Mar

Spring Makes It’s Progress Like A Half Frozen Turtle

I shouldn’t be attached to any white chicken, these are chickens that eventually will be sent to the processor. This little girl though, she might stay with the layers to just make me smile. I visit the chickens a lot during the day. I check on food, temerature in the brooder, water, and make sure everyone is healthy. I do also pick them up.

I can’t tell her by looks, I know it’s her when I lower my hand into the brooder and my ring gets pecked. She’s also one of the only chicks that doesn’t freak out at being picked up or held. I won’t name her, at least not till I’m sure she’ll keep her happy easy going personality. If she turns into a cranky chicken she will be freezer bound. But for now, she’s my favorite.

In other news I have been spinning a lot. I’ve been working on this pretty green perendale fiber. I’ve been spinning singles, omg so many singles, in hopes of eventually doing a 3 ply yarn.

This is from Gnomespun Yarn and the colorway is The Grass Needs Mowing. How clever is that? I dig fun colowary names, especially if they aren’t girly or expected. I came across one yesterday named Unicorn Butt. Love it.

The thing about spinning singles with a 3 ply yarn in mind is that you have to spin forever!!! I’m about 1/2 way done.

Also I got my book back that I had sent to the author to have signed.

HA! How funny is that? Yes Mr. McDermott, after I read the second book (which isn’t out yet) I will send you a hermit crab kinda like this one.

325 days ago Short URL 2 Comments

Books/Chicken/Craft/Fantasy/farm/fiber/handspun/knit/Knitting/photography/Picture/Pictures/reading/Spin/spinning

Mar

The World House – Review

Inside this post there is a book. Inside this book is one of the most marvelous stories ever written. Looney and fantastic Guy Adams has constructed a tale of such originally and wonderfulness that I was honest to god, taken aback.

When I picked this humble looking book off the overcrowed wonderful shelves at Powell’s in Portland I had no idea what I was in for. I have decided that I must try authors I haven’t seen before, read what no one has suggested and hope for the best. I believe there always has to be a first, one who spreads the gospel of a book far and wide. Well I might not be the first but I will sing praise loud and long for The World House.

Guy Adams paints a world in which normal, everyday people are transported through time and space to a house that defies the laws of physics. It exists in a reality of its own and in it everything is possible. “Nothing is impossible, just unexperienced.” Guy Adams creates a cast of characters each overwhelmingly likable and with their own unique voice that the reader is propelled as if by outside forces through the pages at light speed, absorbing each wonderful word with an ever increasing hunger for more.

I am honest when I say you really must pick up this book and read it for I’m sure that even if you do not normally read fantasy you will love it as much as I have. Thankfully, it also is part of a series to which I will be picking up the second book shortly.

Thank you Mr. Adams for writing such a lovely, fun, original book.

339 days ago Short URL Comments

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Mar

Never Knew Another – A Review

Never Knew Another is a stunningly beautiful novel. There are few other words that I can think that would be describe reading this quick 200 + page book besides them although I would add eloquent, original, and intriguing. The reader is invited into the world of two walkers (humans that can change into wolf form with the help of a skin across their backs) on a journey to hunt out demon children and cleanse the earth.

Click on picture to go to the authors site to learn more!

It all began as they happened upon the slain body of Jon, Lord Joni, in a circle of stained, burnt and dead grasses. The blood spilled was so foul that nothing living could continue living after having come into contact with it. A special talent of the walkers (whom we never learn their true names) is to see inside the memories of the fallen demon child. The memories intermingle with past and current events in a wonderful and interesting way.

The reader follows Jona as he begins upon his path to what will finally be his ultimate doom. Can a demon child be a King’s man and enforce the law? Can someone born tainted do good? These concepts come up more and more as the book goes on as the characters question their motives, their blood, and their very existence.

All in all Never Knew Another is a must read novel. It’s quick, beautiful, well written and leaves you wanting more (the author has stated that this is book one of a series). The storyline and plot is original and well thought out and beautifully executed. Lovely, dark, and graceful this story is sure to capture your imagination.

