Nice things in today’s mail, helping to soften my most recent dentist visit. (And, gosh, a whole four weeks to relax before the next one. Sigh.)

But, really, we’re talking about the good stuff!

Like the most recent (and, I believe, my last) installment of Sundara Yarn‘s Petals Collection–Dahlia. How to describe this color? It’s like a deep, intense, coral. Sort of. Too yellow to be pink. Too pink to be red. But not at all pastely, like “coral” usually is.

Really, it’s just lovely.

Not only that, but it brought a very-well coordinated friend along in the mail stream. The latest copy of Interweave Knits. I mean really, look how well it looks next to that sweater on the cover, huh?

I like the Notre Dame pullover quite a lot–it looks very comfy and very wearable. The Summertime Tunic camisole is pretty, even if not something I’d be likely to wear–but, you know, I like it anyway. The Spiral Boot socks are pretty, the motorcycle gloves kind of nifty . . . some nice things in there, even if it’s not an issue I’m wowed by. Not overwhelmed, not underwhelmed, just . . . whelmed. It’s nice.

(Anybody else remember this Broadway lyric? “You’re so nice. You’re not good, you’re not bad, you’re just … nice. I’m not good, I’m not nice, I’m just right….”)

Hey–technical question for you: If you’re sewing two knit pieces together, in two completely different colors, which one do you use for the seaming yarn? The light one, or the dark one? Opinions??

Oh yes. I’ve joined a KAL for the summer–Jessica’s Summer of Socks. I’m not exactly going to be winning any speed prizes, but I WILL be knitting socks during the summer, this I know, so . . . why not join? I figure I’ve already met the requirements . . . that of working on socks between June 21st and September 21st, so why not play with others, huh? Come join us!

And, oh, as a reader, this is just sad….

Although I’m delighted to see one of my favorites on this list.

No, not THAT kind of  R.I.P.

Reading. In. Public.

Do you do it? Why or why not?

Gee, good question, Deb!

I used to ALL the time, but not so much anymore. When I was younger, I never went anywhere without a book. When I was old enough to start carrying purses, I always bought one that would be big enough for a paperback. I’d read at the movies before they dimmed the lights. In school while waiting for classes to start. While out on errands with Mom. It’s possible I even sneaked a peek at Church once or twice, waiting for services to start. (There, it helped that our minister was as big a fan of fantasy/sci-fi as I was–we even traded books every Sunday.)

Then, of course, there was college, when it was pretty much my responsibility as a good student to crack books open at every opportunity . . . whether they supported class credits or not. I think I spent almost as much time at the Rose Library reading novels for a break as I did actually doing, you know, studying. I’ve also read in restaurants over solitary meals while on vacation. Or, of course, while waiting at a doctor’s office, or in an airport, or some such thing.

But while, still, I DO read in public from time to time, my opportunities have dwindled greatly. I drive myself to work, and of course, that’s not exactly public-minded of me, to read while driving. I mostly go straight to work and come straight home, so on weekdays, there’s really no opportunity to read in public. On Saturdays, we’ll run errands, go to the park, go shopping, hang out over coffee . . . but it’s kind of rude to read while out for coffee with someone (unless you specifically planned to study or work or something). So for the most part, these days, if I’ve got a few free minutes while I’m out somewhere–I’ll usually pull out my knitting, which isn’t as rude to whomever I’m with.

Unless, of course, I’m out on my own. In which case, well, of course!!

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading // 12 Comments »