“Oh, no. Not a new camera.”

“Yes, honey, isn’t it wonderful?”

“Mom, I can’t see anything but the spots in front of my eyes.”

“That’s okay, honey, they’ll go away. Just look at me now and smile for the camera.”

“But . . . ”

“Come on, you know you’re adorable. And look, you’re actually photographing as brown. People will be so amazed! I’m sure they all thought you were almost black instead of chocolate-covered.”

“Well . . . okay . . . but just one more!”

“Beautiful!”

(Don’t you think?)

(Actually, this was the very first picture I took, right out of the box. Not bad, huh?)

The one problem? The cute little camera sock I made yesterday is about a third too big all the way around, poor thing. I’m going to have to redo it! Gosh, that’s just dreadful, isn’t it?

Tags: Chappy, Family, General by Deb
11 Comments »

I couldn’t post last night because our modem was out again. All night. From the time I got home from work, until the time I went to bed. Need I mention how frustrating that is? It’s a mystery why it’s happening. It’s a cable modem, and we’ve had the cable company to the house at least three times in the last two weeks. We’ve gotten a new modem, new cable, a signal amplifier. Yet still, at least once a day, the signal for the computer disappears–we’ve still got the television signal, which basically comes through the same cable–but no modem. Argh!

Luckily, I have low-tech amusements, as well. I got almost an hour of spinning done–I’m almost done with that pretty, orange roving–and I finished reading “Pawn in Frankincense” (sniffle, very emotional). I also finished knitting my camera sock for my new Elph which hopefully will be arriving today. (I mean, it’s supposed to be delivered today, but if the package requires a signature, we may run into a snag.) I wonder if this means I’m spending too much time on the computer?

I’d show you pictures of these things, but . . . well . . . I’m at the office and my camera’s not, so . . .

I was so relieved the Discovery landed safely yesterday. Phew! I love the space program and so much depended on that ship landing safely. You know, I hadn’t realized, but the Discovery was the first shuttle to fly after the Challenger exploded in 1986, as well as the first since losing Columbia two years ago. Obviously, a good-omened ship.

Yesterday also would have been my uncle’s birthday. He passed away in April, you’ll remember, from lung cancer, and has been so much on my mind this week. Peter Jennings had been diagnosed right around the same time as my uncle died from lung cancer, and of course, he passed away on Sunday. Dana Reeve announced that she has it as well, yesterday, and so lung cancer has been very much in the news the last couple of days. And then, Uncle Richard’s birthday . . . no wonder I’ve been thinking about him so much this week.

Mom, sister, etc are all having a great time on MV without me, but she made a point of telling me yesterday that they picked up some biscuits for Chappy–he’ll like that! Me, I have to go to the grocery store after work tonight, and I’m feeling guilty about all the alone-time Chappy’s dealing with this week. Nothing I can do about it, but the poor boy is lonely! And I’m busy doing chores and things when I get home, and he hasn’t even gotten out for a walk. Guilt is the name of the game.

And, oh yes, my oldest and dearest friend came home to NJ yesterday, though I’m not sure when I’ll get to see her. She lives in California these days, but her parents are still right around the corner from us, so when she’s “home,” we can usually manage a couple quick visits, but this time, she’s planning on spending at least some of her visit staying with her brother, sister-in-law, and two new baby nephews, about 45 minutes away, so . . . I’m sure I’ll see her at least once, but when and for how long? No idea!

Tags: Family, General by Deb
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  Look what I got today.

That’s a copy of Nicky Epstein’s new book, “Knitting Over the Edge” which I pre-ordered in May.

Three skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock yarn–I bought three because I have a specific project in mind, but couldn’t tell online which would be the best of the three colors. So, one skein will go toward my project, and the other two will combine to make a pair of socks–no waste.

And a handful of needles–some Bryspun circulars, and some Inox gray circulars from Angelika’s, to aid my ongoing quest to find the right needle for my Zephyr stole, since it really doesn’t seem to like the Addi Turbos very much.

Tonight’s knitting plan, though, is to make the camera sock for my new Elph, which should be here on Wednesday. The S2 is backordered until September, which I knew when I ordered it, but this is fine–it will give me a chance to learn all the functions of each camera without getting the confused. I’m glad the tiny one will be here first, though, since it will fit in the cute little purse I’m carrying to the wedding at the end of the month! And as to this double camera purchase–I’m equally excited about both of them, and I’m not having second thoughts about my decision. A good sign, I think. I’m not denying the essential insanity of it, but at least I’m happy about it (grin).

  Not only that, a friend of mine sent me these.

