4 Cotolin Towels

4 towels made using cotolin.  I tried to use up the yarn I had but still have quite a bit left, so there'll be another set soon.  LOVE these towels in all their bright plaid-y-ness.

Strange Dreams

For the second time in as many weeks I've dreamed about these weird looking red spiders who are in my house.  They are climbing around, big as your head and quite plasticky looking.  I told these red spiders in my previous dream that they needed to leave but they didn't.  Last night when I told them they needed to leave, they told me they didn't want to go outside because it was hot and then when winter came they would die.  I told them that if they didn't leave my house I would "squish them flat."  They marched right out the front door pretty as you please.

Book Review: Death on a Silver Tray by Rosemary Stevens

Death on a Silver Tray by Rosemary Stevens is a really fun mystery.  The main character is Beau Brummel, the "real life" fashion guru of Regency England.  He is joined by a cat named Chakkri, who I just adored.

The mystery plot revolves around the poisoning of a cranky old woman, Lady Wrayburn.  Miss Ashton is accused of the murder, but Beau knows she didn't do it and is out to prove her innocence.  He's not the best of detectives and stumbles along into the clues and answers to the mystery, but does so in a very delightful way.

I want to read the rest of the Beau Brummel series and all the other books that Rosemary Stevens wrote, so I highly recommend it.  Hope you enjoy!

Electric Green Scarf Revisited

Cotton and bamboo scarf just like the one I made last year.  This is a commission for a friend.

Elizabeth's Christmas

It was really supposed to be a totally different scarf but after I messed up about $50 worth of yarn (unfortunate, very unfortunate) I went with plan B.  I think this is adorable and very very soft.  It's bamboo feather yarn woven with grey merino.

Book Review: Seduction by Amanda Quick

Seduction by Amanda Quick was a very satisfying read.  At first I thought it was a little slow to get started, but once I was a little over 1/3 into it, the plot really picked up and the characters took on a personality that was both enjoyable and fitting.

Sophy and Julian decide to marry for their own reasons, neither of which is embedded in a deep passion for one another.  Sophy is quite the budding feminist, reading such books as A Vindication of the Rights of Women, and has expectations of her husband that he's not willing, at first, to abide by. They negotiate their relationship and come to an understanding of one another that brings the book to a satisfying close.

Recommended to readers of romance.

A Weekend...

There is a weekend with my name on it coming up...it has a heating pad, a comfy couch, some piano playing, weaving, reading and nintendo playing all packed into 3 days of also sleeping late and snuggling with my cat.  I think I can deal with that...and maybe find middle ground while I'm at it.

Where is Middle

There is a song by Mary Chapin Carpenter called "Middle Ground" where she wishes for some space in the middle where she could be content (lyrics here if you're interested). There's the overly busy side of her that works really hard and enjoys it. Then there's the side that goes home, turns off the phone and hides under the covers for the weekend even though she feels guilty about avoiding her friends and family. There's the part of her that longs for love so bad it hurts and the part of her that is happy to be single.

I'm searching for that middle ground. I'm perfectly happy with my love so that's not an issue, but I would like some more quiet time with David. I'd love to be able to spend an entire 24 hours where neither of us works or thinks about work. It would be heavenly not to look at the clock sometime between 5 and 5:30 and realize that I've got to get up and "go to work." And I love my job...but I need some space or something where I can be just middle for a few days. No pressure, no expectations, just middle.

I long to sit and play the piano uninterupted for a long time. Or read a really good book (I'm at that place in my current book, so that's nice). Or weave a lovely complicated project. Or even shop on-line for some yarns in pretty colors that I would love to work with.

I've been dreaming of tidal waves and swollen out of control rivers. I compare these dreams to my former tornado dreams (which I haven't had in a long time). And what is so odd about all this--this feeling of stress--is that I don't really feel stressed. I thoroughly enjoy my job, everything I'm doing is fun and interesting, and will make significant changes in the culture and practice of the college where I am...there's just not enough time to get everything done. And that must be the point of stress. Time slips away every day and here I am at the end of it with a pile left to plow through tomorrow.

So, I long for middle ground. That place between up and down where I can enjoy what's around me and appreciate all that I have before me.

Book Review: An Affair before Christmas by Eloisa James

In this second installment of the Desperate Duchesses series, James focuses on the love between Poppy and Fletch, who have been married for four years but have never been able to kindle that "spark" that begins with their love of one another. As Poppy works through the abusive relationship she has with her mother and learns to grow and develop her own interests, she discovers the passion that she holds for Fletch and as a result their marriage is able to survive.

