Archive for reading

you’ll never see it in Trivial Pursuit

09.30.09 at 9:42 pm · Filed under other crafty stuff, reading

… but here are a few pointless facts I can share with you.

  • My cross stitch charts, not counting freebie printouts, weigh slightly more than 20 kilos
  • My linen stash, not counting the stuff I “have” to have right on hand, fills a medium sized moving box
  • My finishing fabrics and the fabrics I’ve purchased over the years to make clothes for the kids (stop laughing!) fill two medium moving boxes
  • My magazines fill one small moving box (haven’t weighed it, but suspect it’s over 20 kilos)

arden by two small boxes

I haven’t done any stitching, more’s the pity, as my hours have been eaten up by sorting, tidying, cleaning, and reorganizing. It’s not a list of things I seem to have any real gift with, and I’ve been feeling grumpy with all the extra work that I need to get done in addition to my already full daily schedule. I’ve been trying to set aside a day a week with friends, although that won’t go through this week. Next week, however, fingers crossed that I’ll be seeing someone special from the stitching community – but I won’t name names for fear of jinxing it.

So what have I been doing to fill up what are normally my stitching hours?

Well, meet my repainted hallway, formerly known as the Hall of Fame.
downstairs hall

My stairwell. I ask you, “Does it get any more boring than white??”
stairway

My formerly glowing yellow wall, which some people found a bit over-the-top, but which I found very uplifting during the gray days. Oh, and a sparkling clean overhead lamp.
dining nook

And my totally mucked out, dusted down, and practically empty (by my standards) TV console/bookcase combo.
TV nook

Even Gil’s cage has suffered. I mean, been cleaned. Guess who does not find it an improvement? LOL.
Gil munching down in a clean cage

This would all mean much more if I showed before pictures, but no way am I going to embarass myself like that!!! LOL.

To take the stress off, I’ve been re-reading Elizabeth Moon’s trilogy The Deeds of Paksenarrion in bits and snatches – it’s a great release from housework to read about a gigantic blonde warrior woman, I assure you!

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had you also noticed?

06.11.09 at 3:29 pm · Filed under Stash, friends, reading

My voracious reading has stopped. I cannot bear the library shelves any longer. I’ve read everything there that interests me. I’ve scoured 2nd hand book events, but there’s relatively little in English (and what there is is usually along the line of bodice-rippers). We’re on a bit of a budget that curtails purchasing new books. And our own books are mostly packed up at the moment as we continue to shift the kids’ bedrooms in hopes of finding a balance that works for them all. So there’s been too little reading going on in  my life and I’ve missed it.

Enter the post woman. With a parcel. From Anna.

Now Anna had mentioned that she was sending off a little something for my birthday, but I thought she might mean that the way I do when I say it ( = you may see it this birthday, you may see it next birthday) and didn’t think much more of it. Till today. Because look what she sent! The wrapping paper is so fun, and her card is handmade – they’re both gorgeous! (I saved the paper! I’m turning into my Grandma!) And look what’s inside!

gifts from Anna

Gifts from Anna of the Stitch Bitch

I’ve already begun reading the collection of Alice Munro stories and I love it already. I fell for her when I took a university class on Canadian authors. Her style of writing manages to feel both very personal and also very broad in scope. She’d be fascinating to talk with. (Though perhaps my current life, which seems to consist mainly of sorting laundry and vacuuming behind the couch, wouldn’t make spectacularly interesting conversational fodder. LOL.)  And Paul Auster has become one of my favorite contemporary novelists ever since reading his novel Oracle Night. He and Haruki Murakami are new-to-me authors that I’ve only gotten into during the past year or two, and I can’t get enough of them.

So a great big thank you to Anna for these gems. And a thank you from my family, too. Apparently I get a bit testy when deprived of reading material for too long. ;)

A bit later in the day, a mystery postal worker slipped Vikki Clayton’s Be-series through the mail slot. Ahhh. Gorgeous, aren’t they? I purchased the full series with the exception of Be-Bopped.

Be-series by Vikki Clayton

And because talent runs strong in some families, I’ve also purchased two charts from Liz Matthews’ etsy shop. If you didn’t know, she’s Kathy Barrick-Dieter’s daughter. I’m so seeing A Pennsylvania Bird done up in Vikki’s silks, aren’t you?

