tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37592367035117919912024-03-18T21:01:29.562-07:00Needles and Hooks and Books, Oh My!A place to find musings about current projects, both knitting and crocheting, and the books I am reading.bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.comBlogger373125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-675956021296898992017-04-18T17:50:00.001-07:002017-04-18T17:50:35.508-07:00Going G-Free AgainWith spring weather comes more time outside, leading to an overall better feeling me. I've been attending my local CrossFit box since January, and that along with chiropractic care has seemed to be the best fit for helping my chronic back pain. Physically and mentally, things have been going quite well, but I'm seeking a way to not back-track. This a<a href="http://kellybroganmd.com/two-foods-may-sabotage-brain/" target="_blank">rticle</a> regarding a g-free lifestyle was recently shared with me, and I really appreciate the validation it offers for some of the problems I've dealt with. (TL;DR- wheat and dairy products potentially influence a person's susceptibility to psychological issues, including depression and anxiety).<br />
<br />
Over the last 8-10 months, I've been experimenting with the gluten free lifestyle, limiting bread and pasta and all other gluten-y goodness. My original reason for cutting gluten was related to my back pain. However, it only went as far as I would let it. Confession: my mom is a baker, and her bread is hard to resist. Most "falls" I had in the first few months were at my parents' house. I lost a few pounds, felt better about myself, but didn't notice any improvement in my pain level.<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZajHwm37NaL6vMVCj1tmvDYVnTr6yL3a6uBbkPFspb2lwObQ_3fMrK9I3UdaGXZ54OncdVuSZ6_1BstenBU1DAvNxqd_QOf7Xu7D3gcFepl3RDcNtFc3g2lz-HqxFd8W2mi3KQnFajsd/s640/blogger-image-1755814327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZajHwm37NaL6vMVCj1tmvDYVnTr6yL3a6uBbkPFspb2lwObQ_3fMrK9I3UdaGXZ54OncdVuSZ6_1BstenBU1DAvNxqd_QOf7Xu7D3gcFepl3RDcNtFc3g2lz-HqxFd8W2mi3KQnFajsd/s640/blogger-image-1755814327.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And my messy counter in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />
With lack of improvement, there was lack of interest. I started to eat pasta again. Bread was in my house anyway, so I ate it if I wanted. Also, beer. Enough said.<br />
<br />
However, even after 6+ months of care with a therapist and some improvement, I'm now seeking alternatives to therapy and medication. The added benefit of losing some of my back pain would also be nice. At this point, I don't know how dedicated I will be to the cause of no gluten. Both my husband and son eat gluten foods, so they are always in the house. But gradually changing may be better for me.<br />
<br />
My newest <a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/one-bowl-gluten-free-banana-bread/" target="_blank">test</a> is pictured above. An oat-y banana bread that is delicious even if you aren't g-free. I don't always have really ripe bananas for bread, but my husband suggested it, so I have a great filling snack all week at work! Win-Win!</div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-23306668469082450202017-04-10T17:28:00.000-07:002017-04-20T17:29:04.562-07:00Making the Most of Remnants<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I love the remnant fabric bin at my local Joann's store. Something about the potential, the color, but also the limits. Most days, it's a bust. But every once in a while, I find something good. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A few months ago, I scored some brand name camouflage fleece and a nice green fleece. Thinking they'd make a great 'something' for my husband, and considering the 50% off fleece sale (in addition to the remnant sale price), I bought both pieces. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Sidebar: I am totally useless at math. Totally. Meaning, I usually end up with way less or way more fabric than I need (or yarn... or whatever) for the project I want to make. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi518NhzEMu6Vrf2bZ-bhI2huQeim0Fohg6J6SUqODdT5K9iFtzs4tzI_x2vDWkTCbf4n_cwHANPqSJfPHgsJrVKTxHgVY3wPGK9ti0AQT4vDTQFgnoxdpR26910ebQoACbF0hMQU9vcevZ/s640/blogger-image-1180114299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi518NhzEMu6Vrf2bZ-bhI2huQeim0Fohg6J6SUqODdT5K9iFtzs4tzI_x2vDWkTCbf4n_cwHANPqSJfPHgsJrVKTxHgVY3wPGK9ti0AQT4vDTQFgnoxdpR26910ebQoACbF0hMQU9vcevZ/s640/blogger-image-1180114299.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The aforementioned fleece sat in my craft room for a while. I dutifully washed it, laid it out as a measurement of sorts, realized I needed more, and folded it up and put it away.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ip4zuR8wZTf50WOYGmb77ba0eBp5E4Sf6W1B4IVRGt1vZDci2hjmBtPMv50sPEc9q_1XDkyQQ5UfPjz1ZMd_kb5uYA2ud9xAA09kV0Xonqty-so78E3hln4pRI-ecEnnx3reJO2LoARg/s640/blogger-image--1074777705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ip4zuR8wZTf50WOYGmb77ba0eBp5E4Sf6W1B4IVRGt1vZDci2hjmBtPMv50sPEc9q_1XDkyQQ5UfPjz1ZMd_kb5uYA2ud9xAA09kV0Xonqty-so78E3hln4pRI-ecEnnx3reJO2LoARg/s640/blogger-image--1074777705.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
This past week, I had my spring break. One of the wonderful perks of being a teacher. Also, a prime time to work on projects. With the happy toddler in tow, I headed out to the craft store for some yarn to finish a project. I had a great coupon (of course), and knew exactly what I wanted. Just a few skeins of yarn, nothing else. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
That nothing else turned into more green fleece (50% off again) and 2 cuts of fabric for dresses for me. Whoops. However, I now had my husband's Easter gift. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Another round of washing and drying, lots of "help" from my toddler, and an hour later, I had a fleece tie blanket. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBavHsFQ_nV7WVUcBH0dIrKozSHZ247x0kifFfJONeZHcx1QDVxOG-tCa5Z3w6_G9ddxkB980OMZynqVShRlu6gy2hkAfHXUc_VU4L5I_vtufGse69lF7-G-Ns9tjvYJRn26toz_4eGnK/s640/blogger-image-1020581653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBavHsFQ_nV7WVUcBH0dIrKozSHZ247x0kifFfJONeZHcx1QDVxOG-tCa5Z3w6_G9ddxkB980OMZynqVShRlu6gy2hkAfHXUc_VU4L5I_vtufGse69lF7-G-Ns9tjvYJRn26toz_4eGnK/s640/blogger-image-1020581653.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Those that sew may tell me (and you) that I easily could've made do with the fabric I had. Probably true. However, with my nearly sub-par sewing skills (mostly straight lines, honestly), tying was the best way to go for me. I split my initial piece of green fleece, used it to border the camo, and then did endless knotting.<br />
<br />
Again, not the most economical, but definitely a labor of love. Another lesson on measure twice and cutting once-- I have those nearly every time I sew (whoops)-- and more ideas on entertaining the toddler without digital entertainment so I can work.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-15656854199717556472017-04-07T18:59:00.001-07:002017-04-07T18:59:29.606-07:00Kindle ReadingI recently had an argument with a 14 yr-old at middle school youth group (helping out this year, probably in charge next) about the pros and cons of a Kindle e-reader.<br />
<br />
First, I'll confess that I don't actually have just an e-reader. I bought a Fire 2 years ago to save myself the agony of not having printed patterns for all of my crochet projects. Definitely saving on paper in that department. However, our local library system also uses the Overdrive app, compatible with Android devices. So, I have access to a huge library of resources, without ever leaving my home. It has saved me numerous library fines, and lots of stress.<br />
<br />
This student at youth group, however, was trying to convince me that printed books are better. Hilarity ensued as we went back and forth on the benefits of printed books vs the benefits of e-readers. I tried to convince her that having a digital book can be convenient if you are going out of town and want to bring 5 books with you-- instead of five printed books, all you need is one e-reader. She would not budge. "The smell of books..."<br />