Meanwhile Jemma and Beaumont are slowly negotiating their relationship. She is learning to appreciate his passion for politics while he is learning to love her intelligent and wit. The Duke of Villiers, injured in the duel at the end of Desperate Duchesses develops an infection and is sick most of the novel--he has to learn to forgive himself in order to be healed.

Artful weaving of three stories. Beautifully written. I'm always sad when I finish a James book because I know I'm not going to miss the characters.

Highly recommended for romance readers.

Book Review: The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue by Barbara Samuel

LOVED this book. I liked all of the characters, really appreciated their growth and determination. Samuel's use of 4 women in different stages of life and love represented a "whole woman" and I thought it was a perfect picture of womanhood. The style is also accessible, and the book well-written.

In The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue, Samuel tells the story of Trudy (whose is separated from her husband after finding out he was having an affair, Jade (who returns to her grandmother's house after the death of her grandfather), Roberta (Jade's grandmother who just lost her husband) and Shanelle (who is having trouble with her husband accepting her desire to be a writer). The women support each other, grow and learn from each other, and seek out fulfillment in things that will make them a better person--and by default a better wife and mother.

Highly recommended.

The View from our Balcony

Wonderful Beach Weekend

We:
* made some killer sangria
* made some more
* sat on the balcony watching the waves and birds and people
* enjoyed the beautiful weather
* walked on the beach
* Jenn went for hikes
* sat in the hot tub
* went swimming in the condo's pool
* went to the Jimmy Buffett benefit concert (which was awesome)
* cooked some amazing food
* read a lot
* had great conversations
* laughed
* cried
* drank wine
* ate lots and lots
* made some pina coladas (do I detect a theme???)

We had a wonderful time. The condo (Martinique on the Gulf) is gorgeous. We'll definitely be going back there!

Beach today!

We're heading to Gulf Shores, AL, today for a weekend at the beach with my friend Jenn. We will be lazy for a couple of days and on Sunday we are going to the Jimmy Buffett benefit concert. Hopefully I'll get some pictures.

Old Friends

My friend Jenn comes in for a visit today. She'll stay for a week. We have a few plans, but mostly she'll be birding, hiking, and otherwise enjoying Mississippi nature. We are going to Gulf Shores, AL, Friday-Sunday. On Sunday we'll be attending the Jimmy Buffett and Friends concert, which I'm looking forward to. Should be fun.

Details as they come!

Book Review: On Agate Hill by Lee Smith

On Agate Hill by Lee Smith follows the life of Molly Petree from the age of thirteen until her death as an "old woman" of 68. It is a depressing tale of loss and more loss and then more loss. I thought at some point there would be a glimmer of hope, but really, there wasn't.

Smith's books tend to be more dark than I like to read these days, but On Agate Hill was particularly so. After the lackluster The Last Girls, I'm not sure I'm excited or looking forward to reading more Smith books. Her early works, Fair and Tender Ladies particularly, while sad, had a wrangle-hold on life and love and the characters were trying very hard to make their lives better. Molly, however, really just floats along without much volition or course in life.

While I wanted to like the book, finding it a little like Fair and Tender Ladies in the diary and letter aspect, I didn't find Molly as compelling a character. I just didn't care what happened to her. Which was sad.

The book got good reviews on amazon.com, from die-hard Lee Smith fans and others alike, so maybe I just missed something. But, for me, there was just a polish or finish on the book that wasn't there.

Finally

After over a week of feeling like crud, I can say that I actually feel better today. Still don't have my voice totally and there's a cough threatening to come through every now and again, but I have energy, curiosity about the world...a desire to bake. Life is good. Still missing my quilt bee family, though!

The Quilt Bee Quilt

Still without a name, this year's quilt bee quilt was unveiled last night at the home of Doreen Fisher. I was present by phone. It is made using 12 handwoven squares alternating with a golden sun batik and the outside border is a purple background and multi-colored hearts batik. It will be quilted using a sampler of stencils in the gold squares and simple straight lines for the outside border. The handwoven squares will be tied using a gold cotton yarn.

I miss y'all!

Up and At 'em!

Well, I made it to work this morning. This has been the strangest bug...exhausted tired for several days (that's where David is right now), then the scratchy throat sets in, not bad but irritating. Then the rest of it gets full-flight. I'm still in the awful cough stage, which means I'm not sleeping well, but the pharmacist did recommend a good cough syrup so I got some sleep, but not enough. Hopefully this weekend will do me good.

Have a wonderful quilt bee, my quilt bee family. Wishing I could be there with you!

Sad...

Sad to be missing the quilt bee this year, but at least I'll BEE there in spirit as my quilt has arrived and will BEE quilted by my wonderful BEE family.

ugh again...

