Good Without Fault

(unless you count the fact that it had me up reading until midnight).

I go through blocks of time when I can't seem to find a book selection that holds my attention. Since this seems to happen a lot more frequently in my parenting life, I usually blame it on lack of uninterrupted armchair time and an abundance of chaos. But this book puts all of that into perspective (and the fact that even I read it in only two days speaks volumes). Reading about a course altering left turn and a woman who unexpectedly and suddenly finds herself navigating life with three young children, their hospitalized mother, an absent father and an ornery, shoplifing mother-in-law who can't be trusted to share a room with the baby, pretty makes my day look a holiday. (Yup - pretty much avoided any major spoilers there) Did I mention that she isn't related to any of them!

Without giving anything away, this book is filled from beginning to end with beautifully crafted characters, a descriptive voice, and a story that keeps the reader completely captivated as it unfolds. It's the sort of novel that stirs memories, captures the familiar, paints a scene and asks questions that keep you thinking about it long after it's been put down. One of the reviews I read described it as being as suspenseful as a mystery novel, and that is exactly how it felt; you think about all the possible outcomes and you can't stop reading until you know how it's all going to end.

The big question now - what to read next?

If you can't break your own rules...

I have an addiction (well a few actually, but for today let's just focus on the one).

It's a pretty common one. I've made it no secret in this space. I have a weakness for books - especially those pretty and practical ones of a domestic nature. Craft, recipe, do-it-yourself. It becomes a real problem here in the blog world where the recommendations, finished projects, and pretty pictures of others tempt me daily.

But I've been trying really hard to be really frugal and to resist temptation, especially since I have been making so little progress using the books already on my bookshelf.

Then along came Martha...in full encyclopedic force...and my undoing (after what I though was a pretty admirable several months of library holds and 'wish listing').


But it was such a good price and some much-needed pick-me-up inspiration. And like I've said before, who knows what to buy me better than...me.

Muddy Monday

The morning started out dark and rainy. Our sleepy-head-girl had to be woken up extra early to do the homework that had been forgotten all weekend (until I spotted it lurking in a corner at 10:00 last night).

One muddy poem later (she had to come up with and write the words in red)...

we went searching for a "Geometric Solid to share with the class" and then debated the finer point of whether 'share' means it's going to make it's way home again or not.

One green cube (of many) later...

we sifted through an assortment of coats that would suit today's particular degree of cold and wet qualities (which are once again completely unlike the qualities of yesterday, or the day before, or likely tomorrow).

Ah, the unexpected mornings of Spring. And now, after what feels like several hours while still being just the start of the day, it is slightly less dark but still rainy. The perfect time to curl up for half-an-hour (I'm being optomistic) with a coffee a new (to me) history-mystery.

I Like Mud!

I like mud. I like mud.
Wormy mud,
brown mud,
dirty, gooey,
wet mud.
I like mud!

Escape

I've run away with the circus - it's wonderful.

Monday Musings

A familiar weekend scene. Snow - seriously, are we going to keep doing this right through to April? After watching the Academy Awards doled out for special effect, editing and design, I can't believe that we haven't figured a way around this groundhound thing. Four more weeks - seriously?

In the meantime I am finally back on a page turning roll thanks to some passed along reads from my sister-in-law. First up is The Good Men, which follows me around the house all day so that I can read a few paragraphs during every possible opportunity. Nothing like "medieval torments and unrequited love" to get me through the end of February.


And with the start of a new week my thoughts are wandering towards some early Spring cleaning (although my motivation is usually a little slower in following). Captivity seems to amplify the call of things to be cleaned - or maybe the clutter is just growing exponentially with the level of play. It's an endless battle (although holding a book up to my face does temporarily mask some of it).

Happy Homebound Hump-Day

Wednesday - The one day this week when we don't have appointments, playdates or errands to run. My kindergarten gal is back to the school yard and in recent weeks, little man has learned to actually start enjoying the wide world of toys.

The perfect day to curl up (even briefly) with my eagerly awaited solution to the February blahs. Fresh from the package and calling to me already.

1. Doodle-Stitching

2. French Girl Knits
3. Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

This trio makes even 6 more weeks of winter seem bearable.

rest

That was a Sunday well spent.

An early morning run. Crisp, cool, windy, but absolute perfection after five minutes of a quick pace and a few abandoned layers. Sunlight, leaves, the sound of bells, wind, waves and the gravel beneath my feet.



A rainy afternoon with work caught up, cleaning already done, and guilt free lounging indoors with a good book, a family movie that we haven't already see a hundred time, and some Halloween fun.

