Working Title

Sewing Notes

2012-01-29T10:45:00.000-08:00

So I was tooling along pretty nicely with the landscape quilt - I got the last of three 'tree' strips done, and all three sewn together. I pinned those at the river bed, and got ready to sew that. And that is where I hit a snag. The clear thread I currently have is absolutely not set up to be used with my machine. It's totally wound the wrong way, and I can't even thread the machine with it, let alone make a bobbin. So I've got to figure out how to work around that. Still, pretty progress with sewing overall this weekend. I may be able to start other projects sometime this year, yet.

Sewing Notes

2012-01-28T12:59:00.000-08:00

And lo, there was bias binding in adequate amounts produced!

And it has been attached to the entire front of the Decade Quilt!

Yeah, note to self: when one is stopped in the middle of making bias binding from two pieces of fabric by the implosion of the second piece of fabric, make a note of what size you were making before setting it aside for two months before you can get to the second piece again. Much easier than prying apart already ironed binding to measure that...

This is the biggest quilt I've ever made, and so it's the largest amount of binding I've ever made, and I can't lie - if I ever make a bigger than crib sized quilt again, I'm going to need to find a bigger cutting space. The dining room table was not cutting it on this one. Consequently, there are going to be a few places where the binding is a little tight. I'm chalking that up to homespun individuality.

So I'm actually done with the machine sewing portion of this quilt, and the rest of the sewing is all sewing I can get done watching TV some evening. I may actually manage to finish this thing...

Garden Notes

2012-01-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

It's January in Maine, so what's a girl to do? Read gardening books, and lust after activities I cannot possible for several more months. Sigh...

The Edible Front Yard - Ivette Soler

This book is all about changing your front yard from a typical lawn into an edible plant garden, but doing it in such a way that you won’t look like the kooky hippy neighbors.

There are lots of pictures of other gardens enclosed, with many examples of planting combinations. Unfortunately for me, it’s very west coast centric, which I can’t really blame them for, since most of that coast has really great gardening conditions. I lust after some of the plants they can have at my latitude there that I could never manage here in Maine.

So, for me, the most valuable section was the chapter on ornamental edibles. Some of these are plants you’ve probably never heard of, and some are different varieties of plants that you may not have previously thought could be ornamental. I have a number of sticky tabs in that section.

So, for a New England garden, this book is probably more inspirational than truly aspirational.

Grow Great Grub - Gayla Trail

This gardening book is about making do with whatever space you have, no matter how small, to be able to grow some sort of food in your own space. There are a number of DIY projects for various containers and raised beds, and there are ways to use your harvest.

What I liked best about this book was the plant section, where it talked about the best plants to use in small spaces. It also had specific information about growing each plant in containers, which was what convinced me to buy this book. The author is also out of Toronto, so it gave me much more suitable information for my gardening zone than the other book I bought this winter.

There’s also a section on compost, and about the best ways to prep your beds or containers for the best yields. It’s about organic gardening, so there’s also a section on organic pest control.

I think this book would be a great primer for a city dweller that’s never gardened and would like to get their feet wet. I was already familiar with the fundamentals, but still got a lot out of this book.

The Shadow in the North - Philip Pullman

2012-01-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

In this second book of the Sally Lockhart mysteries, Sally is now settled into life in London. While she works with the photography studio that she founded with Fred and his uncle, she’s also struck out on her own, and does financial advising, mostly for other women.

When one of those women comes to her after losing her entire life’s savings due to Sally’s advice, Sally sets out to investigate the shipping company in question, and its charismatic chairman, Axel Bellman. Bellman has come to London, and his current business is darker than Sally could ever imagine, with possible dire consequences to her, and those she loves.

I have to admit, I was genuinely scared at a couple places in this book. It’s young adult, but Pullman is not afraid to stray outside of some of the conventions of that genre. There’s a rather huge twist at the end that was both appalling and brilliant.

I had planned to read the next book in the trilogy right after finishing this one, but I need a little break. It really was that scary.

The Host - Stephenie Meyer

2012-01-19T15:54:00.000-08:00

Humanity has been taken over by a race called the Souls – parasites that insert themselves into a human’s body, and then live their lives. The original memories of the body are intact, but the person is gone. The Souls have been on Earth for a while, so there are very few ‘wild’ humans left. When one of them, a girl named Melanie, is caught in Chicago, her body is given to a Soul named Wanderer.

Wanderer has been warned about the volatility of humans – their extreme emotions and propensity for violence. But what she’s not told is that some humans fight back. Melanie isn’t willing to let go, and she and Wanderer now share Melanie’s body. Melanie’s memories and emotions increasingly influence Wanderer, until she finally sets out to find the man that Melanie loves. The journey ends in ways that neither or them expect, or could even have anticipated.

I have to hand it to Stephenie Meyer – she can spin a compelling story. I was pretty quickly hooked, and really wanted to know how Melanie and Wanderer’s story would end. I also have to say, this book is much better than the Twilight series. The story is better, the writing is tighter, and it’s so much less of what became an uncomfortable Mary Sue like story by the end of the series. If she writes another book, I’ll definitely read it, in the hopes that it’s like this one.

Heir Apparent - Vivian Vande Velde

2012-01-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

Giannine received a gift certificate for her birthday to the local virtual reality video game center. When she got there, there were protesters outside – something about exposing minors to too much violence. She ran through the crowd anyway, and picked the game Heir Apparent.

And just when the game was starting to get somewhere, a strange lightning storm appeared out of nowhere, and a man (wearing jeans and t-shirt) appeared out of the skies to warn her that the protesters had tried to destroy the machines, and she was stuck inside, until she could win the game. And now she has to win the game, or she’ll die.

So, Giannine’s now stuck in a medieval world with three potentially evil princes for half-brothers, a queen who clearly doesn’t like her, three questionable allies for royal advisers, and barbarians and dragons at the gate. She can only win if she finds all the clues that’ll show her how to win over the people and secure her throne.

This is a clever, fun read. If you game (or hang out with gamers like I do), and/or read fantasy, you’ll love this book. Giannine’s frustrations with the rules, and her various navigations of the game (it starts over if you die, but not infinitely) are a hoot. It’s also a great commentary on our video game culture today.

The Tote of Shame

2012-01-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Now, I've decided to mostly opt of out reading challenges this year, but I still do have a project in mind. The above is what I've labelled as the Tote of Shame in my LibraryThing catalog, because it used to be a tote, but I outgrew that early last year. This is a pretty deep case - there's another layer of books behind what you can see (in my defense, a couple of the books on top are ones I have finished but not been able to file away because my main bookcase is currently hiding behind the Christmas tree - that goes away today).

I really need to work on whittling this down. I have two initial plans of attack. There are two books in there that I borrowed - I'm going to try to read those as soon as possible, so I can get them back to their owners (a third book on the top falls into that category - I've read it, but the owners live in AZ, so I haven't had an excuse to return it yet, and they didn't urgently need it back, so I haven't felt the need to mail it). The other thing I'd like to concentrate on are series books where I've read the first (maybe even second) book of the series, have more waiting to read, but haven't been able to get to them in the face of the overwhelming pile (and opposite challenge needs). I figure if I can get those out of the way, I'll be better positioned to get to the other books in the stack. I'm also going to try and read series books all at once if I actually have my hands on them. (I'll reserve some judgement there - for example, I've been enjoying spacing out the Naomi Novik Temeraire books - it feels like more of a treat when I'm not reading them all at once.)

So that's the reading plan of attack for this year. Let's see how the 'tote' looks comes next December.

Route 9, Woodford, VT

2012-01-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

For New Year's, we headed over to Vermont, to visit the BF's family. They're smack in the middle of the region that was badly effected by Hurricane Irene. Their town (Bennington), was only minorly effected - mostly by the temporary loss of the water supply coming out of the mountains, but the route we take to town passes through several towns that were very hard hit. It was a bit heartbreaking to drive through Wilmington and see so many of their businesses empty, some still boarded up and damaged.

The town of Woodford is right next to Bennington, and suffered as much as it did because it's right at the base of the mountain, and water funneled right into it. There's the shell of a stone house still standing next to the bridge that goes into town. (The worst of the damage is in places where you can't really take photos, so I have nothing to show of that.)

We headed up Route 9, which goes through National Forest, so there are plenty of trailheads and the like to pull into. The river here is running higher than normal, and if you've been through here as often as we have, you can see where the water went that it normally doesn't go. Definitely a sobering sight.

But, unrelated to the hurricane, something else was going on. These photos where taken on New Year's Eve. Sure, there's some ice:

But do you see how freakishly green everything is? Not to mention, we're in the mountains here - everything should be under at least a foot of snow. This is definitely the warmest winter we've had in a while.

The Skies of Pern - Anne McCaffrey

2012-01-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

I’ve been away from Pern for a while – it was one of my favorite series when I was a teenager, and I’d left off with The Dolphins of Pern – where Thread was seemingly eradicated, and Pern was learning to live with that reality. It seemed a natural enough stopping point, but there were more books written. It seems rather bittersweet that I got my hands on this book right around the time that Anne McCaffrey passed away. I think this read was my mini tribute to her.

With the threat of Thread slowing diminishing, soon to be gone for good, the Weyrs of Pern are facing the fact that they will need to find new crafts, and new ways of staying relevant in this new Thread-free world. F’lessan, the son of the Benden Weyrleaders, has made it his mission to restore the ancient Honshu Hold, and the telescope that was built there. When a comet hits the Western Ocean, and causes a tsunami that impacts many of the coastal holdings, F’lessan and the other riders find sudden inspiration for how they can remain relevant, and still protect the skies of their planet.

There’s also a sub-plot about the Abominators – people reacting against the new technologies rolling out in Pern since the discovery of the computer that controlled the Ancient’s knowledge that was brought over in the colony ships. It’s a rather apt issue relating to real life today.

I have to say, I did read this book with a bit of sadness, knowing that the author is now gone. I know that her son is continuing the Pern series, but the continuations are never quite the same as the originals. I’m definitely grateful for the wonderful hours of reading that Ms. McCaffrey gave me, and I’ll miss her for sure.

The Knitter's Book of Socks - Clara Parkes

2012-01-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

Much like the cookbook I just read, I don’t normally read knitting books all the way through. This is also one of the few authors that I will automatically get her next book, even if I haven’t previewed it first.

The first part of this book breaks down exactly why socks are different than many other knitted pieces (because they’re made for feet, which have a unique set of requirements for comfortable wear), and exactly what kinds of yarn will best suit those requirements. There’s a lot of interesting reading in that section – there was a lot of information I would never have thought of to take account of when making socks, and it also helped explain to me why I like some of the sock yarns that I do.

There are also patterns – running a fascinating gamete of styles and techniques. A number of these are going into my Ravelry favorites, and a few might even make it into my queue. I’ve been on a sock hiatus, but this book may be just the thing I needed to get me out of that.

If you knit socks, you should definitely read this book – you’re sure to find it fascinating.

Knitting Notes

2012-01-07T07:01:00.001-08:00

I had some quality knitting time during our long weekend in Vermont, and I managed to get through charts 1 and 2 in my Galadriel's Mirror shawl.