I’ve mentioned Dorothy Dunnett a couple times–without question the best historical fiction author I have ever read. I’ve read both her “Niccolo” and “Lymond” series three times. (Well, technically, I’m 2/3 through my third reading of Lymond.) She’s amazing. Complex, subtle, crafty, tricky, elaborate, and can tell a death scene right up there with the best of them, and is a master at the emotional torture of her characters (grin). Great books.

And, did I mention they’re complicated and elaborate? Well, this is what my friend Carolyn sent me. (She, incidentally, is the person who got me hooked on these books two summers ago.) A family tree linking the characters between one series and the other, and a translation guide by Nancy Wright, to interpret all of Francis Crawford’s flowering quotes in multi-languages into English for those of us who don’t speak Scottish, Latin, Spanish, French, Arabian, Turkish, Russian . . .

I highly recommend the books. They’re challenging, but oh, so fun, and despite the slow beginnings, with enormous emotional payoffs at the end. I mean, really, I only discovered these massive books–14 in all between the two series, at over 7,500 pages–two years ago, and I’m on my third reading. Even for a fast reader like myself, that’s quite a commitment. She’s that good.

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading by Deb
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  I’m really pretty proud of myself–I’ve got a vacation picture for you from my mother’s trip to Martha’s Vineyard. www.mvol.com has a series of webcams, and she called me this morning to tell me to look . . . and there she was! Right on Circuit Avenue. What? You can’t see her?

  That little cluster of pixels in front of the white-and-blue building is Mom. (I know, she’ll probably be upset that I’m putting a picture of her on my blog, but really, I think it’s a pretty good likeness, though she’s not this grainy in person.)

Tags: Family, Martha's Vineyard by Deb
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What other explanation could there be? An illness, a bug I caught that caused me to act in a fashion unlike my usual, hard-headed, rational way. (cough)

I was looking at this cute, small little Elph camera, then was distracted by the professional glory of this Rebel SLR camera, went to meet both of them in person yesterday, and was introduced to this S2 camera–somewhere in between the two in terms of power, versatility, size, and price.. All three are on sale at amazon.com for the next two weeks (until the 22nd, I believe), and the prices are great. In fact, the Elph and the S2 together are cheaper than the Rebel would have been.

Can you perhaps see where the craziness comes in here? (sneeze)

Think, “twofer.”

Yes. I am insane. I bought both.

You’re going to say, why would I need two cameras? And well, I don’t, exactly, but the Elph is adorable and incredibly portable. I could keep it in my purse all the time for spur-of-the-moment shots. (And I’ll have a reason to make a cute little camera sock like Risa’s, which is even cuter in person.) And then, the other one, I can keep at home, most days, but which has all the versatility and settings and things to play with that my gadget-fidgeting heart could ask for. All for less than I would have spent if I’d gone for the Rebel, which was really way too much camera for me. I mean, it’s insane, sure, but it could have been worse. I even used three of my amazon.com certificates from using their Visa card, to lessen the blow. (sniffle)

Now–in your attempt to bring reason to a crazed person–you’re going to say, think of all the fiber you could have bought with that extra money!

  Yes, well, about that.

Some people have been waxing poetical about the joys of wool-combing lately. . . . Actually, let me interject here that I entirely understand how much fun the process can [theoretically] be and how rewarding, taking stinky, smelly wool and bringing it to a state of clean, fluffy loveliness. I really do. But I think that this process is not for me.

I pulled out my wool combs and my somewhat felted wool today and actually got two combs-full worth of sliver. (I’d call it roving, but that involves twist, and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how you add twist to something that long and fragile while rolling it into a ball. I’m sure it’s possible, it’s just a fault of mine for not being able to conceive of it.) I even spun it on my drop spindle–as you can see here. I’m actually surprised at the amount of singles I got from such a small amount of wool. And the bundle of fluffiness on the combs was impressive–reminded me of what my hair used to look like when I’d brush the curls out.

(And, in fact, you have, right there, a perfect example of why people with curly hair should not brush out their curls–you go from self-contained locks to wild and crazy individual hairs with triple the volume. And also, yes, I know, the picture I got from my current camera is just fine. Just . . .shush. There aren’t any colors there for it to mess up, and come on, it’s not a BAD camera!)

However. (You knew there was going to be one, right?) I don’t think this process is for me. Granted, my uncombed wool is a lumpy mess through my inexperienced handling. Nobody feels worse about this than I, and I’d like to send my apologies to the Gotland sheep that grew this wool. No doubt it would be a more enjoyable process if I hadn’t managed to mat so much of it together. And I probably should have kept the mesh bags o’wool off the floor so that Chappy wouldn’t have rolled on them every time he got into the guest room. And experience with the combs, the diz, and trying to twist it into roving would only help. All this, I know.

