Page After Page

Little Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Because I am a proud Mimi

Baby Rosie, 2 weeks old

On my needles and between the pages

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Happy Wednesday! Happy Yarn Along!

On my Kindle I am reading Small Kindnesses by Fiona Robyn--I kind of spotlighted this book yesterday so if you want to know more just read back a post. I am really liking this smallish, ordinary people kind of story.

Also pictured is a book I received in the mail today, Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman. I love this author and can't wait to start this book. Its release date is May 28th.

On my needles is a very small Milo Vest for baby Rosie (for Fall wearing)--and after finishing it I need to work on 2 more for the big sisters. This is a delightful little pattern and it knits up so fast. The yarn is Knit Picks Brooklyn Tweed and it is ever so soft.

I am linking up with Ginny at Small Things today. Hop over there to join in or just do a little blog hopping from the other link-ups. I am also linking up with Tami for WIP Wednesday--another fun even to hop over and follow links from!

What I am reading

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:53:00 +0000

It's Monday! What are you reading??
I am linking up to Sheila from Book Journey-as she hosts the weekly event called It's Monday! What are you reading?

I am reading a quiet little book called Small Kindnesses by Fiona Robyn (also known as Satya Robyn).

Here is a a tidbit from Amazon:

" Leonard Mutch has just discovered his wife was lying to him for years – but can he bear to uncover the truth?

Leonard and Rose Mutch were happily married for forty years. But after her sudden death, Leonard is shocked to find a train ticket in her handbag to a town Rose had never visited. Then a letter arrives from a childhood friend of Rose’s, hinting at a past she never told him about.

Reluctantly embarking on an investigation into the life of the woman he thought he knew as well as himself, Leonard is faced with questions that threaten to destroy his happy memories. Why did Rose secretly leave work every Tuesday? Why did she tell lies about her family? And why is their daughter so desperate for him to stop digging into the past?

As his whole life threatens to unravel, Leonard must make an impossible choice – between his memories and a truth he could never have imagined…

From the bestselling author of The Most Beautiful Thing, Small Kindnesses is a gripping and ultimately life-affirming novel that explores the power of secrets and the healing qualities of love."

My thoughts:
So far, after getting about 50% of the way through, I must say that I love the gentle pacing of this story, and the ordinary character of Leonard. I only know the tip of the iceberg about his dead wife's secrets and lies as the author does a great job of just dishing out a little at a time--and even though he is facing something sad, difficult and potentially tragic, he faces it with grace and with the help an unlikely friendship brings. This book is reminiscent of the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, only not as odd as I found that book!

In other fun book news, I was given a gift card to Amazon from my daughter yesterday for Mother's Day and I splurged and spent it on a hard back book! The new Maisie Dobbs mystery was released in March and I have been dying to order it. I chose to get it in hardback as I own all of the series, this is the 10th, and all but one are in hardback. This one is called Leaving Everything Most Loved, and chronologically moves us even closer to the beginning of WWII.

It should be delivered to my doorstep in 2 days!

So now, what are you reading?

I think I am back!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:55:00 +0000

Hello!
I am back! May has been a whirlwind of a month and even though today is Mother's Day here in the U.S. and I have big plans of sitting and knitting without interruption, I thought I would do a quick update.
First off, my daughter had her baby--a week and a half early-- So, I introduce to you,

Rosemary Joy (Rosie)

6 lbs 11 oz and 19 inches long

I was away from home taking care of big sisters, Lyddie and Millie for 11 days-a time which was extended a few days due to the fact of mama being re-admitted to hospital 5 days after giving birth with very scary, high blood pressures. She spent another 3 days in the hospital. She is home now, on bed-rest for 6-8 weeks, when hopefully all that will be back to normal. I love my 3 girls so much and want to share a few photos of them before I get to the knitting news.

Now--it was a bit necessary to change up the knitting plans as I needed some easy projects to work on as my Ashby Shawl was just too complicated to work on while taking care of a 2 and 3 year old-and when I wasn't actually taking care of them, (aka: after bedtime) my brain and body were too tired to deal with cable charts!
So, I began work on a beanie - the Bend Hat - I had promised to do for Sam after Christmas--I am using a lovely soft alpaca blend...

