Tuesday, May 30, 2006

{Pant} Too {Pant} Hot {Pant} to Knit!

It. Is. Too. Hot. To. Knit!

Just popping in to say I'm still here. No knitting news to marvel you with today:-) Temperature right now with humidity factor is 44C (111F for my American readers). {How do you make those degrees symbols?} Tried working on my socks this a.m. and the wool practically melted to my fingers.

So instead of knitting this week, I've been reading. My reading the last couple of months (maybe the whole year) has been pathetic. Bouncing from one thing to another and not really getting into any page turning reading. So ... I made a pact with myself to pick a few favourite authors I haven't read much of and do some serious library borrowing this summer. I picked three authors to keep me going incase the library doesn't have the next book in a series when I'm there. (I hate waiting for holds, they always come when I've just started Ch. 1 of a new book and the pressure to read both books in 3 weeks puts me off reading either.)

So here are my choices for summer reading and my current reads.

Author #1 - Garth Nix

I've only read the Seventh Tower series and thought it was brilliant. Would love this to be made into a movie! I've also read #1 of the Keys to the Kingdom series (Mister Monday) and am really excited to continue with this still-in-progress series. I think he still has to release Saturday and Sunday.

Current Reading: I just finished "Shades Children". This was awesome! I read half of it the first evening, a page turner and very thought provoking.

Author #2 - T.A. Barron

I read the "Lost Years of Merlin" series last year and was hooked. I'm a big fan of Arthurian fantasy and a focus on Merlin is even better! Wonderful series, highly recommended. He's just started a new series that lines up the "Lost Years" and I have to go back and read his first set of books.

Author #3 - Orson Scott Card

A prolific writer of many genres from old testament to science fiction. I've only read the Ender series and the first Shadow book. These are among the best books ever, imho. Oh, I've also read "The Lost Boys" which is more of a horror/ghost story and I thought it was brilliant. I'm pretty quick at figuring out where a plot is going but I was pleasantly surprised with the twist in this one. So, I have many books to choose from here. I'm only going to read his fiction and will give one of the old testament books a try also. I enjoy Biblical fiction, especially OT.

Current Reading - Three quarters of the way through "Seventh Son" (the first in the Alvin Maker series) and loving every page of it. I used to read a lot of historical fiction and this is a compelling alternate history story combining hisfic with fantasy. PS - the best alternate history book I've read is "Ruled Britiannia" by Harry Turtledove

Maybe more than you wanted to know about my reading habits! Am trying to knit a bit in the evenings when it cools down. I'm working on the munstersocken for myself but I may have a twist of my own to show you when they are finished!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

One Ladybug

Finished the first ladybug chevron sock!

First Chevron Ladybug

Haven't started the second one yet as I cast on for another sock last night. You knew I couldn't wait till the kotr-kal new sock was announced, didn't you? Well, it's just another munstersocken using scraps but this time for me. I've only made these for kids so far, but I have so many sock yarn leftovers now I have to start using them up.

Monday, May 22, 2006

Finally a FO

Well, I had intended to post before this but on Sunday I came down with a horrible cold. By Tuesday I couldn't lift my arms to knit (then the family knew I was really sick), by Wednesday I was a zombie leaving my bed only to go to the bathroom. Started getting better on Thursday since I picked up the needles again and I finally have a Finished Object. It feels like months since I've finished a pair of socks but let's see ... my last socks were finished on April 14 so, yeah, it's been a while.

Here we have the Denmarks. My camera is out of commission so I had to take a scan.

Denmarks

Pattern: Denmark from Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Filatura De Crosa 501
Notes: This yarn is a DK weight and I followed the pattern pretty closely. Lovely yarn, btw, I'm not really into tweeds but this green just called out to me. I used US3 for the body of the sock but switched to US2 for the heel and toe and I used my normal star toe instead of as written.

Due to the camera situation I will not be posting a picture of the blue mitre blanket yet but don't worry I'll show you as soon as I can.

Currently on the needles: The ladybug chevron socks and a black scrap mitre blanket. The new kotr kal sock will be chosen soon so I may not start another sock until then but you never know ... (!!)

Saturday, May 13, 2006

I'm Back!

Just a quick post to say I'm back and well. Internet was hooked up this weekend but I don't have email yet. The move went well ... the drive out here was long, it took us 5 days. Unpacking is going slowly but surely. Thank you so much for all the comments on my last post! Will post again later in the week.