A Different Kind of Post -- 2009 Books

For several years now, when I finish a book, I note it on that day on my calendar. Then at the end of the year I go through my calendar and make a list of all the books I've read that year. This year I'm posting the list here. Since I never post anything personal, this might be my most personal blog post ever.

All the links lead to Amazon. If you click on the Stephen King link, you'll likely be profiled as Stephen King fan and the next time you're on Amazon, they'll recommend his books to you. I know this because one time a friend emailed me about a book she was reading for work, didn't mention the title, just included the link. I clicked. It was an SAP book. Next time I got on Amazon, they had chosen a bunch of other SAP books for my reading pleasure.

The List

1. Just After Sunset -- Stephen King

2. 2008 Best American Short Stories

3. Knit Two -- Kate Jacobs

4. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -- Stieg Larsson

5. One Fifth Avenue -- Candace Bushnell

6. The Camel Bookmobile -- Masha Hamilton

7. Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers -- Xiaolu Guo

8. The Associate -- John Grisham

9. The Women -- T.C. Boyle

10. Dewey -- Vicki Myron

11. Tell Me Where it Hurts -- Nick Trout

12. Beach Book (short stories)

13. The Little Stranger -- Sarah Waters

14. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane -- Katherine Howe

15. Shanghai Girls -- Lisa See

16. The Strain -- Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

17. The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet -- Reif Larsen

18. The Lost Symbol -- Dan Brown

19. Where Men Win Glory -- Jon Krakauer

20. The Frozen Thames -- Helen Humphreys


21. The Piano Teacher -- Janice Y. K. Lee


22. The Girl Who Played with Fire -- Stieg Larsson


The Analysis

I usually manage to read about 26-28 books per year, about one every two weeks. I read fewer this year. Did I read thicker books? Or did I spend more time knitting and less time reading?

This year I read predominantly fiction. The italicized books are nonfiction and they were few and far between this year. Usually there are quite a few more! Oh, I should mention that there are no knitting books or cookbooks on this list. Even though I often read them like novels, for the purposes of my list I don't count them.

I also read no "food" books. In years past I've read a bunch of biographies of chefs (like My Life in France by Julia Child) or books with food as the main subject (Stealing Buddha's Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen or Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8 Lee).


Next Year

I predict the list for 2010 will start out much like the list for 2009. I am currently reading the latest Stephen King book, Under the Dome. (Yeah, I'm a long time fan, been reading him since I was 14, nearly 30 years. Did I also mention I'm getting old?) That book must weigh 5 pounds so it stayed here during my Christmas vacation. I read 2009 Best American Short Stories instead. It was much more portable.

We'll see what interesting things I find to read in 2010.

Purple Scarf

Now that Christmas is over, I can show this scarf. It was a gift for Ariel. It's the Montego Bay scarf knit in Handmaiden Sea Silk. I really like this purple color.

DOT -- Dog Cookies

Over Thanksgiving I saw a recipe in the paper for Gingerbread Mailmen. I thought Lucy would enjoy these dog cookies. (What dog wouldn't?) I didn't have a mailman cookie cutter (does anyone?) but I knew I could find a good substitute. Last week I was browsing around in Tuesday Morning for something completely unrelated and I found a set of three bone cookie cutters in a tin for $5.

Sunday I made cookies for Lucy! The ingredients were all very wholesome, people-quality things.

They were super easy to make. (I truly love this mixer.)

I hadn't made cut-out cookies in years. But like riding a bike, you never forget how. It all comes back really quickly.

Done! Lucy was really interested in the good smells coming from the cooling cookies.

When I let her eat one, she snorffled it down! Of course I had to give her a few more.

I highly recommend making Gingerbread Mailmen (or Gingerbread Dog Bones) for your pups!

Finished Gift

I finished the smoke ring. It's made of Knit Picks sock yarn. (Did I say that already?) It's wrapped, packed, and on its way to the recipient for Christmas.

Once again, I love the way blocking makes a knitted piece look finished.

Muffler

Look, I made a muffler! Isn’t that a great word? Last summer I read The Women by T.C. Boyle, a book about Frank Lloyd Wright and the women in his life. One scene described them getting ready to go out into the Wisconsin winter. It included wrapping mufflers around their necks. When did we stop using this word?

This muffler is a Christmas gift for a friend.

Yes, I’ve made this several times before. I know this pattern (my so-called scarf) and yarn (Malabrigo) makes a very nice scarf. I’m sometimes reluctant to try something completely new for a gift. It’s kind of like trying out a recipe before you serve it at a party. If you've made it before, you know it's going to be good. (I think I've already said that on this blog.)

