Words and Wool

I am making good progress on my Just One of Those Things shawl. I'm still enjoying it very much and happy that it doesn't seem to take forever. Our schedule is filling up with the spring activities like soccer and archery and the nice thing about that is more time sitting in a chair away from home that I can use to work on knitting!!!

Here is the baby boy hat that I couldn't find last time:

Last week we had our final class of the semester at our homeschool group. The girls and I made duct tape necklaces and duct tape rose pins. We all enjoyed it! I am sorry to see the craft class end. The older I grow the more convinced I am that working with this age group is a passion of mine.  

And now for the books. My two goals for spring break were housework and reading (well, I had a few more but quickly realized only two would work). So far I have been able to enjoy a good chunk of reading each day. I'm also adding to my idea list for future books to read. Finding books is a bit like searching for treasures at Goodwill -- it takes work to weed out the insignificant from the beneficial.


The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown was an excellent book which I wrote a longer review of earlier in the week.



Maple Sugar for Windy Foot by Frances Frost is the "springtime" book in the Windy Foot series. The kids and I read the Christmas book during Christmas break so I thought it would be fun to read the spring book now. It is centered around maple sugar season and describes the whole process as the horse and boy and family story unfold. I love this vintage series!

Stillmeadow Calendar: A Countrywoman's Journal by Gladys Taber is a delightful month-by-month description of what life in the Connecticut countryside was like about forty or fifty years ago. This is the book I reach for first at the moment. Such gentle writing. I see Taber has written many books so the pleasure won't have to end.

Homeward Bound: Why Women Are Embracing the New Domesticity by Emily Matchar is a fascinating examination of the current trend to embrace domesticity and all that it entails. Since I love so many parts of homemaking and crafting I am eager to read this woman's perspective on why she thinks it has made a resurgence. However, I will see if I agree with her by the time I'm done and I'll be sure to share the results with you!


Princess Elizabeth's Spy: A Maggie Hope Mystery by Susan Elia MacNeal is a mystery set during World War II involving Bletchley Park and Princess Elizabeth and Windsor Castle. Need I explain why I'm reading this?


Divergent by Veronica Roth. I do need to explain why I'm reading this. :) Not my usual choice. However, many of Rachel's friends are reading this trilogy and before I give her permission to read it I need to find out a) if it is something I can permit her to read at some point, b) something I can permit her to read now, c) and what we can discuss about it if she does read the book. Fortunately, I'm nearly half way through and looking forward to returning to my normal programming. :)

As always, for more ideas on knitting and reading, visit Ginny's Yarn A Long.

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