Boy is it chilly around here! Bob is driving me nuts because it is too cold for us to go down to the dog park and he wants to play fetch all day long. I know, it is not his fault.

I’ve been reading a bunch since the beginning of the year. I got some books for Christmas and have a couple that I borrowed. I also have a part of this site where I write up the books I’ve read- not tons of detail about them but the links go to Amazon anyway. Thought it might be fun to talk about reading a bit since I haven’t done that in a long time.

The first, Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls was a nice little futuristic story- not wonderful but entertaining. A good library book, I think.

The second, White Teeth, I am sure everyone has seen or already read. I hate to say it (sorry Maurene!) but this one was painful for me to read… I just didn’t identify with any of the characters. I know people love it but I just couldn’t get into it.

I did enjoy Case Histories- rather dark but good. The Observations was a good historical story of an Irish girl in 1800s rural Scotland. I love Scotland and Ireland so it was fun for me.

Lastly, I am reading the bible. It really is as good as people say- I want to knit the EZ way. How can you not? She is so convincing- I am a convert.

Speaking of knitting, I found a jaywalker at the bottom of my knitting basket!

I have turned the heel and am dreading when I get to the toe- I still can’t graft to save my life. The yarn is Ellen’s Half Pint Farm.

This post kinda sucks and I feel bad- go watch this… you won’t be sorry.

I loved those books as a kid!

Steph’s got a new bookbookbook, Knitting Rules, coming out!!

March 1st!! wee!

I love me some Pride and Prejudice.

When I heard a new movie version was coming out, I grabbed my copy from the shelf immediately. You have to have the book fresh in your mind so that you can critique the movie, ya know.

I am not a huge Keira Knightley fan… but she does an acceptable job with Lizzie. She does capture her joy and humor but doesn’t do quite as nice a job with her temper, I think, as the BBC version‘s Elizabeth.

She did look awfully pretty in the movie though… as did everyone actually. The sets and scenery was just incredible. You can see a handful of the properties they used for the movie on the website… Pemberly was everything I dreamt it was in my head.

I loved Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennett; Rosamund Pike was a serene Jane; and Judi Dench was freaking awesome as Lady Catherine, of course.

I also just happened to catch the BBC version on Biography channel; I haven’t seen it in a while but it was cool to watch it after seeing the new movie version. I think that one is just better because they were able to include so much more of the book with a longer version… and of course… Colin Firth. No need to say more.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to watch the whole thing because my classes interfered… I would run home afterward and catch the last hour of the 2nd and 3rd parts. It has left me unsatisfied though and now I think I either need to just buy the darn thing from Amazon (only 20 bucks! how they taunt me! extra stuff! special edition!) or go see the movie again.

I am a silly girl.

I had no idea that this book came out yesterday!

It is a good thing that I am a good girl and have obeyed the pre-birthday moratorium on book buying… otherwise I would be still sitting in store’s parking lot reading it.

For those of you who don’t know, Diana Gabaldon writes these fabulous books called the Outlander series and you should read them. They are super awesome and ridiculously addictive but in a fun kind of way. You laugh! You cry! You throw the book across the room! It is fantastic.

Everyone I have recommended this series to has loved it… give Outlander a shot. They are great books to cuddle up with as the days are getting shorter and cooler. Grab a blankie and have a loved one bring you food.

Gosh, I wish I hadn’t already read it! If only I could have selective amnesia. haha

Here are the books in order:

Outlander

Dragonfly in Amber

Voyager

Drums of Autumn

The Fiery Cross

There is also a companion book, giving us rabid fans more information:

The Outlandish Companion

Louise!! Did you see it was out?! Gee, I hope it is out in Canada. Otherwise, I am super mean.

I was so sad that I couldn’t go to MS&W but guess what?! I was there!

Jenny made a little frecklegirl doll and she got to participate in all the fun- HOW SWEET IS THAT?! I have the best bloggy friends. EVER!