<br />
I have to say, I don't disagree. The first thing my husband and I unpacked in our house 2 years ago was our vast collection of books. In fact, a huge selling point for us was the built-in bookshelves in our basement. When in college, I sought out first editions of the Harry Potter series. We own several copies of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexkkIy7VOrMG1M_mpmZ-JhOREw7Cgm_la4s74PC7SSt1BydrvTnWQ_ouj3XEWlWErtR3QHrwfy0J4kLUYnmm0vSPAfr2WGkDyPLBO9J0JrHYVq5vfgnoq7-lfElJKHLQ1EtALoyv_4Y3A/s1600/IMG_9711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexkkIy7VOrMG1M_mpmZ-JhOREw7Cgm_la4s74PC7SSt1BydrvTnWQ_ouj3XEWlWErtR3QHrwfy0J4kLUYnmm0vSPAfr2WGkDyPLBO9J0JrHYVq5vfgnoq7-lfElJKHLQ1EtALoyv_4Y3A/s320/IMG_9711.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our "nerd alert" shelf </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />However, I am a full time, working adult, who also happens to be a wife and mother. Library visits don't happen very often (yet). My personal library is not always what interests me. Some days, I need a new work of fiction that I can read in a few nights and feel pleasant about afterward. My Kindle, and the library's online/digital presence, has helped me read again.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty sure I read one new book my first year of marriage. Coming from a woman who read new books every week, this was a huge change. As I continue to deal with anxiety and depression, I've realized that new knowledge is key to help me distract myself. Since the beginning of this school year, I have read <i>at least</i> 7 new books, which is roughly one a month.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREptZw6HXZw92eVZkfXLhSHkjxrSRlLAgMgFjUzpTcTNpxBzmuWeR9L7Q2dUeU8x0UQ1bt6c77WrmI95dUCWmqrVBmGqNqvc_okdtzVvgUrgiiezHXuxcrfKRJ3wK_fXIwJ2vZ_IEW1Gi/s640/blogger-image--889742595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREptZw6HXZw92eVZkfXLhSHkjxrSRlLAgMgFjUzpTcTNpxBzmuWeR9L7Q2dUeU8x0UQ1bt6c77WrmI95dUCWmqrVBmGqNqvc_okdtzVvgUrgiiezHXuxcrfKRJ3wK_fXIwJ2vZ_IEW1Gi/s400/blogger-image--889742595.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Kindle, with my most recent crochet project hiding behind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />You won't find me arguing the allure of a printed book. This past October, I bought 2 new theological books to read, devouring one almost immediately. Old books are one of the things I hate to purge (although cleaning is necessary) and I love used book sales. But sometimes, a busy life needs convenience, and Kindle gives that to me.<br />
<br />bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-61947566286628828342016-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:002016-11-24T06:00:09.703-08:00More on ColoringWords cannot express how much I enjoy my newest coloring book- <a href="https://www.dayspring.com/whatever-is-lovely-inspirational-coloring-book" target="_blank">Whatever is Lovely</a>. The combination of Scripture and other words of encouragement throughout the book keeps things interesting while still being great for reflection and worship<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVP84s1mgUADYSD1SYEEJGT6mCdKUEZCZQich83OUCO53uQJP8n7AV9t_Tg1SPT0OOODxiEDJTzDRKENTdzAt-Ex3nBx_mSLiSQEy8uLjKnxRpCpyDOsO95YTZSw6_h4b6dDj6cQHxF0B/s640/blogger-image-1682754726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVP84s1mgUADYSD1SYEEJGT6mCdKUEZCZQich83OUCO53uQJP8n7AV9t_Tg1SPT0OOODxiEDJTzDRKENTdzAt-Ex3nBx_mSLiSQEy8uLjKnxRpCpyDOsO95YTZSw6_h4b6dDj6cQHxF0B/s640/blogger-image-1682754726.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
It starts with this great image. Simple for those just starting, but still engaging. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegL4wNhuE4L10GblVs6fUOQM0ggj0IB8PgWUgB52r1fSD255yoyPi9btr8azNQwrQenPdo37Y5F9DHU20MOIOT16ps5ApkDBfJ0t9RtH2r5938kDeoAcZg2JB9klJTAsJMp4XDQdIkDOL/s640/blogger-image-820345147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegL4wNhuE4L10GblVs6fUOQM0ggj0IB8PgWUgB52r1fSD255yoyPi9btr8azNQwrQenPdo37Y5F9DHU20MOIOT16ps5ApkDBfJ0t9RtH2r5938kDeoAcZg2JB9klJTAsJMp4XDQdIkDOL/s400/blogger-image-820345147.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">took a pause because I ran out of greens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I've been using both markers- Papermate Flair or Crayola- and colored pencils, which gives me a wide range of color and texture for my coloring. The paper quality of this book is great, and works well with markers, something that can sometimes be hard to find with all the coloring books that have been released over the past year or so. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5O-cCQpUbpSav-w_G-b0DeTQwNqLQRogLzS6cyAAFL3iZ53VXlubsAawv1qEubdRY1nDoe3Uu8HLmsGCKCrCwppW1-YgrfvSdPPXaZqfdSgDbhXNvIlAVFmgUo2Uxt0HhMHI2nM3axJf/s640/blogger-image--929642231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5O-cCQpUbpSav-w_G-b0DeTQwNqLQRogLzS6cyAAFL3iZ53VXlubsAawv1qEubdRY1nDoe3Uu8HLmsGCKCrCwppW1-YgrfvSdPPXaZqfdSgDbhXNvIlAVFmgUo2Uxt0HhMHI2nM3axJf/s640/blogger-image--929642231.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite colors, and a great reminder!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are into adult coloring books. Meditating on one Scripture passage or something equally inspiration while coloring is very soothing.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-12205046671641887042016-11-22T06:03:00.001-08:002017-04-20T17:29:22.195-07:00Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My sister in law is a great inspiration for me. She lives on a farm with her five kids, husband working for the local school and their church. Recently she started selling faux-chenille blankets, inspiring me to try making one of my own. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CCAKK-N6EoUGhtL_DMUWGwEDMb_9dOCQTDFeR54HCzQOkgxFH7cmYK-xgXBP2zp1Oh-DccPrPzRaRpwtncwJKQ3L1IRdysVTFr94Nb1MVtSpW5Kr1jh7aoHvLMAyGU9LL8JXlc2m8SxG/s640/blogger-image-1054555858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CCAKK-N6EoUGhtL_DMUWGwEDMb_9dOCQTDFeR54HCzQOkgxFH7cmYK-xgXBP2zp1Oh-DccPrPzRaRpwtncwJKQ3L1IRdysVTFr94Nb1MVtSpW5Kr1jh7aoHvLMAyGU9LL8JXlc2m8SxG/s320/blogger-image-1054555858.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the texture!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
But with the habit that is buying fabric, I ended up with two! One pink/orange/yellow/green, the other red/white/navy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnpmHN2hrvntOO_7zt1FYmW28jHgST9CRKnnNeRxoPCyFsVSaJw3hVpSFXSIvA97vP5a6ubmsht4OSBHAbZzVy7WNYTiknYHa9NfWBraGnWgZtjhfiE3wT8nOJRGT1wLk4XgKwTDDOGc1/s640/blogger-image-841554099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnpmHN2hrvntOO_7zt1FYmW28jHgST9CRKnnNeRxoPCyFsVSaJw3hVpSFXSIvA97vP5a6ubmsht4OSBHAbZzVy7WNYTiknYHa9NfWBraGnWgZtjhfiE3wT8nOJRGT1wLk4XgKwTDDOGc1/s640/blogger-image-841554099.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is much brighter in person. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJMeK-7Fec6reLY_qGcX69bg31qmokfWqy8UJK39vgRCFRJ4yEA64X27u1qQlBuK0uhv8F1zaWG1QvSjt_iGHnPqzebMNRP5ObsBhxbQl3zPcnWhNJALADoLdNWSYSkQOTJOxuogCRuxF/s640/blogger-image-1705812960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJMeK-7Fec6reLY_qGcX69bg31qmokfWqy8UJK39vgRCFRJ4yEA64X27u1qQlBuK0uhv8F1zaWG1QvSjt_iGHnPqzebMNRP5ObsBhxbQl3zPcnWhNJALADoLdNWSYSkQOTJOxuogCRuxF/s400/blogger-image-1705812960.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
My binding job is not great, but definitely an experience. Clare uses the wider satin binding on all of her blankets, which adds another bit of texture to the already amazing feeling blankets. She sells them through Facebook, at her page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mydea.made.real/" target="_blank">Mydea</a>. I know she would appreciate the traffic and the likes. :)<br />
<br />
I have many improvements to my own sewing that need to happen, but practice makes perfect. Already, I am working on a third blanket, and hope to have it done sometime in the new year.<br />
<br />bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-71648473212560247412016-08-10T04:41:00.001-07:002016-08-10T17:00:26.704-07:00Summer Summation<div>
