{Yarn Along} Same shawl, New book

The knitting was on hold for two weeks: one for finishing up these two projects and one for the holiday. Both this pillow and needlepoint were gifts for my sister-in-law, overdue but with timely sentiments. The pillow marks her 14th anniversary, for which the traditional gift is ivory. The needlepoint was done for her birthday a year ago but the frame only recently got finished by Julian. I think both turned out so nicely.

I'm back to the Redwoods shawl with fervor. I don't know why but it is like a book I can't put down. I am just finishing the first skien of yarn (229 yds.) and I have finished the first set of eyelet rows. I'm very happy with it so far and so delighted that I've managed to knit while watching hours and hours of soccer and not mess anything up!

As for the reading, I had to punt on Maeve Binchy. I just wasn't into it on audio, not because I didn't try to be, but too much time went by between chapters and I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around the characters and plot. Instead, and thanks to the recommendation of my friend (take a minute to click that link for more book reviews), I am now listening to James Herriot's All Things Wise and Wonderful.  In addition to his country veterinary tales, Herriot tells a bit about his time in the RAF. Since I finished the potato peel pie book and have binge watched the first six seasons of Foyle's War in the past two months, it seemed fitting to stick with the WWII in Britain theme. I just love the book.  I love his candor, his recollection of a different time, both more simple and more complicated. 

What are you crafting and/or reading?

Joining Frontier Dreams and Ginny...

Yarn Along, off kilter

We had an unexpected turn of events this past weekend that made for extensive car travel. Bad news for everyone involved, but good news for knitting progress. I had fussed at myself for starting this new project, Light and Up,  but it turned out well having something to keep my hands busy.

I also have a new book! I picked this up on a complete whim from the public library. I have only read the first two lines, but I like those, so it should be good and relaxing. Thistle and Twigg by Mary Saums is about two southern widows who meet and become the best of friends. But trouble is afoot! I'm looking forward to seeing how these two ladies' curiosities play out in this debut mystery (that must have been good because it is the first in a series).

I finished The Quickening and it was... okay. It ended ironically, I think. When I say "I think" I mean that not in an opinion kind of way but rather an "I'm not sure I knew what really happened kind of way." Again, if you like that kind of book, by all means, give it a whirl.

Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams.

Yarn Along - a big adventure

My new kitting project hit the road with us this week as we headed camping to Holly River State Park. I only had a little bit of time to work on it in the truck before the roads became too swirly for me to be able to keep it together.

We planned to tent camp but hunkered down in a cabin for the first night as the rain poured all through the evening and into the night. The cabin boasted a bent twig rocker that I swear was made to fit my aching back. Julian read and I knitted by the light of our fire. It was a lovely getaway.

I have decided that, for my next project, I'm going to do the Light and Up pattern but finish it with a picot edging like the Eiku (both found on Ravelry). I wasn't really sold on this yarn, but I added it to my stash when it was on clearance about a year ago. I must say that the longer I look at it and the more sunshine it gets, the more I fall in love with it.

The pattern uses sock weight yarn on a #8 needle, so I am struggling a bit with feeling like it is coming apart in my hands, since I am usually a tight knitter. It is so soft and smooth in my hand though, even just the little bit I've got going, and it is working up very quickly.

This week's outing has inspired me to check out A Walk in the Woods. We are in need of a new bedtime reading book and we've gotten into quite the habit of reading about food and thinking of how woefully hungry we are! So, perhaps we can change that this week.

Linking up with Ginny.

{Yarn Along} Finished Hitchhiker!

The Hitchhiker is complete! It is very lovely, indeed!

Now, on to the next thing. I have a handful of projects to finish up but already I am searching for the next new knitting project. I've been bitten by the shawl bug, it seems. I was able to do an advanced search on Raverly to get some great pattern suggestions :: free, stockinette, size 3 needles, shawl, #2-3 difficulty rating, fingering weight yarn. I was a little bit surprised to discover that the first two recommendations were already in my ideas list and the two top consenters are: Light & Up (though I'm not wild about the tassels) and Eiku. I have some yarn in my stash from the clearance rack at Michael's - Loops and Thread Luxury Sock in Redwoods that I think is my next choice. Thoughts?

