Childhood Sweethearts

Although knitting is my constant companion, a life-long love and bosom friend, my first love and childhood sweetheart is reading. I learned to read with Dr. Seuss, quickly moving on to Strawberry Girl and Rabbit Hill, and rereading A Wrinkle in Time until the pages began to fall out. In high school, I fed my cravings with Wuthering Heights, Emily Dickinson, e e cummings, all things Hemmingway, and anything else I could get my literature lovin’ hands on. I even took literature classes for electives.

Last year I read 48 books, the year before 62. And this year so far? 16. Sad, sad, sad. And what is sadder yet is I’m not knitting more, just reading less. What, you ask, am I doing with all that extra time? Beats me. So Monday I had a read-in. I had started The Time Traveler’s Wife and was loving it, but just not taking the time to read. Now I’ve finished it and am almost through Their Eyes Were Watching God. DD#2 is finishing up her summer reading list: Their Eyes were Watching God, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Great Gatsby. I thought I’d read along. I still need to read Grapes, but at least I won’t be tested on it next week. Top of Things-To-Do list: READ.

Last week’s anti-procrastination project was sewing buttons on baby sweaters. I can never find buttons I’m really happy with, so I put it off, then just use standard white for most projects.

I’m making progress on the rambling Rows.

I’d only knit the top row of squares before getting bored and tossing it in the WIP pile. For some reason, it’s much more fun now, and it’s using up lots of worsted scraps that otherwise would sit around for years.

The UPS guy brought me goodies today:

I ordered the moto movie for Hubby, and to get the free shipping I had to spend another $5. Soz I got me a little something, too. It’s only fair, right? I’ve just flipped through, but it looks like an interesting book.

Back to school: The good news is, both DD’s schedlues are right. Miracles do happen. The bad news is, all h.s. students are required to have one large binder with dividers to use for all subjects- no notebooks. At the high school level? Come on! Of course, I bought notebooks when they were on sale earlier this summer and Wal-Mart was totally sold out of binders. And all students are required to take notes using a version of the Cornell Method which I do not like. Whose idea was this? And why didn’t they ask my opinion so I could say "Bad idea!"

Coming soon to a blog near you: The Blue Sweater.

Comments

[Rob]

I find my knitting competes with reading for my free time. This summer I really dived into novels, though -- I read The Historian, The Egyptologist, The Archivist (hmm, I think I see a trend) and have just started Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell. As well as lots of lighter mystery-type reading. and sorry about the high-school regimentation -- makes me realize that decades after I finished high school they still pay no attention to different learning styles.

[Martha]

This is really sad, but I think I only read one book this year. I am thinking of investing in some books on tape, so I can listen while I knit. I don't know if it will feel as good as really reading, though.

[sara]

Cute baby sweaters.I just started my first one and it's reallt cute.I'm using some pink Red Heart Super Saver yarn that I got before I knew any better,What is the baby sweater pattern?