Fiber Babble

Fiberly Challenged

February 03, 2012

Abandoned book "The Lincoln Lawyer" by Michael Connelly ♦◊◊◊◊

Okay, I'm still in the drive-by posting mode. I'm doing some fibery stuff, but I'm also working a lot. It's easy to tell myself that I'm 'recovering and recharging' - sounds so much better than 'being a lump in front of the computer or television'.

Last month's book for the

was The Trouble With Spells (Of Witches and Warlocks, #1) by Lacey Weatherford. The book didn't hold my attention and I abandoned it at about the 60% mark. I wrote a review here. The short version of an already short review is that the book seemed a bit too young for me.

This month's (paperback) book is Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews. This is the fourth book in the Kate Daniels series (I've read the previous 3).

Just to fill out the rest of the story, I'm also reading The Soulkeepers by GP Ching (on my Kindle Fire) and The Rock Orchard by Paula Wahl (on CD).

In the pitiful fibery news, I got fired up about making some blocks for a sample at the shop. I brought the fabrics and patterns home, sat down to sew and found that one of the blocks' cutting instructions were painfully inaccurate (after, of course, I'd cut the fabrics) and the second, while the instructions were fine, I hadn't brought enough background fabric. Screech, erch, full stop.

Then I worked on my Bashful Butterflies Shawl. I've been doing a couple of rows at a time (there's lots of stitches on each row!). I got 4 rows from the end of the 3rd chart and found a dropped stitch. Over a column of left- and right-leaning decreases, so it wasn't just a matter of fixing it on the fly. I had to pull out 5 of those loooonnng rows to get to where I can salvage it.

So, yeah. First that was lack o'mojo, then a few errors. I keep plugging along, though. Someday I will have some show-and-tell!

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Neener Meh Awww Phew!

January 30, 2012

Now I had to make it count. "Cape Storm" by Rachel Caine ♦♦♦♦◊

I'm at the point where I don't have much to show but things are thiiiiiis close, so I think this will be a drive-by...

For Crispy (and my mom, too) - neener neener. This is my kitchen island 20 days after The Big DeClutter. The only thing that's been added is the wooden thing.

My brother-in-law gave that to me, I think, but I cannot for the life of me remember what it is. Whatever, I haven't used it in at least 7 years, so I'm thinking it can go away.

Speaking of going away, this is part of what I unearthed from under the island in the challenge from a couple of weeks ago. Except for the wooden thing, all of these things have found new homes, I'm happy to say!

On the reading challenge front, the 'witchy' book that I started reading on my Kindle wasn't a keeper. I've started another book by a familiar-to-me author and so far, so good.

Here's a glamour shot of MoonPie...

And an action shot of her with her favorite toy!

My fabric and yarn mojo is coming back, so hopefully I'll have something new or finished to show you!

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More About Books

January 10, 2012

And put them in Eve Dallas' name. "Strangers in Death" by J.D. Robb ♦♦♦♦◊

Somewhere in the past few weeks I discovered a couple of new blogs written by book lovers. These blogs contain reviews and descriptions of books that I might enjoy. I had no idea that the land of book bloggers would lead me to new challenges - literally. Much as knitters have knit alongs and quilters have Blocks of the Month, apparently there's a world of reading challenges out there that I'm just beginning to discover. This is just what I need, isn't it? Another thing to attempt to commit to...

But it's books! Reading! Things I like to do!

I wish I'd bookmarked more of the blogs I discovered while surfing around. One of the blogs that I did hold onto is Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf where, wouldn't you know it, there's a challenge going on!

Now, to many of you it's not much of a surprise that I would be interested in joining a reading challenge that has to do with witches and other things that go bump in the night.

What was a surprise to me was this: when I looked at all of my bookshelves and stacks of books I pulled out all of these books that I could start on right away for the challenge. All of these books have witches as characters or witchcraft as part of the plot.

I looked at my iPod and saw that I had two books already loaded on it that would qualify for the challenge. Then I looked in my Kindle and found five books that would work for the challenge, too (let's not mention my non-resolution to read more paper books, OK?).

So, apparently I am going to read a few witchy books now. I have one started on my Kindle, and then this big ol' stack of "real" books. There are other challenges and many book lists that interest me, so I'll be investigating them, too.

Did anyone just see a white rabbit in a waistcoat run by?