I'm really enjoying this pattern. I think I'd class it as intermediate level. It's actually pretty repetitious, so I have a certain amount of it memorized, but there's enough going on that you definitely have to pay attention. There are also a ton of twisted stitches, though I'm finding I enjoy those more in lace than in socks. Granted, it'll be changing in chart 4 to a different design, so I have variation to look forward to.

I'm not sure how I feel about the yarn. I love the color, but it's very splitty.

Cook this Now - Melissa Clark

2012-01-06T15:06:00.000-08:00

I don’t usually make a habit of reading cookbooks. I also don’t normally run out and buy (or in this case request for Christmas) cookbooks sight unseen, even if I do have other books by that author. I will make an exception for Melissa Clark’s books. I really enjoyed In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite, so when I saw she had a new book coming out, onto the Christmas list it went. I’ve been actually reading it every night since I received it. There’s now a veritable forest of post it tabs sticking out of the top.

The book is organized by month, and features ingredients (including the meats and fish) that the author was able to get at her Farmer’s Market (which is in NYC, so she’s probably better off in her choices than most of the rest of the country there). I really love this, because I can easily flip to a section when looking for inspiration. And I was somewhat inspired by the Cumin-Seed Roasted Cauliflower with Salted Yogurt, Mint, and Pomegranate Seeds recipe I read last night. I didn’t have time to find a recipe while I was at work today, but I loved the idea of the dish, so I stopped at the grocery store, picked up what I thought would go with cauliflower best, and roasted it up for dinner. It had very little bearing on the original recipe, but that’s actually the author’s modus operandi for creating her recipes, so I still felt like I was following the book.

Now, I just have to wait until I can actually shop with a list, and can make one of the many recipes I flagged. Yum!

Mairelon the Magician - Patricia C. Wrede

2012-01-05T15:41:00.000-08:00

In an alternate London sometime in the 19th century (I think), Kim lives on the streets. When an obviously well to do man offers her five pounds to break into a traveling magician’s wagon and just look around, she can’t say no to such easy money. But, when she’s caught in the act because of the magical protections on the wagon, she realizes that this magician is more than just a street performer, and surprisingly, Mairelon offers to take her on to help him track down some items he was framed for stealing. So it’s off to the country they go, where some fake Druids may just have the magical objects they’re looking for.

This book is a ton of fun. Both Kim and Mairelon are enjoyable heroes. It’s pretty obvious early on that Kim has some special abilities, so it makes sense for Mairelon to bring her with him, and their interactions (as well as with Mairelon’s servant Hunch) are fun to follow. The country characters they run into are also a hoot.

There’s a sequel to this story that I have to track down – I’m definitely interested to see where Kim goes from here.

2011 Books Not Completed

2012-01-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

This year wasn't too bad for books I started but wasn't able to finish - just two:

1. Colours in the Steel- K.J. Parker
I was five chapters into this book when I gave it up. There was nothing inherently bad about it, I just couldn’t get myself interested.
The premise is interesting enough – a city where justice is dispensed by the sword, so all the lawyers are fencers. There are a number of parallel story lines going on, and that might be the problem. I just wasn’t grabbed by any of the characters, and just couldn’t bring myself to keep going.

2. The Named – Marianne Curley
I’m not really sure what made me dislike this book so instantly. Could be getting thrown into the action with too little prep (a very fine line). Could be the teenager as ancient hero. Could be the teenager as ancient hero getting his former best friend’s kid sister as an apprentice and having to check her out in history class because he hadn’t paid attention to her in so long he forgot what she looked like. I made it three chapters in and called it a day.

2011 Books Read

2012-01-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

83. Paris, My Sweet - Amy Thomas
82. The Midwife's Apprentice - Karen Cushman
81. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
80. Black Powder War - Naomi Novik
79. Memory & Dream - Charles de Lint
78. Lady of Quality - Georgette Heyer
77. The Book Lover's Cookbook - Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen
76. The Two Princesses of Bamarre - Gail Carson Levine
75. I, Coriander - Sally Gardner
74. Alone in the Kitchen wiith an Eggplant - ed. Jenni Ferrari-Adler
73. The Princetta - Anne-Laure Bondoux
72. Tender at the Bone - Ruth Reichl
71. The Seven Towers - Patricia C. Wrede
70. A Dark Horn Blowing - Dahlov Ipcar
69. Dark Lord of Derkholm - Diana Wynne Jones
68. The Light of Day - Graham Swift
67. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer - Adapted by Seymour Chwast
66. The Matters at Mansfield - Carrie Bebris
65. Jane and the Damned - Janet Mullany
64. Fables 14: Witches - Bill Willingham, et al
63. The Gates - John Connolly
62. Fables 13: The Great Fables Crossover - Bill Willingham, et al.
61. Fables 12: The Dark Ages - Bill Willingham et al
60. The Somnambulist - Jonathan Barnes
59. From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris
58. The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman
57. The Privilege of the Sword - Ellen Kushner
56. In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite - Melissa Clark
55. Serenity - The Shepherd's Tale - Zack Whedon
54. These Old Shades - Georgette Heyer
53. Percival's Angel - Anne Eliot Crompton
52. Me and My Sewing Machine - Kate Haxell
51. The Cold Minds - Kristin Landon
50. The Hidden Worlds - Kristin Landon
49. Queen of the Darkness - Anne Bishop
48. The Thief - Megan Whalen Turner
47. Household Gods - Judtth Tarr and Harry Turtledove
46. Heir to the Shadows - Anne Bishop
45. Daughter of the Blood - Anne Bishop
44. More Letters from Pemberley - Jane Dawkins
43. Letters from Pemberley - Jane Dawkins
42. A String in the Harp - Nancy Bond
41. Melting Stones - Tamora Pierce
40. All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris
39. A Dyer's Garden - Rita Buchanan
38. Wizards - edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
37. The Sleeping Beauty - Mercedes Lackey
36. Wolf Queen - Tanith Lee
35. Soulless - Gail Carriger
34. Swordspoint - Ellen Kushner
33. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
32. Elvenborn - Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
31. Elf Magic - ed. Martin Greenberg
30. Now Eat This! Diet - Rocco Dispirito
29. Moonlight & Vines - Charles de Lint
28. Orphans of Chaos - John C. Wright
27. The Third Magic - Molly Cochran
26. Carrots 'n' Cupcakes - Tina Haupert
25. Firebird - Mercedes Lackey
24. Tempest Rising - Nicole Peeler
23. Witch Week - Diana Wynne Jones
22. The Magicians of Caprona - Diana Wynne Jones
21. The Bell at Sealey Head - Patricia A. McKillip
20. Fables Vol. 11: War and Pieces - Bill Willingham, et al.
19. Soul Hunt - Margaret Ronald
18. The Tourmaline - Paul Park
17. The Talisman Ring - Georgette Heyer
16. The House at Riverton - Kate Morton
15. Wolf Star - Tanith Lee
14. Elantris - Brandon Sanderson
13. The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis
12. The Eyes of the Overworld - Jack Vance
11. The Shadow Queen - Anne Bishop
10. Throne of Jade - Naomi Novik
9. Fables Vol. 10 - The Good Prince - Mike Willingham et al.
8. The Mammoth Book of Merlin - ed. Mike Ashley
7. The Enchanted April - Elizabeth Von Arnim
6. The Shadow of the Sun - A. S. Byatt
5. The Grand Tour - Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
4. Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field - Melissa Nathan
3. Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue - John McWhorter
2. Toast - Nigel Slater
1. Street Magic - Caitlin Kittredge

The best thing about last year's reading? I cracked 80 books! Multiple plane trips and several week long vacations away from the distractions of the house are very good for my reading...

I'll be honest, diversity of subject matter still isn't my strong point, but I managed to mix in a fair amount of non-fantasy/scifi reading. I'm not going to promise anything for next year, but I'll keep more diversity as a long term goal. Other than that, I'm cutting way down on challenges next year, so we'll see where that leads me.

There were only a couple of books I started this year and couldn't finish. Here's hoping I have no entries in that category next year.

Paris, My Sweet - Amy Thomas

2011-12-30T05:53:00.001-08:00

Read for LibraryThing EarlyReviewers.

Do not read this book on an empty stomach.

The author was given the chance of a lifetime when her advertising agency offered to send her to the Paris branch to work on the Louis Vuitton contract. She’d been pretty much obsessed with Paris since she spent a semester there in college, so jumped at the chance to go.

Now, contrary to the title, this book is actually a sweet-foodie’s love story of both Paris and New York. Hence the don’t read on an empty stomach warning – each chapter is centered on a particular food item, contrasting American and French cuisine. After a couple of chapters, I was ready to throw the book aside and hop a jet to either city just to get my hands on some of the food she described.

There’s a personal component to the book as well, with the author finding it difficult to fit in in Paris, and also finding that life in New York is moving on while she’s gone. I’ll admit that that struggle got a bit old by the end of the book, but I was so focused on the food, I was ready to overlook that.

I’m probably not going to be moving to Paris anytime soon, but I may be able to visit in a year, and I’ve definitely gained some most visit places to add to my list from this book.

2011 Completed Knitted Projects

2011-12-29T16:30:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's the end of the year already, but I guess I have done a fair amount of knitting in that time. (Click the photo for a bigger view.)

The most notable thing about this picture? No socks (well, other than the baby socks). I took a good break from socks this year, and apparently concentrated on lace instead. I also got rid of a fair amount of sock yarn remainders, which was one of my goals for the years.

My favorite projects? Probably the shawls - Lilah and the Triple Wrap shawl were both a lot of fun to work on.

The Midwife's Apprentice - Karen Cushman

2011-12-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

The girl was known as Beetle, because she often used the dung piles in villages to keep herself warm at night, until she happened into the village where Jane Sharp was the midwife. Jane wasn’t a particularly kind woman, but she was in need of help, and she took Beetle on, so long as she would work for food and board.

Though she started out as a lowly apprentice, she slowly learned the midwife’s trade, and the villagers began to seek her out if the midwife wasn’t available. But one mistake cast all her learning into doubt, and Beetle had to choose to keep this wonderful new life, or leave to find something else.

This is a charming little book, aimed probably for the tween crowd. It’s well researched (the author’s notes at the end of the book are worth a read), and gives a good flavor of medieval village life. Beetle is a wonderful heroine, and it’s a joy to read her story.

Pretties - Scott Westerfeld

2011-12-28T14:59:00.000-08:00

It’s two hundred years in the future, and after a number of man made calamities, people have found the way to keep the peace is the operation to make people Pretty. At age 16, the operation makes everyone beautiful, and improves everyone’s health. What they don’t know is that at the same time, their brains are altered to keep them dumb and pliable.

Tally learned all this in the last book (Uglies), but by the end, realized the only way she could save her friends was to become Pretty herself, so that’s where we find her as this book begins. But Tally’s different. Even though her memories have mostly been taken away from her, she still knows that something’s not right, and that leads her to join the Crims, a group of Pretties that are also searching for something more.

The arrival of some of the Uglies from outside the city provides a sudden cure, but that cure leads to complications that Tally couldn’t imagine, and puts her chances of escape from the city in doubt.

I liked the first book of the trilogy better. It’s not that this one is bad, but it’s didn’t grip me quite as well as Uglies did. I do have the next book (Specials) in the house, so I’ll be reading that one soon so I can see exactly how this ends. I’m hoping the action picks back up in that one.

