kirstencan

Jane Austen, etc.

Here's my Stack 'o' Books from Christmas- The bottom one is Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts (wahoo!).  I immediately plowed through Austenland (again) and Twilight.  I enjoyed Twilight, especially the beginning.  Not as fond of the middle.  I'm not as excited about reading the other two in the series, but I probably will eventually.

The collected works of Jane Austen is awesome. I'm excited to go through the whole thing. Is anyone else watching the Jane Austen Masterpiece series?  I missed Persuasion, but watched Northanger Abbey - which I haven't read.  I enjoyed the show, it was pretty well done. The previews for the Mansfield Park show don't look as promising.  I read somewhere that MP was Jane Austen's favorite work.  So far it has been my least favorite of hers.  I just didn't enjoy it.

I saw The Amber Spyglass on my sidebar - ha!  I'd forgotten that I was reading that book - I put it down about a third of the way through.  Which is a shame, it's the third in a trilogy, but it's very different from the first two, very metaphysical and 'deep' - and it totally lost my interest.  Tells you a lot about my personality, eh? :)

I just finished Angela's Ashes - wow.  That's about all I can say.  It makes me feel tremendously blessed to have the knowledge, family, and material things that I have.  An amazing book.

I also just read East .  What a fun book!
Princess asked me what it was about, and I was telling her and she's like 'Oh, I know that story'.  What?  'Yeah, it's from East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon'.  I hadn't realized it's a re-telling of an old folktale.  Much along the lines of Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale.  A popular trend right now.  It's a really great read, actually, and Princess may read it next.

Now what should I read next?

Any suggestions?  Please?

While you're thinking, here's a couple more handmade gifts - I'm a lucky, lucky girl:

My mom made these cool fingerless gloves for me - I like to wear them - sometimes to play Katamari!

Letterpress cards from my SIL, Eva - I hope it's obvious that those are 'hello' cards and not 'hell' cards - although those might find a niche market, too. :)

Lists

We're back from a pleasant Thanksgiving trip to see Aaron's family.  Hope you all had a great weekend, too.  We're not in full Christmas mode yet - The Grinch has been watched (and read), I pulled  out all the Christmas books, a couple of holiday CD's and changed the pillow covers.  Not much else as of yet. It'll come.

I have a huge list of things I want to do this next month - here's what I remember of the list since I can't actually find it:

• shop update (shirts, brooches, ornaments - including custom orders)
• finish Christmas quilt
• make Christmas quilted pillow cover
• gnomes
• secret project with Princess (underway!)
• pom pom garland
• craft morning with Princess' friends
• see the Nutcracker
• make paper snowflakes
• make new stockings
• finish various gifts
• etc, etc, etc.

Yeah, that isn't nearly all of what's on my list.... must find it!

This month I'm trying to read out loud with Princess every day.  We used to do that, but have gotten out of the habit.  Last December we tried to re-read all of the American Girl Christmas books (I think my favorite is Molly's).  This year we started with Chapter 2 of Little Women (When the family gives their modest Christmas breakfast to a family that has none).  And then Princess took the book to bed with her (Yay!  It's an amazing thing to pass on your favorite books!).  I thought I'd try and find a couple of Little House Christmas chapters, too.  Does anyone else have any ideas of Christmas-y segments from books?

I also want to do more cooking with her.  She found an American Girl (Felicity) cookbook at her Nana's house this weekend and set out with Nana to make Sally Lund bread.  It turned out delicious, and I want to make more 'historic' food with her.  Actually, I think I have the 'Louisa May Alcott Cookbook' - I'll have to dig that out!

Wishing you all luck with your own Christmas lists - because I know you have them, too.

Fall Books and Movies

So our fall books and movies are in heavy rotation now.  The kids ultimate fave Halloween book is Big Pumpkin, and a new fun one we got this year is
The Wee Witches Halloween (by the author of But No Elephants - also a fave).

We put the holiday movies away during the year, so the kids are really enjoying:

It's the great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
The Nightmare before Christmas (seriously, every time I hear the music I love it more - Danny Elfman is a genius)
Ichabod Crane
Max and Ruby's Halloween

Aaron and I are waiting to have time to watch 'The Burbs' - a favorite that we save for a Halloween treat.
...