No new news on the fabric or yarn front. I have great intentions, but don't seem to have any get-up-and-go. Someday…

Labels: books

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Abandonment Issues

January 04, 2012

Abandoned book "Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral" by Kris Radish ♦♦◊◊◊

The original title for this post (started on December 31st) was "Thoughts for the New and Old", but between the time I came up with the title and the time I sat down to write the post, all of my New Year's thoughts (resolutions and reflections) had escaped me. Yep, that's me: A brain like a steel sieve.

Right now, what's got my attention is books. What I read, what I want to read. You see, the one thing that popped into my mind at the same time I was thinking of New Year's resolutions was that I wanted to read some of the paper books that I own.

I have over a hundred books that are sitting on bookshelves, waiting for me to pick them up and read them. It's not their fault that they're not in audio form (though there are a few of those on the shelf, too).

I have a "wishlist" that I carry with me on my iPod so that when I'm at a bookstore or somewhere else I can get new or used books I know what I'm looking for. Just yesterday I picked up a hardcover book that was in the almost-free bin at Wally World - it had been on my wishlist for two years!

So, I don't have a problem collecting books, I have a problems just sitting and reading books. I've often said that I prefer audio books because I can read them while doing something else - driving, quilting, knitting, ignoring what Mr. W. has on the teevee. If I "just" sit and read a book, I feel absolutely decadent. To not be accomplishing something else while reading? It's just not done!

In the year 2011, I read 72 books. Of those 72, 12 of them landed on the "abandoned" shelf. I looked over the reviews for the abandoned books (I really do review almost all of the books I read) and came up with these "reasons" for the abandonments:

The writer was too good - in the case of J.A. Konrath, the 'bad guy' character was written so well that he creeped me out. Great writing, but I couldn't get through the book because it was too skeery. In other instances, sometimes the writing is beautiful and complicated and it is too good for an audiobook. Those are words and thoughts that I want to savor and ponder and really sink my teeth into. I can't do that with an audiobook. It keeps going and I miss what's next because I'm lost in what was.

Too slow. Or too much exposition. There were a few books that just didn't get to the point soon enough - or, in some cases for me, never really got to the point at all.

Too much reliance on suspension of disbelief. Seriously? I read about vampires and faeries and ghosts (plus other genres). If I put a book down because it's just too difficult to suspend my disbelief, I think that's saying a lot.

Bad readers. I'm not making a judgement about the character of the people chosen to read the audiobooks to me, I'm making a judgement about their skill at reading audiobooks to me. First off, last year I broke my own rule of never, ever, EVER listening to a book if it's read by the author. Writers write. It's a very rare writer who can also read. Other 'professional' (?) readers have problems with breath control. Or timing (usually too slow). And it's a rare reader who can do multiple accents or voices successfully and consistently.

Two pet peeves of mine: Formulaic misunderstandings and what I call "dut-dut-duuuuhhhhh" writing.

The formulaic misunderstanding - She thought he meant this when he really meant that and then he thinks she did this because he saw her going into that place but she was there because of something totally unrelated but where there's smoke there's fire and she loves him and he loves her but she thinks he's in love with someone else.... I have absolutely NO patience for this sort of plotting (this also explains why I'm not a fan of French farce movies). It's probably because I'm so direct - I see absolutely no reason for a misunderstanding (and certainly not one or twenty that lasts for 180 pages) when a three line dialogue will clear everything up.

Dut-dut-duuuhhhh: Yep, cue the dramatic music from black and white TV shows. Easily spotted and abandoned by two or more "If I'd only known [what was to happen in the future], I wouldn't have been so happy/said that thing/slept well." If you'd only known and you weren't a total idiot, you certainly wouldn't have done this or that. But then you also wouldn't have a story to tell, either.

A new-to-me (and irritating) writing 'trend' seems to be making me work for a backstory. I know I've mentioned too much exposition, but there's such a thing as too little, too. From my review of Abandon, by Meg Cabot (which was, indeed, abandoned):

Non-linear exposition in dribs and drabs, it was almost like the author didn't really want you to know what brought the character to where she was. I had to work too darned hard to piece together the traumatic events/experiences.

I guess this might seem like a whole lotta negative-negative but remember I did read, finish and ostensibly enjoy 60 other books last year. I don't know that I'll actually be organized enough to give such a thing as book recommendations, but I hope to have a few more book-related things to say in the near future. As long as I don't wait too long so that what I have to say is either forgotten or moot... !

