Rainbow wooleater snuggly

I have been meaning to post my finished rainbow Wooleater Blanket for a while.  I finished it a couple of months ago and A1 quickly laid claim to it.  It is now her snuggly, so much for my plans for a camping blanket! I used a rainbow pack of wool I bought from the craft show last year- it is Biggan Design.  Such vibrant colours, they really made me happy.  The wool in between the coloured rows is Bendigo Luxury 8 ply in stone.

Our annual pilgrimage to Flea Creek for Mother's Day was lovely but cold.  The girls seemed happy enough to run around exploring and playing frisbee.  I snuggled up next to the campfire and read on my wonderful Mother's Day gift- my new kindle.  When we got home I had a lovely roast dinner cooked for me- the perfect end to a perfect day.

55 Reading Questions

This morning I really enjoyed reading Leslie's answers to 55 Reading Questions, and decided to give them a go myself!  I'd love to read other people's answers to the questions as well, particularly bloggy book club friends!


1. Favorite childhood book?
That is a really tough one, there are SO many.  I would have to say the Emily of New Moon series by LM Montgomery, Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye and The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig.

2. What are you reading right now?
I am hoping to start The Hunger Games on the weekend!

3. What books do you have on request at the library?
None.  When at the library I am focussed on the girl's books and don't the time to borrow myself.

4. Bad book habit?
Becoming obsessive over a book and not being able to do anything else (ie sewing, housework etc) until finished.  I get very resentful of anything (ie work, the need to sleep) that gets in the way of me finishing my book!

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?
None- see 3

6. Do you have an e-reader?
Not yet!  I am hoping that situation will be rectified on Mother's Day this Sunday...

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?
One at a time.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
A little, since joining Bron's book club.  I think a little more critically about the books I am reading so I can comment on them.

9. Least favourite book you read this year (so far)?
With My Body by Nicki Gemmell.  I did not enjoy this book at all, but a friend had recommended it so I kept reading, waiting for it to improve.  Alas, it did not.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?
The Game of Thrones series of books by George RR Martin.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I do read out of my comfort zone, particularly when a book has been recommended to me by my sisters or a friend.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?
I think my reading comfort zone is quite diverse.  I tend not to read sports books or non-fiction war books (they are the domain of RB).  I also don't read crime books.

13. Can you read on the bus?
No, or the car- motion sickness.

14. Favorite place to read?
In bed of course!

15. What is your policy on book lending?
I love lending books, especially books I have really enjoyed.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?
No, we have a billion book marks.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
No.

18. Not even with text books?
Haven't you ever heard of post it notes?

19. What is your favourite language to read in?
English- although I can read basic German.

20. What makes you love a book?
I usually fall in love with the characters.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If I become obsessed with a book, or really wish it hadn't ended.

22. Favorite genre?
Historical fiction and fantasy.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did)?
I must get in to detective books.

24. Favourite biography?
A Fortunate Life by A.B Facey

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?
I have a few books about parenting and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

26. Favourite cookbook?
That is also a hard one- well you can't go past Stephanie Alexander's A Cook's Companion, but at the moment my Thermomix Everyday Cookbook gets a regular workout.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I don't think any of the books I have read this year could be termed inspirational.

28. Favorite reading snack?
Chocolate of course!

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.
I don't think hype has ever ruined a reading experience.  I have to say that waiting for the Harry Potter books to be published and the associated hype was all part of the fun of that series.  I am a bit sad that A1 and A2 won't know the agony of waiting for the next Harry Potter to be released- they can just read them all in one go!

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I don't often read formal book reviews, but listen to friends and family about the books they read (we read an awful lot!)

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
If I didn't enjoy a book, I wouldn't usually write about it, although I would definitely discuss it with friends.  I considered blogging about my experience reading With My Body by Nicki Gemmell, but thought that since I didn't really have anything nice to say I would not.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you choose?
Latin

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth.  A birthday present from my parents when I was at uni.  The sheer size of the book was the most intimidating thing about it!  I really enjoyed it though.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
I guess there is a big list of books I should read, but I am not nervous about starting any of them.  I just lack motivation.

35. Favorite Poet?
Judith Wright

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?
None- see 3

37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?
Never- see 3

38. Favorite fictional character?
I am very fond of Jane Eyre, Hermione Granger, and Gilbert Blythe.

39. Favourite fictional villain?
Gollum

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Whatever I remember to pack at the last minute!

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.
If I am busy at work or have a craft project I am focussed on I tend to hold off on reading for a while.  It wouldn't be too long though.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.
Wuthering Heights.  Year 8 English text.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Just like Leslie, nothing, and its a problem.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?
The Lord of the Rings was epic.  Completely brilliant, I am in awe of Peter Jackson's talent.  Especially as I recall Meet the Feebles.  The Harry Potter adaptations were also great.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?
Sister 2, A1 and I were all super excited when we heard Nim's Island was being made into a film.  But it did not live up to our expectations.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
I don't think I will disclose for fear of incriminating myself.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?
Craft books and cook books I do, not novels.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If I am not enjoying a book I will generally stop reading it. Just like I turn off the radio when I hear a politician talking.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?
Last year when I was unwell I organised the kid's picture books into colour order.  It looked pretty but didn't last.  Otherwise via subject and then height order.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
It depends.  I did donate several boxes of books to the Lifeline Bookfair 2 years ago, and I need to do another cull.  I finally got rid of most of my uni text books with that cull.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Vampire books (although I did read the the Twilight series when in hospital last year.  They distracted me and I didn't have to think much).

52. Name a book that made you angry?
The previously mentioned Twilight series, after I had read them.  They really are quite crap.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
I was a little apprehensive when I started Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, mostly because at my Catholic school we weren't taught much about the reformation from the Protestant perspective, and of course that Thomas Cromwell was a bit of a bastard.  Wolf Hall is now one of my all time favourite books, and I can't wait till the second book is released- this month!

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
With My Body by Nicki Gemmell- only because of my friend's recommendation.

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?








I love revisiting childhood books like Enid Blyton boarding school books with the kids.





















Your turn!

Happy Circles

Today I finished off the last of these circles which will form part of the circle in a square crocheted blanket I have been working on since last August.  Over the past few months I have been crocheting circles while waiting at dance classes, netball training, kids birthday parties, and of course while watching the second season of Game of Thrones (which, while departing from the book and causing much discussion, is still quite brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable).  This blanket is made from the leftover wool from the blanket Chelle and I made our grandmother for her birthday a couple of years ago.  I have had to buy a few more balls of the gorgeous, soft Woolganics yarn as this blanket is made up of 224 circles (Granny's blanket and A2's blanket were 168 circles).  After a focus on quilting at the start of the year, Chelle got me kickstarted on crocheting the blanket again after finishing her beautiful blanket that won a third place at the Royal Canberra Show.

I am looking forward to putting the circles together now- once again I will use this join as you go method from Attic24- another blog favourite.  This will be a focus for the next month or so as our family prepares for a big change!