For all you people complaining that school starts in three weeks, take note. My professional development starts this coming Monday. As I reflect on my lack of productivity this summer, I realize that I have had a decent amount of time to relax, which has been good. </div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qjt8bIAfC4aTIZHTZdaj_2XgSrAQf-RUsnFPQOfisOroIqz1sdOcQP79OuWOOoz43ERLp3NXYYWYffKBkLGDe9R545ow3k0G64evyW5ulGk0T7qGukuMR2DuCu4VWNTHTLSu9YXfpq9-/s640/blogger-image-1317360842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qjt8bIAfC4aTIZHTZdaj_2XgSrAQf-RUsnFPQOfisOroIqz1sdOcQP79OuWOOoz43ERLp3NXYYWYffKBkLGDe9R545ow3k0G64evyW5ulGk0T7qGukuMR2DuCu4VWNTHTLSu9YXfpq9-/s640/blogger-image-1317360842.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My companion has been Whatever is Lovely: a coloring book for reflection and worship, which has been a huge help for me in terms of relaxing. (Follow me on Instagram if you are interested in more) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I have also been knitting some mitered squares for a sock blanket, and will intersperse with crocheted mitten ornaments to break the monotony. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
What has your summer been like? </div>
<br /></div>
Joining Ginny's <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2016/08/yarn-along-292.html" target="_blank">yarnalong</a> todaybookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-85707897853617461152016-08-09T10:43:00.001-07:002016-08-10T17:00:45.528-07:00Adult ColoringIs an overly detailed coloring book for you?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqpHuz8LE_7DnBjLIOppBWEX-8W7CY46eeS7U5y3SAuksGz18ezlcFQ9nwc3ig6QX2X-V2-A8H2MY7PDsjaTL0EQynHTlHoigHOaWXaqJJ1qFB2GFGffgoT4B45F1mnZKNTV7jx0cJpkl/s640/blogger-image-954595236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqpHuz8LE_7DnBjLIOppBWEX-8W7CY46eeS7U5y3SAuksGz18ezlcFQ9nwc3ig6QX2X-V2-A8H2MY7PDsjaTL0EQynHTlHoigHOaWXaqJJ1qFB2GFGffgoT4B45F1mnZKNTV7jx0cJpkl/s640/blogger-image-954595236.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My answer is yes. I've been working on the above image for about a week now, and I love it. Neither of the two previous pages were finished, but I needed the message of this page. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My book of choice is 'Whatever is Lovely: a coloring book for reflection and worship'. It has proven to be just that. Using this book with my daily prayer time helps me to relax a bit and refocus. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Peace has been my word for the last two weeks. First I was at camp, and now I am preparing for a new school year. Peace is definitely what I need.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaCpNo7tzRihkc4AofJWtAv7EG0QPV8w9TlZuK5Mu5s5yUAspfJaNcycDb0hC7HlVz3LvPHuhGzvN6O2IoahESOe1UOQxJeuG0-FlijZsTmV5tfLLBZTfm-lVtJQ47bIgudYf-IgqUE63/s640/blogger-image-1911797160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaCpNo7tzRihkc4AofJWtAv7EG0QPV8w9TlZuK5Mu5s5yUAspfJaNcycDb0hC7HlVz3LvPHuhGzvN6O2IoahESOe1UOQxJeuG0-FlijZsTmV5tfLLBZTfm-lVtJQ47bIgudYf-IgqUE63/s640/blogger-image-1911797160.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-18722299692572594892016-07-02T15:31:00.001-07:002016-08-10T17:01:02.661-07:00Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrnLxr2_CWg39KceIRXZj-70YJqWVklT5m_oSvC_VuKFXNS9exF8RZ672igMD20XcMDywzNw5LKG0v3fogso6e-7iMXVb6c5njKng93KZZ4kYbv7u-crknqSq3EhaDeR29pkQntOhgpFX/s640/blogger-image-928528761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrnLxr2_CWg39KceIRXZj-70YJqWVklT5m_oSvC_VuKFXNS9exF8RZ672igMD20XcMDywzNw5LKG0v3fogso6e-7iMXVb6c5njKng93KZZ4kYbv7u-crknqSq3EhaDeR29pkQntOhgpFX/s640/blogger-image-928528761.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRi8DH66eTEjtDBK4Uok2eHTFOdlmp-WWVYcUU96pDWCs26fkTw03jrlTnJSyB60U8teVyqJzY6eDyO97DnryI8LYNn2XuJexyeywPfmOb_4cdbgyVblZLAD1gkCtFQJJIWVWlfCHPCYr/s640/blogger-image--1223530805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRi8DH66eTEjtDBK4Uok2eHTFOdlmp-WWVYcUU96pDWCs26fkTw03jrlTnJSyB60U8teVyqJzY6eDyO97DnryI8LYNn2XuJexyeywPfmOb_4cdbgyVblZLAD1gkCtFQJJIWVWlfCHPCYr/s640/blogger-image--1223530805.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mCkVy9aDYoH2geQBQrniJOUOAj2lbqg-bgyV80BHLY-IVSLnWnmHdqJ2hezKcZuXePg9k7pmnQyBizDedoymAy6qfrbIwi3BN0p_72Cd-9cONcXpCceR2-GJtAA4xmmINSXOhtUY6zXm/s640/blogger-image--226709694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mCkVy9aDYoH2geQBQrniJOUOAj2lbqg-bgyV80BHLY-IVSLnWnmHdqJ2hezKcZuXePg9k7pmnQyBizDedoymAy6qfrbIwi3BN0p_72Cd-9cONcXpCceR2-GJtAA4xmmINSXOhtUY6zXm/s640/blogger-image--226709694.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp42BhNDJn-vdQ2By9Zh7mIZ_F1uaFbN18t_J-O4C4ob3BejgSHWWXT1i-xgpDGp4SEp4GYcfQvZoaHqqSEVtS2GNO46YKw-ua08oVTjo1SGoegpJ0i9cSqB9yDYSkyLe1s4AkGqxeNIk/s640/blogger-image--807484588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsp42BhNDJn-vdQ2By9Zh7mIZ_F1uaFbN18t_J-O4C4ob3BejgSHWWXT1i-xgpDGp4SEp4GYcfQvZoaHqqSEVtS2GNO46YKw-ua08oVTjo1SGoegpJ0i9cSqB9yDYSkyLe1s4AkGqxeNIk/s640/blogger-image--807484588.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh4ItnVq8xZI3E9fl9ecqgpdUvA6vbdeqN0ztXNcpCE0irFwrgQwTBR8rjPcRhbX64yfj-xOP7PGv079manDi8p-ZoyNiiVTYuR1CdV1393ZDYfsqoj0JuPm9yYB8pgHTKhCT1pKYfiMl/s640/blogger-image-774762991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh4ItnVq8xZI3E9fl9ecqgpdUvA6vbdeqN0ztXNcpCE0irFwrgQwTBR8rjPcRhbX64yfj-xOP7PGv079manDi8p-ZoyNiiVTYuR1CdV1393ZDYfsqoj0JuPm9yYB8pgHTKhCT1pKYfiMl/s640/blogger-image-774762991.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-21665321329671357482016-01-25T15:01:00.002-08:002016-01-25T15:01:50.537-08:00Another hitI don't remember when I first read The Five People You Meet in Heaven, but it was something my mom and I both read.<br />
<br />
<div>
When I saw Mitch Albom's new book at the school book fair last m<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">onth, I thought my mom would enjoy it. Turns out, she was on the waiting list at the library, and was thrilled to receive it for Christmas. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I think it took her under two weeks to hand it back to me, saying I would love it. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Phone-Call-Heaven/dp/0062294377" target="_blank">The First Phone Call from Heaven</a> was not as I expected, but it gripped me from front to back. Luckily, I was reading it during finals week, and I did actually have some free time on my hands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
I'm so bad at giving book overviews without spoiling the ending, so I'll just share my favorite parts:<br />
- it was set in Michigan, so I was familiar with many of the places<br />
- the modern day narrative was broken with short bits of telephone history, focusing around Alexander Graham Bell and his love story<br />
- the main character didn't even know his own story fully<br />
- there was more than one main character<br />
- it did not make any one faith look good or bad<br />
<br />
So, definitely worth reading if you've enjoyed Mitch Albom before-- that's my recommendation :)<br />
<br /></div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-41190652458898651052016-01-14T04:50:00.000-08:002016-01-14T04:50:06.414-08:00Cold SheepRavelry, if you've never been, is a great place for community, conversation, and- of course- yarn. Several of my favorite discussion boards share patterns and host swaps, but as it is January, a popular one is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/cold-sheep-and-friends/topics" target="_blank">Cold Sheep (and Friends)</a> group.<br />
<br />
Now, you may ask, what is a cold sheep? Basically, it's a crafter's term for not buying any yarn. Every once in a great while (for some of us, more frequently), crafters realize that they have purchased more yarn then they could ever use up in their lives-- this is called SABLE (stash acquired beyond life expectancy). The Cold Sheep group exists to motivate crafters to knit and crochet and spin and weave their yarn into useful/beautiful/warm items.<br />
<br />