Knitting Notes

2011-12-25T06:57:00.000-08:00

I've cast on my next project, a shawl for me! I'm making Susan Pandorf's Galadriel's Mirror, using Berroco's Ultra Alpaca Fine, in a lovely dark blue colorway.

The yarn ended up being a bit of an adventure. I started to wind it Friday night. The first skein went beautifully. The second skein - well, I can only assume that something burped when it was initially being skeined, because I swear there was a section that ran in the opposite direction than the rest of it. So, I ended up having to take it off the swift, and as expected, a rat's nest quickly ensued.

It took me all of the rest of Friday evening, and until about 3:00 yesterday to get that worked out. I only did end up cutting it once, which was a minor miracle. At least it's done now, and I'm cast on and firmly into chart A. So far, so good.

Knitting Notes

2011-12-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Merletto Mitts by Jody McKinley
Yarn: Pine Woods Sock in the Nor'Easter colorway
Needles: Size 2 DPNs

My final Christmas knitting is done. And it's really final now, because I've already done Christmas with the only members of my family that I didn't knit for, so I'm totally out of options for this year.

I like this pattern - it's easy, but complex enough to stay interesting. I also really like this yarn. I've got enough left over of both this yarn, and the Jitterbug I made the other mitts with that I'll have to figure out something fun to do with that. But first, I'm going to selfishly knit for myself, and start a shawl I've been eying for a while.

2011 Completed Reading Challenges

2011-12-23T07:11:00.000-08:00

It was actually a couple weeks ago that I technically completed my reading challenges, but I'm just now getting around to recording them.

I did cut back a little bit this year, and stuck to mostly broad stroke challenges that covered multiple genres within a more specific subject. This did go pretty well, and let me work from my slightly ridiculous TBR bookcase (it outgrew the tote this year). But, I still found it a bit restrictive.

Next year, I'm going to cut back to just the Once Upon a Time and RIP challenges, unless I see one that just captures my fancy (I really did enjoy the Foodie Challenge this year, even though it took me a while to get going). I'm hoping to blew through a good chunk of the TBR pile way.

But, any way, this year for challenges, I read:

2011 TBR Lite Reading Challenge 1/1/11 - 12/31/11 - finished 10/16/11

The Light of Day - Graham Swift -finished 10/16/11
The Hidden Worlds - Kristin Landon - finished 8/15/11
Wizards - edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois - finished 6/28/11
Moonlight & Vines - Charles de Lint - finished 4/26/11
The Shadow of the Sun - A. S. Byatt - finished 1/29/11
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue - John McWhorter - finished 1/15/10

RIP VI Reading Challenge - 9/1/11 - 10/31/11 - finished 10/23/11

Dark Lord of Derkholm - Diana Wynne Jones - finished 10/23/11
Jane and the Damned - Janet Mulllany - finished 9/28/11
The Gates - John Connolly - finished 9/23/11
The Somnambulist - Jonathan Barnes - finished 9/20/11
From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris - finished 9/13/11
The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman - finished 9/8/11

Once Upon a Time V 3/21/11 - 6/20/11- finished 5/27

Swordspoint - Ellen Kushner - finished 5/27/11
Elf Magic - ed. Martin Greenberg - finished 5/5/11
Moonlight & Vines - Charles de Lint - finished 4/26/11
Orphans of Chaos - John C. Wright - finished 4/24/11
The Third Magic - Molly Cochran - finished 4/22/11
Firebird - Mercedes Lackey - finished 4/17/11
Tempest Rising - Nicole Peeler - finished 4/14/11
The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume II - Diana Wynne Jones - finished 4/10/11
The Bell at Sealey Head - Patricia A. McKillip - finished 4/3/11
Soul Hunt - Margaret Ronald - finished 4/1/11
The Tourmaline - Paul Park - finished 3/31/11

Foodie's Reading Challenge 1/1/11 - 12/31/11 - finished 11/29/11

The Book Lover's Cookbook - Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen - finished 11/29/11
Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant - edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler - finished 11/22/11
Tender at the Bone - Ruth Reichl - finished 11/11/11
In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite - Melissa Clark - finished 9/5/11
Toast - Nigel Slater - finished 1/9/11

2011 YA Reading Challenge 1/1/11 - 12/31/11 - finished 11/26/11

The Two Princesses of Bamarre - Gail Carson Levine - finished 11/26/11
I, Coriander - Sallly Gardner - finished 11/24/11
The Princetta - Anne-Laure Bondoux - finished 11/18/11
Dark Lord of Derkholm - Diana Wynne Jones - finished 10/23/11
The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman - finished 9/8/11
Percival's Angel - Anne Eliot Crompton - finished 8/24/11
The Thief - Megan Whalen Turner - finished 8/5/11
A String in the Harp - Nancy Bond - finished 7/19/11
Melting Stones - Tamora Pierce - finished 7/12/11
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - finished 5/20/11
Wolf Star - Tanith Lee - finished 3/11/11
The Grand Tour - Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer - finished 1/22/11

Black Powder War - Naomi Novik

2011-12-23T07:08:00.000-08:00

After the events of the last book in China, Temeraire and Laurence, and the rest of Temeraire’s crew, receive orders to travel immediately to Istanbul. The British government has bought three dragon eggs there, and Temeraire’s crew are to escort them back to England.

They’re forced to do an overland journey to Istanbul (which is an interesting journey in and of itself), and once there, find the Chinese dragon Lien has travelled there ahead of them – ready to seek vengeance for them having killed her master.

I love these books. Temeraire and Laurence are such fun characters, and the historical detail is wonderfully written, and also fun. I especially liked the part of the book that was in Istanbul – the scene and action were just wonderfully drawn. This has to be one of the best series I’ve recently read.

Knitting Notes

2011-12-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Live Oak Shawlette by Romi Hill from the Fall 2011 Knitscene
Yarn: MadelineTosh Tosh Sock in the Fiord colorway
Needles: Size 5 circs

I blocked the Live Oak Shawlette this weekend, partially because I realized that 2011 is rapidly drawing to a close, and since I finished it in 2011, I want pictures of it in 2011.

It's nice little pattern, pretty easy, with interesting shaping. I've actually been sitting on a skein of the pattern yarn (Madeline Tosh sock) for a year or two, so it was nice to have an excuse to actually use a pattern's yarn for a change. It is a really nice yarn to work with - I can see why it seems to be the go to yarn for fingering weight projects I've been seeing in magazines and online lately.

Memory and Dream - Charles de Lint

2011-12-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

Here’s the thing about me and Charles de Lint – I almost always start one of his books a little ho-hum about the story, wondering if it was really worth picking up – and then bam – something clicks, the plot takes off, and I’m hooked until the end. This book was one of those books for me.

This is a Newford book, which if you’ve ever read one, you knows there’s a cast of characters that circle around these stories, but it’s principally about Isabelle Copley. When she was in college in the 70s, she was chosen by the brilliant, but reclusive artist Vincent Rushkin to be his student.

Vincent gives Isabelle an incredible gift – the ability to bring her painting to life – but there’s a darkness to his art, one that will exact a heavy toll on Isabelle and her friends.

The action is split between Izzy’s school days, and 20 years later, when she has moved to the family farm in the country, and no longer paints people, only abstract paintings. When one of her friends from the past comes to the farm and asks her to do some paintings in her old style again, it leads to a final showdown between Isabelle and her past.

What I love about de Lint is the incredible realism of his books – these are urban fantasy done right. The central magic to this book – the numena, the people Isabelle brings to life in her paintings – are actually regular people that only want to live their lives once they’re brought into this world.

I also like that his books deal with much larger themes – in this case, child abuse, and child neglect. Not pleasant subjects, but they bring interesting notes to this story.

Sewing Notes

2011-12-17T11:13:00.000-08:00

Here's the second part of L's gift - overalls from the same Burda pattern as the dress I made. They're done in a dark lavender thin wale corduroy (which is terribly lit in the picture now that I can't often take pictures during daylight hours).

It was definitely interesting putting this together - I've never done pants before. My only slight issue was the seams - I followed the seam allowance in the pattern, which didn't leave much room for finishing, so things were getting a little thready on the legs. I would have pinked the edges, but I didn't have enough room. So I'll have to take that into account the next time.

The other thing I was a little mystified by was the elastic casing in this pattern, both the dress and the overalls. They were pretty vague about setting in the elastic, so I never figured it out in a way that made it looks like the pattern pictures. I did add the underarm elastic to both, but the overalls had elastic in the pant bottoms, which I ended up leaving out because I just didn't see the point.

Knitting Notes

2011-12-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Fallberry by Anne Hanson, from the Winter 2011 Knitty
Yarn: Collinette Jitterbug in the Copper Beech colorway
Needles: Size 3 DPNs

I love mitts. They're so incredibly fast! This is one of the two pair I'm making for Christmas gifts for the women of BF's family. I'm thinking these will probably go to his mother.

The pattern is nice and easy, and this yarn is really nice to work with. I've already cast on the next pair, so we'll see how quickly I can knock those out.

Sewing Notes

2011-12-12T14:05:00.000-08:00

Part 1 of my niece's Christmas present is done: this is the bibbed dress pattern from Burda 9772, which I did in a cute patterned flannel, in the smallest size (six months).

This was a lot of fun to make - it's got facing pieces, which I'd never done before, and I finally got interfacing to work properly. Granted, the interfacing was the source of my one significant issue - the button hole. What really annoys me is that the first one worked, using the button hole foot on the machine. But, apparently two layers of flannel and interfacing proved too much for a second round, and I was forced to improvise the second one using to zigzag stitch. At least I got to play around with the zigzag stitch...

I still have the overalls from the same pattern to make. I'm doing those in corduroy, so my plan is to cut them tonight, because I figure cutting with the corduroy grain is going to take enough concentration for one work night. I'll then move on to Christmas cards, and tackle the sewing another evening. I do want to get them done by this weekend so I can ship them out by Saturday at the latest. (I'm planning on shipping my sister's present at the same time. At least that one's ready to go...)

Holiday Lights - Freeport, ME

2011-12-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

We were up shopping in Freeport yesterday, and manage to stay after dark, so were able to see the Christmas lights. (The picture is above is from the plaza in front of the main L.L. Bean store.)

The lights are done by Pandora LaCasse, who now does holiday lights for a whole bunch of places in Southern Maine. She started in Deering Oaks park in Portland (that's still done, as well as a good chunk of Congress Street and the Old Port). I look forward to seeing what she'll do every year - it's always such a great display.

Lady of Quality - Georgette Heyer

2011-12-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

Annis Wychwood is 29. She’s beautiful, and has plenty of her own money, but she’s resolutely single. Plenty of men want her, but she hasn’t found a man that she’s willing to marry. So, she’s set up her own house in Bath, where she’s carved out a comfortable life for herself.

One fateful day, on her way back from her brother’s estate to Bath, she comes across a young man and woman in his broken down carriage. Lucilla has run away because she doesn’t wish to marry Ninian. Ninian feels the same, because the two have grown up like brother and sister, so when he stumbles across the plan, he feels obliged to accompany Lucilla in an attempt to retain her honor. Annis takes pity on the two youngsters, and takes them to Bath, where Lucilla ends up staying with her.

Lucilla is an orphan, and her guardian is her uncle, Oliver Carleton, a well known rake, who quickly arrives to see exactly who this woman that has taken in Lucilla is. Naturally, he and Annis fall in love.