343 days ago Short URL Comments

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J. M. Mcdermott/never knew another

Mar

Break It Up

I went to the Patrick Rothfuss book signing last night in Beaverton, along with 400 other people. There was a 3 hour wait and Powell’s ran out of books. I had reserved my copy even though the woman on the phone 2 weeks ago told me I wouldn’t need to and they would have plenty of copies. I bought my book, looked at the crowd and went home. Book unsigned. I was a little disappointed but frankly, and I hope no one would ever take offence to this, but I can’t think of anyone I’d stand in line for 3 hours just to smile sheepishly and watch as they struggled to spell my name. Maybe Jesus. Maybe. Or GOD but only the old school smiting one, I’m not about peace and bunnies. (How many did I just offend? It’s ok! God has a sense of humor, I’m a Unitarian!). Thankfully the Mr understanding my sullenness brought up sending my book to Pat to sign so I went home and looked it up. The man has a FAQ section just for this purpose! Yes, you can send him your book with return postage and he will sign it as long as you send him something neato. I’m thinking about knitting another hermit crab and sending it. Something cool for something cool is a totally legit trade. So I’ll read the book and send it over the summer after much of the fan boy craziness has worn down.

I think fans forget that writers are people too, with lives, and spouses, children and dogs. They write, but that’s not all they do and I think it’s easy to forget that. Speaking of writers have you walked by a shelf and seen Never Knew Another? No? Well go search it out because it’s getting a post all it’s own in the next few days.

On the same thought I’ve been having hobby issues lately. It feels like there isn’t enough time in the day to get all the stuff I want to get done completed. I wake up, I surf my favorite blogs, check my email (though it’s only junk these days), cruise Ravelry, and sit down to write. I drop out between 3 and 5 thousand words before noon at which point Tank demands we go do doggy stuff. So off to the dog park we go where he makes me smile, (and sometimes yell) and does wonderful puppy stuff. Then back home I write some more because I need to get Mildred done. We both need closure. By 5:30 I’m making dinner for the Mr and I and when we are done I’m pooped. I haven’t knit as much lately and felt a little guilty about that until I realized that I never really knit that much between February and June. I have started spinning again, and inhaling books again and battling dirty dishes on a daily basis again. (Stupid dishes out number me, how does that seem fair?)

: Here is a random picture of a bird at my feeder to break up the many words you are reading.

So now I’ve taken a little step back (because things are only going to get more insane in the next few months when our number of sheep will increase, turkeys arrive and planting needs to be done) and looked at what I do and why I do it.

1. I have deleted some people I used to watch from my flickr stream (I didn’t even know I could do that) because of a few reasons.
A. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me, except that while I have commented on your pictures you have never done the same. I don’t need you to comment but I won’t follow people around because they are internet popular anymore.
B. I can’t remember why we ever followed each other. It was probably knitting related but you are most likely Ravelry popular and I’m not and for some reason it hurts ego every time you post and it’s loved by 1 million knitters even if you decided to knit poop out of poop spun yarn. (that of course is an exaggeration!)
C. I wasn’t seeing pictures by people I really know and really care about because so many others dominated my page. It made me a bad friend and that sucks.
2. I have deleted a whole bunch of blogs from my google reader much for the same reason as flickr. I rarely believe that anyone is so busy or important (with exceptions) that you can’t respond to comments. I think it’s rude frankly. If you blog just for you, awesome, these are just my feelings right now in this moment.
3. I have clicked “Hide this user” all over facebook. Just because I like Dirty Jobs doesn’ t mean I need you talking about your damn show all the time Discover. Yes, I <3 Mike Rowe but I <3 him less when I see multiple posts all over my news feed. Frankly, Monica, Shawna, Will, and Phil are way more interesting to me.

So yeah, I know everyone goes through this about once or twice a year. It’s needed. We have become so overloaded from all the information I think it causes depression! So that’s my Thursday rant. Tomorrow I will work on a review of Never Knew Another and then will dig into Wise Man’s Fear. It’s obviously book season.