DOT -- Snow Dog

Last Friday it snowed in Houston. That's a really rare occurrence. In all the years I've lived here I've only seen that happen once before. About noon on Friday the whole city shut down. Everyone left work, stocked up on groceries, and holed up at home. As a native Coloradoan, I just had to laugh. But I didn't mind the half day vacation. I went home and took Lucy for a snowy walk. She really enjoyed the snow.

But it wasn't her first time to see snow. She did plenty of hiking in the snow on our Colorado vacation in September. Please excuse her muddy belly.

Quilty Crafting

Back in October I attended the international quilt festival here in Houston. I bought two sets of coordinating Moda fabrics. The first is a set of forty different 5" squares called a charm pack. The second is a set of 80 triangles, two of each fabric, called Turnovers. Together all these pieces can be sewn into a quilt top. My mom is a quilter so I thought I'd take my fabric (plus a few yards of coordinating fabric) home with me at Thanksgiving. I figured I could use Mom's expertise and her big sewing room.

I sewed the triangles together to make squares, then trimmed them to be the same size as the rest of the squares. Then I laid them all out on the floor, stood back, and rearranged until they looked just right to me.


Making a quilt top involves lots of sewing and ironing. Then cutting fabric for the borders, pinning, more sewing, more ironing.

I had help from my mom.

And from her kitty.

After about 5 hours of work I had a quilt top! (It sure goes quickly when the pieces are already cut for you.) This is about 58 x 50", a perfect size for cuddling under on the couch.

My mom is going to finish it and I should be able to pick it up at Christmas!

Noviembre

Once again I've made the so-called scarf in Malabrigo. When something works well and I like the results, I often make it again for a gift. I think it's kind of like trying new recipes on yourself before you serve them at a party. You know the end result will be good.

The colorway is called Noviembre. I made this for my aunt, not for a specific reason but because I just felt like it. I plan on giving it to her over Thanksgiving weekend. It should be a good ending to the month of Noviembre.

Hoobah-in-Progress

I've done a lot of knitting lately but not a lot of posting. But I'm trying to catch up!

Here's one of the projects that has been keeping me busy. It's the Old Shale Smoke Ring, the third (I think) one I've made. The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll sock yarn. This is going to be a Christmas present for a friend.
The sheep stitch marker makes me smile.

Ishbel

I am so in love with my Ishbel shawl! I think this is my favorite thing I've ever created! The pattern is quite easy and the results are beautiful.

I chose this yarn by Miss Babs because I loved the colorway, Roasted Pumpkin. It's a perfect fall color.

Here it is, blocking on a guest bed.

I am not sure why I chose to wear it with the point to the front for the photograph. In real life I've worn it with the point in the back.

Last week I wore it to a Houston Rockets basketball game. As I was getting my purse searched for contraband before entering the arena, the searcher commented how much she liked my scarf. Another day I was paying for my purchases at Talbots. A customer in line behind me also liked it.

I'm looking forward to wearing this all Thanksgiving weekend in Colorado!

DOT -- Group Shot

This photo is from our vacation in Colorado last month. I was learning how to work the self-timer on the new camera. Can you see the mud on Lucy's belly? That's a result of hiking through snow a bit higher up.

DOT -- Laughing Lab

A few years ago at the Telluride Blues & Brews festival we were introduced to a beer called Laughing Lab. Now whenever we are home in Colorado we look for it. It was plentiful in the liquor stores of Salida. Don't you think Lucy looks like the cover girl?

Secret Pal 14 Part 3

I love the Secret Pal swap! You get to send packages to one person for three months and (maybe even better) you receive packages from your secret pal. In the last package the pal reveals herself to you. I was lucky enough to have Kim as my secret pal.

I received her third package a couple weeks ago and am finally getting around to posting photos.

What do you think? Great, isn't it?

The blue yarn is from Blue Heron Yarns. It's 1050 yards of cotton in the colorway blue violet. It'll be used to make the Shoalwater Shawl by Fiber Trends. Kim included Addi lace needles too. It's a whole project!

But that's not all. The big giant hank of yarn at the top is 13.2 oz. of New Zealand wool. To the right is merino wool from Firestone Farm in Michigan. The big flowers are actually pens. The sheep on the left is soap. I'm afraid if I get him wet he'll lose his curls so he may live out his life on the knitting book bookshelf. The sheep to the right is an ornament made of beeswax.

Yarn close-up:

Sheep close-up:

Kim, thanks so much for this package and the previous ones. You did good!

Knitting in Progress

Yes, it's been a very long time since I posted anything here. Since I last posted, I went on vacation, came back, got busy with work, increased my running mileage, enjoyed a visit from my mom, and various other things.

And I've been knitting.

This is my everlasting project, a drop-stitch scarf. I got quite a bit done on the drive to Colorado. I am loving this!

And this is what distracted me from the scarf. This is my Ishbel shawl. I fell in love with the color of this yarn. (It's called Roasted Pumpkin.) It seemed perfect for a fall shawl. I absolutely love the pattern and this is turning out really nice. I am almost done. I think it will be beautiful when it is blocked.