This is the first time I can honestly say I wasn’t thoroughly delighted with a Georgette Heyer novel. I think it’s partially because the story is a bit too modern – I just couldn’t quite suspend my disbelieve that a woman as well born as Annis would fall that hard for a bad boy, and that he would be that willing to be reformed by the love of a good woman. It’s not a bad story, it’s just not as delightful as the other books of hers that I’ve read.

And, can I just say – 80s romance novel covers are awful! The edition I have was published in 1982, and the picture on the front, which I assume to be of Oliver and Annis, is hideous! I love the scifi and fantasy covers from that era, but the more realistic stuff is awful!

Knitting Notes

2011-12-04T08:30:00.001-08:00

My Live Oak Shawlette is done. It's a super easy, fast pattern, with enough interest and change to keep it from being boring (yes, even in the stockinette sections). I do still need to block it, so a final post is forth coming.

I used up the MadelineTosh yarn by making more hexipuffs. Knocked those out in two evenings. I love getting rid of left over s0ck yarn so quickly!

It turns out my Christmas knitting isn't done. I was talking to the BF about his terminally impossible to shop for mother, and he mentioned that her hands are always cold. A little light bulb went off in both our heads at the same moment, and we said "Fingerless gloves!" at the same time. That'll also work for his brother's girl friend, who we will be meeting for the first time. We wanted to get her something, but had no idea what to get. Pretty much anyone can use fingerless gloves this time of year. The BF is a genius.

We're not seeing them until New Year's, so I have plenty of time to knock out two pairs of mitts.

Knitting Notes

2011-12-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

Pattern: Quest for a Man by Laura Nelkin
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Gaea in the Corbie colorway
Needles: Size 7 Circs and DPNs

This project is bonus Christmas knitting - it'll be going to my younger brother. I love the pattern - it's nice and easy, and the texture is really cool. I've been meaning to make the women's version for myself for a while, and making this version has definitely furthered those ambitions.

The yarn is great - definitely nice to work with, and I love Raven series colorways anyway - the greens in this black are really cool.

This will be my last Christmas knitting of the season - everyone else is getting non-crafty gifts, except for some clothes I'll be making for my niece.

Foodie's Reading Challenge - 1/1/11 - 12/31/11

2011-12-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

Based on what I have available in my reading pile, I think I can safely say I'm done with the Foodie's Reading Challenge for the year. I read:

The Book Lover's Cookbook - Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen - finished 11/29/11
Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant - edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler - finished 11/22/11
Tender at the Bone - Ruth Reichl - finished 11/11/11
In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite - Melissa Clark - finished 9/5/11
Toast - Nigel Slater - finished 1/9/11

This put me into the Bon Vivant category, which was reading 4 to 6 books for the year. Not bad, considering I started knowing that I could definitely read one book, but wasn't so sure about any others. But, I lucked into a few great food related books at the end of the year (Melissa Clark's book is one of my favorite cookbooks ever - I've asked for her new one for Christmas). It was definitely fun, and outside of my regular fantasy reading zone, which was nice.

The Book Lover's Cookbook - Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen

2011-12-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

Read for the Foodie Reading Challenge.

This cookbook is filled with book passages that celebrate food – some very specific examples, some a bit more broad. It’s a really great read, just for the passages. Some are incredibly short (several snippets from Poor Richard’s Almanack come to mind), and some much longer. There are also quote from various authors about book and reading in general.

I confess to being a bit disappointed by the recipes – most are pretty normal, generic items (like pancakes, and chocolate cake – basic, regular food – well to an American at least). There’s nothing wrong with that, but I already have recipes for those kinds of things, so I confess this will probably not be a book that hangs around in my collection. But it’s still a great read (and you can read it cover to cover), so I’m not sorry I picked it up at the Borders liquidation sale.

Knitting Notes

2011-11-27T08:36:00.001-08:00

Pattern: Mezquita Shawl by Roxanne Yuen
Yarn: Sweet Georgia CashSilk Lace in the Botanical colorway
Needles: Size 8 circs

I finally blocked the Mezquita Shawl yesterday - definitely one of the easiest blocking jobs I've recently had to do.

I really enjoyed this pattern - the short row shaping was super easy, and for whatever reason, short rows never bore me, even when they're in stockinette. This was also a nice use of skein of lace weight - I'll probably try some similar patterns I've found for some of the other single skeins I have hanging around from samplers past.

The CashSilk Lace is a lovely yarn to work with - I'd definitely buy more if I ran into another color I liked.

I also did another sock yarn sweater ornament, since I only have one other one so far. This time, I tried the cabled option, which was nice and easy (though I did manage to screw up one of the sleeves, but since those tend to hang on angles and looked skewed anyway, I'm not going to sweat it.)

2011 YA Reading Challenge 1/1/11 - 12/31/11

2011-11-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

I've now completed the 2011 YA Reading Challenge, which was to read 12 YA books within 2011. I've read:

The Two Princesses of Bamarre - Gail Carson Levine - finished 11/26/11
I, Coriander - Sallly Gardner - finished 11/24/11
The Princetta - Anne-Laure Bondoux - finished 11/18/11
Dark Lord of Derkholm - Diana Wynne Jones - finished 10/23/11
The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman - finished 9/8/11
Percival's Angel - Anne Eliot Crompton - finished 8/24/11
The Thief - Megan Whalen Turner - finished 8/5/11
A String in the Harp - Nancy Bond - finished 7/19/11
Melting Stones - Tamora Pierce - finished 7/12/11
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - finished 5/20/11
Wolf Star - Tanith Lee - finished 3/11/11
The Grand Tour - Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer - finished 1/22/11

This year, I skewed very heavily fantasy. There was one mystery, and one dystopian/sci fi book, but the other ten all had at least some fantastical elements. I can definitely tell what kind of books I prefer to read from the list above...

The Two Princesses of Bamarre - Gail Carson Levine

2011-11-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

Read for the 2011 YA Reading Challenge.

There are two princesses in Bamarre – the elder, Meryl, is the brave one, who wants nothing more than to fight Bamarre’s battles, while her younger sister Addie is much more timid, and depends on Meryl’s strength and protection.

Naturally, something terrible happens to Meryl, and it’s Addie who must set out alone, and barely prepared, to fight for her sister’s life. What she doesn’t know is that she is fighting for the lives of everyone in the kingdom.

This is fairly standard fairy tale trope with slightly different twists. It’s enjoyable, though I like the author’s Ella Enchanted better.

Thanksgiving Notes

2011-11-27T08:26:00.000-08:00

My contribution to Thanksgiving this year was this Maple-Buttermilk Pie. It's far from the prettiest pie I've ever made (this was pie crust #4 - I don't know what I did to piss off the pie crust gods - and after this photo was taken, the custard split), but it was delicious - it had a really nice tang to it, which made it different than the sweeter pies that we also had. Definitely a nice pie to round out the dessert selection. I shall probably have to make it again.

I, Coriander - Sally Gardner

2011-11-26T07:26:00.000-08:00

Read for the 2011 YA Reading Challenge.

One day, a parcel containing a pair of gorgeous silver shoes is left outside Coriander’s home. She knows that they’re for her, but her mother is adamant that she cannot wear them. Still, the shoes call her name, and when Coriander gives in to that call, it starts a chain of events that will test her severely, but ultimately give her a better understanding of her fantastic heritage.

The story is set in the time of the Commonwealth in England, in the 17th century. Coriander’s father became wealthy because of his commissions from the king, and when Cromwell’s forces take over, he is suddenly in danger from that relationship. When Coriander’s mother suddenly dies, he is persuaded to marry a Puritan woman, to keep the eyes of Cromwell’s men from him. What he cannot know is that this woman is in league with darker powers. Not much later, he is forced to flee England, leaving Coriander at the mercy of her stepmother. When one day she is locked in a truck, an unexpected journey opens before her.

It is because Coriander’s mother was a fairy, and the silver shoes were commissioned by her father, the fairy king. A darkness has come over the fairy kingdom, one that only Coriander can save them from.

This is a lovely little tale, with great historical detail, and a lovely fairy story beside it. I read it in two days, only putting it down in the middle of the book because of this little thing called Thanksgiving dinner. I’d highly recommend it to anyone.

Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant - edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler

2011-11-26T07:18:00.000-08:00

Read for the Foodie Reading Challenge.

This book is a compilation of essays by writers and chefs about either cooking for one, or dining alone. There is an interesting mix of stories, most including some sort of signature recipe.

Many of the stories lean more to the philosophical than being strictly related to the food. In “Instant Noodles”, the author, who is from Thailand, is temporarily brought back to home when he’s a student at Cornell, when he’s able to find Thai instant noodles at a local store. In “Protective Measures”, the author talks about dining alone in the periods of her life when she used it to remind herself that she was important enough to deserve such a thing, even when she was alone.

There are other essays that are more food related. In “The Legend of Salsa Rosa”, the author finds the perfect pasta recipe while studying in Florence, and then finds how hard it is to recreate back in America. “Wild Chili” is about the author’s indulgence for this dish, something that he often must experiment with alone, in order to not kill his loved ones with over-peppery goodness.

All in all, it’s an interesting mix of stories that will definitely make you think about your relationship to food.

Sewing Notes

2011-11-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

I have today off, and since baking a pie does not a full day make, I've done a bit of stock-taking of my sewing projects. (The pie crust should be cooled by now, so should shortly be back in pie land.)

The first thing of note is my new baby. It was my ten-year anniversary with my company in October, and I got a plaque and a lovely catalog of gifts to choose from. I chose this:

Yep, it's a tool kit. And it makes the best sewing box ever.

The top has several small compartments that hold a whole bunch of things that I often need to randomly grab without wanting to riffle through the whole box.

That then opens to a top tray.

And this tray is wonderful. It fits everything I used to have in my old sewing kit, plus a few things I could never fit in there before (my new, larger sewing machine manual), plus some of the smaller projects I have in progress.

And the bottom compartment is a gigantic thing of beauty. It's allowed me to empty out a drawer and a half (and the top of that particular plastic set of drawers) that I had devoted to various bits of larger sewing ephemera. I've got my patterns in there, my larger cutting supplies (well, except for my mat - that's never going to fit in a box), and several larger storage containers for thread and other stuff. And, it's all on wheels, so I can easily drag it over to wherever I'm working.

It also helps that not long before I got the box, I'd broken down and gotten some dedicated notions storage. I got this great tackle-kit like box with a 40% off coupon at Joann's, and managed to combine a number of disparate boxes and bags of small things.

So, now, in my two plastic sets of drawers, I only have one drawer not devoted to fabric, and it's all about my unfinished projects.

Project #1 is my mountain side landscape quilt. I've managed to get together three of the quilt rows that are meant to be trees. They go quickly enough I should be able to get the third row done next time I have the machine out, and then I can sew the three together and get them attached to the muslin backing. I've still got a pile of fabric available to finish it off - I have the mountain top to create, and I may try some applique of something the fore-ground.

The above project is actually going away. It was an idea for some pieced Christmas tree ornaments that I could put in Christmas cards some year. I got all the foundations cut, and the pattern enlarged, but I've finally given in to the fact that I'm never going to get the pattern transferred to all those muslin pieces, let alone do that much fiddly, small pieces. So that fabric has been put back in the landscape drawer and the book returned to the bookcase.