Relaxing with a few rows of knitting and adding some final bits and bobs to costumes.



A 15 minute nap.

Eating leftover birthday cake. Feeling the burn from my run (which justifies more cake) and the drowsy, heavy comfort of a day spent relaxing.

My Bad

OK, so I'm just so unbelievably late in mentioning this BUT if you happen to catch this post on Thursday evening, then quickly get thee over to the wonderful Fibreholic to get in on her contest (and yes, do tell her I sent you please).

And if you don't read this until after Thursday evening, then get thee over to the wonderful Fibreholic simply because she is wonderful and should be read regularly regardless.

We just arrived home after 6 days at a cottage (thus the late mentioning of the contest which I just discovered mid-packing...like...when I should have been packing). Our in-laws rented - we crashed (and cooked and cooked and cleaned...which really helps to offset the whole crashing thing).

Many more pictures to follow, but first, I must hasten thineself to the washing machine (and perhaps a bubble bath filled with water other than the septic variety).

PS The Friday Night Knitter Club...finished (see, not all books take me 3 months to finish). Absolutely impossible to put down. Wonderful characters that you actually wish you could hang out and knit with (most of the time). Warning: Have kleenex on hand. I'm just saying.

Do Not Disturb

We had a special house-guest over the weekend. Lots of shopping, noshing and movie watching (and movie snoozing) followed. And of course there was knitting (and gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair, but I'll save that for another day).

And oh, the wonderful things that were left behind for me to enjoy.

Click here for the details.

This is already shaping up to be one very quick and enjoyable read. And it's oh, so satisfying to finally be onto a new book after spending far far too long reading my last selection.

Click here and get your own. This piece is mine!

Two words - Mint Smoothie. A rich, delectable square of pure chocolate delight. And sadly...it's history. Sigh.

And now I have a coffee to savour, a couch to curl up on and a book to keep reading.

And in Other Book News

...a late breaking update making this a two post day.

Interweave is having a huge sale on 'wounded' book stock (50-75% off). So click on the link if you're in the market for some knitting, beading or crochet love, don't mind the odd tear or dent, and want to save a perfectly beautiful book from shredding doom.

click here to browse the titles and get your stitch on

Summer Reading

Oakville Public Library - Central Branch

Does anyone else remember the Book Mobile? It was a bookishly pimped out cube van that would appear each summer in random neighbourhood parking lots.

I grew up in a library visiting family and always thought it was a most excellent place (especially since the library was a pretty fair distance away for a kid). It was a special spot filled with windows, row upon wooden row of books and most memorably, a huge octagon shaped table deep in the heart of the children's book section.

I still have a very clear memory of standing in the library around the age of 10 and contemplating the possibility of reading every single book in the library, one by one ( for the record, I never came close).

But every summer the Book Mobile brought books even closer to home and gave us kids an easy chance to explore a scaled down selection on our own. In the late afternoon heat, parked like a mirage just beyond the public swimming pool, was this oddball vehicle filled with books and manned by a lone library gypsy (and her date stamp).

Another great seasonal ritual was the summer reading program. You read a bunch of topical books throughout the summer, collected stamps to mark your progress and...well I can't honestly remember what happened at the end...which must mean that I really enjoyed the reading part of the program.

And with all of these great summer reading memories, it's really no wonder that I took my own kids to the library for the start of summer story time this morning. There was lots of storytelling, dancing and singing to be enjoyed; no octagon table, but plenty of computers (which admittedly seemed to be a main attraction). But after all that stimulating and updated library action, my little reading gal still came home with a stack of books. Our ride home was enlivened by her systematic reading of Jonathan London's Froggy books (Froggy Plays in the Band, Froggy Learns to Swim, Froggy Goes to School, you get the idea).

And how cool is it to discover that the TD Summer Reading Program (that's right, it's stepped all the way up to corporate sponsorship) still lives on.

http://www.opl.on.ca/summer_reading.php

So what's on your summer reading list? I'm firmly committed to finishing a certain book this week (um, yes, I'm still on The Master, yikes). Then I`m looking for something highly entertaining (because it`s taken me far too long to read The Master).

Required Reading

I spent the weekend reading (and really enjoying) this book. It's a companion to the 1997 documentary and the relevance has only increased over the past decade. And humorously I actually borrowed it from the library which sort of earned me some points going into ensuing self-examination!

Eye-opening statistics. A good dose of common-sense. Very witty. A timely serving of perspective.

Click here for publishing info and a sneak peak.