I was making nice progress on it when I discovered that Georgie Hallam (known as Tikki on Ravelry) was having a May Milo KAL event-and if you knit for small people and have never heard of, nor knit a Milo, you must! It is the easiest and most versatile garment I have knit for the Grandies. So, I decided to order some Knit Picks yarn and plan to knit 3 of these beauties--one for Lyddie, Millie, and baby Rosie-to wear next Fall. My yarn arrived yesterday and I love it! I have started Rosie's and this yarn (Brooklyn Tweed) is just so soft and squishy

Before I actually made it over to do baby care (daughter lives 3 hours away) we had a little weekend away to a small town named Ellensburg where Sam competed in State on his Sax. He played wonderfully, and I was thrilled to find out a brand new little yarn store had just opened that week--so of course I needed to visit and of course I needed to support here. I bought two skeins of Ella Rae Cozy Soft --and while I tend to not buy yarns with acrylic in them, I couldn't resist this colorway nor the soft drapey results I saw in a model garment hanging in the store. I am thinking I will make a Vertebrae for Rosie out of it.

For good measure I think I will share the progress I had made on Ashby before putting it aside

And here is a couple of photos of my son, who I love so much and am so proud!

I need to run--but I will be back to visiting you all this week!
xoxoxxo

Introducing...

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:56:00 +0000

Rosemary Joy

Born April 29

8:59 AM

6 pounds 11 ounces & 19 inches long

I am a busy Mimi, at big sisters' house taking care of them. We are all in love with baby Rosie! I am over the moon with joy over my three little Granddaughters....

comfort

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:34:00 +0000

Trying to find comfort.....

Year of Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:29:00 +0000

The weekend got away from me, so I am posting my Year of Projects a little late.....
I am not feeling very witty, or even very chatty tonight in the wake of the Boston tragedy, but I did want to share a couple of finished objects and the lovely yarn I purchased this weekend on my Yarn Train trip.

First up, is the Fiona's Top I started some time ago for baby Rosemary. I was finally able to get it seamed and the buttons sewed on, and now it is all ready for when that sweet little baby decides to arrive.

The second finished object is my Kayak Scarf which I finished at 11 PM Friday night, just in the nick of time to be ready to wear on the train Saturday morning! This is such a lovely pattern, and while it is not in the Ravelry database, please feel free to ask me how to get a copy.

We had such a lovely day on Saturday--a three hour train ride where I knit to my heart's content and where I made great progress on my Barndance Scarf (in fact I just finished binding it off tonight!). Then we visited 3 stores with lunch in the middle at yummy deli. I managed to find something to buy at each store (shocking, huh?!) and so did my friends. We then had the best burger dinner ever before boarding the train for home, where I was able to knit again for 3 hours!

My bags full of goodness

Isager Alpaca Merino

Destined to become a Lumen Shawl

Lorna Laces Sock yarn...destined to become my first pair of socks. Maybe Glacier Lake Toe Up pattern Although it is hard to see in this photo, this yarn is full of lovely lavender and purple shades.

These two lovelies are hand-dyed by a local Portland dyer and are Superwash Merino fingering weight. I have no idea what to do with them yet, but I love them!

Now that I have finished the two projects shown above, and the Barndance Scarf, (photos in another post after blocking), I think I will finally be able to begin my Ashby Shawl. I decided to knit this now as part of a KAL cooked up by Evelyn at Project Stash, called the Pour Moi (for me). The group on Ravelry can be found here....

I must head to bed --but will be around visiting you all this week.
*hugs to all*

On the Needles & Between the Pages

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:12:00 +0000

Hey! Guess what dear readers?
I am home from work sick.
Again.
Blech!

I just could not justify sitting at a front desk of a clinic exposing my co-workers and patients to my hacking, hacking cough.
So, now I have time to put together a mid week post. Something I have not managed to do in ages.
I just snapped a picture of what is on my needles and what I am reading. Can I just say how much more I have grown to love my new Kindle this year?? Love it! The best part is I can adjust the font and read without my glasses. :) It is a wet stormy April day here and I am not relishing going out in it when I go visit my friendly doctor later today.

Here you see my ever growing Kyak Scarf which needs to be completed by Saturday, because sick or not, I am going on my Yarn Train adventure, and I will be wearing this scarf. Note to self: no more fingering weight scarfs! :) I missed a previous yarn adventure in February which my friends when to, due to sickness. Not happening again.

