Zeneedle...needleart as life

To Read or To Knit?

That is the question. Is it better to have a chapter of a book under ones belt or is it better to knit for a few rows?  This is my constant dilemma. I work 8 hours a day and by the time dinner is over (good food takes more time than fast food),  errands and chores finished for the day, time's up, I'm beat, the day is over.

With intent, I checked this book out from the library, but after it sat for a couple of weeks, I realized there were more books on my nightstand than I could get to. I was returning it last Saturday when a friend called to say she'd be late for lunch. I picked it up, started to read, and I couldn't put it down. Instead of returning the book I renewed it (I love on-line library services) and plan to  finish it as soon as possible.

And then, there is the knitting project which has been waiting for its cast on. My intent when purchasing the beads was to start right away, but as you can see, the project is languishing. This is not due to lack of interest, but due to lack of sitting time, which is the same problem I am having with the book(s). No matter how I plan my days, in the end, there just isn't enough time to fit in two of my favorite things.

March 1st

Does it feel as if there will be a change? A warming of the earth, the spirit, the heart and maybe, just maybe a thaw of all the snow and ice? The next few days look to be warmer than the whole of the last two months and I am so hopeful we will see signs of spring. I've heard birds and seen them bouncing around the trees and, just yesterday, I saw spears peeking through the earth in a neighbors yard. I do believe they'll have crocus soon! I still have a foot of snow at my front door and 6" on my patio.

I missed Yarn Along as we had a major computer failure in my office (yes, I do a fair amount of writing from work) and a couple of my evenings were spent with grrlfriends, which left me no time to blog. Let me tell you how boring, and full of angst, an office can be when there is so much is unknown and there is no connection, except by phone, to the outside world.  A stand still is not good in the work world. big sigh  We are SO grateful IT was able to work out the problems.  But I feel like that March Hare. I'm late!

Two things I love most are knitting and reading, just as it is for Ginny and so many of you. The sleeve of Chicane is going well and the construction continues to be unique and interesting. More time spent with the needles would yeild faster results, but the sleeve is growing.  The book group I belong to is reading Angle of Repose over the next two months (it's a big book). I read it years ago, loved it, and I'm happy to be reading it again.

Not Ready For A Close Up

The trouble with Quill is she is not photogenic. She has me a ibt worried about her long term prospects. The poor thing was stuck in one spot for a long time, as I took a side trip for some secret knitting. Hopefully she did not feel abandon or feel as if she were an ugly duckling (even though she is).

Because I made an error several rows back, I had to tink 2 and a half rows. It took considerable effort and, possibly more time to tink them together. However, it did make me feel more productive. When finished I had a private little celebration (i.e. rye) and continued on.

To help the poor Quill feel better about herself, and to assure myself she is worth all this fuss, I must push on with her fancy dress up lacy border...and then there is the edging. Slowly, I have made my way to the half way point of the Old Shale border, which means she could remain non-photogenic for some time.

The book on my iPod (sorry no picture) is Stoner and I'm not quite sure how it ended on my "to read" list. I'm about half way through and, while the writing is excellent , and the book worth reading, I'm not sure I want to read another book about the life of a troubled/sad/unfulfilled man (The Lighthouse and Sense of an Ending come to mind).It last not for awhile. All three books were full of wonderful imagery, but the men, not all that likeable. I'll be looking for something light and fun for my next book.

Once again I'm joining Ginny in two of my favorite pursuits.

When You Can See the Air

As long as the air is visible (it's called the "dreaded inversion") I'm staying indoors and cozying up with my knitting and reading. Sunday, after a day of gray, we saw the sun  (filtered through smutz) and a bit of blue sky. A storm has been predicted for today that should (may) scour the valley and give our lungs (and sinuses) some much desired relief.

I've only just started this book by Jana Richman, but I'm enjoying the pace and style of the story, which takes place in an area of Nevada, which is known as the Great Basin. The writer is a local and she'll join the discussion at our book group later this month.

The knitting is a secret and it needs to finish by the end of the month for our 9th Annual SnB Grrls Anniversary Party!!

Joining in with Ginny for Yarn Along day.

Knit Read Along

My Small Business Saturday was spent at the LBS because, it seemed silly to add to the stash, as I am such a slow knitter.  Don't get me wrong. I love yarn and I'll continue to buy yarn, but I really wanted a book or two of poetry. When I read about Mary Oliver's new book on NPR, I knew it was poetry that would touch my soul. Mary is one of the few poets whose books permanently reside on my poetry shelf. Her love of nature and her gentle words read like little prayers.

Quill continues to grow at a slow pace, but since I decided to be loyal for a few days, good progress has been made.  Markers are a must when knitting an old shale pattern, or feather and fan. I'm on row 8 of 52, rows that grow longer. The rhythm of the pattern is now in my mind and it's easier to keep the beat.

Poetry is not on everyone's reading list and I'd like to know if you, dear reader, enjoy poetry, and if you have a favorite poet. Is poetry a part of literature you skip over and ignore.  Poetry flows in and out of my life, it's not something I read daily (usually). I am looking for easy to read, easy to absorb poetry. Have you a favorite?

Knitting and Reading with Small Things, a gentle poetically written blog by Ginny.

Along

Knitting garter stitch can be meditative, as it brings into focus the simplicity, and elegance, of a knit stitch. Wrapping the yarn around the needle over and over can work to create anything. We are so fortunate to have this creative, useful and beautiful ability in our hands.

The center square of Chocolate Quill is growing and the exquisite fabric of alpaca and silk is soft, warm, and luxurious. It won't be too long before I can pick up stitches all around the edges and start the process of knitting lace.

The book is "On Canaan's Side", which is a reread for me.  Last year I recommended it to my book group and was surprised (and pleased) to see it on the list for this years schedule. I hope they like it as much as I did. Barry's writing tore at my heart strings and brought home to me the feelings of love, sorrow, and pain in Lily's long life.

Yarn Along with Ginny of Small Things.

Yarn Alonging

My replacement mitts have grown quickly and I'm nearly finished with the second hand. Thumbs will follow and should be finished by the time you read this post. The weather has turned, with the warm weekend giving way to the western winds and caving into a cold and rainy week.  My hands will welcome the warmth of the new Ragtops.

Audio books are the perfect accompaniment to my knitting. Kym told me some time ago Louise Erdrich would be publishing a new novel and, as soon as it was available on audio, I downloaded The Round House. An Ojibwa boy/man retells the story of a brutal attack suffered by his mother and how the event impacts his small family.

Yarn Along with Ginny because I love books and knitting.

Gardens and Beaches

Garden of Evening Mists touched me from the first sentence.  The story of Yun Ling Teoh is rich with memory, illusion, and impermanence, as is the Japanese garden she wishes to restore. She is looking to her past as a prisoner in a Japanese interment camp and facing a future of loss of all cognitive function. The quiet calm of the writing is deceptive and intriguing.

Knitting Beach Glass has felt an illusion, as it has grown smaller, not larger, as do most shawl in my experience. The trick was to start out with 388 stitches and knit on and on through feather and fan. The delight was to suddenly be nearly finished with the shawl.

Yarn Along with Ginny