Transatlantic

So I started a new book yesterday and only got to page 12. Not an auspicious beginning! The book is Transatlantic by Colum McCann with my teaser from page 12.

"They didn't want to remember the bombs that had dudded out, or the crash and burn, or the cellblocks they had been locked into, or what species of abyss they had seen in the dark."

I'm thinking the author is describing the depths before we see the heights. Hope so!

The opening paragraph is more appealing to me with the elemental power and beauty of nature:

"The cottage sat at the end of the lough. She could hear the wind and rain whipping across the expanse of open water: it hit the trees and muscled its way to the grass."

I had to consult the dictionary for the exact meaning of "lough" beyond what I surmised from the context.

lough:
1 chiefly Irish : lake

2

chiefly Irish : a bay or inlet of the sea

And there we have our vocabulary development for the day. Wonder if I'll be learning many "chiefly Irish" words in this book.

The question is: Would you continue reading?

A Few Green Leaves

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer 

A Few Green Leaves by Barbara Pym
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant! I think of Louise Penny and wonder if she's influenced by Barbara Pym's writing since there is a strong similarity in style and wry wit.

A favorite description: He was "...a sometime chaplain on the Riviera." It makes me smile.

Enchanting story of a quiet English village and "slow living", gentle, ordinary, and engaging. An anthropologist comes to stay in her mother's cottage and collects observations and experience with the people in all their individuality and complexities. This book is very charming and relaxing. I feel as though I have visited this lovely village through the author's words.

I plan to read more books by Barbara Pym. Have you read her books?

View all my reviews

Books Finished
A Few Green Leaves by Barbara Pym 5/5
Call Me Zelda by Erika Robuck 5/5
Studio Saint-Ex by Ania Szado 2/5  Won give-away by publisher

Currently Reading
Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehman Advanced Uncorrected Proof from Simon and Schuster
The Witch of Little Italy by Suzanne Palmieri Downloaded from Denver Public Library

Child's Cottage Bag

The cottage purse for DGD's November birthday is finished, though I may find myself adding a bit of this and a touch of that between now and then. I posted about beginning this little gift here. It's filled with books, drawing pad, and colored pencils.

There are beads along the vine. I'm thinking I'll add a three dimensional butterfly or two to the right side by crocheting small butterflies and stitching them on to the fabric.

What are you working on?

Yarn Along - The Sea House

It's Wednesday! What are you reading? What are you knitting?

Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!

 The Sea House by Esther Freud is set on an English coastline with desirable beaches and a sleepy village. The main character, Lily, is translating a set of letters circa 1930 from German to English. The author is slowly revealing Lily's life and introducing an interesting set of supporting characters.

So far, I have to say it's an OK read. Perhaps it will become more gripping as I continue along.

This little cottage is coming off the crochet hook in sc based on a half-remembered pattern I used to make a "house tote" for my daughter and her friends in the late 70's. Using a G hook and WW I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby, I've made pieces for the window and door to be sewn on to the yellow part.

The scalloped trim is pinned in place and a few stitches created flowers and grass. The door knob is a white bead and three tiny green and blue beads are the center of each flower. This will continue to be a WIP for a while as I add little touches, windows on the back, vines and flowers, and a butterfly. This is for seven-year-old DGD's November birthday, so I have plenty of time to play with it! Fun!

 

 

 

 

Saturday Sky @ the Park

Fall weather is not very colorful here. There are a few trees that go to yellow, but not for long. Most trees go from green to drab. However that is offset by the beautiful blue sky.

I truly-truly appreciate the supportive comments regarding the baby blanket for the neighbor baby who is getting older by the minute! My posting about the number of patches was incorrect--darn! The total for the baby blanket is 55 not 46! I do want to emphasize that this pattern is really fun to knit. The pattern is in The Rambling Rows Afghan booklet by Cottage Creations.

I knew you before you were born. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. You were written in My book before you were even made. ---Psalm 139: 13-16

Hidden Content

Knitting is present here with mini-Max, pillow Max, and Mighty Max. Yes, it is indeed the blue and cream pillow I made for Max with Dive' Super Cotton Club and size 17 needles. A make-it-up-as-you-go project, it is a combination of stockinette and garter stitches. Very simple. Very fast Very Max! Do you see the wonderfulness on the window seat? There were serious doubts about the Gerbera daisies being left on the deck too long into the Fall weather. After slight
tending, the Lord gave me this beautiful gift! How glorious! Now I want the pot to be full of these luscious blooms that I so enjoyed in the summer!

A trip to the library is in order today to pick up Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy for the "Knit & Crochet the Classics" group project at http://knittheclassics.blogspot.com

This will be a welcome change after reading Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon about the role of Denmark in the Resistance Movement of WWII after the main character, Annabell Sydney, marries a Danish musician. It is a sorrowful story that I didn't really enjoy. It is the story of lives--all lives--and war. The changes caused by aging lends a very strong sense of futility.
No joy.

Every setback might be the very thing that makes you carry on and fight all the harder and become that much better. --Les Paul

Wunnerful-Wunnerful

Behold the Wonderful Wallaby sweater knit with Mission Falls 1824 cotton on sizes 7 and 5 needles. Because it's knitted on dps and circs—voila!—no seams! This is the hoodless version at the request of K3. You can, of course, make a pouchless version….a hoodless and pouchless version, or a hooded and pouched...well you get the idea! The sizes are from a child's size 2 to super size adult! I made a size 4, which—by the way—is called the "Willie Wallaby" in this nifty little pattern book!

Here's the contact info to get the booklet with all the sizes:

Cottage Creations
At the Farm on Deer Creek
Carpenter, IA 50426-0070

Honestly, I am not kidding! That really is it! And, the pattern booklet is as quaint as the address. Just think! Your entire family could be decked out in wonderful wallabys (wallabies?) from the toddlers to the grandparents! Do I hear needles clicking?

Belonging by Nancy Thayer is a wonderful-wonderful story of a career woman who eventually discovers aspects of "belonging" in different places and with a variety of people for diverse reasons. This is a fascinating study of the evolution from superficiality to deeper meaning. EXCELLENT read!

Back by popular demand, well--OK--there was ONE comment, is Mighty Max my wonder dog in his holiday tie. Maybe I'll try to teach him to bark "Jingle Bells"....hmmm....






That "Love Thy Neighbor" thing...I meant it.
--God