Also, do you see that lovely golden Shepherds Wool cake? That is destined to become my Ashby Shawl. The wonder project that will make me proficient in chart reading/knitting...because other than the middle section, the rest is knit up using 6 different charts.

Have I mentioned I have never knit from a chart before?
Umm, yeah.
Fun times ahead for me! (but I REALLY want that shawl!)

On my Kindle, I am reading, Call the Midwife: shadows of the workhouse by Jennifer Worth. This is the second of the trilogy and I just have to say how much in love I am with those nurses and nuns! And the tv show which is airing in the States right now? Every bit as good as the books. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the last book, real soon. Another BBC show I streamed recently was Land Girls. I can only get season 1 for free, and while it is a bit more soap-operaish than other productions, it was still fun to watch!
Today, I am linking up with Tammy, for WIP Wednesday, and Ginny for Yarn Along. Go visit them. You will not be sorry!

Year of Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:30:00 +0000

I know, I know....I have been quite absent recently on my little blog and I do apologize to those few readers who actually do want to keep up with my little life.
We had a wonderful Easter, and to answer several of you who asked, yes the bunnies for the Grands were adored! My daughter shared the picture below, on Facebook.

Now, I am freed up to work on two different projects which have been on the needles for a little bit of time-
First up, and more urgent, is my Kyak Scarf. This is a KAL for several of us who will be riding the Yarn Train from Seattle to Portland next Saturday. We will sped the day, shopping at yarn stores and enjoying our time in downtown Portland. This little beauty of a scarf is knit with fingering so you can imagine how long it feels to be taking me to finish it!

Next up is my Barn Dance scarf. This little puppy is taking me forever as each row has over 250 stitches! I need to knit until the ball of the blackish yarn is gone, then there will be a few rows of the off white. I really want to get this one finished up as I think it will be perfect for spring/summer when my work office is so very air-conditioned; there is a vent which blows on my neck at times!

This next week, I will be looking at and updating my original yop list and decide what I want to work on next.

Here are a few pictures of my Grands on Easter--so thankful their mommy takes photos as it breaks my heart enough not to be with them on holidays.

On a personal note, part of the reason I have been so absent lately, is due to some lingering health issues. I spent some time 2 days last week having some upper GI testing, trying to find the source of my tummy troubles. I have a consult with my specialist on Wednesday, that is if the results are in by then. I am looking forward to having some resolution soon!
I have finished a couple of books which also need to be reviewed here--and hope to get to that tomorrow.
Until then~*~*`

Easter lovelies

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 07:13:00 +0000

Happy Easter, dear readers! Wow, how the year is flying by. I am shaking my head over the fact that Easter has arrived. Weren't we just opening presents the other day?

I feel so out of the loop as I did not post last weekend. There just was not time. Between work, and a big fundraising auction (for my work), and Sam's last wind ensemble concert, the weekend buzzed by. Then back to work and every spare minute was spent on finishing up the bunnies for the Grands, as they needed to be popped in the mail by Wednesday night in order to arrive by Easter. So....without further ado, here are the photos I managed to take before wrapping them all up for their trip. I finished them very late at night, thus the poor picture quality, but you get the idea!

I am still working on my Kayak Scarf, but since I have not made a whole lot more progress I will not bore you with more pictures of the same.

I hope you have a most blessed day--and I look forward to caching up with you all in the next couple of days!
~*~*~Smiles~*~*~

Book Corner

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:24:00 +0000

Book: I'll Take What She Has by Samantha Wilde
Finished: March
Pages: 416
Source: NetGalley

From Amazon:
" Nora and Annie have been best friends since kindergarten. Nora, a shy English teacher at a quaint New England boarding school, longs to have a baby. Annie, an outspoken stay-at-home mother of two, longs for one day of peace and quiet (not to mention more money and some free time). Despite their very different lives, nothing can come between them—until Cynthia Cypress arrives on campus.

Cynthia has it all: brains, beauty, impeccable style, and a gorgeous husband (who happens to be Nora’s ex). When Cynthia eagerly befriends Nora, Annie’s oldest friendship is tested. Now, each woman must wrestle the green-eyed demon of envy and, in the process, confront imperfect, mixed-up family histories they don’t want to repeat. Amid the hilarious and harried straits of friendship, marriage, and parenthood, the women may discover that the greenest grass is right beneath their feet."