Pennsylvania Bird by Elizabeth's Garden

My Cat's Quilt

Time flies when you’re having fun, and I see I’ve spent far too long typing this. There’s much yet to be done here at Chateau Chaos today and the hours run short, so off I go. Wishing you well in whatever your day brings to you.

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green thumbs, books, and other good stuff

05.23.09 at 3:23 pm · Filed under Stash, life stuff, reading

Oh, the time is just flying by faster than I can possibly keep up with it. May is nearly at an end! How did that happen?

This week, I continued doing chores inside & outside the house – we got off to such a good start last weekend and it felt so good to see a few long-deferred things finally done …. This week’s biggest chore was getting our front garden back into presentable shape. The ‘indigenious’  plants were knee-high already, making it impossible to see many of the ‘real’ plants. Finding time to work out there has been a challenge, as the kids have had half the week off school (and before you ask, no, they are not helpful co-gardeners – quite the opposite!) but yesterday afternoon saw everything neat and tidy. Hopefully my hens & chicks will spread fast, as well as the ground-covering herbs I planted. Niek wants to put gravel in as well, to create a sort of meandering path through the plants and shrubs. Best of all, although I only put the bird feeder up late yesterday afternoon, a lady blackbird had her breakfast there this morning! This morning I started on the back garden. Now that’s a challenge!

garden collage

I’ve also been stitching – though not as much as I’d like – and although neither of my exchanges are done, that’s because I decided to double the amount of stitching for the Prairie Schooler exchange. When I got my little bit done, it just seemed so paltry. I re-thought the finishing and decided to do something double-sided. Getting those out in the mail this week will be a top priority.

Mail has come in this week, even if it hasn’t gone out. I received two books from the UK – one is a English version of a Dutch book that I already have about sampler motifs. The English version is obviously easier for me to read, but it’s also a later reprinting of the book and is in much sturdier condition. And it includes the graphs for a complete sampler, something left out of the original Dutch publication.

Sampler Motifs and Symbolism

I also splurged on this gorgeous volume, The Goodhart Samplers. Not only are the photos utterly breathtaking, the book is absolutely packed with information about different sampler styles, history, and much more. I’ve only been able to glance at it since it arrived yesterday, but I’m looking forward to some serious time poring over it.

inside page of The Goodhart Samplers

I had to make another purchase from Kathy Barrick-Dieter’s etsy shop. When I saw she was selling shop models that she’d stitched with her very own (talented!) hands, I knew I had to have something for my own home. Kathy has been one of my favorite designers ever since I got (back) into cross stitching about 6 years ago. It’s very cool to have something she stitched herself – not to mention that this wee box is adadorable in its own right!

T is for Thread

And finally, the mail brought the latest (and last) LOTM from Vikki Clayton. Next month’s will be a surprise gift from Vikki for fulfilling the other 5 months. Anyone who still hasn’t tried her 35 count linen should do so soon, because she’s selling her remaining stock and not purchasing any more. Boo hoo. I love the stuff. I didn’t go for the floss of the month this month because I’ve made more purchases than normal, but I did want to try out her Be-Smurfed and Be-Redded (as I like the Be-Grimed very much).

LOTM and silk from HDF

When Niek and I were gamboling around The Hague this week, I picked up a copy of The Art of William Morris in Cross Stitch. It’s a book I’ve flirted with buying in the past, but the price was just too high. See, I love art nouveau but I don’t know how soon I’d actually get around to stitching any of it. (Mostly, I just want to have it. LOL!) But when I saw it marked down to 8 euro, it was a guilt-free purchase. ;) I also snapped up a Neil Gaiman novel we didn’t have (Anansi Boys) and Cowboy Angels by Paul McAuley. I devoured Anansi Boys in a single day (as did Niek) and am enjoying Cowboy Angels at a slightly slower pace. ;)

Art Nouveau xs

And, in the immortal words of Porky Pig, “That’s all, folks!” I hope your weekend is full of sunshine and smiles!