Ear Infection...

ugh!

SO TIRED!!!

Fun Times in NOLA

We had a terrific time in New Orleans with our friends, Bill and Catherine Sisson. I swear we ate ourselves silly:
*Dinner Friday night at Antoines (our group opinion, overpriced but good New Orleans mainstay)
*Breakfast Saturday morning at Stanley's on Jackson Square (great down-home food)
*Lunch Saturday afternoon at Lilette on Magazine (VERY tasty. I can't wait to go back).
*Dinner Saturday night at Bayonna on Dauphine in the French Quarter (never disappoints, and amazes me everytime I go at how terrific everything is prepared)
*Brunch Sunday morning at Mr. B's Bistro on Royal Street in the French Quarter (always dependably good, though the service was a little disappointing)
*Dessert after Sunday brunch at the Redfish Grill on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter (rich, chocolately and divine!)

I almost felt that I was in a food-induced coma or hangover last night. Yum yummy yum!

And the conversation was terrific too! Can't wait to get together with the Sissons again!

yea!!!

It's off to New Orleans we go to visit with our friends, the Sissons! Hope to have a few pictures on Monday.

Book Review: Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands

Devil of the Highlands is a fun romance that pits Evelinde against the "devil of dunairrach" (misspelled I know but I don't have the book with me), Cullen Duncan. Their marriage has been arranged by her evil stepmother in the hopes of making Evelinde's life miserable, but the opposite is quite true, as the nickname "devil" doesn't really aplly to Cullen since he's really quite considerate and sweet, just doesn't talk much.

The conflict involves several "accidents" that are happening to Evelinde that if successful would have ended in her death. The latter half of the book does a great job of developing the mystery and revealing the attempted murderer without feeling trite or rushed.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I found Evelinde's character to be rather charming and funny and enjoyed her growth through the novel. Looking forward to reading another novel by Sands (though I won't read her vampire stuff...I just don't get into vampires).

Highly recommended for romance readers.

Book Review: Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery

Having absolutely loved The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I was very excited to see Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery. It tells the story of Pierre Arthens as he is dying. Every other chapter is from a different person's perspective, the other chapters are from Pierre's perspective as he is remembering his life and seeking out that "flavor" which is the essence of living for him.

It's a slim novel, without the difficult passages that many people found troublesome in "Elegance" but, to me, it was also without the depth of character and development that "Elegance" brought forth. I truly cared deeply about the characters in Elegance, but didn't really about the characters in Gourmet...perhaps that's because I got such a brief view of each of them except for Pierre, and he really is an unlikeable character.

I did find it an enjoyable read even so and recommend it. Especially to those who like reading books about food.

That was a nail-biter!

I finished the quilt bee top today. I'm so happy...was worried it wasn't going to get done, but now I have a wonderful quilt that one of two lucky ladies will own in a couple of weeks!

Book Review: Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

I parse out James slowly because one day I'll be out of her books and then I'll be so sad...I absolutely love her books and Desperate Duchesses was not disappointing.

Desperate Duchesses sets up the series of 6 books that is known as the Desperate Duchesses series. In this story we get to know Jemma and her duke, Elijah Beaumont. While they are the main titular characters of the story, Roberta and Jemma's brother Damon are the main love interests. (I think Jemma and Elijah's story is simply too complicated to deal with in this book.)

Roberta's father, the Mad Marquis, embarrasses her with his overly expressive emotions and flamboyant mistresses. Roberta desires to marry the Duke of Villiers after seeing him at a party and realizing that he will not ever display any excessive emotions. Roberta finally goes to London in search of marrying Villiers and shows up at her far-distant cousin, Jemma's, house and from there partakes in a game of love and learning that leaves her heart captured quite by surprise.

James is a wonderful writer, and her characters are lively and ever-so-much-fun. I always miss them when I'm finished and have a very hard time not going back and picking up the next one to read...patience is a virtue, even with romance novels :)

Highly recommended.

New Floors

We have had our kitchen and dining room floors resurfaced. They are now a lovely unfinished "old pine" color and texture. I love it. We used the Traffic Master Allure from Home Depot and are very pleased so far. I do hope that it can manage our wavy floors better than the square vinyl tiles did!

5 red cotton bags, 4 for sale

These fun and wonderful bags were the result of a commission by Liana (hers is the first bag in the set). They were woven using a double weave technique to create tubes and then cut apart, sewn up along the bottom and hemmed at the top to create a wonderful little bag to sling over your shoulder or around your body.

They sell for $30 a piece.