Labels: books

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Testy and Tasty

February 07, 2009

Abandoned book: "Mirror, Mirror: A Novel" by Gregory Maguire ♦♦◊◊◊

This winter I've either been particularly fickle or I've just run into some real clunkers in my reading choices. In fact, I broke down and created a virtual bookshelf labeled "Abandoned" in my Goodreads library. Today I discovered that I'm not the only person with a bookshelf labeled "Abandoned". In fact, there are over 2,500 books tagged as "Abandoned".

Today I begin sharing books from my "Abandoned" shelf as well as those that I actually finish (and usually enjoy). I have written reviews for many of these abandoned books (not necessarily all bad) to explain why I dumped them, so feel free to click on over if that sort of thing interests you.

I have no idea if this is meaningful in any way, but there you go.

Now, onto the Tasty part - though the preceding isn't really all that testy, especially considering the source.

Oh, wait - non-parenthetical insertion here: I am still resisting the temptation (or, uh, need) to make a label/category called "Food" for my blog. I sure talk about food a lot. And post a lot of pictures. The last post had to do with the promise of food. This post is about to talk about food. I'm sure you'll get the report after the Annual Meeting (more food), and I haven't even kept you up-to-date on my Artisan Bread Baking Adventures!

This still isn't a food blog. I just impress myself pretty easily and I just have to share.

Judy over at Patchwork Times says great things about a cajun seasoning called Slap Ya Mama. She is offering a multi-pack of the seasoning in this post to one lucky reader who posts a picture and the recipe of their favorite cajun dish.

Well, Judy, I live in the Pacific Northwest. The closest I've gotten to "cajun country" was Texarkana and that was just driving past on Hwy 30 between Little Rock and Dallas.

BUT! I do faithfully read some foodie blogs, so all is not lost. Last fall I discovered Hurricane Rice, a recipe shared by Alanna Kellogg of A Veggie Venture. Mr. "I'll eat anything but Jell-o" actually says he likes it, rather than the usual "It's fine." Mom asked for the recipe. And I could eat it every week (though I try to control myself).

It's got shrimp and andouille or another sausage. You don't have the "real" trinity because there's no celery, but there is brown rice and cayenne and mmmmm.... bacon grease.

So, Judy, that's my 'entry'. I'm not sure if this is the real thing, but here in the northwest...

Well, there ya go.

Labels: babble, books

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Totally Tickled

February 06, 2009

That's a promise I'll have no trouble keeping. "To Hell and Back" by Lilith Saintcrow ♦♦♦◊◊

Well, actually, Two Things That Totally Tickled Me on Tuesday:

First off, for possibly the first time in my life, I was at the mall when it opened at 10 a.m. Not because I'm a shop-a-holic, but because Border's was marking down some of their Christmas/Winter goods to 90% off. I had been saving my pocket change (77 cents every Thursday, plus various and sundry) since the beginning of the year and I decided to spend my largesse :snort: at Border's.

On this.

Yes indeed ladies and gents, you're looking at eleven blank books/journals. I have already given three books to J2 (she'd tossed $2.50 at me the previous weekend for that purpose) and one to Miss Sunshine.

According to my receipt, I got 15 books for $136.85, then they applied a $123.17 discount. Total was $13.68 before taxes.

Getting a stack of blank books is enough to make me do a happy dance. Getting that many and seeing that kind of savings? Over the moon!!

The second event that totally tickled me on Tuesday: On Sunday our church is having its annual meeting. Now, that sounds like a huge yawn, I know, but for some strange reason at this church the annual meeting ends up being one of the best parties of the year. (I know! Go figure.) Vestry members and members of clergy each 'host' a table and choose a theme for the table. Then we decorate the table and potluck according to the theme (some people even dress according to theme).

This year I have been fortunate to be placed at Mo. Kathleen's table. That's tickly enough - but the theme she has chosen?

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Seriously? How could it be any more perfect??? Although she could have asked for any item on my Thanksgiving menu and I would not have had to go shopping* she narrowed it down and asked me to bring pumpkin pies.

Now, anyone who's read my blog for more than 2 months probably doesn't question why this would make me so giddy!

I have an email out to Mo. K. to ask if our dress code includes aprons... (I truly don't know if I could contain myself if she said yes!)

* Just to be precise, because J2 reads my blog occasionally: I did go shopping, but for spices (grand total, eleven cents). And it's not that I don't have the pumpkin pie spices. It's that my spice containers are holding the spices hostage and I can't get the containers opened!

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Flower Power

October 28, 2008

Bosch helped his partner up and out of the car, and they walked to the paramedics. "The Overlook" by Michael Connelly ♦♦♦♦◊

I got nothing. Well, actually, I've been arse-deep in Disappearing 9-Patch blocks and layouts, but I'm not ready to report on the epic undertaking.