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she who has health, has everything

03.06.09 at 11:50 am · Filed under charity, freebie links, give-away, life stuff, reading, stitching

I have to admit that I’m beginning to feel a little freaked out by the trials and tribulations that friends and family are suffering. It was bad enough when it was “just”  finances, but lately it seems like almost everyone I care about has been suffering from worrisome illnesses.  I don’t want to get up on a soapbox and make a speech, but I needed to say something. You wonderful people take care of yourselves; and if you want or need to talk, don’t hold it in – getting it out will be better for your health in the long run. Big,warm hugs to you.

Let’s see, stitching …. I have been stitching and finishing. Su’s seasonal exchange came out pretty good – though I always worry because I cannot create those wonderfully feminine delights that she is so great at – and hopefully the mail will rush it to her. As soon as that was finished, I got busy with a charity square – it’s for a rush quilt, so time is of the essence.  The design is an old freebie from Sharon Crescent called “Swirly Girls”  and I’m doing it in my own choice of DMC on white evenweave. Anyone who has this design but hasn’t stitched it yet: Beware, the chart contains errors. (It is stitched straight, but it looks crooked because of the angle at which I took the photo.)

Swirly Girls WIP for breastcancerquilt

I’ve also been reading. I really, really enjoyed Hearts in Atlantis. And now I’m enjoying The Bright Forever. I also have a couple of library books that called my name when I popped in yesterday with Rowen & Arden. Rowen, btw, is back at school today for half a day. Though she’s still very tired and pale, she really wanted to see her friends and get out of the house for a few hours.

Speaking of getting out of the house, Niek and I are going out to dinner tonight without the children. Gasp! It’s only been about two years since the last time. I hope I remember how to behave in a restaurant. LOL. Because Rowen’s not 100% and because it’s a new babysitter, we’re only going downtown to a new-to-us Cuban restaurant.

For some new and interesting goings-on: There is a giveaway going on at Kerin’s blog for some great ATC cards associated with the Australian fires. Pop over and take a look. :)   Nicole is celebrating her 1000th post with a stunning giveaway! Sue has started up a blog specifically for the delights of Blackbird Designs. She’s taking sign-ups if you’re interested! And Betty has yet another gorgeous freebie available at her blog!

Well, I guess I’ve rattled on long enough. Thanks so much for visiting and commenting. Your friendship means so much to me. Stay healthy!!

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i can still wield a needle

02.25.09 at 10:44 pm · Filed under exchanges, freebie links, life stuff, reading

I started my FS Easter exchange  piece today. My eye fell on a rabbit that just begged to be stitched. Specifically, it begged for stitching in a rather unusual color combination – sort of along the PS colorways, but different – that I hope my partner will like. I must say that I like it. ;)

I also continue to devour novels, and find that very comforting. I’m re-reading Hearts in Atlantis now – it was so  long ago when I read it last that I don’t really remember it at all – and I’m enjoying it tremendously. I also liked Duma Key, but it was so sad. Yes, a sad novel by Stephen King.

I’ve probably spent too long online today. After drooling over the stunning mail-art that Edgar received, I had to pop over to Marie’s new-to-me blog. Anyone who can create such a masterful MA deserves some attention, right? Imagine my surprise when I saw a design she’d created – and it’s a bird, too! You’ll have to go look.

I also read Annie’s blog today, as I do whenever she posts, and after reading her thoughts on her HOHRH WIP, I’ve also decided to re-start Shores of Hawk Run Hollow using two-over-two instead of the one-over-two (on 40 ct) that I’ve been using. I just was not feeling the love, and after reading her post, it clicked for me. This means finding a different piece of linen - I don’t like the bulkiness of 2-over-2 on 40 ct - but I’m sure I can rustle up something. ;)

Hoping this finds you happy and healthy!

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your patience shall be rewarded

01.20.09 at 2:46 pm · Filed under SAL, arden, dog walking, reading, round robins, stitching

You guys are too good to me. Now this is where my stitching is at this moment, which is a sunny moment – a rare thing in the Netherlands in January in my experience – but I hope to uncover my turbo needles later in the day and tear right through Brightneedle’s Covered Bridge Sampler which will be to the right of the cemetery (The Olde Churchyard by Designs By Pamela, altered). You’ll notice that Four Friends has been finished/changed, including Aunt Kathy’s (aka the girl in purple) dress and the white flowers by the door became rosebushes (trust me, they are). The kitty and the bunny are clamouring for more wildlife, too – the cat, a rough old tom that I’m calling Dick (as in ‘every Tom, Dick, and Harry’), wants some birds. Anyway, here’s my Primitive New England Village. (There’s something showing through the linen by the tree at the church, btw, that’s not stitching.)