I've been reading quite a bit lately, here's the list:

Uglies and Pretties (the other two are on hold at the library - don't read the summary on the back - they're really good and not what I was expecting)
Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature (fairly entertaining, but 'eh')
Book of a Thousand Days (lovely book - not my favorite Shannon Hale, though - Princess liked it, too)
The Eyre Affair (funny, will probably pick up the sequels)
The Golden Compass (just finished it - love it!)

Also trying to (finally)finish the Series of Unfortunate Events (I'm on #10) just for the sake of being able to tell Princess I've finished them.  She is working on the Lord of the Rings series (at the end of Return of the King - her dad is so proud!:) and the Charlie Bone series.

Next up is finishing the sequels to the Golden Compass, and then reading the Twilight series (finally!). 

What have you been reading?

On Harry Potter Movies - no spoilers

We've just returned from seeing the Order of the Phoenix.  Thumbs way up on this one!  (It really was a 'Potter' weekend, as my sisters came with me to see 'Miss Potter' yesterday and it quite good, too!)

Princess came to the movie today, too - we wouldn't have let her if she hadn't already read the book - and she was really excited to see the end battle.  She didn't care for the snogging - covered her eyes and was heard to whisper 'Ew, gross!'

I practically giggled at Bellatrix Lestrange - I didn't know they'd cast Helena Bonham Carter until just last week - could they have cast her more perfectly?  Loved her.
Luna was acceptable to me, but slightly forced.

There was a real departure in music, too - I loved it!  So fitting, but different from the John Williams' scores.  And Nicholas Hooper is signed on for the music in movie #6 as well.

Looks like the next movie will come out next November, and I'm SO excited that they have the same director as Order of the Phoenix working on it.  I think he did a great job - there was a really cool style to this film and I'm excited to see what he does with the next one.

So, I have to say this is in my top 2 HP movies.  I think my favorite is still #3, but this one is a close second, if it is second.  I find it interesting that people either LOVE #3 (The Prisoner of Azkaban) or hate it.   It seems to me that the more artistic people seem to love it.  I think that both movies 3 and 5 depart the most from the books, but in a good way. They add the most atmosphere and condense the story where need be.  Movies 1, 2, and 4 are all good films, very well done, but a tad boring, I think.  Like they had a list of plot points from the book and just squeezed to get them all in.  I think as we see the sixth and seventh movies we'll see more departures like those made in 3 and 5, as the books are HUGE and filled with plot.  You just can't get every tiny detail into a movie.  It's a totally different art form, and they should look at it like that, as a film, not a book on the screen, you know?

So, are you a #3 lover or hater?  I have to know!

(and I won't hate you if you hate #3 - promise.)

(P.S.- Also, saw another preview for 'Becoming Jane' - so excited!)

Don't Bother me, I'm Reading

(Just kidding - bother away!)

Thomas accompanied me to a store this morning at 6:30am to pick up Book 7.
Aaron and I are trading off reading time.  I won't get nearly as much as I want today, as I have a lesson to finish preparing for church tomorrow (bad timing! :).  So by tonight he'll be way ahead of me, but come 2pm tomorrow, the book is MINE!

The kids are watching one of the HP movies - and we had to make cupcakes - Princess helped with the flags.  Too bad I won't let her read 7 (or 6) yet.  Mean mommy.

Here are the 2 I'd send to Capello's kids, if cupcakes mailed well. 

What time did you get your book?  (C'mon, this is an historic day! :)

Reading

I've been awful about keeping my sidebar booklists up.
Sorry about that, if you care!

Like about half the planet right now, I decided to re-read Harry Potter books 5 & 6.  I finished two weeks too early (!) and now I'm going nuts waiting for 7 - but soon!  I have to say, that 5, excluding the teen angst, might be my favorite of the series.  My other faves are probably 3 and 1.  Hmm, all the odds... so 7 is sure to be amazing!

I've also recently read Austenland by Shannon Hale and I've got to put out a little plug for it.  I believe I've mentioned that Princess and I are big fans of her books.  Austenland is her first book for adults.  It is so so cute.  A quick, fun, read (the word romp keeps coming to mind, but I'm trying to ignore it) and it would make an amazing romantic comedy movie.  Seriously funny, and romantic without being smutty. If you're a Jane Austen fan you will get a few extra chuckles thrown in.  I checked it out from the library and then let/made my mom + sister's read it - they all loved it and one of them read it twice!

