Tea cakes, the bar method, and history

It was a gingerbread tea cake, and it was delicious.  Gosh I am such a sucker for pastries and even just the names they are given.

I tried something called the Bar Method yesterday. It's self torture basically, but since everything on me is falling maybe it's a good thing. I'm giving it a month, and we'll see if it sticks, or if I lift.

I'm learning history, in a much more fun and entertaining way than I did in school. I am reading the The Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz. Essentially, it's how America was really discovered, and it's not what we were taught, of course. Horwitz has an engaging way of writing and so far I have laughed out loud several times, definitely a sign of a good book.

Short and very sweet today, and I'm wishing you a fabulous weekend...

xoxo

Cake and Kafka

Rum cake can be eaten anytime, anywhere, and for no good reason at all, so we just sat on the front porch and ate as much as we wanted. The breeze was strong, plucking leaves from their branches and tossing them onto the plate. I picked them off then went back to licking my fingers :). I think next time I will add more rum.

This weekend, in between a sleepover, the laundry, preparing for dinner company, the kids--all seven of them, running in and out of the house, and quiet moments with the cat, I sought out Kafka. We are only in the beginning of our relationship, but Unmasking the Confidence Trickster told me we already had a lot in common. I understand that he was a strange and unhappy man. But discovering a sliver of ourselves in the saddest, even angriest, of people, helps us find compassion-- for them and for ourselves. In another time, if I ever had a chance to meet Kafka, I would have offered him rum cake :).

Happy Weekending...

xoxo

At home and reading...

Home. It feels good :), but jet lag has been a drag. I have been up at 3am every day since we've arrived. By the time I use the bathroom and climb back in bed, I am wide awake. So, I get up, creep downstairs as silently as I can, and with flashlight in one hand, I open a book with the other. Jet lag is good for something.

To be honest, I haven't truly escaped into the depths of literary magic for some time. And when I say "escape", I mean hours. I can't remember the last time I finished a book in a few days. I can't remember the last time a book has hypnotized me enough to want to do so. But see, I have found a new read, just before boarding the plane at the Paris airport. I found Haruki Murakami. Yes, I believe I have heard of him before. Chances are my mother is a big fan, but I haven't asked her yet.

Kafka on the Shore is surreal, thrilling, mysterious, eccentric, metaphorical, symbolical, and evocative, and it is exactly what I have needed. I'm on page 415, with 200 more pages to go, but I am already wondering which of his books I will read next.

(Sidenote: For two days now I have just left Murakami's website open in the background to listen to the music. It's a perfect melodic compliment.)

I am also reading The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chödrön. It is a compilation of her talks given during a one month meditation retreat in Gampo Abbey in 1989. This book is a familiar read in the sense like talking to an old friend. It's full of inspiring bits you've heard before about acceptance, balance, self-love, mindfulness, joy and so on. The need for me to re-read, re-learn, and re-mind myself of these things feels cyclical, always arriving on a wave of instinctive necessity. Gentle guiding notes are what I seek right now, and with this book, I am finding it.

"A much more interesting, kind, adventurous, and joyful approach to life is to begin to develop our curiosity, not caring whether the object of our inquisitiveness is bitter or sweet. To lead a life that goes beyond pettiness and prejudice and always wanting to make sure that everything turns out on our own terms, to lead a more passionate, full, and delightful life than that, we must realize that we can endure a lot of pain and pleasure for the sake of finding out who we are and what this world is, how we tick and how our world ticks, how the whole thing just is. " ~ Pema Chödrön, The Wisdom of No Escape

xoxo

Lost and found

I have been too fortunate. Lately, I have been engulfed and hypnotized by brilliant stories, addictive stories, too unrelenting to put down.

Last night, I just finished the annotated version of Pride and Prejudice. It was wonderful to have learned more about the customs, manners, and expectations required of individuals and families during those times, not to mention reliving the beauty that is Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.

Soon, I'll be finished with the Book Thief. This book is haunting me--the characters are so pure, so rich, so spellbinding, I just want to hold them close... keep them safe. Written from Death's perspective and set in Nazi Germany, this story will be following me around day and night I believe, long after the last page is turned. Then, as if in an addicted daze and looking for my next fix, I walked into a bankrupted bookstore that is selling everything for 60% off or more. I don't need anymore books. I just found a stack of unread books last week, and I have more free ones coming from Paperback Swap. I was only suppose to...you know, just look around...

Well, you can see the result of me just "looking around". These will be joining the other found books in the "to read and re-read" pile. I admit, I am completely and hopelessly lost in my found books. Such a beautiful place to be...

