Read a good book lately?

It's been a red-puffy eye day. Three weeks ago I took a couple books out of the library figuring if I didn't finish both in 3 weeks I'd renew. Ha Ha - fooled me. The book I hadn't started was due today and when I went on line Friday to renew - there's a waiting list and I couldn't renew it. Of course, the book I had been reading has no list and it could be renewed. Normally I'd say "Big Deal, I'll take it out another time." But this book has a long waiting list, which it didn't have 3 weeks ago and I don't want to wait forever to read it. So, I spent last night and today reading, a lot.

What book would get me to do this marathon reading? The Friday Night Knitting Club. The regular book had many people on the waiting list but I thought I was clever I reserved the large print because no one was on it's waiting list. The book is a typical gal's book in that you will end up with red puffy eyes while reading it. The basic story is about a lady, Georgia Walker,(white) who lives with a black guy for a while, gets pregnant and he leaves. She creates a life for herself and her little girl by starting a custom knitting business and eventually a yarn shop. She has a mentor/friend who helps out. Most of the story takes place when Dakota, the daughter is 12/13 years old. The Dad reappears wanting to get to know Dakota, many customers have life events happen, Georgia herself has life events happen. They all support each other through the Friday Night Knitting Club. The book is a comfortable read. Not a Pulitzer prize winner but that's not what I was looking for. It's good character based life story type reading.

So, other than read till I couldn't see any more I have done a bit of knitting the past few days. My cotton vest is to the armbands and front bands stage. There will be a picture soon.

My "I don't feel like thinking about what I'm knitting" shawl is a bit longer. I like to have a project going that is a no brainer. Something easy, big enough needles so it changes the muscles you use a bit. My hands get tired if I knit small gauge items too long. Something size 8-11 needle without complicated patterning is a nice change. This shawl hasn't made an appearance on the blog yet. It's some yarn my SIL gave me for my birthday about 15+ years ago. She got 10 skeins in Europe for me. It's turquoise Pingouin "Poudreuse" 80% acrylic,10% wool, 10% mohair.

So far Chief and Bert are being their typical selves - eat,sleep,sleep,eat. Tough life.

Happy Birthday Dad

I just finished reading a book that frightened me at the beginning. It wasn't a mystery or horror story - it was my life in black and white. The main character is a 50 yo lady who has a mother in need of going to assisted living because of memory problems. Man that sounds familiar! The father's name was George. Dad, you hear that? She called Aunt Jean to talk about it all. Aunt Jeanne can I call you again to talk about this? Anyway - there were many things about the book not my life but there was enough the same that it was a bit odd to read. Some of the conversations were indentical to ones Mom and I have had. Spooky! The book was Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber. I've read her Knitting Book series and wanted to read this one before I read the next Blossom Street book which brings Susannah to the Knitting Book Series area.


This week was raspberry week. I love it. The back portion of my yard is filled with bright berries just begging to be turned into delight for the palate. Last weekend my friends and I loved raspberry muffins. This week I've had raspberry on rice pudding and raspberry pancakes. Yum. It's been a good week!


85 years ago George was born. He grew up in south Minneapolis and had a wonderful childhood. When the time came he joined the navy and defended our country against those that wanted to take away our rights. After the navy he married and eventually became my Dad. We had great times growing up. One Saturday a month was my time alone with Dad we would have adventures that were huge to a small girl. Sometimes we would go to the Osseo gravel pit and go agate hunting. We stop by the root beer stand and the bakery and get something for lunch that Mom wouldn't approve of. We took our agates and polished them and made jewelry out of some. Sometimes we'd go cross country skiing together, sometimes go out and practice archery. Whatever we did was just the two of us. My brother had his time alone with Dad and I don't know what they did. Probably baseball stuff but - that was their time and private. Dad always believed totally in me. He helped me start my shop when I decided to go into business on my own. He supported me when I decided the shop didn't work well enough to keep going. He taught me to be an independent person. Able to make household repairs on my own and stand on my own two feet. Now that he remembers very little and has to live in a Memory Care Home he still believes in me totally. How incredible is that! It's been 85 years of living and loving and I'm glad he and Mom adopted me so I could call him Dad! Happy Birthday Dad! I love you.

It's okay Sweet Pea

Softball Game
The weekend went way too fast. Friday night godson's softball team "died". The game ended in the 5th inning with a score of 1 to 15. We were the "1". But it has been reported that they have played this team before several times and they are actually tied in total wins. The other team was incredibly hot Friday night. Leaping into the air and coming back with impossible catches. It was a fun game to watch. I must add the "1" was godson's making. He likes to run and slide. He managed to make a single into a 3 base run and slide home on the next hit. That was the first inning and well......... not much after that.