I had completely forgotten about the above. I think I snagged this lesson book for machine quilting when one of the local craft stores closed (a while ago), and I'd even set up the first template for experimentation. But, this was with my old machine, that I was never able to get out-fitted with a walking foot. My new machine came with a walking foot, and with winter coming, I'm hoping to be able to work my way through these lessons on some of our inevitable quiet weekends.

This is fabric I bought to draft a skirt with. I've decided I need to finish at least one of my outstanding projects before I try this. (I also needed to by decent paper for the pattern making, which I've done to go along with the supplies I bought for my niece's Christmas gift. Those should be with me next week.)

This is the only project that doesn't fit in the drawer - the Celestial Postage Stamp quilt.

This thing is turning into a bit of a comedy of errors. I swear, every time I make progress on it, I then have to screw something up. It's all put together - at this point, I just need to make the binding, and sew that on. So, naturally, the binding has mucked me up. I was trying to make a continuous bias binding strip. Naturally, the piece of fabric I bought wasn't the right shape to do it in one go, so I cut in in half. The first half went great. The second half - I managed to somehow draw my guide lines in the wrong place (twice), so I can't get the dang thing to line up right. I may actually need to go out for new fabric for this, again (this would be the third time for the backing and binding fabric. At least they still seem to be carrying it at Joanns's.)

But, this my longest outstanding project, so I think I need to bite the bullet later this long weekend, and tackle it again.

And finally, I have this tree against sunset picture. I'm stalled out on the tree. I can't free form it (I have no artist ability in that direction), and I'm having trouble finding a template that's large enough. So far, my enlarging experiments have failed. What I really need to do is spend some quality time with a real photocopier and see what I can get from that.

So that's the state of my sewing basket. Winter, and the subsequent lack of travel, is coming, so let's see what kind of a dent I can put in these projects, now that I have a machine I really enjoy using.

Further Adventures in Domesicity

2011-11-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

This weekend's contribution to the pantry was Vanilla-Maple Applesauce, which used up nearly all the rest of the apples I had from the CSA. What little I was able to sample was pretty darn good, though I think I'd add cinnamon and nutmeg if I made this again.

Garden Notes

2011-11-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

These are my new best friends. After watching some neighbors one year, I've been bagging my leaves by using a trash can as a bag holder, and using a snow shovel to get the leaves into the bag. Last spring, I saw the green claw hand extenders next to the shovel in a magazine, and the company also carried this red collapsible can. I love them both. You do have to do more bending, but I can get way more leaves with the claws, and I completed the backyard in about two hours. (I did still have to use the snow shovel for some yard waste - hostas mostly - that had snuck in with leaves, and were denser. )

So I started yesterday morning with the above. Doesn't really look like much, does it?

Much raking, and five filled bag later, I finished the day with the above. After about an hour this morning, I ended up with this:

And fourteen bags of leaves. I don't understand how they take up that much room.

I should also point out that the above is the only tree that's actually on our property. Notice the lack of leaf drop here. Fortunately, it's on the street, which is enough of a wind tunnel that I rarely have to clean up leaves from this tree - they blow away long before I can get to them. Instead, I have to clean up after the trees that ring our back yard.

Oh well. At least my mother's compost benefits from it...

Knitting Notes

2011-11-20T08:43:00.001-08:00

Pattern: Saroyan Scarf by Liz Abinante
Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino in the indicieta colorway
Needles: Size 10 Circs

This project went so fast, I never bothered to photograph it or blog it until it was done. The pattern is really easy, but the leaf repeat is long enough to keep things interesting, so I was never bored, and it's in worsted weight yarn, so it finishes in a snap.

As for that yarn, I can only continue with my Malabrigo fangirlishness, and say that I love it. It's so lovely to work with, and I love the colors, and you get the idea. The day I don't enjoy working with Malabrigo is the day the world ends.

So, once I finished that, I cast on the Live Oak Shawlette from the Summer 2011 Knitscene. I actually have the yarn they used for the pattern (Madeleine Tosh sock), so I'm using that, in the fiord colorway. So far, it's been a fun knit.

In other news, I've knit up as many hexipuffs for the Bee Keeper's quilt in the similar weights of sock yarn I have lying around (I have some lighter weights as well, but there's less of those, so I may save them for ornaments of something). I can see why this pattern is so popular - it's totally addicting, and I can knock of three in an evening.

The Princetta - Anne-Laure Bondoux

2011-11-20T08:31:00.000-08:00

Read for the 2011 YA Reading Challenge.

The Princetta is pretty standard sheltered girl rebels against what she considers to be a constricted life, runs away, has grand adventures, falls in love and returns to her life, realizing it isn’t as bad as she thought it was. And as adventures go, this book does those pretty well, though I have to say – it’s nothing like what I expected after reading the summary on the back of the book.

So, I don’t want this to seem like I didn’t like this book, but there were a few things that really annoyed me. First – the author has renamed places with names very similar to their real names, probably in an attempt to make the world seem different, but yet give it some sameness so you have an idea of what you’re dealing with (which when you’re dealing with a trip around the known world, does give you some back story about the lands you’re visiting without tons of exposition). I’m not fond of this device. Granted, this book is translated from French, so I don’t know if this is just in the English translation, or is something that’s more common in French writing. I just don’t like it.

Second – the ending just plain pissed me off. I have certain expectations of the final outcomes for YA novels, and this one broke one of the cardinal rules. Again, it’s a French book, so maybe it works in that literary tradition, but it really annoyed me.

Tender at the Bone - Ruth Reichl

2011-11-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

Read for the Foodie's Reading Challenge.

Ruth Reichl is among other things, the former editor of Gourmet magazine, as well as a former restaurant critic for the New York Times. I’ve started a bit backwards with her books, already having read Garlic and Sapphires, which chronicled some of her time at the New York Times. Tender at the Bone was written before that, aptly so, as it’s the story of her childhood and early adulthood.

This is the kind of book that makes me wonder exactly how some people manage to have such interesting lives. Reichl’s childhood experiences with food were formed in great part by her mother, who had absolutely no sense of taste, and was known to serve spoiled food to dinner guests. To have such a noted food personality come out such a childhood is either an inevitability, or an achievement of the highest degree.

There are certainly many other formative experiences, from various friends of the family in New York City that expose the young Ruth to various dishes, to trips to France, and boarding school in Montreal. After that, there’s college, and life in a commune in Berkeley, California. Really, it’s just an interesting commentary on how a palate is formed, and a little something to make me wish I could have traveled a bit more in my youth.

The Seven Towers - Patricia C. Wrede

2011-11-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

In some ways, I miss the way fantasy novels were written in the 80s. They were shorter then, and seemed more likely to be one offs. This could be a good thing, compared to some of the recent trilogies turned behemoths that the authors are unable to finish in their lifetimes because the plot lines have become so complicated that it takes forever to write them through.

On the other hand, that can lead to a little less plot development, or plot elements that were less than thought completely thought through. This books walks a line between both.

Prince Eltiron of Sevairn has been ordered to marry a princess from Barinish by his father, but he’s pretty sure that his father’s chief advisor Terrel is behind the idea. Terrel has come to power after the mysterious banishment of the King’s former chief advisor, Jermain.

Meanwhile, Jermain is running for his life, and meets the sorceress Amberglas, and as well as the Wizard King Carachel, both of who warn of an enemy coming from the south. Naturally, this all ties into the intrigues back in Sevairn, where all our characters eventually meet.

The unraveling of the intrigues is an enjoyable story, but the over-arching threat from the South was clearly invented to get all the characters together, and rings a bit false by the end. Still, it’s a decent book, and I’m not sorry to have read it.

Out on a Limb CSA 2011, Week 5

2011-11-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

The final apple CSA delivery had six types: Golden Russet, Yellow Bellflower, Black Oxford, Winter Banana, Rome Beauty and Black Gilliflower. I think the Black Oxfords are definitely the prettiest this week.

This CSA has been really interesting. I got to try a whole bunch of apples types I'd never seen before, and it was nice to see that there are so many heirloom varieties out there, and nice to confirm that many taste really good.

For cooking highlights, last night I did grilled ham, gruyere and apple sandwiches with some of the Golden Grimes apples from the last delivery. You really can't go wrong with cheese and apple.

Knitting Notes

2011-11-03T14:09:00.001-07:00

Pattern: Pearl-Barred Scallop Scarf by Cheri Borden
Yarn: Sanguine Gryphon Bugga in the Cowkiller colorway
Needles: Size 8 circs

Christmas gift #3 (for my mother) is done!! This actually completes everything I've planned to do for Christmas - after this, everything else is gravy.

The pattern for this scarf is super easy, but of a long enough pattern repeat to keep me from getting completely bored. I like the final look, and it doesn't require blocking.

The yarn definitely lived up to the wonderful to work with hype - it's so soft, and the finished fabric is just lovely. But, I found the weight oddly difficult to deal with. I had a really hard time coming up with a pattern to use with the yarn (this was attempt #3). If it were a fingering weight, I'd be back for more in a heartbeat, but since it's not, I'm not sure I'll be in a hurry to use it again.

In other news, I've been working on hexi-puffs for the Bee Keeper's Quilt, and in cleaning out my used sock yarn, realized I had way too much Knit Picks Imagination left to just make hexi-puffs, so I knocked out another sock yarn baby hat for my stash.

CSA 2011, Week 22

2011-11-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

This year's final haul was: kale, salad mix, a pumpkin, sweet potatoes, peppers, and the most adorable baby chiogga beets.

It's been a good year for the CSA. I really liked the extra level of choice we were given - I've stocked up where I was able (winter squash and garlic), and the canning was fun. We'll definitely be back for more next Spring.

RIP VI Reading Challenge - 9/1/11 - 10/31/11

2011-10-29T07:52:00.001-07:00

It's close enough to the end of the month that I can safely say I've finished my RIP V challenge reading. This year, I read:

Dark Lord of Derkholm - Diana Wynne Jones - finished 10/23/11
Jane and the Damned - Janet Mulllany - finished 9/28/11
The Gates - John Connolly - finished 9/23/11
The Somnambulist - Jonathan Barnes - finished 9/20/11
From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris - finished 9/13/11
The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman - finished 9/8/11

This year, I was trying to read exclusively from my TBR bookcase, so I was a little more limited than I normally would be. I had two other books (A Dark Horn Blowing and The Light of Day) that I'd started, thinking they would work for the challenge, and decided later that they really didn't. Still, it was all good reading, and I'm already looking forward to next year.

Mackworth Island, Falmouth, ME

2011-10-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

Early fall color (these are actually from my vacation two weeks ago) - at the time, it was just the early trees and shrubs turning - we're much more advanced now (and a good deal of it will come down in the snow storm tonight...)

A Dark Horn Blowing - Dahlov Ipcar

2011-10-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

When Nora hears the dark horn blowing, she leaves her husband and newborn son. A small boat brings her across the sea, where the dying Queen of Erland has Nora nurse her newborn son.

At first, Nora doesn’t remember where she came from, but eventually, her memories of her husband and son return. As much as she wants to return to them, she also feels compelled to stay with the small Prince, who is hated by his lecherous father. When the queen finally dies, the king decides to make Nora his next wife, and both Nora and the Prince must decide what they will do next.