The group runs little challenges throughout the year- some with prizes, some without- to help its members to think outside the box when working with their stash. My favorite is the You Can Do It! CSAL, which tracks participant's yardage output over a period of time- in this case, three months. For every 1000 yards you use up, you earn an entry into their prize drawing. I find that the motivation from getting a prize entry can help me finish languishing projects.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="run_away_square.png" height="400" src="http://www.ravelry.com/forum-images/yondercrawdad/1w5ad-x3i8cg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love motivational sheep?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another group that is helpful for "stashing down" is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knit-picks-and-more-stashdown" target="_blank">KnitPicks (and more!) Stashdown</a> group. Similarly structured to the Cold Sheep group, challenges to use up yarn and motivate crafters to have manageable stashes abound. This year, they are doing 2 big challenges- a "no yarn" tiara and a "weight loss" tiara. I joined in on the "weight loss" one, because moving 6000g out of my stash would be amazing-- and it also allows for some freedom in purchasing new yarn if needed. Of course, the crowns are virtual, but in addition to the larger, year-long challenge, various group members have smaller, shorter challenges that may have real-world prizes.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/forum-images/yondercrawdad/1w5a9-h0nxlv" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="mt_stash_square.png" border="0" height="400" src="http://www.ravelry.com/forum-images/yondercrawdad/1w5a9-h0nxlv" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the group mods made these images. <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As it is January, and many people make resolutions, these groups could be useful for crafters. I am finding them useful for me, as I am taking this year to reorder my stash and put it into a more manageable, useable space. Avoiding aimless purchases is the first part, using the yarn is the second. bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-72553092871491367762016-01-12T04:31:00.002-08:002016-01-12T04:31:42.562-08:00ReturnIt's been forever and a day since I last wrote. Well, really only about five months. I suppose I let life get away from me. This little space is odd. Many of you, my readers, are people I don't know very well. People that I have never met. So sharing personal details always seems weird.<br />
<br />
I've been in a weird place in my life. I'm sure some of you have been there. A place of transition and confusion. Bouncing between depression and "okay", hoping that the number of good days will outweigh the bad. Many of my low days were/are strongly influenced by my near-chronic back pain. Fixing that problem is going to be a journey, but I think I'm on the road to recovery and have the tools I need.<br />
<br />
<br />
This blog has been a therapeutic place for me, and I'm hoping I can make it that for me again.bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-36349094082100585312015-08-15T06:56:00.001-07:002015-08-15T06:56:31.876-07:00Finished FinishingDespite the chaos that can be found in the month of August, with back to school and all that, I have carved out a bit of time to prepare for my fall craft shows. My aunt and I have added two additional shows this year, both of them closer to home for me. I did some scoping last year, and both have great potential.<br />
<br />
My preparations have included lots of tracking inventory, and lots of finishing. The crocheting part is most definitely my favorite, next to actually getting out to the craft shows and selling. Finishing my product always seems to come last. Something about the tedium always gets to me. Due to my tendency to leave the finishing until the last minute left me with nearly a dozen hats to be finished this past week.<br />
<br />
My favorite is this delicate one:<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBWUys-E6j_bXpSPUsI_ykZEYaMMxBjQtkzOK5grZqThnaAjl74WsFUGSAVtCGIwdR9nG9ttRb9D29NxBabtBdUQyLJUaFcHyXLRIHlBnsxtTgZBponRrrm0hvb6O7zvGmBZkjHIP4ik-/s640/blogger-image--209905490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBWUys-E6j_bXpSPUsI_ykZEYaMMxBjQtkzOK5grZqThnaAjl74WsFUGSAVtCGIwdR9nG9ttRb9D29NxBabtBdUQyLJUaFcHyXLRIHlBnsxtTgZBponRrrm0hvb6O7zvGmBZkjHIP4ik-/s640/blogger-image--209905490.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver blue with bright pink rose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's perfect for a little baby girl! I try to keep a variety of hats on hand, but the sweet flowered girls' hats are my favorite. There are a couple of bears and birds to appeal to those who want something more boyish or neutral.<br />
<br />
You can find more pictures of my finished hats (and other items!) on my Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mary.Crochets" target="_blank">here</a>. I'll be hosting a giveaway there soon, to celebrate my second wedding anniversary and my baby boy's first birthday, so you should definitely like my page :)<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-49653022273850547162015-07-30T05:05:00.002-07:002017-04-20T17:47:55.134-07:00Into the Woods<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTTmls5RYVShUTphas0OkVyuHDCZnVajNgNLWsEfQ7QgySnqS0ns85lLCWFLe4J32jG_Tcxm-YrEgG0BplgRdT1Byc7eQQStQkudaWsDWO1ULXRw1EcW47otKXT77A8kofi-9FdK3oBsH/s640/blogger-image--1928739392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTTmls5RYVShUTphas0OkVyuHDCZnVajNgNLWsEfQ7QgySnqS0ns85lLCWFLe4J32jG_Tcxm-YrEgG0BplgRdT1Byc7eQQStQkudaWsDWO1ULXRw1EcW47otKXT77A8kofi-9FdK3oBsH/s400/blogger-image--1928739392.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18 rows as of this morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My current color palette is very woodsy--dark green, dark brown-- but I'm not feeling as inspired as I should. Some friends came over yesterday, and they all had good things to say about it, so I have to imagine it's just my love of using *ALL THE COLORS* that has me less enthused.<br />
<br />
The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-ripple-baby-blanket" target="_blank">Rainbow</a> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/rainbow-ripple-baby-blanket-2" target="_blank">Ripple</a> again, and the colors are due to a bit of a stash busting need. Purchased the yarn nearly 3 years ago for something else, never got around to it. Now hopefully, this little blanket will be loved by one of my nephews.<br />
<br />
As the school year draws closer (am I really saying that!?!?!) I am trying to move away from big projects and to smaller, complete-in-a-day type things. So hopefully, I will have this blanket and several other larger piece done before mid-August. I'm thinking at least a couple of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/mad-cap-fancies" target="_blank">MadCap</a> shawls, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mine-once-more" target="_blank">Mine Once More </a>and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/daisys-summer-lace" target="_blank">Daisy's Summer Lace</a> for sure, and maybe one more blanket.<br />
<br />
What are your goals for the rest of the summer?<br />
