Weekend Book Report #10

Is it possible that the weekends already over? I can't believe how fast weekends go and how little I get done. It's been crazy busy here. There was a trip to Iowa last weekend with my sister for my niece's confirmation. I can't believe how fast they grow and how much I miss them and wish I could do more with them. While we were down there we got to see my nephews marching band competition, which was awesome. And this past week has been busy trying to catch up on stuff. No such luck.

Well I've got a couple of books to report on.


The first was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. This is a fantasy novel. And to let you in on a little something the first in a new series of books. The author is still writing them. I found this to be one of the best fantasy books that I've read in a long time, that wasn't by one of my favorite authors. This is the story of Kvothe, told by himself from the time he was a small boy through the age of fifteen. He started life as a child in a performance troupe. He goes on to learn magic. Like I said one of the best new novels I've read. Five stars.






I also read Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. This is a non-fiction knitting book. In this book she talks about having a yarn stash and goes over some basic patterns or as she says recipes. Things ones can use to create your one projects. I very much enjoyed this book, its one that I hope to add to my own craft book collection. Four and half stars.

Well I hope everyone had a good weekend and that the week is good for you.

Weekend Book Report #9

Greetings all! Well I didn't get near as much done as I wanted to this past weekend. But well I did get some of it done, so I'm okay with that. I just wished they made weekends longer.

I've got a couple of books finished this past week or so.

First up is Circle of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini. This book nine in the Elm Creek Quilt series. This is a fiction series. For those who haven't read any of these they don't have to be read in any order but in my mind it helps some. In this book we meet five applicants that are applying for a couple teaching positions at the retreat. I really love this series. I would give this four and a half stars.

The other book that I finished was The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle. This is a fiction novel. The story is about a young teenager who is growing up on a horse farm and dealing with everything from death to being poor to boys. It was an alright book. I felt that the ending could have transitioned a little more. I was left wanting to know more of what happened. Three stars.

Sorry for again not having pictures of the books. They just haven't been turning out real good. If anyone has any suggestions, I'll gladly take them.

Have a good week and hoping that you have a good project to work on or a good book to read.

Start of another Project

Happy Weekend!! I didn't think it could get here fast enough this week. I have nothing planned for the weekend except house work, errands and some knitting. And well I've already started on the housework so that's a hopeful start!

I made comment a couple of weeks ago that I started a new project. Well I haven't really made any more progress on it but thought I would share it with you anyways.

Here's the fabric sorting. I ordered the fabric from Fat Quarter Quilters:


I'm going to be making a Schnibbles Hot Cross by Miss. Rosie's Quilts using Crazy Eight fabric line:

And here's the first block:


And on another note, we had our first snow fall of the season last night. Not much but still some snow. Monkey's already been out playing in it. And back in because she's cold. What a weather change over the past couple of weeks.

Here's hoping everyone has a good weekend. Anyone have any fun plans?

Mystery Socks 2009 week 1

Well I hope everyone's week is off to a good start. It's been very rainy here. I skipped out on The Boy's football game yesterday, not wanting to sit outside in the rain with the girls. And well today it decided to rain in my office at work. So it provided a great distraction.

While I was checking out blogs last week. I ran across a mystery sock knit along. For those who are not sure what this is: a part of a sock pattern is posted once a week, so by the end of the month one should have a completed sock. So I decided to join in the fun.

Spoiler Alert

This one is put on by Through the Loops. There is group for this on Ravelry and links to the pattern. So I started on Sunday and completed the first part the cuff. I'm hoping to be able to keep on this project and have a completed pair of socks shortly after all the parts are posted. So here a sneaky look at what I've go so far:




Well it's off to bed for me. Here's hoping that everyone has a good night and an even better day tomorrow.

Weekend Book Report #8

Well by the title of this post and most post lately, one would think all I did was read. Which is kind of true. If you haven't noticed I'm a BIG reader. As my hubby says though he has no idea how I get through so many books, because most of the time he finds me asleep with the book in hand.

As for lately not much has been going on. Was kind of down and out with an infection last week. I think I'm on the mend now. Also it is the start of fall sports. So that means trying to get to as many of middle school football games as possible for The Boy. Also there been a lot of struggle with getting him to go to practice and get homework done. As for the practice we've told him that it's okay if doesn't like it, but he needs to finish the season.