This is a lovely mash up of several ancient tales. Erland is wispy and atmospheric, and I love that Nora’s two sons – her natural son, Owen, and Eelie, the prince, do meet. I’d initially picked this book hoping for a darker atmosphere, to fit the RIP challenge, but it’s definitely not that dark – it’s more Once Upon a Time challenge territory.

CSA 2011, Week 21

2011-10-28T15:36:00.001-07:00

This week's haul was: dinosaur kale, sweet potatoes, potato, butternut squash, delicata squash, and celery.

This was meant to be the last week, but the Portland pick up got messed up last week, so we get another pick up next week (which is technically the Winter CSA) as a make up.

I harvested the last of the Swiss chard from the garden earlier this week, which led to the cooking highlight of the week - a Swiss chard pizza of my own invention, involving the chard, gorgonzola (and mozzarella), mushrooms, and pancetta. Mmmmmm.

Out on a Limb CSA 2011, Week 4

2011-10-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

My mother did the pick up this week, so the above is my selection only. I got: Grimes Golden, Pomme Grise, Gray Pearmain, Nod Head, Tolman Sweet, Benton Read, and Blue Permain.

My mother was most excited about the Blue Permain - she has a Blue Permain tree, but it's too young to bear. It's a lovely apple (it's the uppermost left) - very red. These are actually all pretty striking apples - they have a very heirloom appearance with characteristics like bloom that you don't normally see in supermarket apples.

Dark Lord of Derkholm - Diana Wynne Jones

2011-10-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

Read for the RIP VI and 2011 YA Reading Challenges.

While this book isn’t a sure fit for the RIP Challenge categories (this picking things only out of my TBR stash is hard!), it is a great deconstruction of the take no prisoners dark lord tries to take over the world kind of stories, so I’m going to sneak it into my challenge reading.

For years, Mr. Chesney has been running tourist packages into a neighboring universe that happens to have magic. His guests pay lots of money to met elves, see dragons, fight various bad guys, and generally have a magical good time. Of course, the people of the other universe aren’t having such a good time, because they’ve been compelled to provide guidance and fighting forces.

This year, it’s Wizard Derk’s turn to play the Dark Lord. Derk’s a bit of an odd ball - he left the academy to go off on his own, so he could do what he does best, create new and interesting forms of life, including carnivorous sheep, intelligent geese, and his crowning achievement, griffins. The griffins are as much his children as his two natural children, and they've all grown up considering each other brothers and sisters.

And so, it becomes a family affair of trying to portray the Dark Lord, while maybe, just maybe, managing to find Mr. Chesney’s weakness, so they can get him to stop the trips once and for all.

This book is great. There’s a cast of thousands, and they’re all interesting, and funny. There are clichés galore, and lots of tossing (and perhaps hacking them) out the window. This is definitely great reading for any fantasy fan.

2011 TBR Lite Reading Challenge 1/1/11 - 12/31/11

2011-10-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

My reading for the 2011 TBR Reading Challenge is done. The challenge was to read at least six books that had been in my TBR pile for at least six months. This year, I read:

The Light of Day - Graham Swift -finished 10/16/11
The Hidden Worlds - Kristin Landon - finished 8/15/11
Wizards - edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois - finished 6/28/11
Moonlight & Vines - Charles de Lint - finished 4/26/11
The Shadow of the Sun - A. S. Byatt - finished 1/29/11
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue - John McWhorter - finished 1/15/11

These were all pulled from my "Tote of Shame" (which has this year become the "Bookcase of Shame"). The oldest was the A. S. Byatt - I've been holding onto that one for at least three years.

The Light of Day - Graham Swift

2011-10-19T14:07:00.001-07:00

Read for the 2011 TBR Lite Reading Challenge.

I picked this book for the RIP challenge because the back listed it as a detective story, and I thought a straight mystery would round out my reading choices. And it’s true that it’s a detective story, but it’s not really a mystery.

You know as the story opens that Sarah Nash killed her husband, and is in jail for it. You also know that George Webb was the private detective that she hired to be sure that her husband’s mistress left on a plane to go home to Croatia, never to return to London again. What you don’t know is why.

The story is all about the whys – why George became a policeman and then was drummed out of the force and went private. Why his wife left him. Why Sarah cared so much that her husband would be returning to her after his mistress left. Why she killed him. And why George and Sarah end the book separated by her being in jail, but together in the lasting relationship that they both should have found the first time.

It’s a lovely book – all about human nature, and growing up, and growing to understand oneself. I’m not sorry I read it, but it definitely wasn’t RIP challenge material.

Knitting Notes

2011-10-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Mezquita shawly scarf is done. I will be doing some light blocking (mostly for the border), so a final post will be forth-coming.

In I am easily influenced news, I've started making hexipuffs (look up the Beekeeper's Quilt on Ravelry and you'll see how much of a slave to trends I am).

I couldn't resist such an easy and cute way to use up sock yarn, as well as some of my quilt batting odds and ends. The suckers knit up in about an hour. I'll have a blanket's worth in no time.

Operation Napalm

2011-10-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

I love my landlord. He was around doing the yard work that generates crap that we can't haul anywhere since we're not actually homeowners (tm), and I asked if it would be ok if we tackled trying to get rid of the rose bush from hell (which I have dubbed Operation Napalm). Not only did he say that was a wonderful idea, but he actually clipped out all the limbs, so he could load them in the truck and get rid of them.

The above is the results after he'd gotten through with it. I went out after work and managed to fill a five gallon bucket with the limb clippings he hadn't gotten down to the ground, and fair amount of root that would pull out easily. This project is by no means over (we'll be applying black plastic and cinder blocks next), but I'm already excited by how much room it freed up in that bed.

Further Adventures in Domesicity

2011-10-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend's canning adventure was Apple Rhubarb Chutney from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. I used Twenty Oz. and Wagener apples from the CSA.

It smelled absolutely divine while cooking. I think chutney is a bit of a misnomer - there's no truly savory component. I'm thinking it'll go well with oatmeal, so if that pans out, I may be making this in bulk in the future.

CSA 2011, Week 20

2011-10-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

This week's haul (in all its rain-soaked glory) was: pumpkin, winter squash, carrots, sweet potato, garlic, peppers, and eggplant.

Cooking highlights for this week included: Pasta Pan-Fried with Butternut Squash, Fried Sage, and Pine Nuts (which included sage from my window garden, as I've now moved my keeping herbs in for the season), and an Eggplant Strata from Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven.

Out on a Limb CSA 2011, Week 3

2011-10-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

This week's varieties were: Spencer, Fameuse, Twenty Ounce (there's a pen in that picture for size contrast), Jonathan, and Wagener. I picked them up again, so the above is the full share.

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffey Chaucer - Adapted by Seymore Chwast

2011-10-10T07:15:00.001-07:00

Read for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

I’ll admit to enjoying this graphic novel adaptation purely for the front cover, and back and front inside covers, which portray the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales as a crowd on motorcycles. If that kind of thing offends your sense, don’t pick up this adaptation.

This graphic novel manages to capture all of the Canterbury Tales in abbreviated form, with drawing and modern language. The only truly modern device is the motorcycles (which I’ll admit, I don’t see much reason for, even if they are fun) – everything else is straight out of the original. Well, minus the Middle English, and much summarized.

For that reason, this would make a good intro to the tales. It’s certainly not to the depth of the original stories, but captures a flavor of them, and the language is certainly more accessible. There’s a great undercurrent of humor as well. Really, this would be a great teaching tool with teenagers. I’m pretty sure I would have been motivated to dive a little deeper into the full length tales, had I read this when I was that age.

Knitting Notes

2011-10-09T08:06:00.001-07:00

Pattern: Lilah Shawl by Heather Storta
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in the Polar Morn Colorway
Needles: Size 3 circs

Since this shawl is a graduation present for my friend L, and she's coming up to see me this week, I made sure I blocked the shawl this weekend. I'm really happy with how it turned out. I made this particular pattern because L studied ortnithology, and I couldn't resist the idea of the bird wings.

I managed to make the large with two skeins of Malabrigo lace. The only modification I had to do was do two instead of three repeats of the border pattern. Other than that, it's as written. The pattern is rated piquant on Knitty, but I found it to be pretty straightforward. I'd easily recommend this to a fairly novice lace knitter.

I definitely love the Malabrigo lace yarn. It's wonderful to work with, and the finished product is so very soft. I'll very willingly work with this yarn again.

My biggest lesson for this pattern? If I want to make anything this size, or bigger, again, I need to invest in more blocking boards. And I really miss having a real guest bed I could have set this up on.

Knitting Notes

2011-10-09T08:02:00.001-07:00

I'm a little late reporting this (considering I cast it on on the 2nd), but Christmas knitting part three is the Mezquita Shawl by Roxanne Yuen. I'm using SweetGeorgia's Cashsilk Lace in the botanical colorway, and size 8 needles.

This yarn is really pleasant to work with. The pattern repeat is simple, but it's over so many stitches (361 cast on) that it keeps things interesting. Granted, I've now finished off the border, so I'm going into stockinette land, but there are short rows, so that'll hopefully keep it more interesting than just plan stockinette.

I haven't actually decided who I'm giving this to - keeping my options open since Christmas is still relatively far away.

CSA 2011, Week 19

2011-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

This week's haul was: green beans, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, melon, garlic, Italian skillet pepper, and an eggplant.

Cooking highlights from last week were: two from my favorite Melissa Clark cookbook - the Raw Tuscan Kale Salad with Chiles and Pecorino, which I turned into a pasta dish, on the advice of a couple blog posts I happened across, and the Spiced Chipotle Honey Chicken Breasts with Sweet Potatoes. That turned into the perfect fall meal in combination with an apple crisp featuring three of the different varieties I'd gotten from the CSA.

Speaking of apples, my favorites from the last batch were the Chestnuts. They're just sweet enough, and since they're crabs, two was the perfect size to end my lunch. If I ever get an apple tree, I want one of those.

Garden Notes

2011-10-05T15:25:00.001-07:00

I've pulled all the remaining tomatoes. We have frost warnings for the next two nights (tonight will probably be ok here on the coast, but tomorrow night will likely do us in). The sad thing is, once that's done, we're in for another week's worth of 70-degree weather, so it's entirely possible these would have ripened if wasn't going to get so cold first. Oh well. I'm thinking green tomato pickles...

I've also brought in the sage, tarragon, and bits of the parsley and the regular thyme. They're now hanging out the dining room radiator. I guess it really is time to start preparing a bit for winter.

The Matters at Mansfield - Carrie Bebris

2011-10-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

The Matters at Mansfield continues the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, this time with the addition of characters from Mansfield Park.

Lady Catherine is determined to marry off her daughter Anne, and needless to say, Anne has no say in the matter. When Lady Catherine sets her sights on the heir of a Viscount who also happens to be a rather cruel young man, Anne takes matters into her own hands, and elopes with Henry Crawford, who she had met previously in Bath.

Needless to say, Lady Catherine is not pleased, and Lizzie and Darcy are most concerned. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam therefore pursue the happy couple to Scotland. They’re unable to stop the wedding, but manage to find the couple in time to escort them back to Lady Catherine’s presence. However, an unfortunate accident strands them in Mansfield, where Henry meets a number of people from his past that he’d rather not see again.

