The Reading List

I put a few stitches in This Is the Day this evening, but otherwise I haven't been doing a lot of stitching lately, so I thought I'd post about books. I got the idea from Karen V, who shared what she's been reading lately. Here are some of what I want to read this summer:

My current reads are the bottom three. "Blackout" is Connie Willis's latest novel. I've read 5 or 6 of her books and I really like the time travel stories -- which this is -- but the others, umm, not so much. Then we have a book about the notebooks in which Agatha Christie jotted her ideas for plots and characters, her outlines, and even the occasional grocery list! As a long-time Agatha fan, I had to read it. I just started "This Book is Overdue"; it's about modern librarians. The next three up are mysteries: "The Blue Rose" by Anthony Eglin (I've not read him before but I saw another of his books mentioned on Anna's blog and was intrigued), "The Language of Bees" by Laurie R. King -- one of her Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes mysteries (they're excellent!), and "A Sea of Troubles" by Donna Leon. She writes another excellent mystery series, set in Venice. Finally on the top of the pile is Madeleine Albright's autobiography. I've browsed through it and it looks interesting and very readable; I'm looking forward to getting into it.

I'm sure the books on this list will shift :-) I know that Alexander McCall Smith has a new Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency book on the way, so that'll have to be added to the pile, and I have quite the stash of unread books plus a magnetic library card that just draws me to that wonderful place! My new job is making it so much easier for me to find time to read; I only have 30 minutes for lunch so rather than go out, I stay in and eat in the lunchroom or at my desk and read. I also get home much earlier, which gives me more opportunity at night.

How about you? What are your reading plans for the summer?

Celtic Birds - A Little Progress

I pulled this out of the WIP basket this evening and put in a few stitches. I like this piece -- I like the design and I really like the fiber I chose; I had part of a skein of Needle Necessities in my stash and I thought the colors were perfect for something Celtic. I like to have one or two small pieces like this in progress all the time. They're perfect go-to projects for work evenings when I don't feel like or just don't want to get into something involved. The model picture on the chart shows this mounted in a box, but I'm thinking I'll finish using Blackbird's instructions for a pin cushion (although the chart is from Sunflower Seed, not BBD). I don't know that I want to stick pins in it, but filled with ground walnut shells it should make a very nice book weight.

On the job front, I talked to the manager at my new place and she told me that I passed the security screening (I didn't think I'd have trouble with that but one never knows!) and I officially start on Monday! Friday is my last day at my current job. It's been a good job as far as the work, working conditions and co-workers go, but the new one offers much more opportunity, pays a little better (with the possibility of increases) and cuts my commute from 30 to 12 miles each way. Plus, it's in the field I went to school for. It's time to move on.

Happy stitching!

Hello Again After a Time of Not Much Stitching!

My stitch has been at the beach for the past few days; wish it'd taken me with it! It's been kind of a wacky week. I started training my replacement at work, and I think she's going to do very well. I start the new job on the 19th if all goes well -- they have to do a security check, which I think I should pass! I'm looking very much forward to the transition. Aside from going from a commute of 60 miles round trip to one of 24, the new job is what I went to school for and it's time I got into it.

I didn't get any stitching done last yesterday -- the afternoon turned hectic and I just didn't feel like it, but today I finally got started on Robert's Stocking! And I actually got a decent picture of it; I finally invested in a new digital camera and it takes awesome close-ups. I knew the problem with the other camera wasn't totally operator error!

I'm stitching this over 2 on 25 count lambswool linen, using #5 perle coton and oh boy does it feel strange! It's almost like working on canvas. I can't remember the last time I made such large stitches. The fabric is sooo stiff! I have it in Q-Snaps and it's really kind of awkward, but I can't imagine trying to stitch it in-hand.

I did get a good bit of work done on Moon Garden last weekend, mostly while sitting in airports -- 3 hours making a connection in Charlotte on Saturday and 3 hours waiting for a flight in Charleston, WV, on Sunday.

Finally, I haven't posted any kitty pics in a while, so here's some togetherness.

Mimi just pesters Timothy to no end, so it's nice to have some peace in the family for a change.

Have a great week and happy stitching!