Saturday, April 30, 2016

Words and Wool

I am pleased to report that the wrist braces are helping (I think!). I wear them at night and I seem to have more tolerance for handwork. I'm sure I'll still need to be careful and not overdo.

I finished another tea cozy this week.


And I tried out one of my wool knitting cases with a new idea of using leather at the base. This was a birthday gift for my sister.


The inside was lined with fabric from a vintage sheet. It seemed perfect for April.



A few flowers went into the mail this past week as well. They looked quite festive for spring!



As for reading..... these first two books will be all-time favorites for this year I am sure.

Martha's Vineyard - Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch. I've waited so long for this book and I think it just might be my favorite of Susan's books. This book tells the story of Susan starting a new life on Martha's Vineyard after a painful divorce -- how she found her adorable house, made it a home, and along the way figured out how to turn her artwork into a published book. I loved all the drawings and photos and quotes and everything that makes Susan's books so enjoyable. I also found her story of becoming published very inspiring. I highly recommend this book.

The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World by Melissa Kruger. As for non-fiction books, this just might top my chart for this year. This book is clear, concise, and filled with very applicable instruction on what envy is, how it shows up in our life (yikes! it seems to appear everywhere), how it harms us and others, how we must repent, and how we can foster contentment, generosity, and faith. Highly, highly recommend this.


The Trenches: Billy Stevens, The Western Front 1914-1918  by Jim Eldridge was read with the children as part of our World War 1 studies. I find the "My Story" series to be engaging and informative and this was no exception.

The Middle Window  by Elizabeth Goudge. All my fellow Goudge fans out there take notice that I have enjoyed this book this month. :) It's divided into two parts - the first part takes place in "modern" times (maybe 1930's?) in the Scottish highlands and I did find it a bit dragging and ethereal in a way: not very interesting. However, the second part, which explains the first part, takes place during the Jacobite uprising of 1745 and certainly gives one a picture of the hardship this conflict caused for those living in the highlands. If you are a Goudge fan, of course you will want to read it at some point.

  Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty was read by one of the boys after we visited the Biltmore and I am including it here for reference. This and the book following were both found to be enjoyable. I did not read it myself.

The Mystery of Biltmore House (Real Kids, Real Places) (Real Kids! Real Places! (Paperback)) by Carole Marsh is the other "Biltmore book" that one of the boys read.

Nature's Storyteller: The Life of Gene Stratton-porter by Barbara Morrow was a good choice for reading with the children. It was fascinating to learn about the life of one of Indiana's most famous (and best-selling) authors.

And that's it for now! For more ideas visit Ginny's Yarn Along.

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5 comments:

Pom Pom said...

Love your makes so much!
I have that Goudge but I haven't read it yet.

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I'm planning to buy Susan's new book with May credit. Glad you loved it's! I plan to reread The Middle Window eventually. I read it just after Pilgrims Inn and it was so different, I wasn't sure what to think.

Lilly's Mom said...

I loved seeing your creations and the great book reviews you shared. As for the sheet lining of the little bag, I used to have those same sheets! I loved them. The bag is so beautiful. Wishing you a great day! Pat xx

Anonymous said...

What beautiful creations! I'm glad the brace is helping. Little by little... I agree that it is very easy to envy others. For me that goes hand-in-hand with feeling resentful / sorry for myself and my circumstances. It's so easy to imagine that other people have it easier, when most of the time they just have different struggles than ours, and we would go back to our own burdens in a tick if we swapped! I always enjoy your book reviews. X

elizabeth said...

my goodness, thought I commented earlier! love your reading suggestions! I have read The Middle Window twice... I remember the first time, it was when I was in my earlier 20's, was studying English lit and at the time, was home at my parents house. I remember taking walks and thinking about the book and how she used the "...." so much and if this was a good literary technique. I found the book quite intriguing at the time. I agree that it is not her 'top' book but still, she captures a lot and the plot itself, and how it begins, is quite catching to the reader, I found. Her knowledge and use of history is always a delight!

Hope your wrists are still healing well! You make such lovely things, which you know full well that I love! :)