There are duels involved, and several murders. The author clearly did extensive research on early 19th century dueling etiquette, and that detail is actually rather fascinating to read. These mysteries will likely make an Austen purist scream, but I enjoy them thoroughly.

Further Adventures in Domesicity

2011-10-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

So, what do you do when the CSA gives you three pounds of red onions? Make red onion marmalade! The recipe is from Canning for a New Generation (I'm beginning to think I need to give that book credit as a book read, with the amount of time I've spent consulting it this year). I have nearly another whole small jar that I couldn't process, so I've been able to sample it, and it's very cracker-worthy.

(I should note - this only took care of one pound of those onions. Roasted veggies and gazpacho are my other friends...)

Knitting Notes

2011-10-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Evermore Scarf by Nicole Whittis
Yarn: Classic Elite Renaissance in a red colorway
Needles: Size 9 Circs

My Evermore scarf is done - it's the scarf I'll be sending to the Red Scarf Project this year.

The pattern is super easy. There are cables, but you can do them without a cable needle with no problems. Unfortunately for me, the pattern is a four row repeat, so it fell into my too short to be quite interesting enough category. Nothing against the pattern - it is easy to memorize, and looks quite nice. I just got a little bored doing much more than two pattern repeats at a time, and two doesn't take you very far.

Further Adventures in Domesicity

2011-10-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

The second I saw Romano beans in this week's CSA offerings, I knew I had to pick some up and make more of the Indian-spiced pickles I made earlier this summer.

BF is not a huge pickle fan, but he liked these, because they have the Indian spices, and so don't taste as much like a regular pickle. They were also still crisp, but I'd broken down and opened a jar a lot earlier than I normally would, so I'm not sure if they'll hold up as that crispy or not. We'll have to see.

Jane and the Damned - Janet Mullany

2011-10-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

Read for the RIP VI Reading Challenge.

I wish I hadn’t so blatantly enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It’s caused me to get a few more books from that genre as gifts, and I’m sure this will come as a shock to no one, but the horror inserted into classic literature genre has hopped, skipped and jumped over the shark.

Jane and the Damned is actually on the less rip-offed in a really bad way side of this genre, because it’s about Jane Austen, and the story doesn’t have to follow the very set format of a particular book. (We don’t know enough about her life that there’s plenty of room to maneuver where you’re not playing fast and loose with actual action.) However, this book could have been written about any girl in the Regency period who happens to become a vampire. There’s absolutely no compelling reason to bring Jane Austen into it.

The action isn’t bad – Jane, her sister Cassandra and her parents are in Bath (because Jane was turned into a vampire and the waters there can cure her) when the French invade. Jane doesn’t want to be a vampire, but realizes it carries certain advantages that will help her fight alongside the other vampires in Bath to kick the French out.

The story wasn’t half bad until the end, which really annoyed me, because it was completely off character for the Jane that had developed throughout the book. Absolutely don’t read this expecting high art. It’s pure fluff, through and through.

Fables 14: Witches - Bill Willingham, et al

2011-10-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

We’re still pretty clearly in story building territory in this volume, and it’s all about a bit of a power play among the Fabletown sorcerers. Frau Tottenkinder leaves for the Fable Realms on a mission she’ll tell no one about, and the deceptively child-like sorceress Ozma seizes the opportunity to assert her leadership.

My favorite part of the story is the interludes, where the flying monkey Bufkin is leading the assorted denizens trapped in the business office against the rather frightening Baba Yaga. He may be only a monkey, but he’s a great leader, and his adventures make this book.

Fall Flowers

2011-09-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

Flowers from my travels over the weekend.

CSA 2011, Week 18

2011-09-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

This week's haul was: peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, Romano beans, broccoli, and dinosaur kale.

The cooking highlight of last week was this: Orecchiette with Sage, Roasted Garlic, Cauliflower, and Prosciutto. It takes a bit of time, but was super easy to make, and so very good.

Out on a Limb CSA 2011, Week 2

2011-09-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

I did the pick up this week, so the above is the entire haul for the week before I took out my mother's half.

The varieties from top left to right (and left to right again) are: Wolf River, Red Baron, Milden, Sweet Sixteen, Red Blaze, and Chestnut.

The Gates - John Connolly

2011-09-24T08:57:00.001-07:00

Read for the RIP VI Reading Challenge.

Young Samuel Johnson decided to show some initiative and trick or treat a full three days before Halloween. That’s why he happened to be at 666 Crowley Road when the Abernathys decided to raise a demon.

Samuel figures out pretty early on that none of the adults are going to believe what he saw that night, so it’s up to him to save the world when the entire demon horde in Hell decides to make a break for Earth through the Abernathy’s basement.

My first experience with Connolly’s work was The Book of Lost Things, which is beautifully written fairy tale (totally gorgeous - run out and read it if you haven't already). The Gates goes in the other direction, and takes on Hell with a wonderful comic atmosphere, a la Terry Pratchett (complete with subtitles). Samuel is an unlikely, and thoroughly likable hero. The story even manages to bring in the Large Hadron Super Collider in Switzerland in a thoroughly plausible manner.

I think this book may become a required Halloween reread - it captures a flavor of that holiday so perfectly.

CSA 2011, Week 17

2011-09-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

This week's haul is: leeks, garlic, bell peppers, red onions, winter squash, and sweet potatoes. The sweet potatoes were an experiment this year, and Ralph said he didn't expect much out of them, but they ended up with 1500 pounds, so they'll definitely be doing them again, which is really exciting.

In cooking highlights, I was doing my best to use both apples and other CSA goodies, and come up with: a Sausage Skillet Dinner that used apples, and as well as CSA peppers, potatoes and garlic; an Unfussy Apple Cake, which I ate way more of than I should have in one sitting, and Blue Cheese Polenta with Vegetables - because I was in the mood for polenta, now that we're back in comfort food weather.

Knitting Notes

2011-09-22T05:58:00.001-07:00

Unblocked and Blocked

Pattern: Three Sisters Scarf #2 by Monika Steinbauer
Yarn: Quince and Co. Tern in the Wampum colorway
Needles: Size 5 Circs

So back in June, I finished this scarf for my sister's Christmas present, and promptly hid it away, since she was visiting and staying with me. So, it's only three months later that I get around to blocking it...

It didn't look like it did much when it was on the blocking board, but blocking did definitely open up the pattern.

And here I am, with one Christmas gift done.

Further Adventures in Domesicity

2011-09-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Monday's canning adventure (yes, I'm a little late to the post) was Plum Cardamom Jam from Liana Krissoff's Canning for a New Generation. I had the above, plus a nearly full half pint jar to sample.

It's really good jam. Like eat out of the jar with a spoon good. It's not overly sweet, and the cardamom lends a nice note. I did have to chop four pounds of prune plums to make it (it was what I was able to get that was grown locally), so I may have to source larger plums grown in Maine. Then again, it's so good, I may just put up with the four pounds of prune plums again.

Fables 13: The Great Fables Crossover - Bill Willingham, et al

2011-09-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

I haven’t read Jack of Fables yet, mostly because I find Jack to be a pretty obnoxious character. But, having him back in the realm of the main storyline again, I can see that his side story seems to have some interesting other characters, so I’m a little more inclined to read it now.

This particular book is pretty much a side story from the main Fables action line. I’m hoping it’s back to the set up for the next big bad guy now that this plot is out of the way.

Fables 12: The Dark Ages - Bill Willingham, et al

2011-09-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

The rebel s in Fabletown have brought down the Adversary, and would like to think that peace will now reign in all the Fable worlds. But, this being a world of fairytales, we all know that there’s still evil lurking around the corner, and this evil is far worse than anything they’ve ever encountered before.

This book is a middle story – the ground work before the next great story to come, and from the look of it, the next battle will be an interesting one.

The Somnambulist - Jonathan Barnes

2011-09-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

Read for the RIP VI Reading Challenge.

Edward Moon is a conjurer. With his partner, the larger than life Somnambulist, he makes a living in his own theater in late Victorian London. He’s also a detective, but in all professions, he’s now a bit past his prime. The rather grisly death of Cyril Honeyman will start Edward on what will turn out to be his last case.

Sounds like a pretty straightforward mystery, that will surely have touches of the supernatural since Edward Moon is a conjurer, right? Well, I can’t even begin to describe what goes on in this book. The plot lines fly think and fast, and there’s plenty of mystery and supernaturalness, and poetry, and well, I read it as quickly as I could, because I just needed to see what the heck was going to happen to next. It's a day later, and I’m still not sure exactly what hit me. What a book.

Maine Lighthouse Day

2011-09-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Maine Lighthouse Day, where a number of lighthouses in Maine that aren't normally open to the public are open for free. It's a day we normally manage to be out of town for, but this year, we made sure we were actually around to take advantage of it. We made three stops, all local.

Bug Light

Bug Light is really the Portland Breakwater Light, but everyone calls it Bug Light. It's on the tip of South Portland as you enter the harbor. It used to have a house attached to it for the keeper, so the lighthouse itself is tiny, and you access the top by means of two "staircases", known to most people as ladders. It's a tiny light as well, and the room gets pretty hot pretty quickly.

It is located right at the head of the harbor, so definitely had the best views of Portland, including the ginormous cruise ship that was in port yesterday (they just completed the mega-berth that allows those ships to dock. They used to have to anchor in the harbor and send everyone onshore by boat.)

Spring Point Light

Spring Point Light is also in South Portland, not far from Bug Light. What I didn't know before this visit is that it's a sector light - most of the windows are red. That means that ships coming into the channel keep a look out for when the light turns to white to see that they're aligned to the channel into the harbor. (We have a deep water port, but there's also a lot of rock out there - glacial drop zone and all - so staying in the deep water channel is very important.)

There was a ladder to get into the first floor of the lighthouse, but once you got there, it was stairs up to the rest of the floors. This light actually had living quarters (the breakwater only dates back to the 50s, so they used to have a row a boat out there), which was neat to explore.

Portland Head Light and Ram Island Light

Our final stop was Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. We stopped off for take out on the way and had a lovely lunch at the beach, and then walked up to Portland Head Light. We weren't able to get into the tower - the Coast Guard had given out limited tickets for that - but we were able to get into the museum for free, which was pretty cool.

The other lighthouse that we could see but not visit is Ram Island Light, which is right off the coast of Fort Williams. They actually recently auctioned Ram Island Light off, so it's now privately owned. You can see it quite nicely from the walking paths in the park.

Knitting Notes

2011-09-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

In further Christmas knitting news, I've cast on a scarf for my mother. This is the Pearl-Barred Scallop scarf by Cheri Borden, using my Sanguine Gryphon Bugga in the Cowkiller colorway.

This is about the third pattern I've tried with this yarn, and they've gone more simple with each try. This is a really simple pattern, but it's a 12-row repeat, so it's not as dull as it could be. And at least this one is well written - finishing something with this yarn will feel like an accomplishment at this point.

Portland Farmer's Market

2011-09-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Farmer's Market looked gorge0us yesterday. There's definitely been a seasonal shift - with many root vegetables, and apples everywhere.

I bought some local plums that I'm planning on making jam with, and we got ingredients for gazpacho, as well as some sweet corn, for what is possibly our last veggie grill blow out of the season.

CSA 2011, Week 16

2011-09-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

This week's haul was: carrots, tomatoes, salad mix, garlic, kale, peppers, and potatoes.