Linking up with <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/07/yarn-along-238.html" target="_blank">Ginny</a>.bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-31484653509388562015-07-17T04:30:00.000-07:002017-04-20T17:56:09.829-07:00TwoferThis past week, I kept busy by finishing two blanket projects. Neither were huge, but it still feels like a good accomplishment.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48v9gQcYwEZwzkGAVv6tslID9IuLqHCNL6rI23HO3QAv1_jNSAN_PSbxEVFoCKmpiBn6DZxz5BHtTCPmbjfuVwoVN8aayD_ybX2-koHSk8fd7aL28uwGTgLKYRtvdEJDuKC2Bek_PQjqI/s640/blogger-image-751328683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48v9gQcYwEZwzkGAVv6tslID9IuLqHCNL6rI23HO3QAv1_jNSAN_PSbxEVFoCKmpiBn6DZxz5BHtTCPmbjfuVwoVN8aayD_ybX2-koHSk8fd7aL28uwGTgLKYRtvdEJDuKC2Bek_PQjqI/s640/blogger-image-751328683.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3x5 Sunny Spread </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My M<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/sunny-spread-2" target="_blank">onochrome Sunny Spread</a> turned out quite lovely. I joined using a 2-dc cluster instead of my usual granny join. The border is 3 rounds of dc. While not a large blanket, I am hoping the recipients will appreciate the effort that went into its creation. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I0vhD6B2hysO4tDS9C8DhQJFgVCtJy6UX7Lnkf7roTitSOOkSbJD0JX__plD0dGZnFH-4m-EB2XDCQTzM5cV4DvaNuG6Y2ZRYjtYaNjHCbM29jY0N-2Vca28uE4Xeoj9JW13EiMmKkUI/s640/blogger-image--1010444003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I0vhD6B2hysO4tDS9C8DhQJFgVCtJy6UX7Lnkf7roTitSOOkSbJD0JX__plD0dGZnFH-4m-EB2XDCQTzM5cV4DvaNuG6Y2ZRYjtYaNjHCbM29jY0N-2Vca28uE4Xeoj9JW13EiMmKkUI/s640/blogger-image--1010444003.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">22-row round ripple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finishing (and declaring finished) the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/rainbow-ripple-baby-blanket" target="_blank">round ripple</a> was a bit more difficult. I really wanted to add a few more rounds, but it was really getting to the point where I wasn't enjoying it. This one measures about two feet across, so for a baby, it's a good size. This one is for my sister-in-law who is due in November. I'm including with the gift a set of prayer cards.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscCRNyPdWSstF3C0AeJBlOHJ5YqJPZ3Y-_eQTehLHDHYD7P8sJ7j9NqF3PXip46x_rB1zQwZzOT2vGaZU3LZ2v-SVHKc-s0fSdZ5T0PgGrwvFdhwFU-5Ef72f5VVqhhPyBOaxH3z5br_d/s640/blogger-image-501612422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscCRNyPdWSstF3C0AeJBlOHJ5YqJPZ3Y-_eQTehLHDHYD7P8sJ7j9NqF3PXip46x_rB1zQwZzOT2vGaZU3LZ2v-SVHKc-s0fSdZ5T0PgGrwvFdhwFU-5Ef72f5VVqhhPyBOaxH3z5br_d/s640/blogger-image-501612422.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Linking with <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/07/yarn-along-236.html" target="_blank">Ginny</a>.</div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-35078855734730661052015-07-01T09:13:00.000-07:002015-07-01T09:13:02.239-07:00Progress and babies.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A couple of projects going simultaneously right now, and deadlines approaching faster than originally remembered. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9o7dJ7Rml4EvA1e2V5wHhpZ8MkvMAo27x8WWXJEvX-8mXRs_nkyYiKs9U8xlg4Gq2KqzzBbGShmDiQEih4KzXvsYDCLG0Ngdu1MMaZYens8lzNwIJPMtXc18UqTS_cEQpdWT5uTaceCF/s640/blogger-image--1894024726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9o7dJ7Rml4EvA1e2V5wHhpZ8MkvMAo27x8WWXJEvX-8mXRs_nkyYiKs9U8xlg4Gq2KqzzBbGShmDiQEih4KzXvsYDCLG0Ngdu1MMaZYens8lzNwIJPMtXc18UqTS_cEQpdWT5uTaceCF/s400/blogger-image--1894024726.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloudy mornings mean colors are difficult to capture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
This red & brown <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/rainbow-ripple-baby-blanket" target="_blank">round ripple</a> is a gift. After I finish with the brick red rounds, I'll add one more of beige and a border of the gold. Using Vanna's Choice yarn means the matching has already been done for me. I love the way these particular colors work together. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Still working on my gray monochrome <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/sunny-spread-2" target="_blank">sunny spread</a>, but as its due date is closer than nearly all my other projects, it's taken precedence over everything else. Just last night, I squared up a third of the circles, so I'm really optimistic about finishing-- maybe as soon as the end f the week. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLPAi-VNMuYrndkoE_YKizEYkB2UR1aAa_kKFiSpSwiB2duu7N8HJkw_a87g9_BZsE_BhQnm7Ff0jVHAW9L8WKz8JTcc7iQic3mI8F7m71vfA_MhVO2iTI7OoM2WMcCxoSuWDWyKPiDXu/s640/blogger-image-755215593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLPAi-VNMuYrndkoE_YKizEYkB2UR1aAa_kKFiSpSwiB2duu7N8HJkw_a87g9_BZsE_BhQnm7Ff0jVHAW9L8WKz8JTcc7iQic3mI8F7m71vfA_MhVO2iTI7OoM2WMcCxoSuWDWyKPiDXu/s400/blogger-image-755215593.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
While this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/true-love-2" target="_blank">scarf</a> didn't have a deadline, it's been a forever WIP. I decided to bite the bullet, frog the last section and weave in the remaining ends. The variegated sections are Alpaca Sox, which is lovely and fuzzy and warm. The solids are Knit Picks Palette, definitely a workhorse yarn, and one of my go-tos. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u_qpTIo54IxXYWY7OtDtbTd17WVTfWhVxrRh9NulksE0ik_czTZ5TcMMVx-GqVWAFDzCOY6DS41qJB3G4KC38tk2ji8-JHKv6nSP6feftlndU8FoCq3V5KQXFP2ixBmCo9VjEG6ye0D4/s640/blogger-image-1035379924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u_qpTIo54IxXYWY7OtDtbTd17WVTfWhVxrRh9NulksE0ik_czTZ5TcMMVx-GqVWAFDzCOY6DS41qJB3G4KC38tk2ji8-JHKv6nSP6feftlndU8FoCq3V5KQXFP2ixBmCo9VjEG6ye0D4/s640/blogger-image-1035379924.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Little Munchkin is ten months old, and just starting to toddle along. His 'signature move' is the three step plop-- just my funny way of saying he takes three to five steps, and then plops on the floor. He's still working on the balance thing. </div>
<br />
<br />
Linking with <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/07/yarn-along-234.html" target="_blank">Ginny</a>!bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-34265571132183637022015-06-24T07:53:00.000-07:002015-06-24T07:53:09.070-07:00Summer Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
When you're a teacher, typically you dream of summer as your time off. Even though the reality is not always that way. Luckily, I'm still on my "mandatory" two weeks off from school-- before slowly starting to do prep-work for the fall. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6keejfseHP2tRnhTZjj4Ig1E24MTjIfdyAFSEPNGuw_0kJ804-pmz9gEE4HssuzxIoLgIQhUcf9DfRjRMMHDDOy06yAnwonFlSO3CAYuRtfuAy2nbd6yRR6Bojhivu6KuZMxdPlo15RH/s640/blogger-image--1087166086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6keejfseHP2tRnhTZjj4Ig1E24MTjIfdyAFSEPNGuw_0kJ804-pmz9gEE4HssuzxIoLgIQhUcf9DfRjRMMHDDOy06yAnwonFlSO3CAYuRtfuAy2nbd6yRR6Bojhivu6KuZMxdPlo15RH/s640/blogger-image--1087166086.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lots and lots of ends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
For those of you who have made granny squares before, you know what I mean by ends, ends and more ends. I work in phases for my grannies-- crochet a whole bunch at once, then weave in a whole bunch of ends at once. It may not be the best method, but it is the one that works for me. As you can tell from above, I'm on the massive amounts of end-weaving stage. My Kindle is hiding in the background, but I'm not reading anything new. But you can check out my brief unofficial review of The Secret Daughter of the Tsar, my latest finished read. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67LhXzPZMi6Os-rr2e7I7BGuV7_ywZNjM7Fke-1zqGZBrL8PFk6YuETe66JsughmI4mhdMKdX8f_WkdgOK93OhO92tw5lV4E2EUD-ADEMe0m8pbGl_ThGGtxSu-5uFhWjj6vPek7lmu6o/s640/blogger-image--1563006875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67LhXzPZMi6Os-rr2e7I7BGuV7_ywZNjM7Fke-1zqGZBrL8PFk6YuETe66JsughmI4mhdMKdX8f_WkdgOK93OhO92tw5lV4E2EUD-ADEMe0m8pbGl_ThGGtxSu-5uFhWjj6vPek7lmu6o/s640/blogger-image--1563006875.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">can you resist?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These sunny summer days are my temporary adjustment to being a SAHM. The munchkin and I are still figuring out our schedule, but I'm not crazy yet. We think he's teething, which is making everyone edgy, but hopefully something will break soon.<br />
<br />
What are you up to on these sunny summer days?<br />
