Words and Wool

I'm still working away on joining my crochet afghan. I'm distracted by Easter knitting but still making little bits of progress! Check out the gorgeous Scotty dog that arrived in the mail this week from the Isle of Harris! He's filled with lavender and is just my color!!!!

Easter knitting is going on with great abandon.

Our days are pretty full right now with various 4h classes and soccer not to mention school! Andrew has been doing standardized testing as well this week. But this afternoon I set aside an hour for resting (that means reading and drinking tea). I had a few new books to peruse -- whenever I go to our local library I check the free shelf!. And, there was my  monthly exchange letter in the mail! Once a month there is an exchange of quotes from books one is currently reading. Very fun!

And now for books:


Families Where Grace Is in Place: Building a Home Free of Manipulation, Legalism, and Shame by Jeff VanVonderen was, for me, an extremely helpful, and well-timed, book. Wow. How did this guy know exactly the sort of scenarios I grew up with?? Not only was this book helpful for understanding the dynamics of unhealthy relationships but he teaches you what a healthy relationship should look like -- between spouses and parents and children specifically, but this information would be applicable for most relationships. The subtitle of the books says it all: the goal of this book is to grow families that are free of manipulation, legalism, and shame. This may be the most helpful book of the year for me.



Homeward Bound: Why Women Are Embracing the New Domesticity by Emily Matchar was absolutely fascinating! You know how much I love the domestic arts, so I can't resist reading books about them. And this book analyzes the current trends in modern America of domestic blogging, handmade culture, DIY food, hands-on parenting, leaving the workforce to stay at home, rural homesteading, etc. Reading this produced so many thoughts that I think I'll have to save any further comments for a post dedicated just to reviewing this book.


Good Morning, Miss Dove by Frances Gray Patton is a book I picked off the free shelf just this morning. It is about a school teacher in small town America probably 60 years ago. It's a definite page-turner with all the witty descriptions of the town's inhabitants and Miss Dove's impeccable discipline.

Where My Wellies Take Me by Clare and Michael Morpurgo is a beautiful art-journal type book that includes famous poems by various authors as well as adorable illustrations and sketches. Of course I couldn't pass it up with a title like that!!

I think that is about all for this week. For more ideas on knitting and reading, check out Ginny's Yarn A Long.

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