Yarn Along ~ Christmas Stocking

 I have interrupted my baby blanket knitting (like that's never happened before) to crochet a Christmas stocking for a friend's new great granddaughter. While I prefer the look and feel of a knitted stocking, crochet is much faster. This stash yarn is finally leaving the building after several years residence here!
This is based on the "Snowman Stocking" pattern, minus the snowman, at http://crochetmagazine.com/newsletters

I've just begun reading Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. It's a pleasure to read about this charming main character who faces her difficult young life with hope and positivity. No whining!

*****

What are you reading? What are you knitting? Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!

Teaser Tuesday ~ Honeycutt

"On a warm October night I sat outside and rested against a maple tree. I gazed at the branches above me, and while watching the moonlight ride the copper leaves as they let go and swirled to the ground, I wondered about all the prayers I'd said." 
                                     -- Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Succinctly Yours ~ Week 36

 

She is complacent about shopping so Mr. buys groceries every day. Is he over-compensating or just bored? There's always food on the table.

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A microfiction meme hosted at http://grandmas-goulash.info



Saturday Snapshot ~ Arch

St. Louis Arch

July 4, 2010

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Baby Blanket

A sweet baby girl named Ashley Elizabeth was born to dear niece and her hubby, which means it is baby blanket time.  I downloaded Exclusive by Sandra Brown to accompany the knitting. The premise sounds interesting, but I am not far enough into the story to venture an opinion.

 The "I Love This Yarn" left-overs work well for this blanket--pastels, very soft hand, and oh-so-cuddly. I used this yarn for 8-year-old DGD's Christmas present, a throw.

 Why did it take me SO long to decide on a pattern? I don't know! I started to crochet motifs for a baby blanket, then decided I didn't feel like doing that. So, I dug out an old copy of Knitting Digest dated September, 1997, and came upon the "Rainbow Crib Cover" on page 22.

 

 The stripes run length-wise in a repeating pattern on size 9 circs. The four row pattern stitch is simple and provides a lacy appearance. I am not a fan of fringe, so I plan to crochet a scalloped border around the edges. Then, I'll send it off across the country to sweet baby.

*****

What are you reading? What are you knitting? Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!



Then Again by Diane Keaton

This is a book of deeply felt emotion, of good-byes, of sadness at the passing of parents and the reality of one's own mortality. Some of us have been there. Some of us know this searing experience.  For Diane Keaton, who adopted her first child at age 50, then another, there is the brightness of children to propel her into activity and light amidst her sorrow. Children provoke deep, almost painful emotions of deepest love that blends with the sadness of losing our own parents. It is a whirl pool of churning emotions.
While some celebrity memoirs reach to "set things straight" or present "my side of the story", this memoir minimizes Keaton's life and accomplishments and focuses on love and loss. On sorrow. It is interesting to see, so far as she is willing to reveal, her life as a working actress. Her artistic sensibilities are refreshing, even joyful. She writes about her powerful friendship with Woody Allen. She mentions Al Pacino.
I remember swooning over Warren Beatty in "Splendor in the Grass", as Diane did. Can you imagine actually having an adult relationship with your movie idol as she did? She had difficulty with that concept as any of us would. That is the tone of this book--that she is as surprised by her celebrity as anyone would be. That is her appeal. The self-deprecating, talented, artistic, poetic woman, Diane Keaton, is authentic and human and grieving the passing of her sensitive, loving mother. A tearful ending. A beautiful book.

Succinctly Yours Week 35

Felicity dreads her Fall costume as she favors a tunic top for her figure.

John says Santa is much worse off in his red suit. No sympathy.

******

A microfiction meme hosted at http://grandmas-goulash.info/

Dying for Mercy

Dying for Mercy by Mary Jane Clark

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This murderous story uses imagery of the Passion and Crucifixion of Christ as clues to solving the mystery and would be more compelling in the hands of a writer with greater literary skills. The writing telegraphs the action to come, which spoils the story line. I am undecided about reading this author again.
View all my reviews

11-22-63

11/22/63 by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It was slow going at the beginning, but once the set-up is in place, it is a completely gripping story. The writing drew me in and kept me. It is altogether spell binding with many points of connection for those of us who lived in the '60s and remember the absolute horror of the events surrounding 11/22/63. The characters are richly drawn, absolutely believable, and will live in my memory for quite some time. I haven't read other works by Stephen King, however this amazing creation captured me and held me because of his precise and evocative writing.