And for no reason at all, here is John Quincy Adams with a Ham! There is a fantastic little exhibit at Powell’s City Of Books in downtown Portland. All the presidents have ham! It’s funny and well done. If you’re local go check it out.

344 days ago Short URL 3 Comments

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never knew another/wise mans fear

Mar

Something A Little Different

I’m still writing. I know I don’t talk about it much because frankly, it’s still a little embarrassing. It’s like saying that you are learning how to ballroom dance then having all your friends watch as you trip on your fringe and fall flat on you face. At least that’s how I perceive it. I know I have the most supportive family and friends ever and you guys all totally rock. If you have a kindle or a reader I can totally send you a version to read in PDF but Mildred is huge. It’s gotten to the point where I’m a little embarrassed to say that it’s well over 600 pages and over 350,000 words. I remember when I was so impressed with myself for writing a straight 1,000 words. Anywho, it’s hard for me to admit I write because I always worry about failing once it’s done. I have a keen need to be better, faster, and all around more awesome than anyone around me, and frankly, it’s not competition because it’s not about anyone but me. Thankfully my cousin Rebecca shares this “Bigger, Better, Faster Syndrome” and we can laugh how we are crazy.

Tomorrow I’m going to the Patrick Rothfuss signing in Beaverton (HA! BEAVERTON) for his release of The King Killer. The Name of the Wind (his first book in the series) was the first and only book that has ever made me cry. (Well beside when Dumbledore died but everyone cried at that!). His writing is so elegant and beautiful that he’s kind of become a writer I compare myself to, like “is this sentence as good as one of his? No? Then rewrite it.” I do this with Tad Williams too so maybe that explains why I’m still writing after 600+ pages?

Recently tho I’ve had a development. I have been writing Mildred completely organically and frankly had no idea how she’d end. Laying in bed one night overly tired but not able to sleep it came to me, the whole end unfolded and I cried. I cried because I had no idea it would be that way but now that I have seen it, it truly is the only way it can end. So yeah, I know where I’m heading, I don’t know how soon I’ll get there though.

In the mean time this popped into my head today while I was in the shower (very much the way Mildred first did). I dig it and may write a short. (And here is a picture of Tank looking nuts because this is how I feel 80% of the time.)

“Son of a bitch” I yelled as I grabbed my shin and made my way wincing to one of my dining room chairs. I may be what the humans call an angel but it still hurts like hell when I bang my shin into a sharp edged drawer.

I’m not like you, and I’m definitely not human, but I would be loath to call myself an angel. Angeles conjure up images of sickening precious moments figurines, babies in diapers shooting heart shaped arrows or beautiful women in long flowing white gowns with huge white swan wings. I am none of those things. I may work for Them upstairs but I don’t fit nicely into your preconceived stereotypes, mainly because they piss me off. I did say “Them”, meaning gods. There are many of them just as there are many of anything that exists. It would be like thinking there is only one star, one ocean, one rat, there are always more than you think, always more than you see.

Looking at me you’d think I was normal enough. I appear to be a woman in her middle thirties with blondish shoulder length hair, bright green eyes, a round Scandinavian face and a couple of extra pounds. I’m neither tall nor short, fat nor thin, pretty nor ugly. I’m right in the middle where you will forget about me just as soon as you see me, just as I’m supposed to be. I say appear to be in my thirties because that’s how I look to humans, in fact I’m roughly (because I stopped counting some time ago) the age of those mummified mammoths they find. I’ve been here protecting and watching over humans since they first were plopped on this spec of dirt. I’m immortal and before anyone starts thinking that’s as cool as it gets let me sort a few things for you. Being immortal means you are old, seriously old, and I’ve never met a happy chipper people lover whose north of one hundred. So excuse me if I’m not employee of the month anymore. Humans tend to get on your nerves after a while. Yeah I love ‘em like I have to and protect them from the boogeyman but the fact is humans are a lot of stinking work. And that’s if they don’t start whining. So I’m a little grumpy at best, you’d be too. Second, I’m not rich and awesome like the Highlander which kind of stinks. A lot of my stuff gets blown up or set on fire in the whole smiting process so I live modestly on the build it yourself designs of Ikea. Finally it’s nearly impossible to find an interesting book anymore. When you’ve lived as long as I have you’ve heard almost every story anyone could ever tell.