Book Review: Miss Julia Speaks Up by Ann B. Ross

A delightful book about a widow who must learn to take care of herself and does so through learning that her husband wasn't all he pretended to be. When his mistress shows up on her front door and leaves his illegitimate son and then drives off, Miss Julia must face the fact that her life has changed forever. Unable to confront the author of her anger, she begins to confront all the confining actions and behaviors that she had dealt with all her life.

I found the book hard to put down even if I did find it hard to believe that Miss Julia would be quite so dependent and silly. Still she cares and learns to love herself and her husband's second family after much trial and tribulation.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Restoration by Rose Tremain

Restoration by Rose Tremain is a novel that will stay in my head for a while. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes books that make you think...especially when you're finished and have to wonder how much of the story can be trusted.

Restoration follows the life of Robert Merivel over a couple of years during the 1660s. He's brought into the court as a Fool and physician to the royal dogs, almost by accident and ends up being married to the King's mistress. What follows is a descent into dispair as low as his highs had been, and then a shallow creeping out of the mess he made of his life.

The novel starts off very funny, bawdy and enjoyable. The character is very likable and the writing clean and enjoyable. I actually couldn't wait to get home to read everyday and felt "tried" by the fact that my days and evenings were so busy lately.

I'm looking forward to reading other novels by Tremain.

What's Up...

I hope everyone has been having a wonderful mid-May. The weather is spectacular here, if hot, but sunny most of the time with afternoon popcorn thunderstorms. We've even had fog this week.

I've been busy with work and not doing a whole lot else lately. I'm thoroughly enjoying my job. Lots to learn and figure out but it's all good. I've even found that the drive isn't as bad as I anticipated. Having done it before (and hated it) I'm not quite sure why it doesn't seem odious to me now, but I'll take it while I can. In June and July we are going to a 4 day work week which means the work day will be longer, and I'll have to leave my house at 6:45...still trying to figure that out...but I will have Fridays off, and a couple of 4 day weekends, so I don't suppose it will be all bad. Looking forward to the fall when the students come in and we start working with them directly. I think it'll put meaning to all the work we are doing now setting up policies and putting together space. In the meantime, there is lots of training the plan and conduct.

I also have a wonderful, big office with sunny windows and lots of light. It makes the day go by so quickly and I don't get tired, which is very nice. I do miss my Lochi kitty as she and I had become quite good buddies, but she seems to be adapting ok to me not being home all day. I honestly don't think that Oliver has noticed.

On the home-front, we are getting new flooring in our kitchen and dining room next week. It is being delivered to the house today so that it can adapt to the temperature and humidity of the house. I can't wait for it to be "in" so that all looks polished and nice. I'm really excited about that.

And other than that, there really isn't much to report. I'm hoping to have some time this weekend for weaving. I still need to make the quilt bee quilt. I certainly hope we have something to work on: I'm beginning to seriously worry about that! (yikes!) And I've been dying to sit and read my book which is really really quite good.

Another great day!

2 really nice work days in a row can hardly be beat. I've been organizing, learning, and re-organizing. Getting used to a schedule, signing contracts and other paperwork. The general beginning a new job stuff, but it's SO nice. I hope to have pics of my office up next week after I get it all set up...it may just be the biggest, nicest office I've ever had :)

Great Day

I had a great day at work today. I'll hopefully have pictures of my office tomorrow and a few other wonderful things. I think it's going to be a terrific job working with some really nice people. Looking forward to tomorrow.

The reading slump is finally over, thank goodness

Sometimes I find myself reading several really great books in a row. When I do this, I'm so excited about reading that it's all I want to do in my free time. However, every now and then I get to reading some books that I don't like at all, and I think "is something wrong with me?" Then I'll go read the reviews of the books on amazon.com and sometimes see that I'm not the only person who has had particular issues with a book. Always, when I'm not enjoying a book, or find myself avoiding reading, I give myself permission to put the book away. Time is too precious and there are too many wonderful books out there to force myself to read something I'm not enjoying.

And I've been in an awful reading slump lately.

It started out with Douglass' Women by Jewell Parker Rhodes. I wrote on this one last week, but I was really looking forward to it because it came as a referral from one of my favorite authors. I absolutely hated the writing style. Couldn't get past it and decided that in addition I hated every single one of the characters and found the historical components of the novel to feel flat and uninteresting. So, back to the library with that one (glad I didn't spend my money buying it!)

Then I started Like unto Like by Sherwood Bonner. Here was a book a bought a while back, written in the 1880s, highly recommended by the literati of the day. Oh my! I could (somewhat) ignore the overt racism as a product of the time period and Bonner's Mississippi upbringing, but I found the STORY so difficult to get into and the prose so stilted that I had to put it aside after about 50 pages. That book was donated to the library today as it was a book I'd purchased some years back.