His Dad was supposed to fly in from New Jersey for the weekend but spent over 5 hours on the plane waiting to take off. He was supposed to arrive at 6pm but ended up going back home and getting there at 3am. I would absolutely DIE if I had to spend that much time in a plane and airport. YUCK! He plans to come next weekend so we'll see what other air traumas can happen to prevent all of us from seeing him.

Stash South
Last month I mentioned I have 2 yarn stashes. One in the current house and one up north (14 miles away) in my other house I haven't finished fixing to sell. And I haven't removed all my things until I clear out my parents things from this house. Anyway - Stash south got a face lift. I bought some of the metal grid cubes from Target and put it together. It's a 2 cube by 3 cube "wall" that contains yarn very nicely. I also got some plastic boxes to further assist with control. The yarn in the cubes looks very nice and in order. The problem is- I still have 6 boxes of yarn down here and about 2 full rooms in the other house. Yes, I said full rooms. Not a wall of shelves, not boxes under the bed. we're talking full rooms with shelving all over. One room is my personal stash the 2nd room is what remains of my shop supplies. I used to have a shop selling machine knitting yarn, machines, sewing machines, etc. I quit the shop fairly fast and didn't get around to having a clearance sale so I have yarn - yarn - yarn. And thread. And sewing notions. And patterns. and.....
Some day I'll get my act together and list some of the yarn for sale - cheap. But not today.

Greensburg
I've finished a few more blocks for Greensburg. That makes 7 so far. I need to make a few more before I mail them off. Postage is cheaper that way.

Reading
I started reading a book that may be hard to read. It's "Susanne's Garden" by Debbi Macomber. This book is in the middle of the Blossom Street Yarn books she has written. It's the story of a 50 year old who has to go to her parent's house to deal with her mother's failing memory since her father's death. Dad's not dead but with him not living in the same place as Mom, she's lost her support system and her memory is going fast. This book may be a bit too close to home or it may give me some ideas. Time will tell.

On the way to Iowa last week I got "The Thirteenth Tale" on CD to listen to. I have about 3 hours left and it's quite a tale. It's about 2 women - an older author and an amateur biographer. Both have secrets and flaws in their characters. It's written very well and has kept me interested. The 2 ladies that read the book do a wonderful job bringing it to life.

The Boys
I can't have a post without mentioning the boys. Chief has taken to waken my gently every morning when the sun comes up to snuggle next to me a pet my cheek. He does this for about a week every year a different times. I know know what starts it but it's nice to wake to a soft pet and purr!
Bert on the other hand has gotten whiny again. That's his trick. Every so often he decides we've left him and he CRIES! Not polite little kitty cries but loud harsh wailing. Cries that come from his inner most soul filled with sorrow. Unfortunately, it usually happens while he's in the hallway at about 3 or 4 am. I wake. I look into the dark and say,"It's okay sweet pea. We're in the bedroom." And he comes in and jumps on the bed. I give him one pat on the back, he wags his tail, runs off and is quiet the rest of the night. Go figure.

Summer Reading List

Here’s a list of “light reading” books I’ve enjoyed that are great for the summer. All have a fiber craft theme.

1. Earlene Fowler – Bennie Harper mystery series. Bennie lives in Central California and is the curator of a folk art museum. All 12 books have quilt block names: Fool’s Puzzle, Irish Chain, Kansas Troubles, etc. It’s amazing how many murders can happen in a small town but – they do and Bennie helps solve them.

2. Monica Ferris – Betsy Davenport mystery series. Betsy comes to Excelsior, Minnesota to see her sister and ends up having to solve her sister’s murder. She inherits the “Crewel World” needlecraft shop from her sister and all the characters that come to visit. It’s fun to read about local sites and streets.

3. Jennifer Chiaverni – Elm Creek Quilters series. She writes about a group of ladies that start a quilt camp in an old mansion. No murders just good people stories.

4. Maggie Sefton – Knitting murder series. Her first book in this series was “Knit One, Kill Two”. Kelly Flynn goes to her aunt’s house after she was murdered to settle the estate. In the process she learns how to knit, meets new knitting friends at the shop next to the house and figures out how her aunt died. There’s a lot of good knitting group action in this series, seems Kelly has to run over for a quick yarn fix and cup of coffee a lot!

5. Anne Bartlett – “Knitting: A Novel”. This book is about 2 women with issues. They live in Australia. One lost her husband recently. One lost herself a while ago. They both end up helping each other through setting up a knitting show. The big mystery is – what’s in the 3 bags Martha hauls around everywhere?
There’s other books I may share later but I thought a list of knitting / fiber arts books would be a nice start.