Oh! Yes, I do have something. I've been reading J.D. Robb in the past couple of weeks. BIG score - the book before last, "Born into Death", while a murder mystery, had segments that made me laugh so hard there were tears rolling down my face. If you get the opportunity to read it - or better yet listen to the audio book read by Susan Ericksen - go for it.

I ran across this... a convoluted path, starting with QuiltArt Journals, then some sort of (old) challenge about taking the quiz and then making a quilt-let based upon the answer. I think it's a cool thing to consider, even though the challenge is over. Maybe some of the gals over at OST would be up for a bit of an artistic stretch...

I am a
Snapdragon

What Flower
Are You?

I ran across a hat pattern on Ravelry that interests me. It's not felted, so there might be some possibility that it will be a successful project.

I've been at the computer for a large portion of the day (shame on me!), but I've gotten some stuff - none of it particularly entertaining - accomplished. Tomorrow it's back to Disappearing 9-Patches. Or maybe machine quilting something. I'm getting the urge.

Labels: babble, books

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Ketchup

September 22, 2008

"I think I need a really fast car." "Heat Stroke" by Rachel Caine

Well, the lack of blog posting is directly related to the lack of photographs that I've taken in the past week or two.

I finished the apron for Mo. Kathleen and presented it, a copy of her sermon that inspired it (eta: here is the pdf transcription), and a cookbook (sorry, Ky - yours will be in the mail when I get Lifesaver's pressie sent)(which will possibly not be until his actual birthday)(Especially if I keep spending my free time either in front of the puter or sleeping...).

Where was I? Oh, yeah. The apron is the same pattern as the one I did for the Summer Apron Swap. You can see a picture of that one here. Kathleen's didn't get the same embellishments or pocket, and the fabrics were opposite (print where there was stripes, stripes where there was print). I took my camera but didn't get a picture. It's too bad, too - the apron fit her like a flippin' glove. And she was pretty happy with it, too.

I've been working on my granddaughter's cardigan. I'm in the home stretch, but last night I realized that I've either added a row or skipped one and that made my stockinette turn into garter stitch. For her mom's reference, when I say I'm "in the home stretch", the thing is knit from the bottom up (ugh) and the problem was between the third and fourth row of eyelets. See? It's getting close! This is what happens when I read while knitting and don't actually LOOK at the stitches. Fortunately, the problem can be remedied by frogging two or three rows.

Speaking of reading, I've read 45 books since June 9. I have NOT written 45 blog posts. This explains why I have so many more last lines (sentences) saved up than blog posts to hold them. Just sayin'. Currently I'm reading Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe), John Sandford and Rachel Caine.

And speaking of Nero Wolfe? The A&E TV show really stuck close to the books, down to the color of Wolfe's shirt and the decor of his den. It's easy to visualize the characters when reading the books. And, I'm sorry Timothy Hutton, I love you in 'most everything I've seen but you'll always be Archie Goodwin to me.

Did you know that Timothy Hutton has a new show on TNT scheduled to air in December? Scuttlebutt is that it won't last two seasons, but I'll certainly check it out.

And looking for the link to the A&E site? I found that there's a non-Chaykin Wolfe and a 1936 stab at a series and an American network TV series of Nero Wolfe. Somewhere I even saw something about Russian movies. Wow, how did I miss those? Now to decide if I want to take the risk of watching anything other than my beloved and familiar A&E episodes...

Sheesh. Nero Wolfe-mania. Not really.

Let's see... what's on my camera? Oh. A fabric that I need 1/2 yard of to finish a quilt. I got it from Joann Fabrics within the last year. It's a Fabric Traditions fabric. Yes, I've gone to multiple websites looking for the fabric, it's as though it never existed. Some wonderful people I know have remembered to check for the fabric when they visited their Joann's in various parts of the U.S. Feel free to keep an eye open for the fabric at Joann's or Hobby Lobby or Beverly's or Fabric Depot (among other places that theoretically carried it) or your stash...

Plain yellow is a post-it note for color reference

Annie posted a meme that tickled my fancy. I'm working on it... I'll probably use that for my next "Hey! I'm not lying in a ditch!" post.

Oh, and today's the equinox. We've already missed the optimum time for eggs, but it will work for a good part of the day, still. (Some say that it will work any day of the year, but that takes all the fun outta Egg Day)

Labels: babble, books

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