The audio version is one reader doing very distracting voice changes, i.e.,he sounds like Owen Wilson. It might be his natural voice? He voiced a Florida woman's which sounded like Bill Clinton! Then, a Dallas police officer with the voice of John Wayne. There's the FBI agent at the end of the book with a voice reminiscent of W. C. Fields impersonators. Actually made me LOL even though the material was not funny. His impersonation of JFK was quite weak. All in all, I was very distracted by the reader.

I enjoyed hearing King discuss his book in the Afterword. The writing process is fascinating and hearing a powerfully skilled author is completely engrossing.

If you enjoy a bit of history, time travel, and a touch of dystopia or, even if you don't, I highly recommend this book. If you're a Boomer, all the better!!



View all my reviews

Protect The Children

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." --Edmund Burke

"What's in the news now isn't about a college sports icon, it isn't about a university program where athletes are treated like heroes, it's about doing the right thing for the right reasons."

The above excerpt is from a brief blog posting at
http://www.cozychicksblog.com/2011/11/when-good-men-do-nothing-are-they-good.html

I posted a comment there, as well. Take a few minutes to think about the children, not about the flashy news reports concerning public figures. Think about the children.

The child.

Succinctly Yours Week 34

HGTV offers several options along the serene river to the downsizing senior couple, who want a pink unit with marble counter tops.



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A microfiction meme hosted at http://grandmas-goulash.info

Puzzling?

Puzzling?

Taken in Nashville, TN 

2008 

Red Hook Road

"Organic produce from nearby farms, beef and pork from a local man who did his own slaughtering, bread and rolls baked by the local food co-op, lettuces from Iris' own vegetable garden, and a wedding cake made by a friend of the groom's who had recently received his certificate in culinary arts from Central Maine Community College. The caterer had obviously managed to get the range lit, because the waiters were making the rounds with the stuffed mushrooms, miniature crab cakes, sliders, and lobster puffs."

--- from Red Hook Road  by Aylet Waldman

Read excerpts from other books at http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com for the Tuesday Teaser meme.

Succinctly Yours ~ Week 33

A microfiction meme hosted at http://grandmas-goulash.info/

 

Granny held the baby thinking that performing old world folk dancing might be less repugnant with an occasional belt of grappa.

Play Fetch!

 

" You've been knitting long enough.
Now put down the yarn and throw this toy for me!"

My sweet Lailah giving me "the look"!

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Doll Blanket and Bunks

 

So DH assembled adult daughter's toy bunk bed set at my request. This set is circa late '60s and in new condition. I love baby dolls and have a few that I've collected just because they touched me in some way. I'm thinking that the bunk beds and the doll crib I have will be a lovely way to display them in my bedroom. I have kept them in my curio cabinet and would enjoy having them displayed differently. However, what about dust? They are so pretty in the cabinet, but less inviting to hold.

 

While pondering these weighty concerns, I am knitting doll bedspreads/blankets for the bunks and using stash! Yes! I know! This is straight, mindless stockinette minus the two inches of seed stitch border at each end. This Bernat Jacquard is especially fun for me since I don't knit socks and use all the interesting self-striping and patterned sock yarns on the market. Seeing these patterns appear is magical and does keep things interesting when knitting so much stockinette.

Click on the button to see more WIPs and FOs.

http://plumslife.blogspot.com/

Cuff to Cuff

What are you reading? What are you knitting? Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!

I've started a new book and a new project, though the book title isn't showing well here! I've just begun Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman and am enjoying the Maine setting and the introduction of families with deep ties to the summer vacation village. What secrets and allegiances will be revealed?

 This cuff-to-cuff short sleeve sweater is the first garment I've made for my self in decades, so it's exciting to see it take shape. I've added stripes since I don't have enough yarn of the same color. The picture shows a sleeve with the bunched up part being the left front. The center section is seed stitch. After nine inches of the front, I'll cast on the back stitches then finish knitting one half of the sweater. After knitting the other half of the sweater, I'll graft the pieces together with a seam up the back.

 I am finally using the Rowan Summer Tweed that I purchased at Camp Stitches in Asilomar, California, several years ago. I'm using this color with cream.

This is the pattern picture from  http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/cuff-cuff-sweater where you can get the free pattern.

I'd like to hear about/see what you're knitting/crocheting and reading!