In what is close to the last installment of all tomatoes, all the time cooking, I made a fabulous uncooked tomato sauce with basil (from the garden) and fresh mozzarella over pasta. It was so pretty with the combination of colors from the heirloom tomatoes last week. I also made these Spicy Chicken Tacos, which were super easy, and used up garden tomatoes and jalapenos, and CSA peppers and garlic.

This week, I was sure we'd have eggplant, so I planned on making this Eggplant and Potato Curry. Naturally, we didn't get eggplant, so I had to buy that. But I was still able to use garlic, potatoes and a jalapeno from the CSA.

Out on a Limb CSA 2011, Week 1

2011-09-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

For something a little different this year, my mother and I are splitting a share from the Out on Limb apple CSA, from Super Chilly Farm in Palermo. There will be five drops through November, with a variety of rare cooking and dessert apples.

This week had six varieties: Wealthy, Charette, Whitney, September Ruby, St. Lawrence, Milton, and Garden Royal. I've already sampled the Whitney and September Ruby (the September Ruby and Charette we only got one a piece of, so I got the September Ruby, and my mother got the Charette), and I'm planning on making a crisp this weekend, probably with the Wealthys.

My favorite this week visually, is the St. Lawrence (above), which has the coolest stripes.

From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris

2011-09-16T14:49:00.001-07:00

Read for the RIP VI Reading Challenge.

In most of the Sookie Stackhouse books (this being number eight), there’s a pretty big event that is the focus of the book. This book is different – a series of small events – housekeeping even, in prep for a larger event that’s coming in the next book (totally true – I read the first chapter of the next book in the back of this one).

Sookie has to figure out her relationship with the weretiger Quinn (probably because she’s due to hook back up with Eric), the local werewolves have to work out pack dynamics after a near civil war, and the local vampires have to work out politics now that their queen is gravely injured after events in the last book.

All of this takes place against the back drop of Hurricane Katrina, and I really have to give the author props for weaving that event into the lives of the people of Bon Temps. It was certainly something she could have chosen to ignore, but having it there makes the world that much richer.

As usual, I had a number of flashes of “How the heck are they going to work this into the tv show” while reading this story. To which I can only say, every season, they get further from the world of the book, and yet, every season, I’m impressed how much of that year’s story they manage to work in.

Knitting Notes

2011-09-09T16:06:00.001-07:00

In pretty exciting news, the Lilah shawl is actually done! I finished it two nights ago, and used up all but a tiny bit of the yarn (I actually had to skip one of the three pattern repeats in the border to do so, but I don't think you'd ever be able to tell I skimped).

I do need to block it, which I'll be doing as soon as possible.

The Evermore scarf is also coming along. Unfortunately, I have this mental block when it comes to short pattern repeats (this is four rows). I really need to start remembering that a longer pattern repeat will keep me much more interested, and ultimately make the knitting go faster.

CSA 2011, Week 15

2011-09-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

This week's haul was: lettuce, cucumbers, garlic, a melon, tomatoes, and peppers.

The cooking highlight of last week was the Roasted Eggplant with Green Goddess Sauce from Melissa Clark's In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite, which I already ohhed and aahed about at length in the book review early this week.

The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman

2011-09-09T16:00:00.001-07:00

Read for the 2011 YA and RIP VI Reading Challenges.

Sally Lockhart has recently lost her father, and is now living with an aunt she barely knows and having to find her own way in Victorian London. She had a rather unconventional childhood, her father always believed in teaching her to take care of herself – she even owns a pistol.

Her father was a shipping agent, and died at sea, and it takes a little while for his final letter to reach her – and it’s a mystery. He tells her to “Beware the Seven Blessings”, and when she visits his company to try and find out what this could mean, the clerk that she talks to dies of fright before her.

I do have to give Pullman credit for weaving a pretty complicated, fairly scary plot. He’s definitely not afraid to through some good, adult fright into a YA book. There’s quite a bit going on here, and while the initial mystery is solved, there’s plenty left to explore, as this is the first book of a trilogy. I’ll definitely be tracking down the next two.

I should add, there was a BBC (I think) adaptation done of this book a while back, starring Billie Piper and Matt Smith, of (separately) Doctor Who fame. I did watch that, and remember liking it, but oddly enough, had no memory of what happened when I read that book. Which was probably a good thing – heightens the mystery and all.

Quilting Notes

2011-09-05T15:50:00.001-07:00

I still had a bit of a quilting itch yesterday, though knew I wouldn't have the time to set up the machine. So instead, I brought out my long dormant landscape quilt I've been working on.

I've most recently been stuck on how to add in the forest in the middle. I had a bit of an epiphany sometime over this past year, and decided to do this as three rows of pinwheel blocks, shrinking in size from bottom to top (because they're going up a cliff). I did all the cutting yesterday, and will now easily be able to run through piecing these, the next time the machine is set up.

The Privilege of the Sword - Ellen Kushner

2011-09-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

I don’t normally write up my rereads (my original review is here), but when I picked this book up on my half off spree at Borders, I’d recently enough read Swordspoint (which happens twenty years before this story) that I wanted to be able to read it again with Alec and Richard’s story fresh in my head.

I got a lot out of this second read. In my first read, there didn’t seem to be a reason for the Duke’s behavior, but I understood now how much he was actually teaching Katherine to protect herself. It’s pretty clear he fully intended to make her his heir when he summoned her, but didn’t want her to victim to all of the intrigue, and the worst of the politics, of the ruling council of the city. By making her a swordsman, he gives her the tools to be more than the regular aristocratic women of the city. He also gives her the tools to be better than he was, and hopefully rise about the rather dark history of their family, and do right with the power that the Tremontaine title carries. I’m definitely glad I ran through this again, knowing the back story.

In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite - Melissa Clark

2011-09-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

Read for the Foodie's Reading Challenge.

Melissa Clark’s “A Good Appetite” column is one of the things I really like reading in the New York Times, though I’ll fully admit I’ve been reading much less of it since they put up the paywall for their website. So, when I saw this book still available at Borders on our 50% off looky-loo trip, I pounced.

I’ve always enjoyed her columns – she’s certainly a much better, more adventurous cook than me, but I feel like we’re on the same cooking wave-length, probably best evidenced by this passage in her intro to the Christmas Cookie section of the book:

“I could tell you that baking cookies is a way for me to express my seasonal glee, and share the sweet-toothed sympathy for humankind that builds within my breast all year long, just waiting to burst forth in the form of diamond-shape butter cookies and spritzed almond wreaths.

But in fact, for me, the holidays are merely a way to legitimize a baking frenzy that in April might be seen as the butter-slicked ravings or a cookie maniac. In December, it passes for normal.”

The woman has never met me, but she gets me.

Each recipe in this book is accompanied by a story – sometimes a nod back to the first time the author tried the dish, or exactly how and why she chose to tweak a particular dish to come up with the following recipes, or sometimes, it’s about more general philosophies of food. Where she significantly tweaked recipes, she often also includes the original, and many other recipes have variations included.

I’ve gone a little sticky happy with this book already. Partially, this is because she devotes a section of the book to Farmer’s Market hauls, and I’m still working my way through my CSA bounty. In fact, yesterday, I made the Roasted Eggplant with Basil Green Goddess Dressing, which was a really divine way to prepare eggplant. The dressing was a great contrast to the creamy roasted eggplant. I also added some zucchini to the pan, and it worked well with that as well. I have more things I want to try with future CSA shares. And a bunch of winter recipes that look wonderful. They almost makes me not story that Fall is around the corner.

I’m definitely glad we defied good sense and went to Borders – this cookbook alone made the trip worth it.

Serenity - The Shepherd's Tale - Zack Whedon

2011-09-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

Anyone who watched the show Firefly, the rather tragically cut short space western created by Joss Whedon, is familiar with the character of Shepherd Book. Book very clearly had a back story that involved somehow being deeply involved with the Republic, which was naturally never explored when the show wasn’t allowed past a first season. This graphic novel is the answer to that mystery.

I won’t say anything about the plot, because any true fan is going to want to read this to see it, and anyone that’s not a fan won’t care, or won’t understand. But it’s a lovely little story, told in a series of backwards vignettes, all the way to Book’s childhood. You understand the man by the end of the book, and I’m glad that Joss put this story out for us to see.

RIP VI Reading Challenge - 9/1/11 - 10/31/11

2011-09-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

It's practically fall again, so it's time for the RIP VI Reading Challenge.

This year, I'm going to do Peril the First, which is to read at least four books in the challenge categories: mystery, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy, Gothic, horror, or supernatural.

Per my usual habit of the past couple years, I'll be seeing what I can find out of the cabinet of shame (aka the TBR mountain) in my office. I can't wait to see what I end up reading.

Quilting Notes

2011-09-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

With my renewed interest in sewing due to the new sewing machine, I dragged out the much interrupted celestial fabric quilt I've been working on for the better part of a decade (no, really. It's a bit shaming, actually.)

When I last left the quilt, I had woefully underestimated the amount of fabric I'd need for the back. I had made it back to the store to buy some more, but still faced cutting that in two and sewing it back together along the short ends, and then sewing that to the original piece I'd already done that to. I did that today, and it would have taken next to no time, had I not initially sewed wrong side to right side on the rearrangement of the newer fabric. Fortunately, that only added about ten minutes to the process, mostly because I can now sew straight lines with amazing speed and accuracy.

I also figured out that low bobbins are not a problem, it's that I have to be careful where I position the thread if I have to pick back up sewing in the middle of a piece of fabric. If I'm not careful, it'll get sucked into the bobbin manifold, and well, that's not a noise I enjoy hearing. This makes me happy, as I was starting to think I'd have to waste any amount of bobbin thread below a half full bobbin, which would be ridiculously wasteful, so I'm glad that's solved.

So, I was able to lay out the backing, batting and quilt top, and pin baste them together. I'm going to do this as a tie quilt, so that will be the next step. I was also able to pick up more of the backing fabric (which they fortunately still stock at Joann's) to be able to make the binding. I'm going to try doing the bias strips from a continuous square, which should be fun.

Krista's - Cornish, ME

2011-09-03T11:47:00.001-07:00

BF called me at work yesterday and mentioned that dinner was taken care of. I got home, and we hopped in the car. We headed toward Gorham, at which point I became very confused, as we don't jointly know anyone that lives out in that direction. It took me a few more miles before I realized that we were headed to Krista's.

Krista's is our favorite restaurant that we never get to. It's about an hour from Portland, and it's always busy. In what I can only consider divine inspiration, BF remembered that we'd been wanting to go there for ages, so he made reservations for 6:00 yesterday evening.

I had the most delicious seared scallops with a lobster risotto cake, and braised beets. The scallops were utterly perfect - so wonderfully creamy. And the risotto was divine, and I say this as someone that counts both lobster and rice on her meh list.

BF has their ravioli special for the night, which was spinach ravioli with shrimp and chicken sausage in a red sauce with feta on top. I should first mention that BF almost never orders pasta at a restaurant, because he hates to get anything he can make himself. Krista's is the noted exception this rule. Also, he doesn't normally like feta (because it can so quickly be overpowering in a dish), but he raved about this feta.

We debated dessert, but were so satisfied with dinner, we just couldn't imagine taking another bite. All in all, it was the perfect way to start the long weekend, even if it was an eighty mile trip to do it.