Ginny's link-up <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/06/yarn-along-233.html" target="_blank">here</a>.bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-40880940851927731532015-06-20T18:06:00.004-07:002017-04-20T17:28:01.053-07:00Russian History AgainI grew up in the aftermath of the <a href="http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/7-people-who-pretended-to-be-royals" target="_blank">Anna Anderson</a> conspiracy, if you will. I watched Anastasia when I was younger, and read some children's historical fiction about her. I even took a Russian history course in college, I was that interested in the story. So when <i>The Secret Daughter of the Tsa</i>r popped up on my radar, I naturally was interested.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/files/2013/05/anna-anderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://www.history.com/news/history-lists/files/2013/05/anna-anderson.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Anderson and Grand Duchess Anastasia, from website linked above. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
This fiction novel by Jennifer Laam follows the lives of three women during three very different eras. Lena, Charlotte, and Veronica are all connected to the supposed fifth daughter of Tsar Nicolaus II and Alexandra. I thoroughly enjoyed the tale that Laam wove so carefully, staying up late at last one night to keep reading. Fiction has not ben doing it for me lately, so this was a lovely change. Having read up on the Romanovs quite a bit myself, I caught on to some of the connections early on. However, there was still a surprise at the end.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jenniferlaam.com/seehere/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/newest-secret20daughter20ot20tsar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://jenniferlaam.com/seehere/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/newest-secret20daughter20ot20tsar1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I really connected with the three main characters on different levels-- Charlotte, who wanted to protect her son; Lena, who simply wanted a better life; and Veronica, a struggling history professor, hoping to get tenure and have her book published.<br />
<br />
I would definitely recommend this book, as it was griping and relatively accurate where it needed to be. It has been really hard for me to find a good historical fiction book that doesn't have at least one scene of either brutal violence or descriptive sex (or a combination) and this book avoided both of those (for the most part). I believe if a story is compelling enough, it really doesn't need either of those things to further the plot.<br />
<br />
<br />bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-90512709249050225452015-06-17T08:42:00.003-07:002017-04-20T17:28:15.517-07:00Keeping Busy, Staying Joyful<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKGUPwr8HzBg6FI3H-YdLmJpZ5yjC0ulm-fsMG4KQXnnxuNt0TNg75-wzBUCipOzM8tO8Mj-A7cMwotH5WK_G8up4oBEVCBNZMhWQm8hTptvJgHkmagA7lZvkDR3Lv_QrECrCEQuxu7bp/s640/blogger-image--1485483978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5Z14TpAmnt9zsSk2O3Op0bwZv9wRPS1LvWSyXxbpWAOvJBtVJeUASJcuGZ2RZ6WIeX0EhfbwVkTZvgFKforH_5fliB_Wl6WSQIoH9wu4zix7p9GCXLWJiPlnGYgSmUcaEV3bmHbftrRE/s640/blogger-image--42687504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5Z14TpAmnt9zsSk2O3Op0bwZv9wRPS1LvWSyXxbpWAOvJBtVJeUASJcuGZ2RZ6WIeX0EhfbwVkTZvgFKforH_5fliB_Wl6WSQIoH9wu4zix7p9GCXLWJiPlnGYgSmUcaEV3bmHbftrRE/s640/blogger-image--42687504.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the last days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKGUPwr8HzBg6FI3H-YdLmJpZ5yjC0ulm-fsMG4KQXnnxuNt0TNg75-wzBUCipOzM8tO8Mj-A7cMwotH5WK_G8up4oBEVCBNZMhWQm8hTptvJgHkmagA7lZvkDR3Lv_QrECrCEQuxu7bp/s640/blogger-image--1485483978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKGUPwr8HzBg6FI3H-YdLmJpZ5yjC0ulm-fsMG4KQXnnxuNt0TNg75-wzBUCipOzM8tO8Mj-A7cMwotH5WK_G8up4oBEVCBNZMhWQm8hTptvJgHkmagA7lZvkDR3Lv_QrECrCEQuxu7bp/s640/blogger-image--1485483978.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books I was reading</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6wdqf7FlA5gEE4HfksC-Zcsjt1Q_NJAAuhbvddQahq0spxMDfHvfTMl9ywzkhI63kLP1I-0yQ85aaEwXLZw_lfOHMrL_cic6kBtT5szTh_C-6HmDeU7vmtrskLnrc_ngNuuI6J_mEvSI/s640/blogger-image-1195558336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6wdqf7FlA5gEE4HfksC-Zcsjt1Q_NJAAuhbvddQahq0spxMDfHvfTMl9ywzkhI63kLP1I-0yQ85aaEwXLZw_lfOHMrL_cic6kBtT5szTh_C-6HmDeU7vmtrskLnrc_ngNuuI6J_mEvSI/s640/blogger-image-1195558336.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished Grannies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYkuenh1SdokgM6RA_UMJ7jEXIGHWxNVa0vJd1LGKsS8cmq7RLLDAqJsMDRapjw2hJ94XNE-WqMoUhx0q8FI3tZsy1nl56fqiIf8vc0AntGLpy-HQwquKvtGo7ueBohvXbmzUnmRndgmJ/s640/blogger-image-1322669526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYkuenh1SdokgM6RA_UMJ7jEXIGHWxNVa0vJd1LGKsS8cmq7RLLDAqJsMDRapjw2hJ94XNE-WqMoUhx0q8FI3tZsy1nl56fqiIf8vc0AntGLpy-HQwquKvtGo7ueBohvXbmzUnmRndgmJ/s640/blogger-image-1322669526.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little guy helping me read my new book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9rcqX5lBUz6IyaTRDFabHbWYT2uqALsZl5J0yfbUWvOekLMzcg7TMtcURb0qy15r5Ii9YrFPMVvlp4WY3up50Ip6s70xJgaUf-awB5DiaY7ccT2qFct-_R4PUIUD-0TOEXaSwXw9Jd86/s640/blogger-image-491094913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9rcqX5lBUz6IyaTRDFabHbWYT2uqALsZl5J0yfbUWvOekLMzcg7TMtcURb0qy15r5Ii9YrFPMVvlp4WY3up50Ip6s70xJgaUf-awB5DiaY7ccT2qFct-_R4PUIUD-0TOEXaSwXw9Jd86/s640/blogger-image-491094913.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Progress on the Monochrome Sunny Spread</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Busy would accurately describe my last few weeks of school. Collecting the final papers, grading exams, cleaning up my classroom, not to mention everything happening at home. My husband is on the final leg of his schooling this year, which has him doing 36 hours of clinicals plus 2 shifts at work. So all three of us are adjusting to a new schedule. Luckily, my husband brilliantly suggested that I do no school work until I've been done for at least 2 weeks. So crafting and cooking and cleaning and reading new books are the only things for me to do. Plus baby wrangling. All fun stuff. Still very busy. But onto my crafting and reading.<br />
<br />
<b>Reading</b>:<br />
I jumped on the bandwagon and read Marie Kondo's book<i> The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up</i>. Other than her new-age/zen ideas about talking to your possessions, I felt like she had some solidly applicable advice. <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/06/i-want-tidying-up-but-not-konmaris.html" target="_blank">This blog</a> gives a great review on keeping one's faith in perspective while still using some of Kondo's advice. Overall, the idea of joy that Kondo talks about really struck me, and that's what I'm apply the most to my life.<br />
<br />
<i>Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus </i>was a book I had heard about while listening to Catholic radio on the drive home from work. This was the second time I had checked it out from the library, and I still didn't finish it. The perspective of the author is fascinating, and I'm hoping I can get it again-- third time's the charm, right?<br />
<br />
My new novel is <i>The Secret Daughter of the Tsar</i>, and I haven't started it yet. Hope to get a start today.<br />
<br />
<b>Crafts</b>:<br />
Working on a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/granny-square-swap" target="_blank">granny square</a> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/granny-chic-swap-received" target="_blank">swap</a> for the next few weeks, so pics of my grannies will be popping up here and there.<br />
Making a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/sunny-spread-2" target="_blank">monochrome gray "Sunny Spread"</a> for a gift for a friend, and am just starting to square up the circles.<br />
Also, I'm the crazy one who is thinking ahead to Christmas already, and I have 5 bigger projects tumbling around in my brain for gifts. A new nephew arrived in early April, and he never got a gift from me, and there's another new one coming mid-November, so baby blankets for sure. :)<br />
<br />
Happy life, busy life.<br />
What are you all up to?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2015/06/yarn-along-232.html" target="_blank">Ginny's yarn along link up</a><br />
<br />
<br />bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-62409036960800478102015-05-19T17:53:00.001-07:002017-04-20T17:28:27.089-07:00Just FinishedI've spent the last few days glued to a book. A book on my Kindle, actually. Never thought I'd say that.<br />