But . . . let me put it this way. I love to cook, and I love to cook from scratch. I like fresh ingredients, I like knowing exactly what’s going into my food and rarely use anything more processed than cans of chicken broth or tomato paste. I love baking from scratch. I don’t, however, mill my own flour, grow my own vegetables, or slaughter [shudder] my own meat. I trust professionals to do it right, and provide me with the best ingredients I need. And if it costs a little more that way, well, people have to make a living right?

I think I will not be taking any fiber-processing jobs away from anyone. I’m not saying I’ll never try this again, and I admit it was pretty satisfying turning that matted wool into the singles on that spindle. But–honestly–I didn’t enjoy spinning it as much as I do the commercial roving I’m used to. Nor are my singles as smooth as they usually are. (I didn’t like the spindle very much, either–way too much effort to spin.) Again, I’m sure that more experience in preparing the fiber would help that, but . . . I’d rather put my efforts into something else.

You know, like learning how to use my new cameras. (Achoo! . . . there goes that shutterbug again!)

Now . . . what do I do with the other 1.8 lbs or so of matted Gotland in the next room??

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
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Chappy and I had a surprise today.

Risa called to ask what we were doing, and . . . we ended up spending the afternoon with her and the twins, Katherine and Alexander.

We finally got to visit Nonna’s Yarn Cafe together. (And agreed that it’s nice, but there’s just a little too much novelty yarn and not enough sock yarn–but we figure it’s a work in progress!) We also had some coffee and cake, for a late celebration of Risa’s birthday. They even got to go on the neat elevator ride to get up from street level! It’s key-operated, but the owner of the yarn shop has one, and it made it so much easier to get the twins and their stroller up to the shop.

  Afterward, we came back to the house (where Chappy had apparently been singing the Howl Serenade to his grandpa, he was so upset I’d gone out on a Saturday afternoon without him), and all went into the backyard to play. Chappy freaked Alex out just a little by his barking when they first arrived, though, so it took a little time for the twins to warm to him this time. (Hey, you stand eye-level to a barking dog and see how brave you feel–it doesn’t matter that the dog is just being very verbal about saying hello and is wagging his tail a mile a minute, it’s still intimidating.) After a while, though, they were chasing Chappy around the deck, trying to corner him, which he handled with great patience–until he finally came to me and Risa for help. (“Make them stop!”)

He and I also entertained with the “Fetch Show.” Chappy’s got an interesting method of chasing things in the yard: When I’m about to throw a toy, any toy, he just starts running in the direction he thinks I’m going to throw it. Once running, however, if the toy doesn’t bounce or fly within his field of sight (or a foot or two in either direction), he won’t be able to find it, and will stand there and wait for me to find it for him. No amount of pointing will help. Therefore, when I throw the toy for him, I’ll fake it, to make him take off in the right direction (often looking in the sky for the toy), wait until he turns to say, “Mom, I can’t find it” and then, while he’s looking at me, I’ll throw it. (Trust me, it’s the only way.) Risa got quite a kick out of watching him tearing across the yard after . . . nothing. Time after time. But that’s okay, I got quite a kick watching her two monkeys playing together. Very entertaining kids, she’s got!

Mom left for Martha’s Vineyard this morning–early, before I was up. And–for the “small world” files–bumped into the receptionist from her physical therapy place, who was on her way up to Wood’s Hole for a week. Where did they bump into each other? At a rest stop on the Connecticut Turnpike, just as Mom was walking out and Janice was walking in. What are the odds? I hope she has a great time.

Oh, and I stopped at Best Buy to look at cameras today, and have decided that–wonderful though the Digital Rebel XT SLR camera is, it’s way more camera than I need. Especially when this one is several hundred dollars cheaper. (I could buy another spinning wheel for the difference . . . or even, this camera PLUS the Elph from the other day for the same as the Rebel.) More practical, and cheaper . . . not a bad deal!

Tags: Chappy, Friends, General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
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I’m very happy with the way my teal singles came out, and will start spinning the rest of the wool tonight. I detached the yarn from the towel bar at lunchtime and rolled it into a cute little ball. (However did I manage without my ballwinder and swift? Really, I have no idea.) I didn’t do any spinning last night–by the time 10:00 rolled around, I was too tired. I did a few rows on my sweater and on my lace stole, but it wasn’t exactly a booming night for knitting. It was just easier to curl up with my book.