Next I started reading Karen Robard's Irresistible. Again, looking forward to this one because it was recommended by an author I like...also it's a romance, historical at that, and I generally LOVE romances. After 80 pages of kidnapping, near rape, and the protagonists ogling of each other, I just couldn't take another word. Quit it mid-sentence in fact. I returned it to the libraray today (again glad I didn't waste my money on it!).

I started Restoration by Rose Tremain on Monday. It's funny, bawdy, and well-written. The main character is lovable in his shabby haphazard way and I'm looking forward to seeing his growth and development. The author has already demonstrated to me that he will grow and develop and that there is a plot in the book. In fact, I'm hooked and all I want to do is sit down and read...looking forward to some time with it this evening and during lunches (now that I'll be working again). So, thankfully the slump is over.

p.s. I have been challenging myself to read books I wouldn't normally pick up, which is why the slumps are a little more frequent than before. I don't mind, really, because I've also found some wonderful gems along the way.

I have a new job!!!

I start Thursday, yes, this Thursday! I will be the Learning Specialist for a Title III grant at Pearl River Community College. I'm very excited!

The Constant Bass by William Gillock

A fun little jazz piece to get you ready for the weekend!

Book Review: Douglass' Women by Jewell Parker Rhodes

I don't usually review books that I was unable to finish simply because I think it's unfair to the author of me to do that. However, I will review this one because I thought there were some interesting and compelling points to the book that other readers might want to look at...I simply found the writing too annoying to want to continue.

Douglass' Women tells the story of Frederick Douglass and his wife Anna Murray and his mistress Otillie Assing. Assing was a German-Jew who immigrated to America and became interested in the abolitionist cause upon arrival. Anna Murray is a free black woman who helped secure Douglass freedom and then married him shortly thereafter. The women are polar opposites in race, education, and personality but both love the man Frederick Douglass for their own reasons.

That was the interesting and compelling part of the book. This is the seed of the book that I think could have flourished (and did for a lot of readers as the reviews are typically very good); however, for me, the writing styles between the two women's narrative/diary sections is so similar that I couldn't get a feel for either of them as an individual person--I guess I felt too strongly Rhodes coming through her characters rather than the other way around.

Recommended to readers who like historical fiction and 19th century American literature.

Happy Mother's Day Indeed!

Slippin' Around by Martha Mier

Teague Lion Fans, Take Notice!

This orange bamboo and cotton scarf will be perfect to show your Teague Lion pride at the season's games--from football to baseball. This scarf is made of light-weight bamboo and cotton so is perfect for the south's warm weather. Get it while it's "hot."

The scarf measures 7.5 x 62 and sells for $50. Fringe is twisted.

Red Rose Rendezvouz by Martha Meir

Book Review: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha is a book that started out with great potential but petered out and left me feeling rather worn out and uninterested. The shift in character development, plot interest and writing style happens about 2/3 through with the book. By that time you’re committed to finding out what happens. I found myself wanting to be finished with the book but not having the interest to continue reading.
Memoirs of a Geisha is about Chiyo/Suyuri who is sold into a okiya (geisha house) at the young age of 9. She is a beautiful girl with exceptional blue-grey eyes.

Because she is so beautiful, she is the target of the jealousy of the okiya’s current geisha, Hatsumomo, who tortures her in psychological and physical ways and makes young Chiyo’s life utterly miserable.

In an attempt one day to relieve her misery, Chiyo goes to the river to cry and meets a man who we know as the Chairman. The Chairman changes Chiyo’s life forever and becomes an important focal point for her to cling to as she goes through the trials and tribulations of her life.

Things that didn’t ring true for me:
• Hatsumoto’s single minded obsession with Chiyo/Suyuri. She was simply evil with no clear motivation. Her end-outcome was rather pitifully executed.
• WWII was glossed over as a “bad time,” but little descriptions of that time other than Suyuri having to work hard were provided. This whole section felt very flat and uninteresting to me
• The plot line comes to a tension point when Suyuri and Mameha finally outsmart Hatsumoto, but then the novel kept going. It almost felt like there were two separate books, the first a very detailed lush description of a girl growing up a very hard life and the second a young woman adrift without much clue how to proceed.

For the most part the voice rings true and is interesting and well done. And I did enjoy the book despite my disappointments. Perhaps that’s why I’m more disappointed: Because there was so much potential and it left me feeling wrung-out and deflated.

Jelly Bean Rag by Martha Mier

Proposal Defense...

