Is this stash busting?

The thing about working through stash is that one, that is I, cannot do so without finding the need to purchase more yarn to complete a project! Let's say that someone (me) decided to make a version of the beautiful "Misty Autumn Morning" seen at Little Cotton Rabbits and here. 

So someone merrily begins crocheting stash DK and works in a bit of Cotton Ease which decidedly is not DK, but--as we all know-- is WW. Someone then tries a final round with a too dark yarn that completely destroys the desired color palette thereby deciding that light gray will work beautifully! Alas, someone has a bit of gray DK cotton in the best possible shade, but it is only a bit, which would necessitate a purchase, you see?

Then again the stash DK cotton is of a small quantity, too small even for a lap ghan. In addition to the gray yarn, someone must also purchase complementary shades to complete the project.

And that is the thing about working through stash..."must purchase".

Is this stash busting?

Teaser Tuesday ~ Beautiful Ruins

I am enjoying the sense of place and a touch of philosophy in Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. Here is a tease for Tuesday:

“A writer needs four things to achieve greatness, Pasquale: desire, disappointment, and the sea.”
“That’s only three.”
Alvis finished his wine. “You have to do disappointment twice.” 

Seeing Things by Patti Hill

Rose City Reader, "Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."

from Seeing Things by Patti Hill:

"You're talking to the queen of skepticism right here.
I roll my eyes over newspaper stories where teary-eyed folks report they've seen Jesus in a potato chip. That sort of hogwash sends me straight to the comics for a dose of reality." 

Though I read this with some trepidation, my concerns about launching into a book with a little too much cutesy and folksy were allayed by the the humor, wit, and charm of the unfolding story. Birdie, who is recuperating with a broken leg at the home of her son and family, is forced away from her mountain life in Ouray, Colorado, and into their very busy, shallow life in Denver. Despite macular degeneration, she is able discern much more than is apparent to the eyes of her son and wife as their neglected son struggles through his stormy teen years. Birdie befriends the maid, Lupe, who faces challenges with plain spoken realism. With interwoven stories lines keeping my interest, I am anticipating the denouement of the challenges the characters face at their assorted stages of life.

<> <> <> <> <>

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader

 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Add your URL post here.  It's that simple.

" 'Can you Talk? Are things going well with your son and daughter-in-law?'... 'There's no easy answer to that question.' "

<> <> <> <> <>

Do leave a comment and tell me what you'll be reading this weekend!

:)

Wednesday Reading WWW

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

• I am currently reading Mr.Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan, and Seeing Things by Patti Hill.
• I finished The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker.
• My next book might be The Receptionist by Janet Groth.

How about you?

Hello, Mr. Penumbra!

I have started reading a most wonderful book, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan, which is an enchanting blend of genres that I am still discovering. The following is a bit of the author's engrossing,  gifted writing:

“But I kept at it with the help-wanted ads. My standards were sliding swiftly. At first I had insisted I would only work at a company with a mission I believed in. Then I thought maybe it would be fine as long as I was learning something new. After that I decided it just couldn't be evil. Now I was carefully delineating my personal definition of evil.” 

I just may finish this book today!

Read On!

CAL: A Crochet Welcome to the New Year

 I've begun the new year with new crochet projects and haven't picked up knitting for a few weeks! I "destashed" some skeins of DK Plain & Fancy from the Sheep & Wool Company in Texas. I bought this yarn at Stitches West a couple of years ago and decided to stop saving it and start using it!  The colors are so beautifully subdued in shades of grape and moss.

 the 8th of the 8th and  Little Bird Knits are posting patterns for squares weekly, so I plan to check in with those web sites and make one or two blocks each week.

At some point, I will block the wonkiness right out of these two squares!  :)

These strips of grannies are going to be joined to create a blanket for our first great-grand, due in April. The pattern for this baby blanket is here. I've had my eye on this clever design and pinned it as a reminder. It has now become a WIP for baby who is also a WIP, little Andrew Michael.

Are you knitting, crocheting, or both to begin the new year?