A couple interesting things. First, I just saw some Adagio Teas offered on Amazon.com–like their IngenuiTea set. Nifty, huh? They’ve got such great tea–it’s nice to see it getting a broader audience. Check them out!

And–I don’t know if this really works, but–I got a forwarded e-mail yesterday that claims that, if you lock your keys in your car and have a spare at home with one of those automatic key fobs, you can call home on your cell phone (assuming someone’s there, of course) and then, holding your phone a foot away from the lock, have them hit the “Unlock” button into the phone. That the signal will work through the phone. There’s a note at the bottom of the e-mail saying they’d tested it and it worked, but I haven’t tried it, myself, so can’t actually vouch for it. Still–it seems simple enough and easy enough that–if it comes up, you might want to give it a try. At worst, it just means the person at home makes a phone call before climbing into the car to rescue you; at best, it saves them a trip and you get in the car to where your keys are with a minimum of fuss. Worth a shot, and by all means, if you try it and it works, let me know! Edited to Add: A friend of mine just tried this and says it works! Almost makes me want to run out into the driveway with my cellphone to try it out….

As to the camera. Am I crazy? Because now I’m looking at this:

The price is pretty amazing, since it’s also on sale for the next couple of weeks, though it’s still expensive. It’s really a matter, I think, of whether I want to be tempted to have something with lots of nifty buttons and settings to play and would take fantastic pictures of yarn and WIPs but which would be impractical for shots of Chappy playing . . . not to mention too large to easily carry around. A camera that size is a committment, not something you just toss in your purse “just in case.” But of course, if it DID take the fabulous yarn photos, I’d mostly just use it here at home, and for the point-and-shoot needs, I’d still have my quite-decent Nikon.

Temptation is a tricky thing! I mean, for heavens’ sake, this is more than my spinning wheel! Do you know how much wool, how many books I could buy for this?? Maybe tomorrow–since I’ll be on my own anyway–I’ll head over to Circuit City to take an in-person look at the cameras. I can’t imagine they’d beat the price from Amazon and I’ll feel guilty about just using them for a hands-on look without intention to buy, but . . .

Do you know what occurred to me today? What a happy coincidence–Rhinebeck is just a few weeks before my birthday. Think of all the shopping I could do for myself! Usually when I go to craft shows or whatever, they’re not anywhere near my birthday or Christmas and therefore completely unable to have purchases justified with those handy excuses. What luck! Maybe I’ll make myself a list . . . there’s that Golding spindle, and . . .

Tags: General by Deb
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  I did something today I haven’t done in years.

Really. Years.

I wore my hair in a ponytail.

I’d forgotten how very bouncy that feels!

I have a couple “rules” about ponytails–the hair has to be a sufficient length that the tail falls past the nape of the neck. If it’s too short, the hair doesn’t move, and I’ve always thought part of the appeal of ponytails is that special swing. Another rule is that bangs–if you have bangs–have to look “right,” and when I have them, I usually wear them long and swept to one side . . . and then they usually look pretty silly with the rest of the hair pulled back. Now, what used to be bangs are about jaw length, and can reach the back of my head (and the curl helps it all stay together back there, too.)

So, there have been reasons that I haven’t done this style in years. My hair’s been shorter in the last year or two than it has been since the early 1980s, thereby not passing the “length test.” Then too, ponytails can be damaging to the hair–if you wear them to often, they can cause breakage at the elastic–and of course they’re terrible for curls, pulling and flattening them out.

It’s silly, no doubt, to get excited about wearing such a basic, easy hair style–one worn by little girls, teenagers . . . people of all ages, really–but it was fun. I spent most of the day turning my head with just that little bit extra flourish to feel the hair brushing against my neck, and walked with some extra bounce in my step. It looked surprisingly nice, too, and even though I secured it with one of those snag-free elastics, I was able to wear a pretty, silver slide over it, to make it look even nicer.

What can I say? It’s silly, but it felt good!

  Speaking of bouncy, spirally, twisty stuff . . . Here, we have a picture of my pretty teal-shaded singles from the roving that Lizzy B sent me last May. I’ve been spinning them onto my Kundert spindle–it seemed appropriate because she was waxing rhapsodic about spindling at the time I started spinning this, so I figured I should use my drop spindle instead of my wheel.

I wasn’t sure how much I’d be able to fit on the spindle, but think I wound it off at just the right time–it was getting just too heavy and the yarn kept breaking; nor was it spinning for as long. In fact, after I wound this off onto the niddy-noddy, I just started a fresh piece of wool on the spindle, so I’d have something I could pick up later on, and I couldn’t believe how long it spun and spun on one twist. The weight was clearly slowing it down!

