2014 is here, gather the books!

Ok, I know I don't post a lot, and I have to admit it is because my internet connection hate me. :p
But I will try to add post more often.
It's 2014, and I have challenged myself to read 24 books. As you may have figured out, I want to use this blog for mostly books and crafts. So I will start this year with my books. :)

I'm reading three books right now: Cranford, Camilla, and Unprintable.

I will cover the classics right now, starting with Cranford. I'm enjoying the naritve of this book, but the one thing I find a little sad is that with several characters in this book you get only a glimse of them before they (Spoiler Alert) die. There where several characters that are intruduced right before they die. I was like, "hey, I was just starting to find him/her interesting". Oh, well.

Now for Camilla. I'm enjoying this book the most out of the ones I've read so far this year. I just finished Vol. I and I was a little let down. I don't want too much of a spoiler, but Mandleburt's bubble just seemed popped at the end of this volume. But I will say, it made me want to started Vol. II right away.
I find Indiana to be both vain and unexciting, and her governess is annoying me every chance she gets.
The book is clipping at a good pace, and, as of yet, does not have anying lagging points. Which are common in some long books. Of course, I'm still not half way through, so I may change my tune. (But I hope I don't.) :)

Catching up

I know I haven't posted in a zillion days, and I apologize. :) To catch up I've finished Middlemarch and liked it very much. I finished it a while ago, so my memory isn't fresh, but I do remember that at first I found Dorothee a little too goody-goody and melodramatic, but as time went on I started feeling sorry for her and she sorta grew on me. *Spoiler Alert* This is horrible I'm sure, but I was really glad when Mr. Casaubon bit the dust. He annoyed me the whole time he was alive.

Right now I'm crocheting myself a shrug and an Aran craft blanket, and I'm knitting my friend Josh a "Team Cullen" scarf. Shhh, he doens't know yet. ;)
I'm re-reading The Mysteries of Udolpho and am on the hunt for a book I haven't read yet, so if any one has suggestions for new reading material for moi, feel free to leave suggestions in the comments.
I've also adpoted a cute kitty, she's crazy and bounces off the walls (literally) but she's adorble.
Well, I guess that all for now, hope I caught ya'll up good enough. :) Au Revoir for now.

Sock update, book update, ect.

So, I was figuring an update would be nice. :)
My socks for Socktober are going well, even though it's now November, I thought I'd give a progress report. One sock is done; I just need to finish the second sock. The color of the yarn is so fun. It's by Hobby Lobby's Walk Away brand and is called Tango.
In reading I've finished Strawberry Shortcake Murder (it was a nice read) and have started Girl with a Pearl Earring. Middlemarch is coming along great, I'm half done, and still loving it.
Also, I'd like to say that my heart and prayers go out to all those hit by hurricane Sandy. I happened to be in an area of its' path when it hit. The place I was was under a state of emergency, but no evacuations. The winds were frighting.
I was just lucky that when I looked out my door it didn't look like it does in New York and New Jersey. To those who live in states with horrible damage . . .what can I say that doesn't sound empty?
All I can say is that the human spirit is strong, I know that New York, New Jersey, and other places of damage will come back. And stronger. :)

So, I decided to start one more project. I cast on a nice pair of yoga socks for the Socktober group on Ravelry. I've never used sock yarn to make socks before, I usually use worsted yarn and make thick socks. But I'm trying the sock yarn, and I'm liking it so far. I'm already passed the cuff and am doing the body of the sock. I can't wait 'til they're done!

Hello blog land :), time for a new post. The nice fall weather has inspired me to start another blanket (even though I still have one in the works). I got the pattern from the wrapper on a skein of Caron Simply Soft, and it's designed by Marilyn Losee. I'm not using Caron yarn, though, I'm using I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby in the color Linen.
The blanket is Aran cables in crochet. (I'll post a picture soon.)  It's very pretty, and easy for anyone that knows how to do FPdc (front post double crochet) and Popcorn stitch.  I'm enjoying making it very much. I love Aran craft items! Nothing is more cozy then a cup of sweet hot tea, some soft music (I choose Celtic) and crocheting!
I'm still working on a fun triangle shawl in knitting and am needle-pointing (is that how you say it?) a hummingbird picture I'm going to give my mother for Christmas . . .shhhhhhh! ;)
I'm still reading Middlemarch--I'm one chapter away from finishing the second volume--and I'm loving it. Classics are always a favorite of mine. There are few I don't enjoy at least a little, and I'm really enjoying Middlemarch.
I'm almost ashamed to say I haven't read any of Eliot's work before, but I'm definitely going to read more. The combination of the wonderful writing and the intriguing fact that George Eliot was actully a female author that never unveiled herself as such, makes for interesting reading all the way around.
I don't think of myself as a professional to critique, but if I had to describe her work, I'd say it was a cross between Charlotte Bronte and Thackeray. Good stuff!
Well, that's all for this post, just a project/book update.

Au revoir, blog land!

I thought I'd make a "books read this year" entry made up of, well, books I've read this year. Feel free to join in and leave a list of the books you've read this year in the comments.

Books of 2012

Knit one, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn  by Stephenie Meyer

Vampire Kisses--Blood Relatives vol 2 (manga) by Ellen Schreiber

Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

High of Heart by Emilie Loring

Scared Stiff by Annelise Ryan

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

Shugo Chara vols 1-12 (manga) by Peach-pit

Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamon Roll (manga) by Yumi Tsukirino

Fairy Navigator Runa vol 1 (manga) by Michiyo Kikuta

Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

Last Writes by Laura Levine

Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston

Bachelor Brother's Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson

Mr. Darcy Vampyre by Amanda Grange

Sign of the Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene

At Wick's End by Tim Myers

Tokyo Mew Mew vols 1-2 (manga) by Mia Ikumi

You Better Knot Die by Betty Hechtman

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

The PMS Murder by Laura Levine

Emma by Jane Austen

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter

Powder and Patch by Georgette Heyer

Books I'm reading right now:

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Books I want to read next:

Vampire Stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Rosary by Florence L. Barclay

Full Moon vol. 1 (manga) by Arina Tanemura

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Vampire Crush by A. M. Robinson

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie

The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer

Nefertiti by Michelle Morgan

Lip Service by Susan Mallery

The Italian by Ann Radcliffe

A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare (This is a re-read. One of my favorites)

I designed this pattern for a teacup doily-- a doily to place on the saucer, under a teacup.
Here's the pattern:

7-Point Star Teacup Doily:

Special Stitch: Picot-- ch 3, sl st in first ch

Begin doily: 

Ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to make ring.

Ch 1, 14 sc in ring;  join in beg ch.

Rnd 1:

Ch 4,  * sk 1 st, sc in next st, ch 4 * repeat from * to * around.

Rnd:2

Ch 3, * sc in middle of ch-4, ch 3 * repeat from * to * around

Rnd 3:

Ch 4, (2 tr, 2 ch, 3 tr) in first ch-space. Ch2 * ( 3tr, 2 ch, 3 tr) in next ch-space, ch 2 * repeat * to * around. Join in top of beg ch 4.

Rnd 4:

Ch 2, * (4 dc, 1 P, 4 dc) in first space. Sc in next space. * repeat from * to * around, join in top of beg ch 2.

FO and weave in ends.

A nice cup of tea is even better with a cute doily!

 I've tried to check this pattern for mistakes, but I'm human so I could have missed one. If I have missed one, leave a nice comment, and I'll fix the mistake. Also, please don't sell this pattern, but feel free to share it. If you do share, please leave a link to my blog page. Thanks! :) And happy crocheting!