...is passed! I had lots of very positive comments from my committee members and several suggestions to improve my study. I'll begin making those revisions next week, but in the meantime I'll rest on my laurels for a couple of days and enjoy being ABD. (all but dissertation)

Proposal Defense

My proposal defense is tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Book Review: Loving a Lost Lord by Mary Jo Putney

Loving a Lost Lord by Mary Jo Putney is the first in the Lost Lords series and was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know 4 of the "lost lords" and seeing the romance blossom between Mariah and Adam.

Mariah and her father have just moved into Harley Manor after her father won the estate in a card game. The former owner, Mr. Burke, wants to marry Mariah in order to get the estate back so he starts forcing his way into Mariah's life in an attempt to get her to marry him. She pretends a husband in an effort to deflect his attentions, but he doesn't believe her.

Then, fate intervenes, and Adam washes ashore on her property. He doesn't have a memory, and she tells him he's her husband. The romantic interplay happens from this point forward, successfully deflecting the attentions of Mr. Burke. Adam's memory is slow to return and there is ample opportunity for the couple to get to know one another.

The book ends with a highly satisfying ending. I'm looking forward to the other Lost Lords books.

Highly recommended to romance readers.

New Orleans Nightfall by William Gillock

A nice jazzy end to the week.

Book Review: Writing Jane Austen by Elizabeth Aston

I absolutely adore everything Elizabeth Aston has written. Her "sequels" to the Pride and Prejudice novel written by Jane Austen are witty, well-researched and extremely well-written. I devour each and every book she's written, and I do so as soon as I discover it's been published (for whatever reason, though, I've decided to wait on Mr. Darcy's Dream for a later "fix" when I'm in a reading slump).

I discovered Writing Jane Austen was being published last week and bought it on my trip to DC. I had to go to 4 bookstores before I found it on the shelf and hastily picked up the last copy at the store. And I was not disappointed.

Aston tackles contemporary romance in this novel with a focus on Georgina Jackson who must write the remainder of a "found" Jane Austen novel in order to maintain her work permit and financial situation to stay in London any longer. The catch: She'd never read Jane Austen. Her historical period (she's a PhD in history) is late Victorian and she writes political historical fiction that's as dry as can be. Georgina must tackle her aversion to Austen's novels and time period in order to overcome her writer's block. The journey she takes is captivating, funny, and so true to form.

I absolutely loved this novel, as I have all of Aston's work.

Highly recommended to all readers, especially those who like Jane Austen "sequels."

Book Review: Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Glitter Baby is a story about Fleur Savagar as she grows up from a lonely child being educated in a convent to a star-savvy talent agent who understands and loves her place in the world as well as herself. It is a typical bildungsroman, a story about growing up, and has many literary qualities.

But, alas, it is categorized as "romance" and thus has not garnered the literary and critical attention it deserves.

I suppose that could be Phillips' desire--to make money on mass market romance--or it could be the prejudices of publishing agents to classify any book where the main plot involves a love story of some kind where the protagonist is female and she has sex as part of growing up--but my critical self can't help but also point out that many literary novels about young men growing up also have them having sex as part of the maturing process. It just doesn't make sense to me.

Glitter Baby is excellently written, beautifully told, and one of my favorite novels of the year. I'll definitely be reading more of what Phillips has to offer. And I'm so happy that there are such thoughtfully written books that have a happy ending.

Highly recommended to all readers.

Home Sweet Home

I made it home around 4:30 today. Glad to be here, but I did have a wonderful time on my trip. Finished Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I'll have a review up in the next couple of days. I also found (and bought) Writing Jane Austen by Elizabeth Aston (an author I absolutely adore). I'm almost finished with it and loving every page.

Other than reading, I did a lot of museum going. I met up with my friend Jenn from graduate school in Kentucky and we went to the National Museum for Women in the Arts. It's a nice small museum and perfect for meeting up with someone you haven't seen in 10 years. Yesterday David and I spent the afternoon at the National Museum for the American Indian. There was an excellent special exhibit by Brian Jungen called Stange Comforts. I highly recommend you look it up and go if you're in the DC area between now and August 8th. http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=exhibitions&second=dc&third=current

We also went and ate out at some very nice restaurants. My favorite is Carlyle Grand Cafe where you can have the best beef ribs that will ever enter your mouth. MMM.

Still, very nice to be home and I plan to get to bed early tonight and sleep as late as I can tomorrow.

Off to DC I go

Heading out of the house in just a few minutes to catch a flight to DC. David's been there since Wednesday and will be there through Thursday of next week, so I though I'd go see him in between conferences. I hope to have some pictures to post next week.

Book Review: Signora da Vinci by Robin Maxwell

I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative portrayal of what Leonardo da Vinci's mother could have been like and what raising such a genious would have entailed. Maxwell's writing is very descriptive and evocative of time and place. The plot was strong and the historical details felt very alive.