My Thoughts:

Early on, I had high hopes for this book. Sadly, they were dashed the further in the book I got. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the guilty pleasure of a fun chic-lit book, and while there were some humorous spots in this book, it just did not make up for the annoying two main characters. I did not relate to them, nor do I understand this new phenomenon of mommy angst. Really, I don't. I have raised 4 kids, and frankly I did not need to analyze my every move or decision. Nor did I need to analyze my decision to become a mother in the first place. Way too much energy was wasted on this type of behavior in the book and it ruined it for me. One character is so needy for friendship with the "popular" girl, something that should have been outgrown years earlier. The other character was whiny and angry most of the book--and who has time as a Mom to enter therapy to find their inner child??

Now, this all being said, I did find Wilde's writing style enjoyable and I always enjoy books which are told through each character's point of view in alternating chapters--and I am very likely to pick up the next book by Samantha Wilde, to give her a second chance!

Book Corner...

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:00:00 +0000

I think it is time for some book news here in my little corner...

Heart Like Mine by Amy Hatvany
Pages: 384
Finished: March
Source: NetGalley (release date: March 19, 2013)

From Amazon:
" Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace decides that, for the right man, she could learn to be an excellent part-time stepmom. After all, the kids live with their mother, Kelli. How hard could it be?
At thirteen, Ava Hansen is mature beyond her years. Since her parents’ divorce, she has been taking care of her emotionally unstable mother and her little brother—she pays the bills, does the laundry, and never complains because she loves her mama more than anyone. And while her father’s new girlfriend is nice enough, Ava still holds out hope that her parents will get back together and that they’ll be a family again. But only days after Victor and Grace get engaged, Kelli dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances—and soon, Grace and Ava discover that there was much more to Kelli’s life than either ever knew.
Narrated by Grace and Ava in the present with flashbacks into Kelli’s troubled past, Heart Like Mine is a poignant, hopeful portrait of womanhood, love, and the challenges and joys of family life"

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed Hatvany's writing style-- a nice easy going style which still managed to give the characters depth and helped me be drawn into the story quickly. I really wanted to find out about Kelli's mysterious past and I found myself rooting for Grace and Ava. Grace found herself thrust into an incredibly difficult situation and her name was perfect for her as she managed to handle what life threw at her with incredible grace. I highly recommend this book which has just been released.

Year of Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:14:00 +0000

Whew! What a week!
If you read my blog during the week, you will know that my little Grandmother was in the hospital all week, and we spent time traveling up to the hospital she was in to sit vigil with her, and to be with other family as we surrounded her with love during the last days of her life.

She passed away yesterday, just a month short of turning 95. It is such a blessing to know she is at peace, but even so, we will miss her terribly.
The phrase, "life goes on" has new meaning to me today, as that is surely true. And so, I find myself looking at old photos of her as I remember my life with her, amidst the normal daily stuff....cooking, laundry, mothering, reading and knitting.

Today is my knitting update day, and I hope to get a couple of book reviews up for tomorrow. I also hope to get around to visiting all of you!
I mentioned earlier in the week that I was beginning a scarf KAL for a knitting event I will be participating in during April....a Yarn Train! We will ride the train from Seattle to Portland and then spend the day there shopping in some new-to-us yarn stores. And speaking of new knitting stores, a new one just opened up 10 minutes from my home this month!!! This is good, and it can be bad! :) Currently we have been traveling 30 minutes by freeway to a lovely yarn store--and while we love that Yellow House Yarns, it takes some planning to go. Now we have a spot to just drop in on short notice. It has a large meeting room with large and small tables and couches, and a gluten free bakery too.

Here is the progress I have made on my Kayak Scarf. The pattern is not on Ravelry, but if you are interested in getting a copy, just email Myra from Fancy Image Yarn at: fancyarn@aol.com

Sadly, I will not be able to work exclusively on this scarf for a bit, as I still need to finish my little bunnies which I hope to send to my Grandys in time for Easter!

Here they are, in bits and pieces--arms, legs, tails, bodies and ears! The lovely pastel yarn in the photo is what will be used to dress the in little dresses.

That is all the fiber news I have to offer today. Have a great day everyone....

