Welcome WendyKnits! readers! Wow, the power of an “A-list” blogger–my hit statistics have quadrupled in the last 12 hours. The Peacock Feathers Shawl you’re here to see? You’ll need to look in June, about halfway down the page, on the 14th. (Though, of course, please look around at other stuff, too. You are more than welcome!)

I’m almost done with my Flower Basket Shawl, and am still amazed at how fast this has gone–I only started it two weeks ago, added at least one or two extra repeats (I lost count), and now am in the middle of the edging. Tonight or tomorrow night should finish it, and then I’ll post pictures, I promise. It looks lovely–now I know why so many people have been making it. Easy to knit, and so pretty!

It’s two days until Harry Potter Book 6. Am I excited? No, no, why would I be? (grin) Okay, I am. I’m a biblioholic and a Harry Potter fan. I can’t help it, okay? Is there anything wrong with a grown woman being excited about a young-adult book? I don’t think so. For sheer entertainment value alone, the books are worth my time, and while I will admit that the last two could have used just a trifle more editing and tightening of plotlines, I’m not complaining–I’m happy to read anything JKR is willing to write.

Here’s my plan for Saturday morning. Get up. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Drive [sedately, legally] to the store to get a copy of The Book. Come home [still sedately, no speeding!]. Sit down. Read. . . . That’s it. Read. Until I’m done. Sure, I may glance out the window a few times, I’ll probably pause to make some lunch, but nothing much is going to happen until I’m done with the book. If I start reading at 10:30-11:00 . . . let’s see . . . this is about 200 pages shorter than Order of the Phoenix . . . I should finish around 3:00-4:00 that afternoon. I’ll try to keep the speed down so I can savor it, though.

Incidentally, I have both British editions (in paperback) and U.S. editions (hardcover) in my library, and have to admit that I’m biased in regard to the Scholastic Publishers’ art. Chances are, you’ve seen pictures of the US cover with Mary Grandpre’s luscious artwork; and the British covers are pretty well publicized, but have you seen the Ukranian covers? They’re wonderful! But what about the German ones? Who is that creepy looking kid on those covers? The Finland covers aren’t exactly a picnic, either. It’s fun seeing what other countries are doing with the artwork, but I can’t help but wonder if they’ve actually read the books?

While we’re talking about Harry Potter art, though, here’s another website, ArtDungeon, with some really lovely pencil sketches and watercolors. Another one: Pottery Art.

This is pretty pathetic, though: our the Newark Star-Ledger this morning had an article on Harry Potter with synopses of the first five books . . . except, they made a glaring error. They said that Harry’s godfather died at the end of the Goblet of Fire, when of course, it was Cedric who died at the end of book four. Silly muggles! Doesn’t anyone on their staff read the books? (You know, like the person who wrote the synopses?)

Oh–and the Emmy nominations were just announced. I can’t believe Gilmore Girls was slighted yet again on the Emmy nods today. Sure, Desperate Housewives was inevitable for a slew of nominations, and that’s fine–good show–but Will & Grace, for heaven’s sake? That hasn’t been funny since the first season, and Gilmore Girls just had one of its best seasons ever. Sheesh. And West Wing for Best Drama? Don’t get me wrong–I’m a fan and never miss an episode (you know, when NBC is actually airing them), but it’s nowhere near the quality it was those first three years when, yes, it deserved just about every plaudit you could give it. But now? The nom for Alan Alda is great, but Best Drama? Really? Do the people who make these nominations watch the same shows I do? Ever?

• Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading • Permalink:Peacock, Potter, Emmys, and more //