I was giggling out loud while reading this book.  Seriously, I was in bed reading, Aaron was trying to sleep, and I'm keeping him awake giggling at my book (because I was at the end and had to finish it).  So go check it out.  Or buy it.  I was planning on buying a copy at a local book signing, but we ended up missing it by going out of town.  Bummer.  Another time, perhaps. 

Actually, she is a local author, I wonder if I'll ever run into her at Target? :)

Not too much going on in the book corner until Harry Potter comes out.  I'm almost regretting starting The Faeries of Dreamdark (recommended by Hale on her blog - it's a JF) because it's already good and I'll have to put it down on Saturday.

I know I'm not the only one who can't wait for Saturday, right?

Right?

Book Sale

Today was the big downtown library's annual sale.**

We went with my parents and sister, so we could tag-team - we'd switch who was watching the kids outside and who was inside shopping.

Ahh, the books.

Do you see all the books?  They're all for sale!
It's a great opportunity to get hardcover books (for $1 to boot), school books, and anything for Princess - as it's nearly impossible to keep her in books.

It gets pretty crazy, with people pushing carts or hauling bags and boxes through cramped aisles.  It can be cool, though, people start chatting, and recommending books to other people...
I hung out in the Children's aisle, and the classics, mostly.

I weeded my full duffel bag (a little - just so you could zip it) because I remembered that at least one time I have written a $60 check here...

Total: $17.50.

$17.50?

Must go back in! (Seriously, I did!)

Chasing the kids at Library Square while it's Aaron's turn.
(Monkey wears his cape a lot).

Our loot - total = 37.50.

JF's, kids' non-fiction, a CD, books to cut up, cooking and gardening books, and lots of fiction.

(The tallest pile with 'Heidi' on top is all books for Princess.  Thomas listened to his new Curious George book - but only halfway - he's WAY into this new book I got him on eBay.)

Luckily, I have a big, strong husband to carry our huge bags of books 5 blocks to the car! (You don't usually have to park that far away, but there was a city event that had a bunch of streets blocked off...)

**They told me when I checked out that it's a bi-annual sale!  Apparently I've been missing the October sale - all these years!

In Which Violet Gets a Smock

Some followups:

I've updated the JF post to include some of my other faves, like:

Daphne's Book
Family Shoes, Ballet Shoes (All the SHOES books)
The Giver and Gathering Blue
Pretty much anything Roald Dahl, esp. Matilda and Boy
Amy and Laura

These are all worth re-reading - and if you haven't read them, check them out!

Also finished The Glass Castle - HOLY COW!  You should read this book.  It's a pretty amazing story - and I didn't even realize it was a true story until I was about halfway through (duh - but I hate reading the back covers/ jackets of books - too many spoilers).  Can't WAIT to discuss this at book club.

...

I made Violet a smock to double check the very rough pattern I drew when I made Emily's.

Want a doll smock pattern?  Click here.

*Disclaimer* - This is totally based on Alicia's mini smock pattern.   Just doll-sized.  I did a lame job of making this - NOT my best work, not at all pretty, but the pattern works.  We don't keep the scanner hooked up all the time, so the other day when Aaron was scanning a couple of things I quickly scrawled this out so he could scan it for me.  The file is PDF, when you print it make sure it takes up a whole sheet of paper. I wrote basic directions on the pattern, but here is some more helpful info:

• When I originally traced Emily's smock it almost fit on one sheet of paper - so where the straps stop, just continue cutting to make the first ones pointed, and the second ones extend about an inch more and then pointed. (Hopefully this will make sense once you see the pattern...).  The second straps (the ones that cross in the back) should be longer than the first ones. 

• Clip the curves before you turn it right-side out, that will make it easier to top-stitch. 

• The pattern is for 18" dolls (American Girl, etc.) so you may have to adjust the pattern to fit a different size of doll.  That shouldn't be too hard, though.

• I didn't include the pocket in the pattern - I just made those up and placed them wherever I wanted to.  Violet's is smaller and on the side. 

• I added velcro to the straps - I made the back ones come on top of the front ones.... I'm trying to think if there's anything else I'm forgetting...  hopefully not.

• It's hard to turn those straps inside out - I did the best I could, and then used the head of a pin to pull more right-side out.

