tell about it!  Although this took place back in 1966 when she was twelve and also in England.  She went on to write another book called Castaway which was a best seller about her year on a desert island.  This book is about her life before that.  So far I'm enjoying it and love her spirit!

  

3)  Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton - (On page 259 of 284) Thank goodness for Maggie!  Just a nice cozy mystery with the added bonus of a recipe and a knitting pattern and good writing...writing that doesn't give me a headache trying to figure out what the author is trying to convey!  Unfortunately, they put so much information on the back cover that they practically tell you the whole story!  If you get these books DO NOT read the back cover or inside flap whichever.  I'm on book #7 and I'm starting to figure them out anyway but she is a great writer and if you're a knitter it's a fun and interesting escape book and easy reading for when you're tired.

4)  Sam's letter's to Jennifer - James Patterson (audio cd 2 of 4) This is SO good....is this the same author that writes those spy/thriller books that guys like so much?  Unfortunately, I haven't had much time to sit down and listen to it as company is coming in a few weeks and I have lots to do still.
BTW,  I will describe the story line of a new book/audio the first time I mention it but not week after week if I'm still reading/listening to it.  Suffice it to say, I'd love to just plop down with some handwork and listen to this one until it's done.  What a wonderful story so far.

I have to go see what everyone else is reading now!  Have a great day!

YOP Sunday

I have been busy, busy, busy but not doing handwork...more like housework!  But that's okay because I like balance in my life...a little of this and a little of that.  I did finish something as I needed a confidence booster as the knitting was not.  The first of one of my "toys" and childish items I want make this year.  I apologize if you saw this last Wednesday but my YOP friends have yet to see it.

I've made some progress on my Blackberry Salad and I must admit I "get it" now and it is so fun to crochet!  I think this will not be the last of them and perfect for telly watching!

It's not as uneven as it looks in the picture...........I hope!
I forgot to list the books I was working from this year...did you hear that, "books" plural, as if I could get through one of them in a year! LOL!  But I do know that this book will be the first one!
Did you notice I'm not mentioning any knitting?  If you want to know why check last Wednesday's blog.
Anyway, not only do I love this book and all it's projects but I love how it is organized by level of difficulty and building on skills.  The first project is another blanket I started when I realized I really needed to finish the Blackberry first.  Plus, in order not to bore you or myself, these "blanket" projects will be interspersed with smaller projects like my little birdie from Attic 24.  (There's a link to Attic 24 on my right hand sidebar.)  There are 4 skill levels in this book and they go from Beginner to Enthusiast.  The next project after the blanket is a bunting so hopefully I will have that started by next week and meanwhile keep having fun with the Blackberry Salad!  I need to order more yarn in more colors too.  Does anyone know if there is a book like this out there for knitting?  One that takes you from beginner to advanced projects all the while increasing your skills through the projects in the book?  I would love a book like that for knitting.     

 I have to go make a cake now as my sweet tooth is calling for something sweet.  I defrosted peach pie filling I made last year and I'm anxious to try this new recipe.  I'll let you know tomorrow if it was everything I hoped it would be! LOL! 

I'll be by later to see what you all have been up to after I get the cake in the oven!  Toodles!