And you?

Linking with Amanda for Weekending,

xx oo

Yarn Along ~ Stories coming to life

Yarn Along with Ginny today :)...

I've restarted the hat that I frogged a couple projects ago, purely based on principle and not because I need another hat :). In case you haven't seen the book this pattern comes from, oh you simply must!! There is a beautiful granny square purse in there that I will make one day. Wanna see?

From the book, Gifted

But honestly it's not the knitting or crocheting that I am so excited to tell you about today. It's about a very special book, a beautiful, groundbreaking book.

I don't need to tell fellow book lover's about the magic that stories bring into our lives. Today, droves of fans will pay their $10 ticket to see the final installment of Harry Potter, to see the story they vividly imagined breathe its way onto the screen.

Most of us who live in our books never want the story to end. We want to be a part of it somehow and we hungrily look for that next story that will draw us in and keep us there for awhile.

Movies, tv shows and series, even video games do their best to meet our high demands for giving life to the stories we hold dear. Some succeed, some fail. But what I want to share with you is a whole new magical dimension added to the life of a story, with the help of a gifted ex-animator from Pixar. Meet the The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Lessmore. Originally an award-winning children's animated short film, it has now been released as a storybook iPad application. It allows you to join in the story as it is read along to you. Please take the time to see this magic...



Its gorgeous visual perfection, our ability to participate and engage, and then the beautiful story itself... all of it is pure magic.  Created by award-winning animator and illustrator William Joyce and Moonbot Studios, this application I believe will forever change how we use digital children's books and how we read stories to our children.

Happy Yarn Along today, can't wait to stop by yours :)!

xx oo

Yarn Along ~ Art that pops

Yarn Along with Ginny is here again :)!

It's slow going on the gnome hat from last week, though I am trying to take my time and keep an eagle eye out for eager stitches looking to drop :).

Speaking of eagle eye, do you like how Leo and Mona are both looking at you?  Hee hee, me too :)...

I had to share with you one of M's passions.  Pop-up books.  She is drawn to these books and I have come to love and appreciate these works of art just as much. Our latest addition to our collection is Leonardo Da Vinci by A. & M. Provensen. What I LOVE about this book is the artwork by Alice Provensen. I did not realize how much her  (and her husband's) illustrations have been sprinkled throughout my childhood.  Do you remember this or how about this (ok that one's a bit older than me)?

I am still reading Bird by Bird which I still love, love, love. And I also became a little sidetracked with picking up Nurture Shock: New Thinking About Children .  It's basically a collection of statistics that debunks a lot of mainstream thinking regarding children and sleep, praise, race, giftedness tests, sibling rivalry, and a few more. Interestingly enough, for most well informed and conscientious parents much of it is nothing new :).

One last thing, I have to thank Zoe at Give an Earthly for inviting me to interview for her Super Woman series (you've seen my cape haven't you--LOL).  If you are interested and have an extra few minutes, you can read it here.

Always thrilled it's Yarn Along, looking forward to seeing yours!!!
Cheers
xx oo

Yarn Along ~ Keep the flow

Another fine Wednesday with Ginny's Yarn Along :).

Remember that cute little hat I was working on last week? I had only about 3 or 4 rows left when I noticed it. Two dropped stitches in two different places leaving two lovely, gaping holes.  And so it goes, yes?  I unraveled it all, row by row 'till I was down to a crumpled pile of yarn.

The lesson? Cuz you know there is always a lesson.  Keep the flow baby. I could cry over crumpled yarn or I could go on with something else, and I have. Honey arrived as if right on cue to comfort me with a little a sweetness and softness. A little gnome in my home ordered up a hat, which of course is found in this lovely book. No introduction necessary right? And the flow keeps right on going :)...

I finished Woman in White. Loved it. With a surprise ending that came much earlier than the end of the book, it was quickly followed by more mystery, excitement, and finally redemption. It is a long read, but I will tell you my secret to prolific reading if you promise not to judge me too harshly. Audiobooks. (And I know I'm not the only one <wink>). Without audiobooks, there is absolutely no way I could "read" as many stories as I have.  There is such pleasure in listening to a fabulous story while sewing or knitting.  I still love the presence and feel of paper of course, but the single task nature of paperback is saved for permissive, lazy days, which I am always on the look out for too :).

Three Tales of My Father's Dragon and Free Range Learning both came highly recommended so I look forward to sharing those when I can delve into them.