<br />
It's called <i>People of the Book</i> by Geraldine Brooks. A fun bit of historical fiction- something I haven't been able to enjoy in quite a while. The titular book is the Sarajevo Haggadah, an apparently*<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>famous Jewish prayer book that survived the Inquisition, the looting of the Nazis and numerous other attacks on the people of the Jewish faith through history.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TZKlSeE%2BL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TZKlSeE%2BL._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The tale is woven well, though at times I wished I was holding a paper book so I could flip back and forth. The Kindle was a Mother's Day gift, and it has been extremely convenient. It fits well in my bag, and I don't have the guilty feeling that comes with using my work iPad for fun stuff.<br />
<br />
The book has a good mix of history and fiction, though the sprinkling of Jewish and Muslim words sometimes made it hard to follow. I also felt challenged by the historical names of particular places, as Eastern Europe and the Middle East were not my strong subjects. However, having read a number of the Temperance Brennan books by Kathy Reichs (and being a fan of the lighter end of that genre in general), the investigative portions of the book were intriguing to me. The main character is a specialist in old manuscripts and was hired to examine and repair a Haggadah that had missing/hidden since WWII. As part of her process of examination, she extracts foreign objects-- fibers, scales, stains-- and each of those take the reader back in time to the place where that particle intersected with the life of the book.<br />
<br />
I think this book has a bit of something for everyone, and I definitely enjoyed it. Surprising, after a long run of non-fiction books that didn't quite hit the spot, and fiction books that made me feel overly sensitive. Worth my time, and worth me offering up a review as well.<br />
<br />
* <span style="font-size: x-small;">I only say apparently because, as noted, I am not hugely familiar with Jewish history or E.European history</span>bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-37080156873784049312015-05-13T18:44:00.001-07:002015-05-13T18:44:52.455-07:00KCBW 2015: Zoomed In<i>Hey there folks! As we continue our expose on a week in the life of a teacher, we rest our typing fingers for a bit and take some pics. As the colloquialism says, a picture is worth a thousand words. So rather than type a thousand words, we'll just take a few pictures. Catch us back here tomorrow as our stunning expose continues! ~The Mystery Student</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5NesGYy7OaHZj2t08Zqyn3Ww3v9O7M-iyOJBAfICj2_124fsXQLed6GL2tqbpnmkj_ZKR3ko2mEpamypJO8L6wnqipDLby23EhyphenhyphennAKidxyHfPQzExHV3mOlSq-tSZxvBvImDmZAOY2-_/s640/blogger-image--419259988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5NesGYy7OaHZj2t08Zqyn3Ww3v9O7M-iyOJBAfICj2_124fsXQLed6GL2tqbpnmkj_ZKR3ko2mEpamypJO8L6wnqipDLby23EhyphenhyphennAKidxyHfPQzExHV3mOlSq-tSZxvBvImDmZAOY2-_/s640/blogger-image--419259988.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staking a claim on my school desk!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n5K_bX4dKS5Ql_ZKotW_UoMQ6ky8mjg0cb4q0_kFCue7dU6ryXx_K38VI7-ACFpq7DDMQfnpa4hOkzlIukuo1-3BqtK5lYu2zaZ2s8R0dmjuJFXvRn-YEpU3gq1uQTOKEYrEF4cl3CHw/s640/blogger-image--2023353658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n5K_bX4dKS5Ql_ZKotW_UoMQ6ky8mjg0cb4q0_kFCue7dU6ryXx_K38VI7-ACFpq7DDMQfnpa4hOkzlIukuo1-3BqtK5lYu2zaZ2s8R0dmjuJFXvRn-YEpU3gq1uQTOKEYrEF4cl3CHw/s640/blogger-image--2023353658.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby tongue. Just because. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-75712628668916401922015-05-12T06:33:00.000-07:002017-04-20T17:53:38.538-07:00KCBW 2015: a bit about me!<i>Today we take a look inside the lives of one of our teachers. So unusual, we see them every day, and never really give much thought to their personal lives. Obviously, we think that they eat, sleep, and breathe school. But that is not always the case. Underneath that "teacher look" is a person, someone that we might grow up to be. </i><br />
<br />
<b>State your name, age, occupation:</b> Mrs. G, older than you, teacher-- duh!<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijzv6DjEpMUk9nDm9_qzldNrSAWhvbM4zOez-qzd5vWEMKUv__BBE46_wiNDG_cWV41p92Gr_p-1vyJeNiQ_Bsfwe7YC7xx7mtBor1gK0IoHe6p_6S_ayuxLC8MFurpmHzqGMv5WeYJID/s640/blogger-image--1427052852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijzv6DjEpMUk9nDm9_qzldNrSAWhvbM4zOez-qzd5vWEMKUv__BBE46_wiNDG_cWV41p92Gr_p-1vyJeNiQ_Bsfwe7YC7xx7mtBor1gK0IoHe6p_6S_ayuxLC8MFurpmHzqGMv5WeYJID/s640/blogger-image--1427052852.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby selfies all day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>What do you like about your job?:</b> I really love the material that I teach, and I truly enjoy students. Teenagers are funny sometimes, and definitely lovable. But I must emphasize the importance of being involved in extracurriculars. If I didn't help out with the school musical or MUN, I would not get a chance to see the students on a different level.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjOMCznvcpqFpe4931_vgL6x8UhjOR1ChMvEVBvNhqUwbeVC76YIsCmAeB7DFCafTygmZb3LxaX6NEUD9pXB8q4Q0M4bSga3JXiGSuctm7RRg6w3C18MBGqByRPPQRFrQEz30HIEyvIuz/s640/blogger-image--300809630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjOMCznvcpqFpe4931_vgL6x8UhjOR1ChMvEVBvNhqUwbeVC76YIsCmAeB7DFCafTygmZb3LxaX6NEUD9pXB8q4Q0M4bSga3JXiGSuctm7RRg6w3C18MBGqByRPPQRFrQEz30HIEyvIuz/s640/blogger-image--300809630.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our little Tigers fan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>What do you do in your free time?:</b> Right now I spend a lot of time with my little one. He's the best, and being a mom is great, but also very busy. When I have free time other than that, I tend to read historical fiction, and crochet a lot of blankets and hats.<br />
<br />
My reading has been less as of late, so if you could recommend some books-- I've been taking after my husband quite a bit, reading books that I can learn from, so mainly how to start an at-home business or raising farm animals. I glean a lot from blogs that I follow too.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff6cfU5o-Z-RubvMdGTCaltv2jRYJ2uLOz5xpmKuCdNIKzO5_ieS532tKc0zOVFdqY3c66E0H5qagU9l929ZNVsrc8LEBIc5bnBiYwr6FzhsG9rli8v5Wf88QhintUw1oOojOwQulXTrm/s640/blogger-image-1520983126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff6cfU5o-Z-RubvMdGTCaltv2jRYJ2uLOz5xpmKuCdNIKzO5_ieS532tKc0zOVFdqY3c66E0H5qagU9l929ZNVsrc8LEBIc5bnBiYwr6FzhsG9rli8v5Wf88QhintUw1oOojOwQulXTrm/s400/blogger-image-1520983126.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of my current projects</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Tell me about your family:</b> I have three siblings, plus 4 siblings on my husband's side. JT is one of 10 cousins, with an eleventh on the way. Right now, our immediate family is just the three of us, but both my husband and I would love more kids, if God wills it and we can handle them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisn2WctKQDu0aJxwwJtpi0CN30YtVR74_Q93-GpaPkNzuQCv40f0dgqCFWq1HVUE6ZgxKZUWSlawmdWBbsD9oQKGRElm9ZIEY-18dSCkNwk3sWFLXpnVGtn6_fPcOATNTSbHqFeO3EaFJR/s640/blogger-image--94979021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisn2WctKQDu0aJxwwJtpi0CN30YtVR74_Q93-GpaPkNzuQCv40f0dgqCFWq1HVUE6ZgxKZUWSlawmdWBbsD9oQKGRElm9ZIEY-18dSCkNwk3sWFLXpnVGtn6_fPcOATNTSbHqFeO3EaFJR/s400/blogger-image--94979021.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">teacher work-- getting creative!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>What do you dream about?:</b> Weird stuff, sometimes being back in high school. Lots of flying.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc0mwaBubE-__b2Hkb_hUtOLXM3T3wfb5UHFopj2gd2qMChbXVZP_V3WG8LEO4t2DCdQ0G85AMek8I3hA295ff4_SqeOOaOHXoYjr-1EqUuQZ7RWh0HSYzmjvwwq3UQ6EaP3Z3erYPODT/s640/blogger-image-1306430262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFc0mwaBubE-__b2Hkb_hUtOLXM3T3wfb5UHFopj2gd2qMChbXVZP_V3WG8LEO4t2DCdQ0G85AMek8I3hA295ff4_SqeOOaOHXoYjr-1EqUuQZ7RWh0HSYzmjvwwq3UQ6EaP3Z3erYPODT/s640/blogger-image-1306430262.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">teaching JT to bang on the table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>No, I mean what do you want for your future:</b> Oh, that. My husband and I would love a farm, with a few animals and such, but right now we're in no place for it. I dreamt once about being a librarian, but that was also coupled with being a stay-at-home mom, or raising alpacas. I'd love to open my own yarn shop some day, sell my finished pieces and my handspun wool. But I'm so far from that right now. It all seems impossible, and can be quite discouraging.<br />