  A closer picture, and remarkably accurate for color, all things considered, but there should be just a hint more green in there–it’s a little more teal than blue.

I soaked the singles in the sink with a tiny bit of shampoo and more conditioner while I took my shower . . . What’s that you ask? Conditioner? Yes, that’s what I said . . . Um, what? Why? Well, I’m kind of in the middle of telling . . . oh, okay. I conditioner-wash my own hair about every other day instead of using shampoo, and you’d be surprised at how clean it can make your hair. It doesn’t need to be as thoroughly rinsed as shampoo, either, and so a year or so ago, I started using it whenever I washed my handknit sweaters. It’s not like they get that dirty being worn around the office or the house, so a good soak in conditioner-laden water pretty much takes care of it–and then doesn’t require as many rinses as soap or shampoo would. I figure, hair and wool are pretty similar, and if this works on one . . .

So, anyway, yes, I put the tiniest bit of shampoo into the water, and then a good dose of V05′s Kiwi Lime clarifying conditioner (great for washing with and cheap, to boot) and let the singles soak. They are now hanging–with a weight–off the rack in the bathroom. I lost count as I was winding them around the niddy-noddy (and anyway, forget what size that is, anyway) so I can’t tell you the yardage. It’s less than half the wool, though, and pretty fine. Definitely enough for some kind of lacy scarf–just like Lizzy suggested! I’m thinking that I’ll try knitting it as singles instead of plying it. I’ve never tried that, and am curious as to how “energized” it will look.

I mention a lot about how unsatisfied I am at the color quality of my pictures–yarns almost never photograph the way they should, and I’m getting frustrated. I’ve got a good digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix 3100, and it’s only a couple years old (three, maybe?), but . . . I think I was happier back when I used my old Canon Elph–the original model. It was a great little camera, but I “upgraded” to the Nikon for something lighter (that Canon was small, but heavy at 6.7 oz/190 g.) and that had a better zoom and some more features. The Nikon, don’t get me wrong, takes some lovely pictures. It’s just that it doesn’t seem to be quite at good at indoor pictures at night–which is when I take most of my pictures for you folks. I’ve heard good things about the Canon SD400 which has some very nice bells and whistles, but is also supposed to be better at the whole color-thing. (Risa bought one not too long ago and has said good things about it.)

Not only that, Amazon.com is having a sale on this camera for the next couple of weeks. It’s a sign, don’t you think??

Tags: General, Hair, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
10 Comments »

  I know that you’ve all been dying to see an update for my Union Square Market Pullover. So, here it is–a little blurry, but, as you see, clear signs of progress. I’ve got about 6″ done. The hem insists on curling upward, which I hope will be cured when the sweater is blocked. The sweater is red, with a hint of brown. (It’s called “redwood” for a reason.) I’ve probably knitted enough, now, that I could probably get an accurate count of rows-per-inch and then calculate what I need to do for the short-row shaping for the top . . . but, I’m scared! That’s so much math to do . . . I’m not afraid of math, but that much re-design is kind of intimidating. (grin)

  Here’s a look at my will-be lace shawl, in copper colored Zephyr. I’ve only knitted about 8 rows so far, so right now, it looks more like a ruffle than anything else, but a stole has to start somewhere, right? I’m not loving using Addi Turbos with this yarn, though. I tried my Crystal Palace bamboo needles, but the join caused too many problems (Now I remember the reason I stopped using them.) And, that’s it. I don’t have any others to try! My Denise needles don’t have a size 4, and there doesn’t seem to be any other options. I mean, there are, of course, other needles out there, but not nearby. Any suggestions, any one?

  And, finally, a look at my languishing pair of socks–that get about three rows knitted a week, not much more. They deserve better, of course, but there it is. Aren’t the colors great? The yarn was from my KR Secret Pal a couple months ago. It’s a pity, of course, that the photo is a bit blurry, and the color is perhaps a little too bright to be accurate, but still!

Elsewhere, my mother’s leaving on vacation on Saturday, which she needs badly. (Long story–new medical insurance company nightmares.) She’s stressed. But, Saturday morning, she’s leaving for Martha’s Vineyard–without me (sniffle). She does this every year. She heads up to the island, and then a day or so later, my sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew join her. They always have a wonderful time, while Dad, Chappy and I stay home. Dad, of course, stays so he can golf. Chappy, because they don’t allow dogs at the hotel during the Summer season, and anyway, he has to stay with me. So I get to stay home, cook, look after the house, look after the boys, and try not to think about all the Vineyard fun going on without me. Mom–being the wonderful person she is–usually brings me home a token gift of some kind, which we call my “Cinderella Gift,” although, no, it’s never been glass slippers!