Primitive New England Village 2nd square done

Primitive NE Neighborhood WIP 

*For those who’ve asked, I’ve been editing my photos using Picnik. I love how easy they make it, but I hate how slow it is, even with our hi-speed connection.

For a laugh, here’s my progress with Shores of Hawk Run Hollow. I’ve only stitched 3 1/2 hours on it (OMG, am I a slow stitcher or what?!). My progress is pretty laughable compared to Heather and Cathy,  my unofficial SAL-mates. I’ve shown it in the Q-Snaps so you’ll see just how insignificant my progress really is! (That’s the laptop showing through – I used it as an impromptu easel.)

shores of hawk run hollow

I’m not having a lot of luck staying off my foot, but it’s healing up despite me. I still limp, but that’s better than hobbling. Or at least it is in my private dictionary. ;) Off to the ER doc tomorrow to get it checked and to hopefully burn the smelly elastic support sock I’ve had to wear all week. The kids have been great – Max even helped with the dishes last night!

While off my feet, I’ve been reading. I just finished Every Dead Thing by John Connolly and the gruesome title gives you an idea of just how dark and horrific the story is. I really enjoyed the references to John Donne, a poet I briefly thought of building an academic career around in my misspent youth. And the Epilogue’s reference to Portland, Maine is the exact same neighborhood I lived in – I could look down the hill and nearly over to the Inn at St. John (where I’ve also lodged). Ah, these little touches of home. :) Next up, by the same author (I checked out the only two books the local library has by him) is The White Road.

Here are my furry canines, who greatly miss their daily walks and have been very naughty this week as a result. You’d never know it by looking at them, though, would you? They have their paws crossed that the doc says I can go back to walking them again.

edited photo of Lola and Rigby

And in closing, here’s Arden reminding us all that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! :D

breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

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1806

11.26.08 at 12:01 am · Filed under life stuff, philosophical ponderings, reading, stitching, stitchy gifts, weather

Can it really be 200 years ago that Wordsworth wrote these words? They ring so true and so immediate in today’s world…

snow at night closeupThe world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature that is ours;…

I’ve been hiding out, trying to process things and not become a drag or a bore while I’m at it. I shall spare you the details, don’t worry. ;)

I must say that Tanya certainly cheered me up hugely with a surprise gift today (thank you, Tanya!!) and hopefully I’ll soon be able to stitch up some of her absolutely perfect designs – but first I need to let my poor thumb heal. I managed to include sliced thumb with sliced cheese when I was whipping up some boxed lunches this morning. Ouch. No icky pictures – just looking at it makes me go over all wobbly.

I had been stitching, though. I finally started Max’s surprise Christmas gift of a stitcher’s project roll made up of the seasonal SAL panels offered by Helga Mandl earlier this year (and part of last year, I believe) in the Wonderful Cross Stitch World group. It’s pretty far from my usual choice of subject, but it’s fun and Max will love it. I’ll post a picture once there’s a little more to see.

I’ve also been busy with a few more small tokens of gratitude for friends who’ve been so kind and generous to me this year. I’m glad to hear from friends that things have begun arriving. Hooray for the postal service when it works! As I can’t show you a real picture, here’s a little tease.

StacyNashpocketdetail

We’ve had some real winter weather this week! Astonishing, really. I’ve enjoyed it tremendously – the dry cold air, the snow and ice … it’s a little bit of home. And as my mom points out, it really is so much easier to enjoy when you don’t have to shovel it, salt it, or otherwise deal with any long term effects from it. LOL!

dog walking in the snow at night

snowfall at night

I’ve been happily reading The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dumont. I’ve read Mapping the Edge by her several years ago and enjoyed that, but this novel is just so gripping. I find it popping up in my thoughts at random times during the day or even when I wake up at night.

