Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Yarn Along

I am joining in with Ginny of the blog, Small Things, to share the books we are currently reading and what is on my needles. These are for sure two of my favorite things to do - read and knit!  As we move into the cozy season of spending time inside by the woodstove, both pursuits become more possible.

I just finished reading Twig, by Elizabeth Orton Jones, out loud to Sarah and Abraham and they truly enjoyed it.  Taken from the inside cover, "A story full of magic, full of fun, full of fantasy interwoven with reality, and full of the kind of tenderness which belongs most particularly to the young.  A story both boy and girls will love."

My bedside book is My Name is Mary Sutter, by Robin Oliveira.  This is such a good book - about a midwife set at the beginning of the Civil War who longs to be a doctor when it was unthinkable for women to do so.

I have decided to make a commitment to spending an hour before bed, in the living room knitting for family.  I don't think I actually ever sit down for more than five minutes at a time except for meals.  When I do sit down on the couch, the children often ask me if I am feeling all right.  So, I think during these dark, cold nights, it is time to take time to sit and knit with my family close by.  While I have many projects on many sets of needles going on at once (too many for sure to keep a clear mind), the one I have pictured above is a scarf for our son Nolan for Christmas.  I am just knitting the garter stitch using a wool blend yarn in colors to match his winter coat.  Simple enough to even knit while reading!

Warm wishes, Tonya

22 comments:

  1. We love Twig! Your "grown up read" sounds great too. I will have to add that to my library list!
    I am trying to commit about an hour every evening to knitting too-lately Beatrix has been sabotaging that though!
    thanks so much for joining me!

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  2. Wow, I have not mastered the art of knitting while reading but I'm inspired now to know someone can!
    I am getting my Yarn Along post up soon, I think its such a great idea.

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  3. Love this idea! And on the opposite end, I'm committing to going to bed a bit earlier and reading for half an hour. Far to often I get in bed at the end of the day and realize I haven't made time to read for myself, and there are so many good books out there!! Yes, November is for knitting and reading!

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  4. I love that colorway. That will make a lovely scarf. I've been looking to acquire Twig recently. I'll have to check our library. :)

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  5. Thanks for sharing. Those look like wonderful books. I have Twig on my wishlist. You must sit down! I think your goal of sitting for an hour is a great one! Peace, Angela

    PS Knitting while reading? Okay you are a knitting maven!

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  6. Thanks for sharing....I just jumped on board with the Yarn Along :)

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  7. That midwife book sounds very interesting, and of course, being a doctor in those times would have been strenuous to the point of impossibility for most women. Yet, I think many women did more than we think; at least, my reading in history contradicts a lot of what is said nowadays about women. I love reading about midwives and all manner of frontier/civil war/pioneer adventures, so that one sounds like one for me!
    Happy knitting!

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  8. I'm definately going to check out the "Twig" book...it looks so sweet!
    Oh, I just LOVE the idea of sitting and knitting for an hour each evening! I might just join you on that one!
    xo maureen

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  9. Haha...yeah, the only thing I can read while knitting are the insructions! (More like STUDY them. I'm still learning =)

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  10. i've been on the couch much lately & there's something to be said for sitting down. we often feel idle, but running all the time can't be good for our engines!

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  11. Both your books sound great. I am also not a sitter..but the story has changed now that I began knitting.
    Lisa

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  12. This book and yarn combination is just glorious! Enjoy :-)

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  13. Oh I agree! So important to SIT DOWN! It took me a long time to figure out that not only did my body need sleep, it needed rest, too.

    That yarn is so pretty. I have high aspirations for winter knitting this year. I'm taking my children to see snow for the very first time!

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  14. Sitting is difficult for me, also. Having something to work on definitely makes it easier to be still and relax. :)

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  15. Sometimes I think I can pull knitting and reading or talking at the same time...usually I wish I hadn't and wind up taking stitches off my needles and trying to find where I messed up. Knitting by the woodstove is one of my favorite cold weather "things to do" though. And it is getting cold fast.

    :)Lisa

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  16. These are two of my favorite things to do to, but i kind of envy your cold weather and fireplaces which really seem to encourage both. Enjoy your days (and nights) Tonya.

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  17. That book sounds good, I too am also joining in the fun of this and am now creating such a great book list for the winter great idea for postings

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  18. Twig is one of my dd's favorites! Love the idea of sitting for an hour knitting, need to work on the sitting for more than five minutes part too ;-) Your yarn looks fun, a scarf maybe??

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  19. Thank you so much for sharing!! I am always looking for reading inspiration.

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  20. Tonya...It is wonderful to take the time to do something you, as a mama, enjoy doing. An hour of knitting by the stove sounds so delicious! I try and make time after breakfast when the children seem to play best in their own imaginative worlds. However, that seems to change depending on the babies ever-evolving needs. A work in progress, but a very inspiring one! Enjoy that precious hour!
    xo Jules

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  21. hi1knitting is my favourite hobby,too.but I can't knit and read at the same time:))I love wear clothet that knitted by myself..
    I have a blog about knitting

    filizinevi.blogspot.com

    if you visit me I will be glad...

    see you

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  22. I love knitting and reading but I cannot do them both at the same time (except for reading the pattern). I really need to commit to spending more time knitting and less time in unproductive pursuits. Your blog is always an inspiration.
    -peace

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