Okay–it’s after 10:00 and Alton Brown’s “Good Eats” is on–I’m going to go spin while I watch. ‘Night,all!

Tags: Knitting/Spinning by Deb
4 Comments »

Wow, there certainly was a lot of interest generated yesterday about my reading habits So, here, I’ll set the record straight: Yes, I do read fast. Yes, I do read a lot. It’s an addiction. (How many bloggers do you know who keep a running tally of the books in their library right there at the top of their main page?) Fiction always goes fastest–especially new fiction. Re-reads take longer, and non-fiction longest of all (some, almost endless!)

My normal workday reading schedule goes something like this:

• 6:45 – 7:45–Get up, get dressed, make and eat breakfast–read, usually history, for about 15 minutes–feed Chappy, leave for work.
• 8:00 – 12:30–Work (no reading)
• 12:30 – 1:30–Home for lunch, about 30 minutes of reading, unless the weather’s nice enough to squeeze in a walk with Chappy.
• 1:30 – 4:00–Work (no reading)
• 4:15 – 5:00–Check the mail, play with Chappy, make supper (some nights), read when I can. Walk with Chappy when the weather is good.
• 5:30 – 6:30–Check e-mail, read blogs–various computer things
• 6:30 – 7:00–Shower.
• 7:00 – 8:00–Make a cup of tea, and sit with Chappy and read until Mom comes down to watch TV at 8:00
• 8:00 – 9:00–Knit while watching TV
• 9:00 – 9:30–Read while watching TV
• 9:30 – 11:00–Check the computer again, do some spinning
• 11:00 – 11:45–Brush my teeth, climb into bed and read–usually a chapter from each book next to my bed.

Weekends are obviously different–errands on Saturday, house-cleaning on Sundays, but the squeezing in every bit of reading as possible is pretty much standard. I always have a book nearby when I’m home, carry one around the house with me to dip into whenever the opportunity presents itself. I have no trouble getting “into” a book, whether it be for three sentences or 300 pages–I can basically read indefinitely until I’m forced to stop. Don’t forget that I don’t have kids–and Chappy’s very happy to sit next to me on the couch while I read. He just likes to be nearby and I don’t think he objects knowing I’m going to be sitting still for a while, where he knows where he can find me. (Although, he is, of course, always agreeable to a walk or a romp in the backyard–and any time I want to go in the kitchen and do food stuff is fine by him.)

So, in other words, reading is basically an obsession. I don’t find time to read because I want to, I make time because, really, I have no other choice. I could almost as soon stop breathing as stop reading. As much as I love knitting, if it came to a choice between the two . . . well, reading would win, hands down. It’s my first love. I’ve been reading since I was three, so it is by far my oldest hobby. I can’t go to sleep without reading first, and if I finish the book I’m reading, I have to go get another one before I can fall asleep. Think of it as a security blanket.

And, as to re-reads? Like I was just saying to Angela (another fan of re-reading books) I have some that I couldn’t begin to guess how many times I’ve read them. Lord of the Rings, for example, a huge favorite in high school–upward of at least 3 dozen reads, probably closer to 4 dozen. I lost count around 28, right around the time I headed off to college. Pride and Prejudice–my copy’s falling apart, it’s been read so often. I figure the first time you read a book, it’s all exciting and new and you can’t wait to find out how the story turns out, rather like a vacation to a new locale–my first reads are usually the fastest. If it went well, the second reading, almost as fresh as new, but you’ve got major guideposts to help plot your way through, while still discovering all sorts of things the author snuck in, like foreshadowing which you couldn’t appreciate without knowing WHAT they were foreshadowing. Travel the road often enough, and it becomes a familiar neighborhood, and then finally, like visiting with an old friend. You know exactly what to expect, how they’ll sound, the kind of mood they’ll be in, and you’ll reminisce about old times and just be perfectly comfortable with each other. It’s as valuable in a good read as it is in a good friendship. I’m always glad to find somebody else who understands the beauty of re-reading.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, Lymond is calling me.