It’s just the kids and me this week, as Niek’s away on business. Not my favorite arrangement, but I keep reminding myself that I’m lucky he doesn’t have to travel more for his job. Here’s a quick snap I took of the younger kids clambering over him.

my rowdy crew

Wishing one and all a happy week and, for those celebrating, a Thanksgiving full of family love.

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“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”

10.28.08 at 8:05 pm · Filed under family, life stuff, philosophical ponderings, reading, stitching

We’ve talked about how time is a funny thing – it goes too slow, it goes too fast, it goes but it’s never really gone ’cause we have our memories …. Well here at Chateau Chaos, we’re celebrating 8 years of the stuff since Niek and I enjoyed our first date. Hard to believe that 8 years have whizzed by us, but also equally hard to believe we haven’t always been together. Time’s a funny thing.

Niek surprised the heck out of me after taking the kids to school by not going to work himself. “We’re going out for the day!” was his announcement. With four kids and as many furbabies, getting a babysitter just is not something that happens here – so Niek cleverly arranged to take the day off work and to whisk me (and Arden) off for a day of fun in the big city of Rotterdam. The weather was a fright – strong winds, and heavy rains – but that didn’t deter us from making our way to the big bookstore chain there that has a fantastic offering of English-language literature. Here’s what we came away with (The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman isn’t in the picture because Niek had already grabbed it, LOL!). You can see that I’ve become pretty partial to Paul Auster and Haruki Murakami. We are both huge Gaiman fans. The Pavord book is for me and the others are Niek’s. There are also some more that we bought for the kids, but they’re already hidden away for Christmas.

8th anniv bookshopping

We were back in Gouda in time to pick up the kids from school, and then the six of us made the most of a rainy day by watching a film, eating popcorn, drinking hot cocoa, reading, or sewing – as our interests dictated. ;) I honestly cannot imagine a more perfect way to spend a day with the people I love. I told Niek that if there had been any way to pull the idea of my dream family from my subconscious, it would be a near-perfect match to the reality we’re blessed with. :D

8th anniv popcorn and flick

My biggest and littlest boys

Here’s my humble little offering to Niek this year. I try to make him something every year. I also thought to turn the tables and surprise him with flowers for a change.

Love BOAF 8yr anniv gift

8th anniv flowers

I hope this finds you well. I know that several friends and family members are experiencing huge uncertainties right now, and I just want to say that I’m thinking of you and hoping right along beside you that the silver lining is just around the next corner. xoxo

 

*(from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.)

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the first week of october has flown by…

10.08.08 at 10:29 am · Filed under arden, charity, life stuff, reading, stitching

I’m making a concerted effort to stay focused on breast cancer awareness this month. Maybe it’s my age, maybe it’s the shock of hearing about family who’ve been affected, or maybe it’s just time I woke up … but in any case, I hope I’m not boring your socks off. Even more – I hope I manage to give anyone who needs it, that last little nudge to take care of her own health. On that subject, here is a link to a youtube video that Anne S sent me – I had never heard of this form of breast cancer, and I’m willing to bet that my doctor (and maybe yours, too!) hasn’t either. Please take a few minutes to watch, and to pass the word.

Don’t forget to sign up for the giveaway on this blog, at Stitch Pink, or by placing an order/making a purchase from my etsy shop!

I’ve also finished a quilt square for the yahoo group that makes quilts for women who are fighting or have fought the battle against breast cancer. The woman who will receive this quilt loves owls and retro designs, so I thought this design was perfect for her. The owl all by itself (the original design) seemed a little too stark, so I added some leaves from a Blackbird Designs chart to cozy it up a bit. ;) It’s stitched on 18 count white Aida using DMC. The colors are a bit off, despite photo editing, because I took the picture at midnight and then promptly packaged it up for today’s post.  (Speaking of post, please be on the lookout Hazel, Cynthia aka beestitcher, and Jessica aka Deb’s daughter. LOL!)

OwlQuiltSquare

Last night I had some help in the kitchen during dinner preparations. As I watched Arden busily playing, I couldn’t help but wonder how it’s possible that ten whole years have passed by since Max kept me company like this. (Chiloe, you’ll notice he’s wearing the clothes you sent!)