Please don't sell smocks that you make from this pattern.

Violet is happy to have her own smock now - it is especially useful as the dolls have now started school.  Princess is teaching them the basics, like math, poetry, Calvin & Hobbes, and (for science) Star Wars.

And as long as the scanner was hooked up ... I also added a printable page of directions to my pillowcase tutorial - click here!

JF's

Okay, here's my train of thought for today:

Melissa made the sweet comment yesterday that my kids must be very well dressed.  It made me smile, as the main reason I started doing lots of applique/embellishing work was because of Thomas wearing sweatpants.

For anyone new, Thomas is autistic and has sensory integration problems.  For a while in the summer and fall he refused to wear jeans.  At all.  His favorite things are 'soft pants' (sweats or pajama bottoms - or NO pants) with a big t-shirt.  I've never been a fan of knit pants and sweats for kids.  I definitely prefer khakis and jeans, but decided to buy only sweats for Thomas this year.  I figured I'd dress up his soft shirts and pants myself.  It's been great, actually.  I bought sweats that have cargo pockets and no elastic on the bottom, so they aren't hideous to look at and Thomas can pull them up and down himself instead of getting snap/zipper help.  (And his shirts are pretty fun, if I do say so myself! :)  Lately he has been wearing jeans without complaint (when all his sweats are dirty - we go through a LOT of pants here!) which I think is positive.

...

Speaking of Autism, you all must read this book:

Rules by Cynthia Lord.  It's a Newberry Honor book.   It's a JF (juvenile fiction) and it's not really about autism at all - or it's a lot about autism, depending on how you look at it.  It's a beautiful story - quick read - LOVED it.  Whether you're interested in special needs or not, you'll probably love this book - go check it out.
... 

Speaking of books:  I love JF's.  Some of my favorite re-reads are JF's.  There are so many clever and brilliant books written for children/adolescents.

Here are some of my fave JF's (many are Princess' faves, too - how cool to share books with your kids!):

Anne of Green Gables (all 8, but esp. #1 and #8)
Homecoming
Princess Academy
The Goose Girl
The Tale of Despereaux
Little House on the Prairie
A Little Princess
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Bridge to Terabithia
Harry Potter

Daphne's Book
Family Shoes, Ballet Shoes (All the SHOES books)
The Giver and Gathering Blue
Pretty much anything Roald Dahl, esp. Matilda and Boy
Amy and Laura

Also these: (some consider these JF's, some adult)
To Kill a Mockingbird
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Little Women

Do you have a fave JF?

The Poisonwood Bible & Politics

I finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver last week.  Wow. 

I had to take a little time to mull it over as there are so many issues in there - I wish we had read this book for book club so I could discuss it there.  And now, of course, I've just finished another amazing book, so before I forget details I wanted to write a little about the PB.

This was a great read, you really should read it if you haven't - I know I'm probably the last person on earth to read this! :)  It'll be a re-read for me eventually.  Here are some disjointed thoughts on the book:

• I was dismayed and embarrassed to realize I knew nothing of the U.S.'s involvement with the Congo.  I think so many of us are complacent about our country's (whichever)  foreign policy - domestic, too, for that matter.  I think we all need to be more active voices in our community and government.  But at the same time - how in the world can I handle anything else in my life right now?  The mom in the PB talks about a similar feeling - why she didn't act sooner in a certain situation - she says something about 'how could she do that when there was water to be boiled, laundry to be done, dinner to be found/made'.  I think that's how I feel about politics right now.  I care, I wish I were more involved, I don't mean to be complacent, but how can I do that when there are kids to feed, appointments to get to, laundry to be done...

        It's too bad, really, but it's what I can do right now.  I just can't keep up with everything.

        And now, tonight, I need to research some candidates/issues before the election...

• The last 1/3 of the book is really quite political - a little anti-climatic, but I didn't mind, as I didn't want the book to end, and wanted to find out how the family ended up in later years.  I appreciated that I got to find that out at all.

• My favorite character was Adah.

• I thought that the switching narrators would bug me, but it didn't, since they were telling the same storyline.
• I kinda wish the dad would have narrated one chapter.
• It took a few minutes to 'wake up' from this book each time I put it down - I felt like I was swimming in it - really captured my interest right away.  The last book I felt like that with was A Northern Light.