Tags: Reading by Deb
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  Here’s my gift from my KRSecret Pal. Note how nicely everything is color-coordinated, even the notecard–not to mention coordinating nicely with my new, blue bathroom which is good, because this is [almost] all bathroom stuff. In “Peppamint” scent, there’s an exfoliating bar of soap and bath salts, a little pumice/scrubbing brush, and a gel eye mask, as well as a tin of green tea. Isn’t that lovely? (I am, of course, assuming that she’s trying to spoil me, not implying that I don’t bathe regularly, which I assure you, I do.) (And, I’m teasing, too, in case that’s not obvious–that typing tone of voice thing, you know.) I like the peppermint scent, too.,

Pal, I have a question, though–under the paper band with the eye mask is a . . . something or other. White, kind of foamy cloth, in a long rectangle . . . what is that? (grin) It was attached to the eye mask, but there’s nothing on the label or anywhere I can see that says what it actually is and I don’t have a clue.

What other exciting things do I have to tell you? I’ve started my next lace project for Summer of Lace–this time, a rectangular stole. I’m knitting it in copper-colored Zephyr yarn, in a lace pattern I picked out of Barbara Walker’s first collection. When it’s a bit longer and looks like more than just a copper ruffle on a needle, I’ll post pictures for you.

I’ve got about 3″ or so of my Union Square Market Pullover done, as well. I grant you that it doesn’t sound like a lot, but considering where I was last week at this time . . . no complaints!

In fact, I’m at that awkward stage where all my current knitting projects–all three of them–are all pretty much right at the beginning. Bad planning on my part, since it’s always nicer to have things at the beginning, middle, and end stages so as to make one feel one’s making progress, as well as to make good blog-fodder. (Which, said aloud the other evening, made my mother comment that it sounds like an insult . . . “That’s just blogfodder!” in much the same tone you might say “That’s hogwash!” if, you know, you lived on a farm in the 1930s.)

Spinning-wise, though, I’m halfway through my orange roving and surprisingly fit half of it onto one bobbin. (Yes, that really surprised me.) It also surprised me that I got that much done in just over a week. The cop of pretty teal singles on my spindle is starting to get larger–there’s still room to spin, but it’s getting close, I think, to when I’m going to need to wind it off and start fresh with an empty bobbin.

All in all, this makes me think that Rhinebeck might be coming at just about the right time for me. If I keep spinning at this rate, I’ll run out of fiber stashed in my closet right around October and, gosh, will just have to buy more! Cassie has been extolling the wonders of raw fleece, but I don’t know . . . I don’t think I have a good enough handle on combing yet (read that as “still none at all”) and anyway, am reluctant to bring stinky fleeces into the house. I have no way of knowing whether the wool I got last winter was clean or filthy in relation to most fleeces, but washing it was not something I particularly enjoyed. I mean, how could I know?? Maybe if I can buy already-washed fleece? I think Chappy was the only one in the family who adored the smell of that wool (grin).

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
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Here’s what I read in July; 29 books this month.

1. ALTA by Mercedes Lackey (434 p)
2. SANCTUARY by Mercedes Lackey (306 p)—Numbers 2 & 3 in this unique little fantasy trilogy. Imagine dragonriders in an Egypt at war . . . I frankly liked the first two better than the last, but think this was pretty enjoyable.
3. HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE by JK Rowling (734 p)
4. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX  by JK Rowling (870 p)
5. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by JK Rowling (652 p)—the three most recent of this series which I don’t think really requires much explanation. I enjoyed the most recent and am already anxious for book #7 to see how it all comes out.
6. BLUE CASTLE by LM Montgomery (218 p). Light, fluffy little book by the author of “Anne of Green Gables.” Valancy has felt stifled her entire life, and when she’s diagnosed with a fatal heart ailment, decides to do what she wants for a change, to the shock and horror of her staid, stick-in-the-mud family. Sweet confection, not much substance.

7. MEMORY-KEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Kim Edwards (401 p). An interesting book. In the midst of a snowstorm, delivered by their father, two twins are born—but when the daughter is born with Down’s Syndrome, the father decides to send her to a home and tell his wife that she died. The nurse, however, decides to raise the baby as her own daughter. Fascinating idea, and a story which I liked quite a bit but didn’t love. Definitely good.
8. MINDFUL KNITTING by Tara Jon Manning (125 p). Basically, a knitter’s book of meditation techniques, and how to relax with your knitting.
9. CRYSTAL SOLDIER by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (321 p). A precursor to their “Liaden” series—a series of “space opera” sci-fi, about the best I’ve read. Thoroughly enjoyable series, though this isn’t my favorite—this world is too different than the one I’m used to, but I am looking forward to the second one coming out, so I’ll know the rest of Jela and Cantra’s story.