Tiny Chef 1

Tiny Chef 2

Tiny Chef 3

Finally, on a reading note, I tore through A Scientific Romanceby Ronald Wright (after I decided to keep reading it – I nearly didn’t make it beyond page 30) and although I believe the novel is flawed on numerous counts (I can’t help but point that out in case anyone decides to read this), I believe the idea of the novel – the near annihilation of the human race due to our current course of genetic tinkering and wasteful consumption – is very thought-provoking. Taking breaks yesterday from my reading to pick the kids up, for example, I couldn’t help but try to picture the scene as viewed by David in 2500 AD. Very weird…. Anyway, it’s a novel I’d recommend but only after warning you that (IMHO) it has a lot of problems as a novel.

Today is going to be a busy one – the kids have half a day at school, Rowen has a friend coming over to play, Max’s bike is in the shop for repairs and needs to be picked up, and there’s a bit of pressure from my job to do some stuff that simply doesn’t fit in to my real-life schedule. ;) I hope that your day is filled with sunshine and laughter. :D

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now that was unexpected

10.04.08 at 8:37 pm · Filed under arden, away, etsy, friends, life stuff, reading

We’ve been busy with this and that and the other all week, but in a happy way, and time has continued to slip out of my grasp. I told my Dad that I feel like I wake up on Monday morning and go to bed on Friday night. It all just goes so fast! He’s warned me that it just speeds up the older we get. Yikes!

Arden’s been busy growing new teeth. You know, babies really do have a lot of hard work to do. Teething hasn’t been too much fun for him, though he remains even-tempered about it most of the time. Right now the poor dear is sleeping off a baby aspirin after his hectic, red cheeks alerted me to the fact that he might be running a fever (which he was, 39.28 Celsius). Here’s a series of photos I took of him on my lap the other day – you can see what he’s thinking, all the way from ‘not now, really’ to ‘one must not disappoint one’s admirers’. LOL.

sleepless arden 1

sleepless arden 2

sleepless arden 3

When I was uploading these pictures from the camera, I found some that were still there from our trip to Luxembourg in August. How they escaped unnoticed till now is beyond me, but here’s a last glimpse of summer fun.

another castle in luxembourg

Rowen has decided

handsome diners

laughing arden

Arden has been sitting up a little more often, and is doing much better about not tipping over when he reaches for something. I couldn’t resist snapping this photo. Doesn’t he look delighted with himself?

StittingArden 1

He was also delighted when Chiloe surprised us all with a package of gifts – Chiloe, that was so unexpected and so generous! Thank you, Chiloe!! Nothing like a soothing bath and massage to forget the pains of teething!

surprise gifts from chiloe

I was also surprised to find my name over at Anna and Lennu’s blogs the past day or so. You two made me seriously blush! Thank you for your kind words and your generous support. :D Speaking of my etsy shop, however obliquely, I’ve gotten two more custom orders this week. Yay!

I have been stitching, but I’ll wait to post a picture till it’s 100% finished. It is finished, but then I decided it needed a bit more, so it’s under the needle again. LOL. I’ve also been reading. I finished Paul Auster’s Oracle Nightand it was an inspired follow-up to Murakami’s collection of short stories, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. I loved The Kite Runner, as I’ve already mentioned. I greatly enjoyed Sarah Water’s novel The Night Watch, particularly how it moved backward in time. Here are my favorite lines from the novel: She supposed that houses, after all – like the lives that were lived in them – were mostly made of space. It was the spaces, in fact, that counted, rather than the bricks. Today I read Pat Barker’s Double Vision, which was as “unputdownable” as the jacket claimed, and I was jolted by the realization that Pat is a woman, not a man. Have you ever had that, in reading a novel, that you’ve just assumed the gender of the author and then been surprised to find out you were wrong? Just a little tangent, there, nothing important. It was a very readable novel. Niek was pointing out the other night that we seem to have reached an age in which we enjoy the movies where ‘nothing much seems to happen’, when the story is more important than the action. Anyway, my current novel is A Scientific Romance by Ronald Wright. So far, I’m not sure if I like it or not.

But the biggest surprise of this weekend will have to wait till tomorrow, because I want it to have its own post. So I’ll see you later, alligator! ;)

Special thoughts going out to some dear friends who are struggling with physical pain. Dear Deb and Jennifer, I do hope that relief is just around the corner.

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