Wednesday, March 07, 2012

yarn along

One of my unofficial "resolutions" this year is to read more books. I used to be a voracious reader, but since having children that has gone out the window. I've noticed a serious problem with my attention span since dropping books in favor of aimless web browsing and that is not good.

I'm not very good at joining things and keeping up, but I'm going to try to participate in Ginny's yarn along.



















For the past few years I've been obsessed with memoirs and stories about farming and/or the Depression...for whatever reason I just can't get enough of learning about how women did things before all the modern conveniences of today. For some reason that's what I thought This Life is in Your Hands was about, but it isn't. Rather, it is a memoir of growing up during the "back to the land" movement of the late 60s and early 70s. Melissa Coleman and her family lived right down the road from Helen and Scott Nearing and this book is a fascinating look behind the scenes of that whole experiment. It helps if you've read The Good Life, which I have. Coleman's book both adds to and punches holes in that story, and it is just a great read. Some reviewers panned it because it is written from the perspective of a very young child (birth to age 9 or so), and much of it is either imagined or pieced together from research, but who cares? It's an enjoyable read. I could do a whole book report on it but I won't. I'll just say I really, really liked it. (I am cheating a bit because I already finished it, but I haven't made it to the library to pick up my holds yet this week.)

As for knitting I am plugging away at the baby sweater for our speech therapist's baby, which I mentioned yesterday. I've placed the markers for the sleeves, and am nearly done with the increases so I can get to the main body stitches.

I don't know how much will get done today as it is sunny and the temps are indeed rising...56 already and it is only 10 AM! Yay!

5 comments:

Jessica Snell said...

fwiw, I've found keeping a list of the books I read each year really motivates me to read more. I know the temptation to read only online and not in books, but books offer things that blogs and forums just can't! I always feel better after reading a good book.

steph said...

another book to add to my growing list!!!! thanks for the suggestion! love the way the baby sweater is coming along!

Louise said...

I'm reading this right now, too, and am about 65% through it (thanks, Kindle). I'm kind of dragging my feet, honestly, because it's just so heavy, what I know will happen. I do find it an interesting companion to the Nearings' book, though, you're right. My favorite book in the "Great Depression memoir" category would have to be Little Heathens, though.

Greer said...

The Yarn Along is great - so many lovely people join in. I heard about that book last week and I think I might have to seek it out.

PS Your blog title gave me a chuckle! Thanks x

Anonymous said...

Web browsing I have decided is my problem as well. I used to read lots. I go to the library to help a friend get her books (she has bad health)every two weeks. I think I should join!