Here is a good pic that I “borrowed” from Lara’s post! (hope that is okay, Lara! Mini fg totally forgot to take pictures! haha)

I am all over the place! (Wendy’s page (I am sooo going to be famous now with a link from her site! haha), Carrie’s (little fg with the Harlot even!), Anne Marie’s (whose blog address has changed to here btw- look at that awesome pic of fg with the girls and another stuffed friend- hehe) and Lara’s, as I already mentioned…)

Anyway! I am so touched to have been included. Now, little fg didn’t go home without any yarn did she? (just kidding!)

So you may be wondering what on earth could have kept me away from such an awesome event? I am having some technical difficulties right now so the full post will have to wait but here’s a teaser:

Casey and I can’t go to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival after all… and I got so excited too.

It turns out that Casey’s adorable grandfather has a birthday party that day and he is turning 95. What can I do?! You can’t not go to a sweet old man’s 95th birthday celebration!!

So, I will not be there to meet everyone and that is the thing that just makes me so sad. SO SAD.

I was so depressed that I laid down on the bed last night in a pouting fit (who is a grown-up? not me!) around 7:30 pm and Casey came in to try to make me feel better. The next thing I knew, it was midnight! We got 11 hours sleep last night and boy did it feel good! oops!

Anyway, I started knitting my first sock just now. It took me the entire Pieces of April to get the toe done but goshdarnit, I did it! I am ridiculously proud of this accomplishment. Look at it! It is a toe!

Go me!

I am using Wendy’s fabulous toe- up sock pattern. (Thanks, Carrie, for the recommendation!) Wendy’s instructions were so clear that I was able to do it on the first try!

(Casey is working on the knitting site as I write this. We are both terrified someone will steal our idea now… but are so glad that people seem to think it is a good idea! yay!)

Crappy day at work? yep.

Got trash to read? yep.

Got chocolate? yep.

Got cool YARN HARLOT BOOK? yep.

Sweet.

This morning Casey and I had high hopes of what we would accomplish today. He even made a LIST.

Now, it is the end of the day and I don’t think we accomplished much. Casey did do the laundry, I made dinner and we did clean out our books. Casey pulled all of them out of the bookshelves and we sorted and purged a good amount.

At one point, I didn’t think we were going to make it though. Our books were covering every inch of our living room floor. I had to run in the bedroom, bury my head in the pillows and pretend I was an ostrich.

Getting rid of books always makes me grumpy though. I don’t like seeing them leave, even if I am not particularly in love with the book. I am weird that way. I remember where I was when I read it, who gave it to me, or who I was hanging out with at the time… it makes me sad when I give them away

As we were organizing the living room, I also came to the realization that I have a ridiculous amount of yarn. Yes, I can admit it. I actually need to purchase more storage baskets! It makes me want to load up the fridge, go the the video store and not leave my house for a week- just so I can make a good dent in my stash. Oh, how heavenly that would be.

Unfortunately, it is off to work tomorrow for me. The students are going to be back too. Darnit. This working for a school thing would be great if there weren’t students. Just kidding, of course. They are awesome most of the time.

Going along with the theme of the day, I finished reading a book today. (Gee, I wonder why we were not so productive? haha)

It was a pretty good fluff book and I needed it because I have been crawling along another book and needed a little break. It wrapped up with a nice tidy happy ending and that is just what a girl needs at 10pm on a Sunday night.

mmm.

I got lunch at the dining hall of the university I work for today. It can definitely be hit or miss though and today I lucked out.

I used to go to lunch with the coolest gals ever before they moved to California (Laura) and had a beautiful baby boy (Jenn). I am happy for them but lunch has just not been the same. We would totally vent for an hour about whatever annoyances came up that morning, laugh and eat yummy food. I miss them.

Most of this semester, I haven’t even had time to take a lunch break instead I just to throw food down my stomach while I work. Bummer.

But today! I had a nice lunch. I got some risotto with garlic, tomatoes, eggplant, tofu, and zucchini. Yum!

I also checked a few of my blogs, and read my book.

yay!

The only thing is, the meal had about a tablespoon of garlic. Anyone got any gum?!