The Classics
I enjoy reading The Classics, though recently I’ve been reading quick read paperbacks. That didn’t last too long until I felt the need to revisit a few books written long ago. I’m working on rereading some that I haven’t read in a long time and a few that I have somehow missed reading in my lifetime. It is at times hard to remember what one read in high school and college.
I just finished Pride and Prejudice and Emma by Jane Austen. I’m currently reading Jane Eyre, next on the list will probably be My Antonia, which I haven’t read. Perhaps I’ll crack open my Hemingway book next as I love his collection of short stories. Something by John Steinbeck is also on my list, he’s my all-time favorite author and I have been collecting copies of his books for a while. It’s been a while since I’ve read Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row, which are both fantastic.
I’ve looked up lists of classics to see which ones I should add to my list, but figured it was best to ask you.
So….what are your favorite classics?
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Busy Hands
This time of year I get anxious to start planting seeds. When we lived in Ohio I always started celery and onions in late January. Here in Maine I try to wait until mid-February. Our snow cover sticks around for a few extra weeks so I can’t plant things out as early as I’d like. I also find that it works out better. I don’t have to tend seedlings for quite as long and the plants are happier to go into the soil a little earlier. Even though I start two weeks later, my plants seem to end up being ready for harvest around the same time. Since I get antsy to start planting I need to find projects to keep me busy. New yarn and a giant crochet hook to the rescue!
I’ve been wanting to make this cowl for quite a while and have been looking for the perfect yarn. This lovely yarn was procured at the Local Roots Market in Wooster, OH when I was visiting in early December. I purchased a skein of this yarn last year as well and it was made into a hat. The yarn is fantastic, super bulky and oh so warm. I knew I wanted a chunky cowl from this amazing yarn. I had pinned this pattern a while ago and knew it was exactly what I wanted to make. I purchased this 15.75mm crochet hook and set to work. It’s amazing how quickly something works up when using super bulky yarn and a giant crochet hook.
Using large hooks for crochet projects will help the end product softer. One of the downsides of crochet is the tightness of the stitches. I must say, this cowl is amazingly soft and squishy. I’m actually thinking of making it more like an infinity scarf so I can wrap it around twice. All-in-all it’s a fun project. Another benefit of using such large yarn and hook is that there is enough in a skein to make two or three cowls instead of just one. Who shall I gift an amazing cowl to? Guess I’ll have a few Christmas presents already finished for the year.
What do you do to keep yourself occupied when you can’t be gardening?
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Friday Favorite: #LotR
This week my friday favorite is for Mr Chiots who is a big Lord of the Rings fan. He’s read the books, including all of the books associated with Lord of the Rings like The Silmarillion and others. In fact we have a section on a bookshelf dedicated to these books. Mr Chiots celebrated his birthday last weekend, as my gift, I put together a piece of art for him featuring 12 travel postcards made by this Esty artist.
I had a local friend make the frame from cherry wood he milled himself. By doing this it ended up being much cheaper than buying a frame this large. The finished produce is amazing, not perfect, but perfectly imperfect!
After mulling over mounting options, I finally decided to buy walnut luan to do double duty as the backing for the postcards and the back of the picture frame. It added a nice warm look and extra detail. The 2×4 foot piece was only $12 and after cutting this piece I have enough left to use for another frame.
Needless to say Mr Chiots loved the gift. Now I’m going to have to have my friend make a frame for the ink map of Middle Earth I drew for his birthday many years ago. They will look nice hanging together in the office.
Do you have a favorite book/movie series?
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Finally Finished
I finally finished what we’re jokingly calling “the world’s most expensive afghan”. The yarn is beautiful, hand made locally by ontheround. I actually met up with Rachel once to pick up a little extra yarn, we chatted for quite a while. The yarn isn’t cheap, but then it’s completely worth it to use such a wonderful product. The final afghan is really a work of art, the yarn helps make it perfect!
I blocked it last week and called it officially finished! In case you’re interested in a tutorial on the pattern I used, head on over to Soulstrikke.
I wasn’t a big fan of the edging she used, so I invented my own, essentially continuing the pattern from the squares.
Overall I love the afghan, it’s warm and cozy and oh so bright. I just ordered new furniture for the living room and two of the chairs are upholstered in indigo denim, this afghan will be PERFECT on them. As you can see Dexter has claimed it as his own, perhaps I’ll start calling it “The world’s most expensive cat bed”. I’ve moved on to finished up a cowl, starting a lacy alpaca scarf, and there’s a new afghan in the works. These cold winter evenings have me realizing that I need a stack of afghans in the living room to snuggle under. Of course there are thousands of other projects I’d love to make, head on over to my crochet pinboard to see what I’ve collected.
Have you finished up any projects recently?
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Some Like it HOT
My dad was recently in Thailand for two weeks and when he asked me if I’d like him to bring something back for me I immediately said “RED CURRY”! I love.love.love red curry, it’s one of my favorite flavors.
He got me tons of it in a few different flavors. As you can imagine, I’m ridiculously excited to try it. In fact I may to drive to the lobster pound to get a few pounds of clams just to try it. Clams with red curry is one of my favorites! Here is a great recipe if you’re interested. I’m interested to see how this curry is different from the curry I’m used to buying here in the US, no doubt it’s going to be AMAZING, and hopefully a lot hotter than the curry I get here.
What’s your favorite ethnic spice?
