~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~
I cast on for a shawl yesterday, a pattern I’ve knit before and really like for its simplicity and beauty. Most of the pattern is simply knitting back and forth with simple increases every other row. I can knit on this while little ones read to me or work on lessons and not worry about getting confused or losing my place. When I reach the last part of the pattern, the charted portion, I will work on this at night when my kids are sleeping. The yarn is a fun color (tosh merino light in alazarin), and this shawl will be a gift for a friend.
As I attempted to read Crossing to Safety while nursing Job over the past couple of weeks, I realized that it’s going to take me a long time to finish it at the rate I’m going, because it’s nearly impossible to hold the book while Job thrashes about. I had to switch gears, and really learned to love my Kindle this week. I can lay it on the bed next to me while Job is nursing and read it hands free. I can read in the dark while I wait for Silas to fall asleep at night (I duck under the quilt so that he doesn’t even notice the light.) I’m reading Willa Cather’s The Song of the Lark. (It’s free on Kindle) She is my favorite author, so of course I love the book and am nearly halfway through it already. I think what I love most about Willa are the characters she creates. If you’ve read this book, you will understand why I love Ray Kennedy, and how I wish so much that I could actually hear Thea Kronborg sing!
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Sheila says
Take good care of yourself mama. After all, you just made, and delivered, a person. (A mighty big little person I might add!) I can only imagine how full your life is. You deserve some of your own amazing mothering. I think moms with young one’s deserve all the things that little one’s do. Lot’s of fresh air, good food, sleep, love, and understanding. In Scandanavia they wrap up little ones and put them in strollers for nap time. (Apparently they sleep better in the colder air :-?). I live in Laramie, WY and all I know is a walk in the cold did us both a world of good. My third was in WY since he was 10 weeks old.
I am glad you are enjoying your kindle. I love the backlight feature myself. I had to read young adult/teen fiction for awhile after the birth of my kids since I couldn’t concentrate on adult lit for awhile.
Valerie says
Happy New Year Ginny! Its nice to get back to normal with a wee yarn along lol.
Valerie
xxx
Elizabeth says
you are making progress! So glad for your knitting and reading! Always love seeing what you are doing!
Barbara says
I need something to cast on that will be simple to work on, like your shawl, but I just finished a shawl and I don’t think I’m ready for another. I love that color — gorgeous. You pick the best colors. I just added that book to my kindle — thanks!
Julie Corbisiero says
Thanks so much for hosting the party this week Ginny. Enjoy the rest of the week.
Julie
CathieJ says
I just received a Kindle for Christmas and I love Willa Cather books. I have got to take it out of the box and get that book. Love the yarn you are using also.
Taryn Kae Wilson @ Wooly Moss Roots says
Ginny,
I love the color of your yarn. It will make such a pretty shawl for your friend.
I always love finding knitting projects that are good for being around little ones and getting interrupted often. Some patterns require so much concentration, which can be hard for me to find the time for.
Love,
Taryn
Sharron says
I love that yarn!! I’ll have to try that author. After I finish what just came in from the library.
Sarah says
I can imagine why Ray Kennedy warms your heart and why you’d love to hear Thea sing. I enjoyed this book with its rich characters too. As a Canadian teenager I would re read My Antonia every summer. My American Aunt gifted it to me one Christmas and I loved the rich pioneering descriptions and scary tales of poisonous snakes and that chilling story of wolves attacking the Russian wedding party. I love Death comes to the Archbishop too.
I don’t think I can switch to a kindle! I have a love hate relationship with screens.
Have you come across SoulGardeningJournal? I love its mission to offer something in print for Catholic mothers. It is small and artsy and encouraging.
In cold St. Louis,
Sarah
Corrabelle says
One of my favourite books!! Willa Cather wrote so many of her books based on the small town in nebraska where my mother grew up. (haha, some of her Characters were my relatives! (Antonia and her family from “My Antonia” and a few others.) It’s still fun to go back and visit the places she talks about, and even see the graves of her characters.
That shawl is lovely, and I really like your yarn!! Gorgeous!
Kate says
“Song of the Lark” is one my favorite Willa Cather novels, especially since my husband is a Wagner lover (I can take Wagner in bits and pieces).
Joy says
That color is amazing! I’m going to have to find some for my next project. I am laughing at your description of Job and the thrashing about. My babies were thrashers too and I swear every time I would take a sip of water, wham would go a little hand and knock that glass about. I gave up on doing anything at all while nursing with their antics! I would never have thought of the kindle being an option…especially with the backlight.
Susan @ Dragonfly Dreams says
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything by Willa Cather. I don’t have anything good to read at the moment, so I’ll stop by the library and pick up the Song of the Lark. (I trust your recommendations. I’ve read some excellent books that I have really loved based on what you are reading.) Gorgeous yarn and patter–as always. I loved the baby knits in your previous post, too. I am looking forward to the Mystery KAL next week. I liked your yarn selection so much that I ended up ordering some in the Prairie Reed colorway (even though I had already ordered something else. Oh, well, I’ll use it for socks or a different shawl.) : )
Tracey says
Beautiful yarn Ginny and a beautiful pattern too. I was looking at yarns this morning to knit a shawl for my son’s wedding and I really like the look of your pattern. Now to just find a dress first so I can decide what color yarn to buy.
Heather says
Thanks for hosting, Ginny! I love Willa Cather too. One of Ours is high up there on my reading list right now. I read another really fun free kindle ebook that I thought that you might like, Letters of a Woman Homesteader. It’s a collection of real letters from a woman homesteader and it’s good. I don’t usually favor epistolary novels but this one is well done!
Sarah says
I have this book ‘letters of a woman homesteader’ and enjoyed it too!
Briana (justamouse) says
That colorway…*swoon*
A Little Blue Dragonfly says
Oh.that.yarn. 🙂
Marie/Underground Crafter says
What a stunning yarn. I find it easier to read on the Kindle, too.
Jessica Snell says
I love easy, beautiful patterns like that. My favorite’s probably the Color Affection. There are a few picky parts, but most of it’s just lovely back and forth, enjoying the yarn.
Erin @ Wild Whispers says
Wow! I love that yarn! Just promise me you won’t abandon Crossing to Safety forever?? I LOVE that book.
Melonie K. says
I love the color of the yarn. I haven’t read this book yet – will have to go grab a Kindle copy and give it a whirl!
Brooke says
that yarn is beautiful. looks berry stained in places. i too like willa cather. will have to check out this book!
Kathleen says
Willa Cather is one of my favorites too. Her stories always draw in me and keep me with it through the book. Happy Knitting!
Susan D Crochet Addict UK says
I love the colour of your yarn! I am sure the shawl will look beautiful.
I couldn’t live without my kindle now. I have M.E. so I struggle holding anything with any weight at all. With the kindle I have a cover that stands it up so I can read away.
Kelly J. R. says
Such beautiful yarn! I love my kindle because I can read it while walking my dogs. Just crank up the text size and I’m good to go. Of course, I wouldn’t dare take the kindle outside these days with the temperature being so low!
Gretchen R says
I love the color of that yarn. It looks like a delight to work with!
Deb Hickman says
Such pretty yarn you have chosen for your shawl, thanks for sharing this book, I’ve just put it on my a Amazon wishlist. X
Donna says
That shawl is going to look beautiful with that yarn. I love my iPad to read simply because I can multi task. I have been able to read a lot more that way.
Kate says
Love that color!
I have a nook that I love for the same reasons. It will never “replace” proper books for me but it is wonderful for travel, nursing babies, borrowing books without a trip to the library…