There's been some crafting. I ripped out a whole side of the sweater I knitted. I've re-knitted it to where I was. I got one block done on new wall hanging. And I helped my sister make some kitchen hand towels. Which I think turned out awesome. We also made some potholders. We weren't impressed with them. I'll probably make some like that for myself at home, but they didn't turn out as nice for gifts.

As for books a got a couple finished and started a few more. Again no pics of the books. But there are some in the bookshelf over on the side. I'll leave them up there for a while.

First off I read Kiss the Girls by James Patterson. This is the second book in the Alex Cross series. This is a very popular mystery series. There has been a movie made of this one. In this one Alex's niece has been kidnapped and it has been linked to a serial killers crimes. Alex gets involved and ends up on the hunt for two serial killers on opposite sides of the country. I'd give this a good three stars. I wanted to find out the ending . . . but don't need to add it to my library at home or read it again.

The other book I finished was Prairie Tale by Melissa Gilbert. This is an auto-biography. In her memoir Melissa talks about her childhood and struggles in adulthood. I loved reading this book. Four stars.

Well I hope to be back soon with some more craft stuff. But one never knows what life going to throw at them. Hope everyone is having a good start to fall.

Weekend Book Report #7

Well things have been busy around here and I've been lazy on top of that. We had a great labor day weekend. We went up north, we went 4-wheeling and played in the mud. Last weekend was our 5th wedding anniversary, so we celebrated by going to the Renaissance festival. Had a great time as usual. Down fall was that the food prices have gone up, but vendor cost seem to be normal.

Okay on to the books. There's been a lot of books read. Not all of them noteworthy, so I'll just briefly mention them. I also didn't get a lot of pictures of them either. So you'll have to excuse the lack of pictures in this post. I'll try and get some of the current reads for you and post them later.

First up was To Wed a Wicked Prince by Jane Feather. A romance novel. Book two in a trilogy. I give it one star.

Next was Wild Card by Lora Leigh. Another romance novel this one high on the smut. This is a book in a series I believe called Elite Ops. This one had a little more of a store line as well. Man goes on Navy Seals mission. Does not come back, his wife has been told he died. In truth he's still alive and had been captured. And he goes and creates a new identity. Two stars.

Plain and Simple: A Woman's Journey into the Amish by Sue Bender. This is a non fiction book. It's about the author's journey, to figure out why she is drawn to the Amish. It was an okay read. I did give it two and half stars. But could see it given more at a different point in my life. Right now I just couldn't take the messages and apply them to my life right now.

Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs. This is book three in the Mercy Thompson series. This is a fantasy series. In this book Mercy is trying to help Zee her former boss and mentor, when he is arrested for murder. Mercy is also forced to choose between the two males in her life. Four stars.

I also picked on On the Prowl. This book contains 4 short stories by four different authors. All of them are fantasy. I had picked this one up for a specific story in it. It was Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs. It is the set up another series. This one is based on Charles whom we meet as a back ground character in Moon Called. I read some of the other stories they were okay. Over all I'd give this book three stars.

Now this past weekend I read Seven Sisters by Earlene Fowler. This is book seven in the Benni Harper series. This is mystery series. They are very light reads. Benni is women who is very curious and finds herself involved in all sorts of mysteries in her town. In this one Benni's step-son finds himself in love and going to be a parent, so when the two families get together to meet and discuss things. Someone ends up dead. I'd give this book three and half stars.

I also tried reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. This is a fiction novel. From what I did read this story is about a man and his young son as they travel southwards after some devastating event (end of life as we know it kind of event). I'm not really sure what happened. It would be a quick read. But it was just a little too down for me, with not enough back round information. One star.

I hope everyone is having a good September. Can you believe that we are half way through it already?!!

Pleasant Home

Well just stopping in to let you in on a little news.

Jodi has created a new home for her blog. It used to by Simply this that and the other. Her new spot is Pleasant Home. And to celebrate she has been having an open house party. Today there's giveaways to 4 online fabric stores. So go check out her Needle little inspiration page.

Well I'm off for a 4 day weekend. I'm so excited. Here's hoping that everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend.