Wednesday Yarn Along

 

I was determined this winter for one completed projeccted in this yarn along and I'm almost there.  Just working on the border.

I haven't even started to read either of these books but they caught my eye at the library and one of them was on my wish list. 

For the younger kids these are what I'm picking up reading on and off.

Happy reading :)

Yarn Along Wednesday:Cowl & Books

Joining for Ginny's yarn along. 

Finally finished a cowl for me. Started and completed this about a month ago but it was too loose so after I unraveled it and cast on 77 and used size 7 needles.The pattern is from ravelry the Birthday Cowl.Love it I just modified the stitches to cast on 77 and used smaller needles just wanted it to be more snug like a turtleneck. Loving this cowl so much that I'm thinking my wardrobe needs more.

We went to the used book sale at the library and found these books :

Nancy Drew Notebooks

Hannah West in Deep Water

My Brother Sam is Dead

The Journey Back
The First Woman Doctor
When Hitler Stole the Pink Rabbit
Guardians of Ga’Hoole Books 1-4

I know quite the variety isn’t? I think I’ll read a couple of the historical stuff ones first?

 For me the Singer Sewing Book. I think it will be helpful for when I start sewing again.

I also came across this magazine I found at the library.

I apologize for the grainy photos and no links hope your enjoying a good read or neat project.

Yarn Along Wednesday

A week already gone by since my last post? Well I guess time for another yarn along post. There hasn't been much yarn activity mostly just reading.  I have really been enjoying The Sisters.  I love books that go through 2 or 3 generations and decades of history.

Found this vintage book from 1937 yesterday at Goodwill.  Stefania started reading it and so far it's been good.
Hope you are staying warm with a good read.

Yarn Along: Headless Bears

Joining in this week for Ginny's yarn along.



 This project look familiar?  Yes it's the same bear but instead of pink there is a grey version and soon brown that I'm starting today. I need to make 5 for Christmas so I decided on a system to make all the bodies first and then continue with the rest of the pieces.

On the coffee table right now Christmas books and Falalala Felt for elving inspiration :)
Can't wait to see what your making.

Yarn Along Wednesday

This week for Ginny's yarn along I have just books no new knitting or crochetting.  I picked up my next book from my library The 19th Wife.  Looks juicy and interesting.  From the library The Knitting & Crochet Bible.  Each Tuesday when we pick up our csa veggies we stop by the pond to look at the frogs.  I finally came across this book on frogs  At the Pond by JoAnne Nelson in our home library to go with our Tuesday routine. 
Can't wait to see what everyone else is making & reading. 

Thrifty Finds Books & Puzzles

Lately I have had some good luck thrifting I haven't been hunting for anythimg in particular but came across these and couldn't pass them up.

I love puzzles but don't make the time for them and I hope to change that soon.  I've had on my wish list Christmas puzzles.  My intent is to start a holiday tradition of having Chrismas puzzles around.

Of course some children's, dictionaries.  I'm think of starting another collection children's dictionaries in foreign languages.  Love this Daring Book for Girls. My girls already have a copy this one is for my library for now...  never too old to collect childrens books.
These next finds I came across last night.

I had a couple of very happy kids playing with this dollhouse this morning.

Yarn Along Wednesday

Well I made it back this week for Ginny's yarn along.  Lately it seems that's all I can make it back to in blogland.  Things have been quiet on the blogsphere lately because too much going on in the real world that needed tending to and family upkeeping and care that needs mama's attention.  As the year wraps up, activites are coming to an end and recitals and shows are done there seems to be paperwork and other appointments that pop up and throw off my day a bit.  Actually it throws me way off  that I don't remember what day it is.  If you're in New England you know what I mean.  This weather is making things confusing and some of us a little flakey.  So I may not know what day it is I am enjoying and figuring stuff out with the kids and making and cooking. But this weather there was no spring just straight to summer and now cool enough to feel like fall.  So I'm keeping my fingers crossed in the meantime while reflecting, remembering and learning as I go about these days slowly.  Hope to share some progress soon still didn't clean that closet but did finish my latest painting furniture fiasco and collected more books from the latest book sale.

 Just some fun finds for the kids.

 Fun finds for me ::

Patty Jane's House of Curl by Lorna Landvik

Blessings by Anna Quindlen

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

Your Oasis on Flame Lake by Lorna Landvik

The Tall Pine Polka by Lorna Landvik

Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund

Plainsong by Kent Haruf

What Looks Like Crazy by Pearl Cleage

The Last Girls by Lee Smith

Julie & Julia by Julie Powell

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wrobleweski

What's on the needles lately?  Well I'm still working on my pink hat for knitting class (very theraputic and much needed) and still working on this throw crochetted with cotton yarn.

Have a great Wednesday.

Book Finds

Last week went ot a book sale at our local library and we ended up with all kinds of finds.

 I love love book sales especially when I can find a variety books for a kids ages 3-10.  We got our humor, animals, toddler books, children's books, 1 textbook, cookbooks.  I finally finished catalogging all of them tonight in Library Thing  and glad I did because these are my favorites for the kids library.

Look-Alikes Jr. by Joan Steiner

The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley

Robert the Rose Horse by Joan Heilbroner (vintage from 1964)

Rhymes and Reasons (it's a textbook)

The Daring Book for Girls by Miriam Peskowitz

 Now these are for mom's library :D  so happy that a friend helped find almost all of these.  Here's my list of books. 

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout

Astrid & Veronika by Linda Olsson

Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Digging to America by Anne Tyler

Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik

Perfect Match by Jodi Piccoult

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

Strong for Potatoes by Cynthia Thayer

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Vine of Desire by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

This next set of magazines are thrift store finds that I wanted share.  I have been meaning to look into getting a subscription to one of these but before I do we can enjoy these Ladybug for the younger girls and  Cricket for the older kids

Happy reading!

Needing some blog pep

Well friends it's been a week that I have been absent from this space.  There really was no reason at all just that there was not much too say, no new recipes, slow reading.  Nope nothing just day to day things and who really wants to read about laundry and cleaning.  I guess I lost my blog and media spunk.  I haven't been on the blogs writing my posts or reading.  I might think of something to post but if it's not done first thing in the morning then there is no chance for a post the rest of the day.  As for tv I have a few shows a week I like to watch in the evening but lately they are either repeats or just boring.  On the upside of a media funk I am on my third book this week.  It's also my way of avoiding paperwork that needs to be sorted.   

Today was the first day in a while where I was going to sit down this morning and share what I have been up to the past few days.  So forgive me for my late and lengthy post. 

 For breakfast this morning started another Alice Hoffman book so far so good Blackbird House reminds me of her latest book The Red Garden. 

 This picture was supposed to be for the Wednesday Yarn Along.  Another thing I missed lately. Finished the hat that I saw on Field Wonderful.  Last week I started knitting fingerless gloves that look more like a cast.  I didn't follow a pattern just started knitting and made 4 rectangles and stitched them together and left a thumb hole.  I really need to follow patterns these came out a little big.  Earlier in the week read Made in the U.S.A. by Billie Letts she also wrote Where the Heart Is.  Both books are good reads. 

Next are kids books that have come into our home.

 We got a lot of classics but in a starter series. I'm a little torn about them because they are rewritten by someone else and taken from the orginal authors. May have to skim some of these myself but I still think we should have the orginials for later on. 

 These books were a treat.
The next group of pictures are canvases that finally got hung up.

 This one for the play room

 A picture of  a city  intersection with a fire truck perfect for my younger fire truck loving girls.

This one went in the older girls bedroom. This is my favorite picture 3 girls by a pond drawing.  Love it wish it was 4 girls.

Ok I know a lot to throw at you in one post but to be honest this has been the only excitement that I  could show through pictures. 

Yarn Along

Joining in on Ginny's yarn along.  Not much going on with yarn lately just unravelling the grey one.  But there has been plenty going on with books.  Started Jodi Piccoult's new book that came out yesterday.

 These were my thrifty finds yesterday for less than $5.  My favorite is the vintage book The Magic Friend Maker.  At least I think it's vintage because it's from 1966 and in good condition.  The story is so sweet.

This last book I may have mentioned on Monday but we really like it around here and it was worth mentioning again. 

Can't wait to see what your reading and making :)

Book Finds

Well Febuary has arrived and so has a new batch of books in our home. We went to a book sale on Saturday and hunted for these treasures.

On Sunday before doing some laundry I decided to go back and see if there was anything leftover. To my surprise it was just as busy and people were still coming in with empty bags. I lucked out again and got a grocery bag full of these treasures.

I love The Snowman and I think the Desk Atlas will be a handy reference for us all during the Olympics. I have to say my favorite find this weekend is this one.

A little while ago I tried my hardest to explain "Cats Cradle" that kids used to play games with fingers and string. Around here this weekend this book was popular along with some yarn. It has many different string games and a little history of how many centuries they existed and where children played them. To think that for centuries up until not to long ago children played these games instead of playing with their parents cellphones or some other electronic device while waiting at lessons and practices. Whatever happened to pockets filled with pink balls, string, a shell, buttons, rocks, little treasures found along the way during the day with a little dirt and sand at the bottom of the pocket. This book was the best find because it brought back so many memories and hopefully bring new memories for my children. With any luck maybe some of these games will spread to their friends.

In the kitchen

What's going in the kitchen while it's below freezing outside.

Sticky applesauce playdough ::

Shampoo playdough from Mudworks ::

Sorting through those paint samples from Home Depot

While all this is going I'm either at the sink with the dishes or preparing for the evening meal. When the shampoo playdough was in progress dough was being mixed for calzones. I mixed my usual pizza dough and let it rise. When I went back to it later I cut it in half and rolled into a 7 inch circle. On one half of the circle spread tomato sauce then put sliced ham, chopped onion, sliced black olives and either provolone or shredded mozzarella cheese. Then around the perimeter of the circle brush lightly with water. Then I took the side without the sauce and covered all the goodies and pinched the sides closed. Brushed the top with a little olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

A warm treat to use up lunch meat. Omit the cheese and it's dairy free. Omit the meat and create your own delicious vegetable calazone. I hope to try to make more of these I forgot them from one of my favorite cookbooks. Anyway you like it just brings warmth.

Cleaning Corner

Well friends a new week begins and there is much to do around here. I'm looking at a full schedule this week so I will be off for most of the week. I'll drop in at the end of the week hopefully and with any luck I will have made some progress on one of the November possibilities.

It's to clean out this corner to make space for all our treasured books.