So happy it's Wednesday :). Looking forward to stopping by in your spaces...

much love
xx oo

First things first, then Yarn Along ~ Of Mothers and Women

Wow, first I need say that I am humbled by the thoughtful and amazing comments left by everyone on yesterday's post. You all are so inspiring to me, and I am comforted knowing how many other mothers (fathers, grandparents, and teachers) have discovered or are in the process of discovering the impact that parenting peacefully can have.  Sometimes we can feel awfully lonely on this path of change, but I believe it is clear that we are not.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you...

On a sidenote, for anyone wanting more reading materials on this path of peaceful parenting please visit the Library page.  I have also decided to add a page soon for a list of sites that I go to for peaceful parenting support.  For now, here are my favorites:

Naomi Aldort's site,
Scott Noelle's Enjoy Parenting site
Life Learning Magazine,
Parenting for Social Change,

** I am cooking up a giveaway in response to yesterday's post.  Please come check back soon to enter. Here's a look at what I'm giving away :).

And now for Yarn Along!!!  Joining Ginny today...

Because you know I have to show the results of my fling with Lemongrass from a few weeks ago :).  If I were good at keeping up with Ravelry, I would link there. But, alas, I am not yet.  So you can find the pattern for this lovely Mother's Day Shawl here.  It is a very simple crochet pattern and I have every confidence that if anyone wanted to whip it up for a Mama before Sunday, they could!!

On the reading front, I mentioned a few posts ago that I finished Thirteenth Tale.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G story I tell you.  I highly recommend it.  It is in the same genre as Forgotten Garden, full of mystery and intrigue, ethereal and dramatic.  I am now onto Friday Night Knitting Club (thanks again to Sherie).  I am looking forward to delving into the camaraderie of women.  As I read the first chapter, I couldn't help thinking that I wish I was a part of a knitting/crochet club.  And then look what I stumbled upon yesterday--  Sip and Knit.  It is a bit of a drive from my house, but how exciting!!!

I finally started adding to my crocheted flowers for the afghan.  I feel more committed to it than I did before.  Guilt, perhaps? 

Looking forward to seeing everyone's creations and reads today...

Cheers!

Yarn Along ~ Messages

Joining Ginny in Yarn Along~

What would you think if, within a week and a half of each other, you won these 3 knitting books?  Well, actually it was 2 different giveaways, but one included 2 books!!  Thanks to you all, I was inspired to read these books, but then to win three in such a short time frame, I think the universe is trying to tell me something, don't you?

I want to thank Amy, of Knitter of Hat Speaks for Needles and Pearls, and the Beach Street Society and Yarn Club, and Sherie at Rain Blissed for The Friday Night Knitting Club, for these wonderful giveaways.  The question now is, which one do I start first? Any suggestions?

I am still in the midst of my fling, but should be finished by the end of the week.  I have plans to continue the afghan after that, but I have to tell you, it's getting really hot down here.  And for those still in snow, I wish with all my might I could send some of this your way.  This kind of heat is the miserable kind, the unbearable, sweat behind the neck, can't breathe deep, crank the a/c  kind of heat.  The kind that says, why the heck are you still crocheting shawls and afghans????  So, with exception of the occasional crocheted flower for the afghan, I think I am going to hang up my needles and hooks for a bit.  I think it might be time to take the dust cover off my sewing machine.  I am quite giddy about it actually, I think it's dying to be used and I know I am dying to use it :). 

Looking forward to seeing what you are yarning along today!!

Yarn Along ~ Squares, doodles, and a surprise

Joining Ginny once again for Yarn Along!!

I started working on the vintage crocheted afghan I showed you last week.  The hardest part is staying conscious of the conversions or I find myself doing the wrong stitches.  The rebellious side of me wants to say---who cares! As long as it measures up and it still looks like a flower, right?!  Then that other voice says--what?? Deviate from the pattern??  Then I remember all of my lovely friends that don't even use patterns, and I think--why not?? 

I finished Forgotten Garden :).  It's a wonderful book and I recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries, fairy tales, and drama.  As far as new books, I have been drooling over the newest issue of Flea Market Style, which also has a lovely blog.  But the biggest surprise is what I've found at Anthropologie!  As expensive as it is, I still have to torture myself and browse the place.  I absolutely adore the style, the furniture, the dishes, the little details--, you know what I mean right?  I have noticed lately that they have been expanding their book section and selections.  Decorating books, cookbooks, kids' books, art books, etc.  I usually go straight to the sale section and what I found that day was Made at Home: A guide to simple sewing by Lisa Stickley.  Originally $23, I got it for $10!  It looks lovely and I can't wait to really dig in.  Then, though not on sale, but reasonable, I found these for the kids: 

Doodles for Breakfast, Doodles for Lunch, and Doodles for Dinner are adorable tear out placemat books.  Each page is alphabetical, and has step by step visual directions, using that  letter to help create the doodle.  So it's learning while doodling!!

