Are you a curious knitter? Are you interested in creative ideas, amusing anecdotes, and inspiration for your knits? Then this is the book for you, Mason-Dixon Knitting from the gals at Mason-Dixon Knitting. (Yes, I know, it sounds redundant–I didn’t name the book or the blog, but you knew exactly who I meant, didn’t you? And isn’t that the point?) It’s a charming book, breezy in tone, and a delight. I may even make a dishcloth.

I’m ready to move into the last couple steps of my Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan. Tonight I tacked down the hems at the sleeves and the waist, all ready to pick up the stitches for the neckband, which I plan to do tomorrow. Then the button bands. It’s been years–like, ten? More?–since I did a button band, so I’m a little nervous about that. But still . . . the end is in sight, and when I tried this on, it seems to fit really nicely, which is a relief. And I do have the buttons already–no contests necessary for this one.

Finally, my health seems like it might be moving in the right direction, finally. I almost made it through a complete day at work today–I faded at 3:30, and so left half an hour early–but hey, I was there at 7:50 this morning, and made it back from lunch five minutes early so really, that’s only 15 minutes. We even sort of took Chappy out for a walk–all the way to the corner and back. (Oooh! Hey, I know it’s not much, but it was out of the house with some good sniffs, so he’s not complaining.)

Oh, and thank you for your kind words on my Grandparent-Gs yesterday. I had fun with that, and enjoyed introducing the four of them to you.

Pick one of your favorite authors.

What? One?? This is the hardest part. Just one?? But, there are so many! Jane Austen. Dorothy Dunnett. Jasper Ffordes. Anne McCaffrey. Laurie Colwin. Robin McKinley. Sean Russell. . . . Okay, fine. I’ll pick somebody I don’t expect anyone else would pick because she so deserves it. Sharon Shinn.

1. What are some of your favorite books by this author?
   Archangel is my first and favorite, although the other two of that trilogy, Jovah’s Angel and The Alleluia Files are amazingly good, too. And I love Heart of Gold which I find to be a truly amazing book.
2. Why do you like this author?
   How long have you got? She writes fantasy, but it’s delectable fantasy–unique places, but with very human characters, with exceedingly human interactions. Her sense of place is amazing, and oh, her descriptions! Rich. Lush. Beautiful. Detailed. The way she describes music, or love, or an angel’s wing . . . the real kind of magic. Her books drip in beauty, until you practically have to flick it from your fingers as you read.
3. Have you read everything by this author? Why or why not?
   Yes, or at least, everything I’ve been able to get my hands on, including her first novel (the only one I haven’t loved), her young adult series, and the two short novellas that I know of.

• Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading • Permalink:Getting Better All The Time //