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Loom Knitting News


Here are some of my latest creations for charities:]

These little guys are fun to make. Thanks to LoomaHat.com for teaching us how to make them. The big one I made on the KK 24 peg. The little one I did on my Martha Stewart 24 peg loom which is much smaller. It’s fun to see how different they turn out. I usually use up my scrap yarn on these.

 

Hey, everyone! Here is my very first needle knitted hat! I started with a provisional cast on and then alternated inches of purls with inches of knits and even cast off first with the circular needles, then finally on four Double Point Needles. Please allow me a moment of awesome pride. Okay. I’m over it.

 

So, my brother and my son said this looked more like a young lion. But it is a cow. This is one of Scarlett Royal’s inventions. Okay, so I should have used more tan color but this is what I had. I think a kid will like it. The curlycue of yarn on top is the bow holding the label telling about the Hat Hugger group I get the donated yarn from and who gives our creations to the charities.

 

This lion was fun to make but the mane is hard for me. I count to nine without knitting fairly well. Keeping track of nine rows of two seems impossible. So some lanks of mane came out too long. I just took some ribbons and tied them fancy like the Cowardly Lion in Emerald City. Notice the pink arm. I ran out of the yarn I used on the rest of the lion as I reached the last arm. Since these go to kids in the clinic I figured I’d give him a cast. Hopefully, this guy will find a kid with a cast to commiserate with.

 

 

This is many shots of the same dragon and his little hat for a baby sibling. He likes the mouse. He thinks he is supposed to ride on it. He’s just a baby dragon and doesn’t know better. By the way, the lion and the dragon are Scarlett Royal patterns, too. I love her minis best and the sheriff here in town as requested I make a lot of these as he loves handing them out to the homeless kids or kids at the clinic. Because they are tiny and are easy for the kids to hold and enjoy. If the sheriff wants minis I make minis, what can I say?

 

 

I really enjoyed making this hat and love how it turned out. It was made on KB white loom with the small gauge. I just did three knits and three purls (rib stitch) all the way to the top. Because of the small gauge, it took quite a while to finish. The yarn is bumpily but very soft. It has that gradual color change that works up so cool. I have a ton of this that I took from Hat Huggers because it is so soft. So I am making another one with smaller rib stitch pattern. I think this will make a good hat for someone who might have bad/no hair days. It’s so soft and fits low on the head. I have to admit I am tempted to keep it. I won’t. But I can wish.


Debriefing: Collected StoriesDebriefing: Collected Stories by Susan Sontag
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Though I was grateful for the opportunity to read this, I am sorry I couldn’t finish it. I found it stuffy and boring. I don’t like anthologies or short stories. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I couldn’t handle this.

Don’t take my word for it. Read it for yourself as plenty love this book.

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The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard TimesThe Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As an addict of the BBC show, Call the Midwife, I couldn’t resist getting the Kindle and Audible versions of the book. As usual, the book is better than the show, but not by much. Books always give more insight into the thinking of a character, something film cannot capture properly.

Jennifer Worth’s memoir takes us to another time and the way people were then. Science, especially nursing and midwifery were new. Much was done by ‘old wives tales’ in the beginning but as medical science developed, giving birth sometimes took back steps. Ms. Worth shows us the mistakes and the achievements womanhood gained when men took over the most female of jobs.

But these aren’t just about the theories. We learn of Jennifer’s life as a nurse and midwife as she lived in the convent of nuns. The characters of the TV show are there in full glory. My favorite, Chummy, isn’t seen as much as I’d like (neither is Miranda Hart in the show as much as I’d like). But it is comical to watch her learn to be a midwife in her tall, elegant way.

I love how both the show (which seem to stick closely to Worth’s story) carefully lead us through patients lives and how pregnancy and motherhood impacted daily life post-WWII. Jennifer Worth’s writing is impeccable and yet poetic. It is fun to watch as she grows to become a stronger person and midwife as the book progresses.

Oh, and a note for the lovely narrator: Nicola Barber. Though it took me a minute to get used to her, I was so happy I did. She could do the cockney or the more proper British if needed and kept my interest piqued.

I would hope everyone reads and watches these as there is much to learn here. I can’t wait to read the next book.

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Waiting for a Miracle: Historical NovelWaiting for a Miracle: Historical Novel by Helen (Wininger) Livnat
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finished reading this a few days ago. I hate it when I finish before I am ready to sleep. I start the next book and forget to get back to the last book to review. But this one needs a review!

There cannot be enough books about the Holocaust. We need to look at it from every angle to make sure it doesn’t happen again. This book presented another point of view. It is from paternal journals handed down from the time of the first world war. The great-granddaughter is conveying the story. All the way to her own life.

All in all, it is well told. It doesn’t quite fit into my goal of reading books by strong women with strong women as main characters as Helen (Wininger) Livnat only tells her story at the end and it feels she left much of her own life out to give her forefathers the say of what happened in those horrid times. And that’s fine with me. She includes what is happening to the females at that time as best she can. The stories are coming from journals of the men so she’s telling what she inherited. None of it is fiction. We’ve read the histories, we can see the truth. We need to take warning.

