Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Words and Wool

I think we are quite settled in now, but somehow I feel like I'm walking through thick molasses. UGH! I don't seem to be interested in doing much so I don't have many projects going. I did manage to pick up the crochet project I had planned to work on in Scotland: these cute Christmas tree ornaments


I do need to work on my current shawl but I think I messed up and I need some non-existent brain energy to go back and figure out what I did!

As for books, I have my nose in a few:

You Never Knew Her as I Did! by Mollie Hunter is a book about Mary Queen of Scot's imprisonment at Loch Leven. It just happens that we are studying Mary Queen of Scots in our current history rotation, and its even better that we just happened to have visited Loch Leven three weeks ago! There is nothing better than reading history about places you have actually been to. I think the book is keeping the kids' attention because of this. The book doesn't seem to be available here in the US but you can find it on Amazon.co.uk.

  THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS by O. Douglas is the latest novel I have started. One of the "gentle writers" I picked up in Scotland (more on this at some point), and it seemed perfect October reading. Check out the opening sentence: "Mrs. Heggie had a cold which, she felt, might easily go into bronchitis if she were not careful, and the day was wet, one of those dripping October days when it is really too close for a fire, but miserably cheerless without one, a day when polished furniture looks smeared, and everything feels sticky to the touch." The book is set in Fife, one of the regions of Scotland, probably mid-twentieth century or a decade or two earlier. Once again, this book can be found on amazon.co.uk.

The Organized Heart: A Woman's Guide to Conquering Chaos by Staci Eastin is a great little book on some of the root causes of disorganization. Disorganization is not my biggest fault but some of heart issues Eastin addresses certainly are! She focuses on perfectionism, busyness, possessions, and leisure time. Very helpful and thought-provoking. I also appreciate that Eastin adds a chapter about special circumstances like chronic illness and single parenting which make home organization much more difficult. Definitely recommend this book!!!

And now I must be off to cook dinner!

For more ideas on knitting and books, check out Ginny's Yarn Along.

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5 comments:

Pom Pom said...

Isn't it typical to come home from a huge adventure and struggle with focus on smaller endeavors, like knitting and crocheting projects? Take heart, you need some time to regroup. Grace.

Susan said...

Thanks for blogging even when you are understandably fatigued and sidetracked a bit. Thanks, also, for the mention of O.Douglas; I found Penny Plain on my Kindle for free and it seems to be a lovely Autumn read - thanks!

Kathy said...

Thanks for the recommendation on the books. I'm going to check them out. Especially the one on organizing (not a strong point for me).

Anonymous said...

Heather I hugely sympathise with the struggle of recovering from / taking in / processing such a big experience.

Your book recommendations are very interesting!

Look after yourself. x

Carol E. said...

I stumbled upon your blog today, and I am sitting here feeling very emotional. I think I love you! haha.. let me explain. You love to read! So do I! And you read good stuff! A kindred spirit. You just visited Scotland (wow, oh, wow... your trip sounds AMAZING and I almost cried while reading about it). Husband and I just came back from our first-ever trip to Europe where I met a pen pal of 22 years! (And you met a blogger!) You love to knit! I knit a little bit, but mostly I make quilts. I have not yet checked out your Etsy store, but I will.

I found you in this way: I did a Google image search for books/reading, and I found your picture of a pitcher with some books on a shelf. You see, every Friday I post a book review (if I have finished a book), and I like to use book photos and reading photos with my review. So when I've used up my stash of photos, I do an image search for new ones.

My book review is called Friday Books. It's at my blog, GiraffeDreams, which is mostly about my quilts, my everyday life, etc.

I'm so excited that I found your blog. Can you tell me about your having lived in Scotland and then going back for six weeks?? How lovely! We visited Czech Republic for about 4 days, one day in Munich, and about 4 days in France. It was fabulous, and I want to go back and live there for a while.

I'm not young like you .. am retired and have adult kids.. but I hope that isn't off putting.

Love you blog!!!