A life well lived

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 02:34:00 +0000

Hattie Christine Smith flew to Jesus today.

April 1918-March 2013

She was just 35 days short of being 95 years old.

She will be missed. She was loved.

Hello?? Anyone there?

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 07:25:00 +0000

Yes--I am still here, even though you can't tell by the number of posts that haven't been written!
Mercy but the past two weeks have been difficult!

Last week saw me with a relapse of the tummy bug I thought I had conquered the week before. I struggled through work each day, but not a lot of knitting happened--in fact, no knitting happened. I collapsed on the couch each night after dinner, and lost myself in mindless tv and once in a while a little reading.

Then this past Saturday I received a call from my parents that my beloved, 95 year old Grandmother was not doing well and we should prepare ourselves to say our good-byes. This little lady was still living independently in her own little apartment, only needing help to get the store and other little errands. Sunday, I received the call that she had been taken to the hospital by ambulance after passing out, falling, and hitting her head. The long and short of it is that her little heart is barely beating---I left the hospital tonight, fully expecting to not see her again--her breathing was just so labored. This is my last grandparent to pass away and it is such a bittersweet thing to know that whole generation of my family will all be gone.....

I do have some yarney goodness to share--it is a fingering weight sock yarn, hand dyed by Myra of Fancy Image Yarns.

I will be using it in a knit a long, several of us Washingtonians are participating in. We are all fans of her yarn, and all will be riding the yarn train in April, from Seattle to Portland Oregon for a day of yarn shopping in downtown Portland. We hope to identify ourselves by either wearing the KAL scarf, or by working on the scarf during the train ride! The pattern we are using is called Kayak Scarf and is a free pattern we received last year on the yarn crawl we did. It is so pretty and lacey! I think you can purchase the pattern on her website, Fancy Image Yarns. Seriously you all, her yarn is a delight to knit with and very affordable to boot!

In book news, I have finished a couple which need reviews written up, and I am now reading a young adult novel called, Dented Cans by Heather Walsh. It is a lovely story about family, quirkiness, secrets and loyalty!

That is it from me for now---I hope to be able to visit you all this weekend and get back into my regular blogging/internet routine soon. My friend and I just discovered a new yarn store, 10 minutes from my house that we are checking out on Saturday. Currently, we drive 40 minutes by freeway to our favorite Yellow House Yarns---I will be sure to post pictures and a review of it too!

On a side note, I am sorry to say that I am needing to activate my word verification for a little while. I cannot believe the rise in number of spam comments these past few weeks. I hope to turn it off after a while, so please bear with me.

Until later....

Fiber Time

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 01:32:00 +0000

Oh my word! How can it be March already?? Truly, weren't we just opening up lovely Christmas presents just yesterday?
I guess I should not be so surprised as the signs of Spring beginning are all around me---crocus's popping up all over, the earliest of all the flowers where I live, birds chirping in the mornings, and last night, the frogs were out in the wetlands making all kinds of noise! I know that we are now 2/3 of the way through our YOP year, and while I don't think I am 2/3 done with my project list, I have made a good dent in it.

Rosie's dress, is almost done! Here you see it in my usual photography spot--the windowsill where I have the best natural light, always.

All I need to do is stitch up the side seams and get some buttons. I have never seamed a garment before, but I watched a very thorough tutorial on the mattress stitch and think I will be able to do it.

I have also been working on my Noble Cowl, but as usual, the purple color of the yarn did not photograph very accurately--

I am thinking I am going to have to put the cowl on hold for a bit as I want to knit a couple of these adorable little bunnies for the Grandies for Easter.

I am hoping to knit a little dress for each of them with the sock yarn showed in the picture--I am just not sure what pattern to use for that and I am not sure how big these bunnies will actually turn out. I had to search high and low on the Lion Brand site for this actual pattern as it had been cached--but my persistence paid off. I ordered my yarn from Knit Picks--a first for me and it actually feels wonderful. The tan yarn is called CotLin and is part cotton and part linen. If I get these finished they will count towards my goal of knitting my first ever toys.

Well, dear readers, I leave you with this beautiful photo of some spring I found in my neighborhood....

Until next time....cheers!