My friend Ariel gave me the candy corn slippers!

Poor Boys

Back in 1969 (when I was almost 4 years old and not yet a fan of rock & roll) Credence Clearwater Revival released an album called Willy and the Poor Boys.  Fast forward to 2009 when I am a huge fan of rock and also a participant in Secret Pal 14.  Look at what I received from my secret pal.  It's two skeins of laceweight soysilk yarn by Conjoined Creations in the colorway Willy and the Poor Boys.  (And a journal, maybe to record my own rock lyrics.)  What shall I make with it?  I've got 1100 yards for a really nice lace project!  I certainly don't feel like a poor boy (or girl) after receiving this!
Oh, I got a new camera so hopefully my photos will improve and do justice to such beautiful yarn!

Crofter's Cowl

I made this pretty little cowl for a swap.  It's called Crofter's Cowl and the pattern can be found on the sidebar of this blog.  I used red Malabrigo, the colorway Vermillion.  It truly is red and these pictures aren't correct.  This was quick and easy and I think it'll be a good gift.

Another Lunch Bag

I seem to do projects in twos.  The first time I am learning, the second time I am a little better.  I recently made the Bronco lunch bag and now I made a purple one.  I have a friend who really likes purple so this is a back-t0-school gift for her.  No, she doesn't actually go to school, but she's free to put whatever she wants in here.  If she does want to carry snacks, I've loaded the thing with goldfish crackers in individual serving bags.

The outside is purple polka dots.

The inside is purple butterflies.  Once again I attached a personalized tag.

This time I made the handle a bit longer, about 4".  I think this makes the bag easier to carry.  I also changed the velcro to snaps on this bag.  Despite the fact that the velcro package assures me it is iron-on and will stay put, I found that it didn't.  Snaps ought to work better.

I bet if I make another one of these bags it will be even better.

Lunch Bag

Recently I made a lunch bag.  This required following a pattern and sewing.  I'm not an expert in either, but I managed to do it.  I cut out fabric, lining, batting for the middle.  I made the handle and pockets.  I attached velcro and a decorative button.  This is the end result.  

Look at the button.  It's a football!  I've had this fabric for ages, just waiting for the right project.  This bag will be a gift.  (A gift for a person who doesn't take lunches anywhere.  But it's the thought that counts, right?  And who says its use should be limited to toting edibles?)

The lining is made of my other Bronco fabric.  I got a chance to use my personalized "by Kathy" tags.
  Go Broncos!

DOT -- Animal Friendly

Two years ago, shortly after Lucy came into my life, I bought this Jeep to haul her around in. Instead of the standard license plates I wanted the "animal friendly" version. But I'd already spent a rather large chunk of money (for me) on the Jeep and didn't feel like spending the extra $30 for the special plates. Now, since my registration needed to be renewed, I changed the license plates to reflect my Animal Friendly status.

Lucy approves!

Here's a closeup. They are in honor of both Maggie (left) and Lucy (right).

I should add that a portion of the fee I paid for these license plates goes to organizations that provide low-cost spaying and neutering. So my money went to a good cause!

Green

These are the green goods I received from a swap on Ravelry.  I generally think of myself as a blue kind of person, but looking at things I've made recently I decided I was also a green person.  So I joined the swap.  My pal, Denise from Pennsylvania, sent me four skeins of this wool-blend yarn and a pattern for a sampler stitch scarf by Ann Norling.  She also included a green stitch marker, green stitch holder, and a green grocery list pad.

Cowl x2

Knitty came out with a few new patterns recently.  I thought the Wonky Cowl would be fun, quick, and make a great gift.  (Hey, it's never too early to start on the holiday knitting!)  Each of these took two evenings apiece and that's at my glacial pace.  I made them last week.

This blue-gray one will be a gift.  The yarn is Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande.

This multi-colored one might be a gift but I really think I'll keep it for myself.  The yarn is Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Chunky.

For a fan

I finished the Bronco scarf.  It's about 62" long before the fringe.  I think the fringe really makes it look finished.  Training camp just started.  The recipient will have this in hand long before it'll be cold enough to wear it.

Secret Pal 14 Part 1

I have a very sneaky secret pal in this round (14) of Secret Pal!  I received a box from Schoolhouse Press.  Either my pal is disguising herself by having them mailing it directly to me or else she works for them.  Either way it's a great gift!  I received a Knitter's Journal.  Some pages have a grid, some are lined, some are blank, and there are quotes and tips from Elizabeth Zimmerman throughout.  There is a pattern for EZ's Mobieus and some beautiful Finnish wool to make it.  The color is between a blue and a green.  Neither of these photos show it accurately.

Thank you, secret pal!