The novel focuses on the life of Catarina, a young peasant woman who has a child out of wedlock (Leonardo) by one of the village's gentry. Her child is taken away after birth and she fights the rest of her life to maintain contact and influence over Leonardo. When Leonardo is apprenticed in Florence, she disguises herself as a man and opens an apothecary in that city so that she can remain close to him. She falls in love with Lorenzo de Medici and helps influence politics and social reform during her time.

In the questions to the author section at the end of the book, Maxwell says that the reader will have to suspend disbelief at some of the things she does with her heroine. I agree, but I find that's what is so interesting and fun about reading historical novels, which I have come to believe is my favorite genre.

My only real complaint about the novel is that there weren't any dates as guideposts, and that would have been helpful, especially at the end of the book when years passed between chapters and it was difficult to tell.

Highly recommended to those who like historical fiction who don't expect it to be written "from the texts."...especially since there are so few texts about women in the 15th century!

A Glitzy Glamourous Pink and Turquoise Scarf

I wish the camera didn't take away all this scarf's lovely sparkles, but alas...it appears rather dim in the picture but trust me...it sparkles and gleams and is so wonderful. Very lightweight, so would make a wonderful spring scarf. Perfect Mother's Day Gift!

It measures 7.5x64, has twisted fringe and sells for $50.

Blue Red and Yellow Cotton Placemats and Table Runner

These four placemats and table runner are a commissioned project. They are made using perle cotton and a "slub" cotton called taffy. I think they are simple, casual AND elegant, if that's possible.

btw, the table runner is short because, alas, there is no cure for a too short warp. I hate that.

Book Review: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery is an absolutely delightful read. Anne is an orphan from Nova Scotia brought to Prince Edwards Islands to the Cuthburts by mistake: they wanted a boy, got a VERY talkative and imaginative girl.

The novel follows Anne as she grows up and makes lots of mistakes and learns from them. She grows into a very compassionate, very intelligent young woman.

I liked this book for several different reasons. I thought the character of Anne was very well wrought. Her voice "spoke" to me at night (much to my dismay as it's a very chatty voice and I couldn't sleep), and her lessons growing up were all training grounds to help her become a useful and compassionate adult.

I'm looking forward to reading other books by Montgomery.

I rate this one a 5 and recommend it to all readers.

Blue Alpaca and Soy Silk Scarf

This is a plaited twill scarf made from a combination of alpaca and soy silk. The yarn is very soft and has a durable feel to it. I like the interplay of the colors in this pattern. Because they are the same hue but different tone, the plaited design almost feels shadowy. The scarf also has a "two-sided" feel to it since it is primarily light on one side and dark on the other.

It measures 5.5x72, has twisted fringe and sells for $80.

Dissertation Progress

I met with my committee chair yesterday and she approved my proposal to be sent to the whole committee with very minor revisions. I'm extremely happy about that. I will be doing the edits over the next couple of days and then sending it to the committee early next week. I will then schedule my proposal defense meeting by the end of April.

Wild Honeysuckle Rag by Martha Mier

Robert Morgan...

I absbolutely loved Gap Creek by Robert Morgan. I read it before I started this blog, so I don't have a review up of it, but I remember admiring the main characters' struggles, her pluck and the descriptive writing. So, I bought 2 more books by Robert Morgan, Hinterlands and This Rock. Neither of which I was able to finish.

Both Hinterlands and This Rock were depressing. The stories seemed to be more about failure and impotency than about life and love and making the best of what one has. I kept wanting to like This Rock, but I think it was actually making me grumpy and not appreciate what I have in this life--I was getting too involved in Muir's failures and his conflicts with his brother.

So, after a little over 200pp I've put This Rock aside.

Beach Buggie Boogie by Martha Meir

A fun way to start your week.

woohoo!

David and I are going on a Rick Steve's 13 Days in Eastern France Villages and Wineries tour. Two days in Paris to get over jet lag, and one extra day in Nice at the end of the trip. I'm so excited I can barely sit still.

Dates of trip are in July, we are celebrating (a little late) our 40th birthdays and (a little early) our 20th wedding anniversary. Perfect timing as it's right in the middle of both.

Now, to get to exercising so I can keep up with the tour!

Red and White Houndstooth Towels

Two of these are birthday gifts for my mom to give to her friend, Kathy Rhea, and the other two are birthday gifts that I will give to my friend...

Lazy Days by Martha Mier

The theme for this weekend, especially today. Lazy indeed. Enjoy the song. I really like it.