Garden of Stones

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Book: Garden of Stones by Sophie Littlefiel
Pages: 320
Finished: February 2013
Publish Date: February 26, 2013
I received this galley from Harlequin MIRA

First off, I just want to say that while this was a difficult book to read due to subject matter, that same subject matter was written about in a very respectful manner. The book is set in two time periods, 1978 Los Angeles and 1940's Manzanar Japanese Internment Camp. The WWII sections of the book revolve around 15 year old Lucy and her beautiful Mother--the horror of being rounded up, getting rid of most of their possessions, the horrible travel accommodations. and the equally horrific conditions they are forced to endure as prisoners. This is truly a shameful episode in American history.
The 1978 sections of the book revolve around a grown up Lucy and her daughter Patty--
I really don't want to say much more as I don't want to spoil the story line nor the very surprising ending.

I very much enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

From Amazon:
"In the dark days of war, a mother makes the ultimate sacrifice

Lucy Takeda is just fourteen years old, living in Los Angeles, when the bombs rain down on Pearl Harbor. Within weeks, she and her mother, Miyako, are ripped from their home, rounded up—along with thousands of other innocent Japanese-Americans—and taken to the Manzanar prison camp.

Buffeted by blistering heat and choking dust, Lucy and Miyako must endure the harsh living conditions of the camp. Corruption and abuse creep into every corner of Manzanar, eventually ensnaring beautiful, vulnerable Miyako. Ruined and unwilling to surrender her daughter to the same fate, Miyako soon breaks. Her final act of desperation will stay with Lucy forever…and spur her to sins of her own.

Bestselling author Sophie Littlefield weaves a powerful tale of stolen innocence and survival that echoes through generations, reverberating between mothers and daughters. It is a moving chronicle of injustice, triumph and the unspeakable acts we commit in the name of love."

Mondays...ho hum

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Fall remnants.......dried rose hip

Back to work today-but looking forward to a ladies craft night at my church in the evening where I will be able to work on my knitting and visit with some sweet ladies.

In book news, I am reading, I'll Take What She Has, and am really enjoying it. It is refreshing to read a book that not only embraces the role of stay at home mom, but sheds light in a funny but real way of the challenges it poses.

The rain is pounding and the wind is blustering outside and I must get myself out the door. This will be a bad day for an umbrella. :)

Have a super Monday everyone.

Saturday Glimpse

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 21:06:00 +0000

I rediscovered a lovely blog this week, Diary of a Stay At Home Mom and while I spent some time visiting I found a fun feature she has done on Saturday called Five Senses Saturday. I love it! It allows a window in to my little corner of the world and allows me to share a little bit about all the things I love most!

So, here is my first Five Senses Saturday:

***Hear***

The wind whispering through the trees. Quite a bit quieter than it was last night!
Pandora radio station playing my favorites--Nat King Cole station
The sound of a U-Haul pulling up to the house. My oldest son, for financial reasons needs to move home for a few months
My sweet Molly dog as she snores away in her little dog bed
Absence of my normal Saturday household noises as my youngest Sam is away on a Jazz Band trip

***See***

Yarney goodness! Included are two of my current projects and some lovely Biwa Pearl Cotton, sent to me by Evelyn from Project Stash. Thanks so much Evelyn, I love it and it arrived yesterday!

Stacks of paperwork I brought home from work--it will take a couple of weeks to catch up

Dishes in the sink

The last of my Christmas/ winter decorations needing to come down--a lighted swag above the dining table

First signs of spring--found in yard of a vacant house across the street

***Touch***

Laundry needing folding

The soft fur of beautiful Molly

Soft yarn....who wants to work from home when there is yarn to pay with?

Hand lotion---winter is brutal on my hands

My kindle--with a new book (galley), I'll Take What She Has....

***Taste***

Boiled eggs, homemade applesauce and watered down juice. Tummy still off a bit

Homestyle Chicken and Noodles---for dinner, again, keeping tummy in mind

Biscuits--out of a can...I know, what a cheater I am!

Some Dove chocolate hiding in the cupboard

Earl Gray tea

***Smell***

Baltic Sweet Amber Candle

Dryer sheets in clothes dryer

Chicken and onions and spices simmering on stove

Bath and Body Works spray--Cashmere Glow

Cinnamon in bowl that contained my lunchtime applesauce

My week so far in bullets...