10. GIANT’S HOUSE by Elizabeth McCracken (290 p). Disappointing. I’d heard such great things about this book, I wanted to love it, and instead I was bored, bored, bored. I don’t even remember the characters’ names (that’s how much of an impression they made). Told from the point of view of the small-town librarian, this tells the story of a young man suffering from elephantosis—he keeps growing and growing  . . . and little by little, despite the age difference, she falls in love with him, and he with her because she’s the only person who accepts him for who he is, not just a tall body. Blah blah blah. Hugely disappointed.
11. FOLK SHAWLS by Cheryl Oberle (141 p). Basically a book of knitting patterns for shawls, ones that come from all over the world, and with a history to go with each one, each style.
12. SHOOT THE MOON by Billie Letts (333 p). Nowhere near as good as her two previous books, this read more like something by John Grisham. Mark shows up in a small, souther town, having just learned that he was adopted and hoping to find his birth-mother . . . completely unaware that she had been murdered on the night he disappeared from town, however many years ago. It turns into a mystery of his trying to figure out who killed his mother, and proving he is who he says he is, and all in all, pretty predictable for a far-fetched kind of story. Not awful, but her others are better.
13. VANISH WITH THE ROSE by Barbara Michaels (414 p). After that last one, I was in the mood for a fluffy kind of mystery, and so pulled this old Barbara Michaels from the closet—Diana is trying to track down her brother, not heard from in over a year—by impersonating an expert in old roses for the couple who own the estate where he was last heard from.
14. TEMPEST TOST by Robertson Davies (242 p)
15. LEAVEN OF MALICE by Robertson Davies (220 p) Wanting something a little more interesting than “fluff,” I took these two books of my favorite Davies trilogy off the shelf. Witty, unique, challenging without being hard, fun, erudite . . . I find I have to be in just the right kind of mood for his books, but that when I am, they’re great.
16. PILOT’S CHOICE by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (296 p)
17. SCOUT’S PROGRESS by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (309 p) My two favorite Liaden books, because, apparently, reading that one earlier in the month was just enough to whet my appetite.
18. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee (281 p). My niece was reading this for school and I decided to keep her company because it’s been a few years since I read this. Still amazing. It’s all good. I wish she’d written more, but then, how would she have topped this?
19. GREEN JOURNEY by Jon Hassler (292 p)
20. DEAR JAMES by Jon Hassler (422 p). Two of his “Staggerford” books. They are wonderful, but I’ve never been able to bring myself to re-read the original (frankly, the author is lucky I gave him another chance after that ending), but they’re nice books, remind me a bit of Jan Karon’s Mitford series in feel. Good author.
21. FIRST BOOK OF MODERN LACE KNITTING by Marianne Kinzel (90 p). Exactly what it sounds like. Lace knitting.
22. GROW HAIR FAST by Riquette Hofstein (174 p). Well, sometimes you want your hair to grow faster . . .
23. CRYSTAL SINGER by Anne McCaffrey (311 p)
24. KILLASHANDRA by Anne McCaffrey (275 p)
25. CRYSTAL LINE by Anne McCaffrey (294 p). Not my favorite series of hers, but I haven’t read it in over a decade, so . . . a sci-fi series. Killashandra is a failed music student who signs up to be a “crystal singer” on the planet of Ballybran—a dangerous job. In the second book (my favorite of the series—where she acts most human), she meets Lars Dahl, and then the third takes place decades later when her memory is faulty at best . . .

26. SABRIEL by Garth Nix (491 p)
27. LIRAEL by Garth Nix (702 p)
28. ABHORSEN by Garth Nix (518 p). Recommended by a friend, a fantasy trilogy that I thought was a decent story, but not really my cup of tea—a little too dark for me—but they kept my interest and I did read all of them, so they certainly weren’t all bad! I liked Lirael and her Disreputable Dog best of all the characters, which probably isn’t surprising, considering what a dog lover I am (grin)
29. HAND WOOL COMBING AND SPINNING by Peter Teal (175 p). A very technical, painstaking look at taking raw wool fleece and combing it into something spinnable, and then spinning a true, worsted yarn with it. Meticulously detailed.

Tags: Monthly Reading List, Reading by Deb
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So, there I was, sitting at my desk on a Monday morning, helping one co-worker recover from his post-vacation-overload while dealing with another co-worker’s vacation-absense, and generally feeling very Monday-ish when, guess what was delivered to my desk?

A box from my KR Secret Pal!

How refreshing to get something other than, you know, work.

I’ll post pictures later, when I get home, but what a nice way to start the week! Thanks, Pal!

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