Uncommon Reader and the Uncommon Cat

so, here I was, trying to take an interesting picture of plain green 2/3 finished sweater, a bright red and very funny book (‘The Uncommon Reader’ by Alan Bennett) when along came a very uncommon AND funny cat, Pixie, to lend a hand paw.  Hmm,  this might be the start to a more interesting than usual Yarn Along post.

The sweater I have mentioned before, (its a secret) but the book is new to me, and my blog. Its one of the books I picked up at the last Book Crossing and coffee get together. The story is about what would happen if The Queen started, and got addicted to reading. Its cute, and a very fast read. (if only the sweater was a fast knit!)

While I was taking the picture… inside this time as it is pitch black outside now… Pixie meandered into the scene, moved the ball of yarn and sat down and posed. I kid you not. The cat wanted her picture taken.See for yourself.

I am not sure if she was more interested in the ball of yarn, or being at the center of attention…   either way, its funny.        Now, I am going to go back to reading,  and maybe knit another row or two on the sweater.   Don’t forget to check out Ginny’s  Yarn Along blog post, and follow the links to some of the other bloggers posts as well.

I just joined the  Work In Progress Wednesday group as well.  Please check them out here!

Knitting a Sweater and Reading about Mittens

Winter is coming.

I can’t tell you too much about what I am knitting. It is a surprise for someone. I can tell you it is going to be soft, warm, and oh so very cozy. I can also tell you that cat hair sticks to it like crazy.

Last week, I picked up a pile of knitting books from the local library. I can devour patterns so much faster than I can actually knit them, but the pictures are pretty, and very motivational.

They taunt me. … keep knitting, don’t stop, don’t you want to make something pretty and colourful like these mittens? … oh, knitting dark green stockinette stitch again… still…. with 8 skeins more to go? … don’t you wan to knit something small and colourful like these mittens? … keep knitting… don’t stop….

I am going to finish this sweater before I cast on another project. I swear. I solemnly swear. MUST KEEP KNITTING.

Knitting: Green Sweater Reading 'Mostly Mittens'

This is my second post in the Ginny’s Yarn Along on the small things blog. Its fun to see who else is participating, what they are reading and knitting. I see Ginny is reading one of my all time favourite stories, ‘Howards End’

Yarn Along Read Along Blog Along

I just found an interesting blog by a lady named Ginny about two things that go very well together. Reading and Knitting…. Here is a peak….

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Yarn Along
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

So here goes. My first knitting & reading post.

I have been reading the Sword of Truth series for a few years now. Chainfire is the 9th book of 12, and I have just opened the cover today (inspired to do so by this Yarn Along). I love reading about Richard and Kahlan’s adventures. The books are long, but I read them very quickly, putting most other things in life on hold! I don’t know if I can ration my time between reading this book and knitting. It might be all or nothing… but we will see.

The socks are almost finished. I am using Patons Kroy Sox FX, Cascade Colours, and Weasley Homestead sock pattern by Erica Lueder I originally planned to make these for someone as a Christmas gift, but they are turning out a bit small… funny.. they seem to be ‘just my size’… sooooo, I guess they are just my socks now.

If anyone else wants to join in the Yarn Along, join me, it looks like it will be fun, and a nice way to connect with other knitting/reading bloggers.

I also should tell you about BookCrossing.com if you are not already aware.

This is a description of BookCrossing copied from their website:

What is BookCrossing?

It’s the World’s Library. It’s a smart social networking site. It’s a celebration of literature and a place where books get new life. BookCrossing is the act of giving a book a unique identity so, as the book is passed from reader to reader, it can be tracked and thus connecting its readers. There are currently 966,366 BookCrossers and 8,236,297 books travelling throughout 132 countries. Our community is changing the world and touching lives one book at a time.

What’s our mission?

Very simply, we aim to connect people through books.

How do we do it?

Label. Share. Follow. Breath new life into books instead of letting your old favorites collect dust – pass them along to another reader. Our online archival and tracking system allows members to connect with other readers, journal and review literature and trade and follow their books as lives are changed through “reading and releasing”. Users are able to tag and track their individual books by marking them with BCIDs (BookCrossing Identity Numbers). Each BCID is unique to each book – once it’s registered on our site, the book can then be followed and journaled forever. BookCrossing is free to join and free to play. So don’t be ‘shelf’ish with your books – read and release!

When and how did it start?

Although there were websites tracking things such as dollar bills and pictures, business partner Ron Hornbaker noted that nothing existed for tracking books. After all, books were more than just tangible objects, rather they possessed elements of emotional attachment and strong opinion; books were not only items collected and revered, but were intrinsically shared. This was the nidus that began our journey. With the help of Ron’s wife, Kaori, and cofounders Bruce & Heather Pedersen, the site was launched on April 21, 2001. The site remains a fun way to track and share books while connecting people at deeper levels using books as the architecture and glue to facilitate the Great Conversation.

Do check into BookCrossing yourselves. I’ve met some nice people (at a monthly coffee and book exchange) already!