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:54:00 +0000

I worked 1/2 a day this week...Tuesday...then came home with a GI bug....blech!
I have knit a little tiny bit on my new cowl project which is a knit-a-long

I have been sipping Ginger Ale and eating rice and applesauce and dry toast

I finished a book which is due for release next week, which is when my review will go up
I am sick and tired of being sick--2 bugs in 2 weeks
While much of country is hunkered down under a huge snow storm, we are bracing ourselves for a wind and rain storm tomorrow
I am hoping I will feel better enough for my sweet Grands to come for a visit on Saturday! The nurse today assured me I was not contagious.....

Gentle rain out my window, leaving tiny raindrops

Year of Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:40:00 +0000

Sunday again!
How do the weeks fly by so quickly?
Sadly, I ended up pretty sick and missed a whole week of work--which sounds good in some ways, except I was feeling so poorly, I hardly felt like knitting most of the week.
My Valentine's Day was pretty sad and pathetic too...but my dear husband left a few little cards around the house before he left for work. One of them was left in my bowl of medicines....a place I was sure to see first thing after getting up!

I am glad to report that I am finally feeling just about normal--except for lingering junky sounding cough--and come Tuesday, my first day back to work, it will be time to pay the piper. My job is such that just the emergency stuff that crosses my desk gets done when I am out.
The rest?
Is left to pile up.
I made the mistake of checking my email so I have a good idea of what all I will be dealing with. Generally, when I have been out this long before, it takes 3-4 weeks to really and truly get caught up. The biggest job will be to ascertain what is the most urgent and get everything prioritized!
But on to the knitting.....

I did make progress on my baby Rosie Fiona---

And then I spent an evening un-knitting 20 rows of lace!
Umm...that would be lace containing PSSO's, K2tog's, and Yarn Overs------
I made the shocking discovery that after finishing and binding off the back, and picking up the front yoke stitches, I was knitting the front backwards! Yup! The wrong side was facing out.
How in the world? I swear I checked and double checked that fact. It could have been worse--you know, like discovering this when I was done with all 9 lace repeat sections!

In other news, one of the Ravelry groups I belong to, Friends of Fancy Image Yarn, (a local dyer who has a shop about an hour from my home) has decided to do a KAL. It is the A Noble Cowl pattern, and Myra the shop owner has dyed special yarn for anyone who wants to use.

Of course, since her DK is my favorite, I opted in and am now in possession of this lovely purple yarn.

Purple is so hard to photograph, but believe me when I say it is a bit deeper shade than in this photo.

I dithered back and forth about joining this KAL, and when I remembered I had needed to drop the sock one which everyone seems to be doing, I guess I felt like I needed to redeem myself. Besides! KAL's are fun.

I thought I would share a link to a new recipe I am trying this coming week. It looks hearty and warm and perfect for a winter's night..... Homestyle Chicken & Noodles. Doesn't that look yum?!

That is all for now---
*~*~~*Take Care~*~*~*

I'll Be Seeing You

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:08:00 +0000

I'll Be Seeing You by: Suzanne Hayes & Loretta Nyhan
Pages: 400
Finished: February 2013
To Be Released on May 28th, 2013
My copy is a galley I received from Harlequin Mira Publishers

This book was easily gobbled up, just as soon as it totally grabbed me on page one! It did not hurt one bit that it is written using the epistolary format which is a favorite of mine. Set during WWII, it is the story of Glory and Rita. Two women who begin writing to each other--brought together through a woman's 4-H project formed to help women connect as pen pals. Each one of them agrees to participate rather grudgingly, but the friendship which follows grows into a deep and supportive relationship as they both wait...and wait..and wait, for news of their men. Glory is a young wife and mom, living in Massachusetts and Rita is a slightly older woman living in Iowa. Glory waits for news of her husband and Rita waits to hear of her son and husband.
Gardening tips, recipes, fear, joy, love, happiness, illness, sadness and relief are shared as both women grow and become changed by the war, all the while, supporting each other through their words written on paper that is sent flying across the country to each other.
This novel is uniquely written by two authors, who I discovered through the afterward comments, have never met in real life. The novel was written by email, one author writing from Glory's perspective and giving us the other characters which surround her, and the other author wrote from Rita's perspective, introducing and developing the cast of characters surrounding her in Iowa. Such a clever way to write a book!