I really love teaching, and I love my students and my job, but home life has always called to me. Having some home business, being able to raise my kids, bake bread, make cookies. That's a dream.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Stay tuned, folks. The next few days are going to be a bit chaotic. Tomorrow, a picture is worth a thousand words. Thursday, we will be looking at what exactly teachers carry around in the bags they carry. Friday, we'll be sharing a video. And Sunday, a teacher's place of refuge. </i><br />
<i>Thanks for hanging out!! The Mystery Student</i></div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-89444210315155419002015-05-11T08:03:00.000-07:002015-05-11T11:35:37.228-07:00KCBW 2015: If I were Yarn<i>Today we embark upon a journey. A journey with a mystery teacher. Who is she? She hasn't been here long, so not many of us know her. Let this be your opportunity. Today, we start with a simple task, allow our teacher to express herself in her own words. Check in tomorrow to get our "get real" interview with her. But for now, I give the floor over to Mrs. G. </i><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Catch ya later! The Mystery Student</i></div>
<br />
If I were yarn, what would I be?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>easy-care, colorful acrylic</b>? long-lasting and impervious, acrylic has always been a go-to yarn of mine. the vibrancy of the colors is what always draws me back. a rainbow of colors. so much opportunity. but would i really describe myself in that way? the colorful part, maybe. i remember my own high school years-- hippie might describe my style for a time. long colorful skirts, a 'devil may care' attitude. but i am a long way from that place now.<br />
<br />
<b>what about wool</b>? the yarn of history. as many varieties as acrylic, easily as many colors. the benefits of its warmth, varying levels of soft and rough. sometimes, you never know when, you have to be careful with your wool. too much agitation and the pattern is lost, the wool felted into a fabric, no longer able to be unravelled. but doesn't that describe me, too? handle with care, or don't. sometimes it doesn't matter. in those terms, in that way, i suppose i am more like wool. just as much variety as acrylic, probably even more. delicate and hardy at the same time. i like that.<br />
<br />
Yarn is near and dear to my heart, and though I have to only pick one that I am like, I like all yarn.bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-22129402974611186622015-05-08T07:23:00.000-07:002017-04-20T17:37:19.342-07:00Getting Ready<a href="http://www.eskimimimakes.com/2015/04/blogging-topics-for-the-6th-annual-knitting-crochet-blog-week.html" target="_blank">Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2015</a> starts next week! I love the motivation that it gives me, especially when I've been neglecting my blog this semester. I'm hoping it'll give me the boost and accountability this coming week to get back into the groove of things.<br />
<br />
If you haven't checked out the prompts yet, click the link above to do so. Or if you're on Ravelry, check out <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-blog-hub" target="_blank">The Blog Hub</a>. The community that's out on the web for crafters is so great.<br />
<br />
This year for KCBW, I'm trying something different entirely. I'm setting up the whole week as if I was being interviewed for a project by my students. I think this will allow me to get out of my comfort zone a little bit more, and hopefully improve my writing skills.<br />
<br />
Will I see you this coming week for KCBW??? I certainly hope so!<br />
<br />
xoxo<br />
~Marybookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-57499586903738977182015-04-29T10:38:00.003-07:002017-04-20T17:42:44.794-07:00Sophie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutgk_Lj4NIlhzx-McuCoof2ZzryQmu16JaT1m-rdHuwg6XF1e7Zx3Uag1w_OFGsy6oG29Ur5UWi4n1hY3d9zlQYqeG4LT7Pljr85oeWSFMvYQrC8oV2wfVF_3LAk4McEloA2ShRJzvQUg/s1600/IMG_20150427_213537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutgk_Lj4NIlhzx-McuCoof2ZzryQmu16JaT1m-rdHuwg6XF1e7Zx3Uag1w_OFGsy6oG29Ur5UWi4n1hY3d9zlQYqeG4LT7Pljr85oeWSFMvYQrC8oV2wfVF_3LAk4McEloA2ShRJzvQUg/s1600/IMG_20150427_213537.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sophie's universe crochet along in Vanna's Choice--colors-- duckie, radiant orange, terracotta, dusty purple, eggplant</div>
<br />
Trying to get my mojo back.bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3759236703511791991.post-79446652758956258422015-04-21T17:19:00.002-07:002015-04-21T17:43:10.116-07:00When Knitting Becomes Friends With Me Again.Crochet was my first love. One hook and a bit of string. Knitting came second and came less naturally. I tried making it work many times, but always fell back on crocheting, envious of all the awesome knitting patterns out there. I found Ravelry and the great crochet community there, which encouraged me to branch out in my crocheting. I still came back to my needles every so often, but struggled with it, projects that should only take days took months or more.<br>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrWy3cld0ILL5xbpf8WZ42__BNqE2mDnQqP6AZdumxrhAOebaESX_Qc0d6SaxZKI8yxbJSnWle64o8o_77QWeIX-9ifG4mCaKb8V1JHxcbON8pnj6p-4NFiNeJgXfEQEnhOZ5oxxSCU0g/s640/blogger-image-1327060254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrWy3cld0ILL5xbpf8WZ42__BNqE2mDnQqP6AZdumxrhAOebaESX_Qc0d6SaxZKI8yxbJSnWle64o8o_77QWeIX-9ifG4mCaKb8V1JHxcbON8pnj6p-4NFiNeJgXfEQEnhOZ5oxxSCU0g/s640/blogger-image-1327060254.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a few baby rows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
This is my cast on for a baby sweater. According to my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bookworm-mar/henrys-sweater" target="_blank">Rav project page</a>, I started this on January 30. Starting small made me feel like I had a higher probability of finishing. </div>
--------<br>
Here I am, the beginning of April, the need for this sweater slowly fading. I've gotten as far as one sleeve in progress. Double-pointed needles are not my friend, so I switched to circular again. I have a shorter circ that I want to try, but haven't quite gotten there yet.<br>
<br>
-----<br>
Ravelry says I finished working on this project April 4. Sounds close to accurate. I gave up on the sleeves and just went for the cap-ish sleeve created by the yoke. Not 100% successful, I suppose, but it took less time to finish than my last "big knitting project". I think I may be able to pull off knitting with dpn for a bigger project, just not this one. Despite sometimes feeling like I don't have it, this sweater reminded me that knitting has its place, and definitely some benefits.</div><div><br></div><div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzXijegliOkwCdsQKzuCUFrNAxNYbe-OPFXH3HIvVSQFfmbyyqGxrXxwACDRBoHFLj2fJxOFDmq1bfwC8kyjl-gYkHrCBeIQaVGCG7tfXDtat92OpJAtyfONn4SaTt28YmbTd5mPsfl6C/s640/blogger-image--341864624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzXijegliOkwCdsQKzuCUFrNAxNYbe-OPFXH3HIvVSQFfmbyyqGxrXxwACDRBoHFLj2fJxOFDmq1bfwC8kyjl-gYkHrCBeIQaVGCG7tfXDtat92OpJAtyfONn4SaTt28YmbTd5mPsfl6C/s640/blogger-image--341864624.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm still going back to my hooks. :)</div><br></div><br>
<br>
<br>
<br></div>
bookworm-Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00513191741078388759noreply@blogger.com3