My name is Ariel and I’m kind of a big thing, but that’s another story. My job is to watch over the humans and keep them from those that would bring blackness into the world. I’m not talking about the pit either; humans think that the pit offers up the greatest evil ever created, well it doesn’t. The ones from below just think differently and maybe are a little bit impulsive, and weird and maybe they like to have a human snack now and then but there is worse out there. The great adversary does reside in the pit but still he’s not really my focus, mainly he fights with Them but lately it’s been akin to two old guys fighting over chess. I watch for things that make the pit dwellers quake and then I kick some ass. I don’t start each day looking to smite someone because frankly, it’s a lot of work and not everyone needs to be smited. If living this long has taught me anything it’s just to let some things go. Mainly I try to be as normal as possible by human standards, run my little book shop and try not to use my fiery sword on the asshole in 3B who thinks he’s Neil Peart at two am on a Wednesday. If there’s anything I hate more than televangelist (and as a rule all angels do) it’s would be drummers.

346 days ago Short URL 2 Comments

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Feb

The Sad Tale Of The Brothers Grossbart – A Review

The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington is many things. It is profane, disgusting, perverted, stomach turning, rude, dark, funny, and I loved it. In the same vein of Joe Abercrombie’s Best Served Cold the reader is given a “hero” that isn’t the characteristic likable do-gooder we are all used to. In Jesse Bullington’s book you are given two brothers, Manfried and Hegel who are going to do and say everything that is going to make the reader soundly dislike them. The genius of this book is that though you don’t care for them you can’t help but route for these despicable grave robbing, murderous twins.

The brothers Grossbart are grave robbers, murderers, and proud servants (in their minds) of the Virgin Mary. From the first page to the last you follow the brothers from their homeland of Germany to the greatest tombs of Egypt as they fight off demons, witches, and all manner of evil beasts. Even through terrible turmoil the brothers do seem blessed by the Virgin herself as they wriggle their way out of darker and more dangerous situations.

If you enjoy your fantasy off the beaten path, something that is different and something you haven’t seen before The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart will definitely interest you. If you have read Joe Abercrombie then you are prepared for the brutality but if not I will warn you that this is a blood and guts book at its most basic. The brutality adds to the character of both Hegel and Manfried instead of just being thrown in as an afterthought. This is a very well thought out and executed book. I have to say I’m not crazy about the last 3 paragraphs but I’m not the author and ending it the way he did was his choice and is one very valid way to end it.

If you haven’t seen this book I recommend you check it out.

353 days ago Short URL Comments

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Jul

The Blogger Is Back

In an effort to get back on the blogwagon I’ve been taking more pictures. I realize that I only blog if I have matching pictures. How odd is that? Anyway, I had a fab weekend (well, mostly fab because there was a lot of cleaning going on). I went Sunday to the Ventura Street Fair with my friend Terry and found the most amazing earrings ever. They are so awesome that I actually went back and bought the matching pendant because I knew I would regret it if I didn’t.

Catlin Blair Designs. LOVE

They are river stones with rivets through the middle. I LOVE them!!! On the second trip out I realized something, there is no way to just cruise through a crowd with Tank in tow. I brought him because we were heading to the dog park afterwards and hate leaving him in the car, so off we went down the sidewalk. Now Tank is a very well behaved boy and pretty darn calm for a 1 year old. But people! OMG the PEOPLE! 1. if this is not your dog, do not touch. You don’t know him, you don’t know if he’s friendly (he is) but how would you feel if I reached out and smacked your butt? 2. he is a dog, not a horse and he doesn’t need a saddle. 3. if you are in the way, chances are you will get slimed, I don’t see this as my fault, but collateral damage. It washes off, you’ll live.

Since it is summer after all, I am totally struck with knitting ADD. That means that it’s time to read. I found this book and I haven’t made my mind up yet because I’m not far enough into it.

I have finished an infinity scarf. I love it, it’s soft, lacy, lofty, and wrapable.