My son is studying the depression and WWII in his 11th grade history class and we had a very nice conversation today about America and what it stood for in the 1940's. He asking me if I thought Hitler would have been brought down without America's involvement, and me asking him if he thought Americans would/could pull together to get the job done now, as they did during that war--the rationing, the sacrifice, the scrap metal and bacon grease collecting, the unification under a common goal and cause and the undying support of our boys overseas? Something I often think about when I read books set in this time period.

They did a wonderful job, researching the times and daily life of a war wife, living and carrying on in the face of adversity and the unknown. I heartily recommend this book and am so glad to have read it.

To quote author Loretta Nyhan: " I'll Be Seeing You is, above else a novel about the triumphant powers of friendship."

I close with this: A poem written by one of the characters, dated 1946 ( I am not naming the character in order to give nothing of importance away)

"War Bonds
There was a waiting time,
when the people made sense of God's mess.
A nightmare objective
Fields of the dead
And through it all, two women wrote
intentions
dreams
loss
on paper with steady hands.
Trusting friendship and humanity they
wrote as the pages
flew across time and space
Little by little
pace by pace
a war bond grew
Something new and green among the
red fields of war
And somehow,
she here, her there
It became a bigger
thing than even all their lives
And a triumph was no good
without the other tragic things come
and go
nothing was real that wasn't written down
She here, her there
they forged a mighty thing
a garden all its own to grow and sing
Soon the letters couldn't be enough
the long dry seasons in between
she here, her there
and in the air a buzz of wonder:
does her hair shine?
It was time.
She here, her there
to be together in the everywhere
A date was made to mark the big event
Families, long known but never seen
gathered like chickens to the fence
here there everywhere
They met at the ocean place of one
where the sunflowers carried the name of the other
and the car couldn't chug up the gravel road fast,
fast enough.
She was out and running as the other slammed
the screen door, flowered dresses,
hair askew
High heels tossed in tandem.
Nothing else but them.
Family gathered around, no sound
to watch them touch each other's faces and link arms
silent now no words
turning away from all the rest of us
Walking down the path to where the
ocean meets the whale rocks of the sea
Flowers blooming in their wake, they walked,
What miracle is this?
That they didn't notice"

Saturday Snapshot: tranquility

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:46:00 +0000

View from our bed & breakfast room, at dusk

Keyport, WA

January, 2013

I am linking up with Saturday Snapshot from At Home With Books

between the pages and on the needles

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:14:00 +0000

I am going to Yarn Along today! What better thing do do when you are still home sick? I am dreading seeing my desk when I go back to work--hopefully tomorrow but I need to stay fever free today and I am a little fearful that I won't be doing that....

A big shout out to Ginny, who hosts Yarn Along every week on her blog, Small Things.

I am still working steadily on my Fiona for soon to arrive, grandbebe #3, Rosie. I have finished the back and am now ready to start working on the front! I am pretty pleased with how it turning out and I have been browsing some different bootie (mary jane type) patterns to make a matching pair.

I have two books going --even though you only really see one in this photo. One book is on my Kindle which you see peaking out from under Fiona. The first is The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice--and yes, I have been reading this book since January. It isn't that I don't like it--I think I have reading ADHD and keep getting distracted by other newer books. So, I will keep reading away on this one when the fancy takes me--the plot is pretty slow so it is an easy one to put down and pick up again later.

The book which has really captured me this week is a Galley I received from the publisher, Harliquen MIRA. (my Kindle version does not include this pretty little cover because it is just a galley)

It is set to be released on May 28th and is written by two authors, Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan. It is an epistolary novel, and consists of letters written by two women, who are alone waiting for loved ones who are fighting far away during WWII. One of them is a young wealthy woman, and the other an older (my age!) woman who has a son and a husband away off fighting. One lives in Massachusetts and one lives in Iowa. This book will be getting a very favorable review from me--well unless it all falls apart here in the last 1/3 of the story. Be sure to put it on your reading list for May!

Now I must run and put this soup together in my crockpot--yes, I feel the need to feed my family even when I am sick...:) I suppose if you wanted some meat in this soup, you could easily throw in some chicken too.

Until later......

~*~*~*~Smiles~*~*~*

Chirping

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:48:00 +0000

Outside my window this morning.....