I've found myself with a little more time than usual, so my reading is coming along nicely, too. I just LOVE when a good book inspires reading more good books, and that is what Guernsey is doing. It is written in correspondence format, which I love, and all the characters are so genuine and witty! I keep thinking I need to make notes of the funny expressions they use! Also, the book references Charles Lamb and I happen to have a copy of his Dissertation Upon Roast Pig in my to-read stack as well.
My sister was an avid reader when we were growing up. I was a good reader but found no pleasure in it. Partly to be different from her, I refused to enjoy books. This book has, however, reminded me of many classic books that I haven't read and should - most notably Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. 

Joining Ginny & Frontier Dreams. 

{Yarn Along} Taking suggestions

I'm still reading The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey and liking it but I was sad to read a spoiler on another blog! It's due back at the library tomorrow so I need to wrap it up. I leave for Philadelphia on the 18th, then head to Houston on the 21st, so I'll have plenty of time on a plane for a new book - so I'm taking suggestions.

I have two skeins of discontinued Araucana Nature Wool in this amazing duck-egg colorway. It's 220 meters per skein, bringing me to a total of about 440 meters, 4 ply, medium weight. I love it so much I've been saving it for something special, now I'm having trouble choosing a project since I have a limited amount. I am considering the Casu but I am hesitant to  have the wool right up on my neck. Again, I'm taking suggestions...

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UPDATE -  I have finished reading the book. The author had wonderful descriptive language which I enjoyed and kept my interest up throughout. I loved all the characters. It made me reflect on marriage, the secrets that are kept, communication, shared dreams, love, loss. It was very impactful in that way and the loves of each of the marriages portrayed in the book are very special.

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Linking up with GSheller and Keep Calm and Craft On.

{Yarn Along} Works STILL in progress...

It seems like each week I come back here and write about my crafting projects but I've added more to the to-do list and not finished anything! Such is life right now, I suppose. Anyhow, while I haven't done much crafting, I have done a good bit of reading, and Julian continues to read out loud at night as our much-needed wind down so we are still going through Exodus and the Top Bar Beekeeping book. Also, I picked up The Snow Child at my public library after seeing it on the Yarn Along Linky List and I'm enjoying it as well. Here spring has finally sprung and it's making me think wintery thoughts!

I DID get my sesquicentennial quilt block sent off to the powers that be for our state's upcoming big birthday, so I suppose that is a success. For the sake of organizing my brain, this is a list of my projects right now:

To finish:
1. Needlepoint and get it framed for Ivy
2. Dresden pillow - deadline Aug. 3
3.Whirl hat

To start:
1. boy teddy bear for cousin's baby - deadline Aug. 3
2. girl teddy bear because that's what she really wanted 2 years ago when I first started with them - deadline Aug. 3
3. Shalom Cardigan
4. Some Simple Crossover Booties
5. His & Hers embroidered pillowcases
6. This neat hexie ball

Linking up w/ Ginny @ Simple Things and Skip to My Lou. 

About a book - The Enemy Within

One of the many things I love about Julian is that he is a great out-loud reader. During calm seasons of our lives, we tuck into bed at night with a good book, and he reads aloud to help us both quiet down from the day. We've read the entire Lord of the Rings series this way, and we like to read Nancy Guthrie's devotionals at Easter and Christmas, too.

I am excited to have started a new one this week, Kris Lungaard's The Enemy Within.The book is formatted for a lesson group with small sections and discussion questions at the end. Lungaard draws from the writings of 17th century reformed theologian John Owen so much so that the author admits if Owen were alive today, he'd have grounds to sue. But by doing so, the author makes Owen's concepts much more accessible to a modern audience.

Being wiped out after two hours in the kayaks, we didn't read for long. But we read long enough to find the first nugget of truth in what promises to be a vast gold mine. Sin is a law - like gravity. I don't know why this hit me with such profundity, but it did, and it makes perfect sense. In this out-of-Eden world, saved or unsaved, we cannot escape sin any more than we can escape gravity. It is pure and simple nature of how the world works. Accepting this truth allows us to stop wasting time and energy trying to evade sin in our lives but rather to focus on the next steps of conquering sin and bringing light to the dark places of our hearts.

I'm excited to have more to share in the near future.