I will do ANYthing to sunbathe

Here is Lochi inside our printing cabinet, basking in the sunshine. She's so pretty, isn't she?

Book Review: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Olive Kitteridge is an irracible woman who has a remarkable ability to drill deep to the core of a person's problem. She is big, loud and opinionated, but inside she is human and desiring to love and be loved just like the rest of us.

The book is organized in discreet chapters, that feel very much like independent short stories. All of the chapters touch, directly or indirectly, Olive and show how she influenced people in her small community--both good and bad. All of the characters desire to be loved--accepted for who they are--and some are and some aren't.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to everyone. Especially Aunt Janice.

Book Review: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baronness Orczy

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baronness Orczy tells the story of a man, the Scarlet Pimpernel, who helps aristocrats escape from France during the Reign of Terror in 1792. He outwits the authorities time and again and they have the strongest desire to capture him in the middle of an attempt so that they can also send him to the guillotine.

Enter the weathly British aristocrat, Percy Blakeney, and his beautiful estranged wife, Margerite. Margerite is French and unwittingly helped in the capture of a French aristocrat. When Sir Percy learned of her help he refuses to love her. Margerite pines for the affections of The Scarlet Pimpernel, who is, of course, Sir Percy, only no one knows the true identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Margerite is set up by a French dignitary to reveal the activities of the Scarlet Pimpernel in order to save her brother's life. Though conflicted, she agrees, only to set a trap for her husband. She then must do everything in her power to save both her brother and her husband.

The story line is actually very good. It moves at a good pace and is engaging; however, the writing is a bit over-the-top. For that reason I'll give The Scarlet Pimpernel 4/5. Recommended for those who like to read historical fiction.

Rondo Alla Turca by Mozart

Sweet Talking Boogie by Eugenie Rocherolle

Anyone but You by Jennifer Crusie

What a delightful book. I thoroughly enjoyed ripping through this one (read it in a day and a half...which is one of the things I love about Crusie. Her books are so good you just devour them).

Anyone but You tells the story of Nina Askew as she adopts a dog who introduces her to her neighbor, Alex, and a great little tension filled romance develops between them. The hangup? Alex is 10 years younger than Nina and Nina is just divorced from a very rich successful lawyer.

As the relationship develops between Nina and Alex, the reader truly grows to love the characters. That was why I was so disappointed that things seemed to move so quickly at the end--the character transformation was believable but not really well developed. It was the only complaint I had.

Highly recommended for those who like romances.

Book Club Book Review: Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessums

Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessums is a sad story about a sad little boy. That's my one-sentence summary. It had some really lovely moments retelling his love of language and how his mother taught him the importance of being who he truly is, but the book suffered, ironically enough, from poor editing. I don't mean the grammatical/syntactial kind, I mean the content kind of editing that would have culled down some of the chapters into smaller, tighter, better written and more readable segments.

Sessums grows up in Mississippi, the son of a coach and "could have been" professional athlete. His father dies when he is 7 and his mother when he is 8. Most of the book is spent detailing his relationships with both and how they did and did not affect his being gay. Later in life, Sessums' mentor, Frank Haines, is murdered. I have to admit that this is the section I skimmed through because I thought it was entirely too long and detailed.

Overall I give them book 3/5 stars. Recommended if you like to read memoirs (which I don't and could be part of my resistance here).

DONEDONEDONEDONEDONE!!!!!

I have been working diligently all week long. I finished up Chapter 3 of my dissertation yesterday and Chapter 1 today. In the three chapters that make up my dissertation proposal, I have written 86 pages. And I think they are all pretty good. I'm very proud of my work and hope that the next phase progresses as smoothly as possible.

Just so you know. I will review Chs. 1&3 on Monday and make sure I still think they are good (sometimes a couple of days give a whole new perspective on things) and then I will make what revisions I think are necessary and send them to my dissertation advisor.

She will have 2 weeks to review, we will meet and I will get her suggested revisions (so far that has been very simply stuff...hopefully it will continue to be so) and then once I make those revisions I will pass the proposal out to my committee members and schedule my proposal defense. I should have all of this done by the end of April.

In the meantime I have to keep myself busy with something, and I have no idea what that might be! ugh! :)

Steppin' Out Boogie by Eugenie Rocherolle

I love the walking bass in this one. It's fast and fun and I hope you dance like my page turner did (too bad it didn't show up in the video). Btw, I don't know why the video block is show up all black, but if you click play it will work. enjoy!

Week 4

Rough week this week. Stress combined with hormones and several weeks of an extremely low-fat diet resulted in some serious binges on both of our parts (plus we went out to eat 3 times which we never do any more). I gained 3 pounds, David 1.5. Ouch.