It is always hard to give a rating to someone else’s life. So in that, I’m sticking with the five-star rating. There were errors, grammatical mostly–near the end, a ‘there’ that should have either been ‘they’re’ or ‘their’ (I can’t remember which now) is one example. In fact, the ending could use an editor’s eyes. But it didn’t take away from the truth and horror of the story or the warnings. And I think that there may have been some translation problems in that I think Russian was the first language. But I’m guessing.

Like I said, it is the story that is the important issue here. I think everyone should read this. It is enjoyable watching the families and the sons adjust and still love no matter what the outside world is doing. It is amazing what we can do when we do it for love.

Yes, there are a lot of tears. Even near the beginning. So have your Kleenex handy. But there are big joyous moments as well. Life and love bring us generations of stories and struggles. Well worth the read. But I’m repeating myself. I just want people to pick this up when they can and take it into their souls.

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Sorry to be late to the party, Linda G. Hill. Busy month. But here’s my Coloring Escape Page:

I’m horrid at taking pictures. This is the least blurry of the three I took. I colored this while watching Kong: Skull Island.  I had to make my reptile look better than the beasts on that show! Dragons have pride, you know! (I’ll try to get to this fun earlier in the month next time.)


A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of TragedyA Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whew! We all know what causes these shootings, right? Each of us has a laundry list of how it happens and how, if we had the power we could solve this right now. Some say take away the guns. Some say if parents were held responsible this would never happen. Some say that it’s the mentally ill, or on drugs, or are terrorists. No one seems to have the right answers.

What if you would walk inside the life of one who was directly involved (and so unwilling!) the mother of one of the killers in Columbine?

Sue Klebold is eloquent as she tells her own story. Imagine learning that your son is dead. Then learn he was one of the killers. If your son had been a terror in your life you might believe it and welcome the freedom from that kind of child. But if the son had been sweet and seemed merely a regular teenage boy this would be shocking.

Please, take the time to read this. Judge not lest ye be judged, just listen. I did with the Overdrive (library), audio version of this book. Maybe this book holds the beginnings of answers we need to look at and implement in our country/world as it grows scarier by the day.

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The FrescoThe Fresco by Sheri S. Tepper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I hate it when I do this: read a book, finish before I’m sleepy, start a new book and nearly forget to write my review of the last book! Boo! Me! And this book deserves reviews!!!

My friend, Kay, gave such a marvelous review that I knew I had to read it. I highly recommend it!

It has everything. Aliens, other planets, other points of view. The main character is female, Benita, who finds herself in a bad, abusive marriage. She is looking to get out and not be found.

What finds her is new opportunities the likes no one would expect to happen. That is all I can give you without feeling I’m spoiling it for you.

Needless to say, there is adventures and space travel, and meeting alien beings. Like all good sci-fi, this has a lot of philosophical, political, social, and spiritual commentary. Much of it tongue-in-cheek humor that may cause snorting of the hot tea if not careful.

If you get the chance to read this, you should. I’m sorry that it isn’t loanable. Seems many Benitas out there might not be able to afford it but would benefit from the read. Benitas need humor, escapism, and ideas. In fact, I think everyone could learn something and enjoy this story.

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The Museum of Extraordinary ThingsThe Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alice Hoffman does it again! I am always certain of a deep and interesting read if I pick up something she’s written.

This one has well researched historical events and has thrown in the fictional characters making a seamless story. I loved the main characters who felt real, flaws and all.

Of course, this book drew me in as the main character posed as a mermaid. My inner mermaid was overjoyed and scared for this girl as she attempted to fool the public for her father’s museum of defected folks that he revamped into scientific anomalies. In the mermaid’s case, webbed fingers, has her dad putting her in water most of her life.

The story was played against a backdrop of labor strikes and unhealthy work conditions that causes fires. The other main character is a young man whose father seems deeply depressed. The world has treated his people horrendously. This young man’s story plays out near the mermaid’s. Though the romance doesn’t happen through most of the book, and it doesn’t take over the story, get ready, love happens. But it helps the story.

I don’t know why I don’t want to give this five stars. It is a story I will remember. I guess because overall, it left me depressed. And I wanted more of the happiness these people deserved. Maybe a book two will bring them back? It is depressing history, but necessary to read and learn from. Please give it a read if you get the chance. I was able to pick this up from our e-library. Best way to read books that are normally too expensive for my taste. Enjoy.

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I keep telling people about Cee’s blog. Here’s a WordPress special feature blog about her. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

The Scary G Word


I’m learning a lot from this blogged series. Maybe others will find something here.

Chris Donner's avatarCee and Chris

There is a word I use all the time that scares people.  I wish I could say it right now, but I’m afraid that if I even hint at it you will run away.  I know, because I’ve seen people freak out when I say it.  I watch them turn pale and get those deer-in-the-headlight eyes.  I can see that they’re looking for an escape route.  But I have to say it, so here goes.  Stay calm and keep reading.  It’s not nearly as scary as you think.

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