Let me show you.  The doodles E. is working on are a "helicopter", using the lowercase "h" (sideways), and "Grandpa", using the uppercase "G" to draw Grandpa's head.  Can you see?





Cool right? Well, I thought of you all because I got an extra copy of Doodles for Dinner and want to give it away!  Just leave me a comment on today's post and I'll "draw" the winner tomorrow!!

Looking forward to your yarn along today :)!!

Yarn Along ~ Flowers and Gardens

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for Yarn Along:

"~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ... ~"

I am happy to say that my knitted apron is finished!! I'll post it next week after I get a good shot of it on :).  Thanks for all the encouragement to get it done, you all ROCK!!

So I am off and running with this vintage rose and daisy afghan pattern.  I must say it was a bit of slow start as I had to convert all the crochet stitches from UK to US.  Can anyone tell me how this happened?  A UK double crochet is a US single crochet and a US half double is a UK half treble and so on...Those darn Americans, gotta complicate everything :).  Anyway, I need to make 50 roses and 50 daisies before I put it all together.  Stopping to smell the roses will be an understatement as this one may take awhile :).

Meanwhile, I am now in the latter half of the Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and this book gets better by the chapter.  I actually look forward to finishing now though as I learned I won 2 books from Amy of Knitter of Hats Speaks book giveaway!!! Thanks Amy! She is having giveaways all week so make sure you head over there and enter!!

On the homefront, I wanted to mention we did get an offer on the house, so more on that and the other tomorrow :).  Looking forward to seeing your yarn along!!

Yarn Along ~ Unfinished business

Joining Ginny in Yarn Along again today...

Have you ever gotten soooo close to finishing a project when you realize that, OH NO, I am running out of yarn???  Never, right? The sad thing is I had had enough, but returned the last ball in excitement and anticipation to purchase new yarn for the next project.  So here lays my apron, tired and unfinished with only the strap left....

Meanwhile impatient balls of new yarn still sit and wait, screaming "What about me! What about me!" And oh boy I can't wait to dive into those :).  Hopefully next week I'll have something to show....

The book I giddily added to my library is Vogue Knitting  The Ultimate Knitting Book.   This book is quite enjoyable as it includes a history of knitting, wonderful, precise pictures and how-to's on stitches, blocking, weaving, and designing a garment to name a few, though I won't be doing that for a long while.  I am also listening to The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.  LOVE this mystery so far.   Can't wait to see what you all are reading and yarning!! Have a great week!!

Yarn Along ~ The Why of It (part 2)

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for Yarn Along:

"~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ... ~"

My apron is coming along nicely.  It's cute little pattern with a simple K4 Sl1 on one side, and Purl on the other creates subtle vertical pleats along the front of the apron.  As I continue to learn to knit, my respect for this craft continues to grow.  It is simple, yet intricate, repetitive yet demands attention to detail, and soon I am finding that my emotional investment in a piece gets woven in between as well.  I think I am beginning to love it :).

Last week I started reading The Why Cafe' by John Strelecky.  I finished it and to give you a brief summary, here are the three main questions the book explores: "Why are you here?", "Do you fear death", "Are you fulfilled?".

This book is very short, but does a fairly good job of getting to the point in encouraging people to find their PFE: purpose for existing.  It's a another way of saying find what you love to do and devote your life to that purpose.  It also explores why people might fear death, suggesting that it's because most people spend their lives doing things they think they have to (essentially to make money), not what they love to do.  That lack of fulfillment creates fear that there won't be time for the things they love before they die.  The book goes on to say that if we know our purpose, do what we love and feel fulfilled, then there is no fear that there is never enough.  Death becomes accepted as the next part to play, not something to be feared. 

Hmmm, my own PFE? I think for now it's to be the mom my kids need me to be, and the wife my hubs needs me to be, all the while sprinkling fun, enjoyment, and discovery as much as I can.  How I evolve from here, we'll just have to see.  I don't believe I fear death, but how can I know for sure really until I'm staring at it head on?  I do know there is much I would like to do before that happens, and maybe that is the point.  Am I at least doing the things, or working on the things I want to do, before I die?  Well, let's just say, for right now, I am enjoying writing, knitting, and Yarn Along's with you all :).  Follow the joy, that might be a good plan, yes?  And you?