Pattern coming shortly for free.

Coming up shortly I will show you all pictures of roving & yarn made from my very own sheep. Crazy right? But also incredibly awesome.

I also have a shawl in the works that I finally think I’ve gotten charted out well enough to start (yet again), a hat design that is completed, and a few other bits and pieces. Stay tuned, the blogger is back

584 days ago Short URL 2 Comments

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Mar

There has been a whole lot of knitting over here a che poopers but not a lot of finishing. I think it’s due to project ADD because I want to start a dozen things but finish nothing.

Socks designed for my friend Jim

I decided to knit these socks for my friend Jim because it was over socks that we first became friends and I thought he’d appreciate these great colors and handspun quality of the yarn.

Creature Comforts

I’m also working steadily on my Creature Comforts cardi. I love this sweater but I hate knitting it. I HATE it. For anyone curious this is a 31 inch rectangle with pockets. If you are a larger gal like me it’s a LOT of knitting with out much interest. The oak leaves add some distraction but honestly, not enough.

Oranges!

I have also been harvesting and juicing oranges from the back yard. One random weird secret about me is that I love orange but I hate eating them. My best friend Shawna will attest that it takes me about an hour to eat an orange because I must pick off all the pith before consuming. It’s just not worth the effort for me. So I juice and freeze the spoils so that I do not waste the oranges. Then I can use the juice for baking & cooking as I choose.

The Mr and I went to a book signing tonight. Frankly it was the first for me and though it won’t be the last I totally wasn’t prepared. I told the Mr this “It’s Brandon Sanderson, you know, he wrote the Mystborn series” Little did I know that he had also written the last Wheel Of Time book after Robert Jordan passed. I’m not a Wheel Of Time fan so I honestly wouldn’t have put 2 & 2 together.

And I got a little something for me…

I will be burning through this and adding a review on this site. Of course it’s Tad so I’m biased but this series is deeper than his others I think.

Aug

Bone Crossed : Book Review

Mercy Thompson couldn’t keep herself out of trouble if her life depended upon it – and it does. After killing one more vampire than the head vampiress commissioned her for Mercy is once again in hot water. As if this wasn’t enough an old college friend comes to her asking for help with a mysteriously powerful ghost. Add on top of that the fact that her relationship with the devilishly handsome Alpha werewolf, Adam still needs to be clarified. A girl wouldn’t think that it could be any more complicated, but then it wouldn’t be Mercy’s life. Thankfully being able to turn into a coyete, having powerful fae and vampire friends, and being followed contantly by an enchanted fairy stick (guaranteed to make sure all your ewes give birth to twins) takes a lot of surprise out of life and makes you expect the unexpected.

In this fourth Mercy Thompson novel Patricia Briggs has once again hit a home run. Adventure, romance, humor, witty dialogue and enchanted fairy staves make for one exciting fast paced ride. Mercy is a character who makes you smile, cry, and cringe with her struggles. Incredibly likable and relatable I still think that the cover art (though I enjoy it separately) detracts from the story.

I appreciate that though Patricia Briggs throws in a romantic element it is neither overly mushy nor graphic so the reader gets the point (and here they have sex) with out having to read through it. It races the pulse a bit but wouldn’t embarrass you in front of your mother. Though indeed Mercy’s love life is part of the story it is not the only story that is going on.

Though this book is still quite new (having been first published in Feb 2009) I find it almost impossible to wait for the next book in the series. Nine out of ten stars for sure for a fun breathless literary ride.

896 days ago Short URL 1 Comment

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Aug

Best Served Cold : Book Review

Monza is a cut throat heartless commander general of the Thousand Swords; a lethal group of mercenaries. That is until her gainful employer Grand Duke Orso decides to murder she and her brother and throw Monza’s body from his mountain terrace to the forest floor below. Broken to pieces Monzcarro Murcatto surprisingly does not die and is put back together in quite good fashion by a mysterious bone thief. Once she has her wits back about her and body in semi decent working order there is only one thing that burns in Monza’s mind.

Vengeance.

Along the way to killing the seven men who were responsible for her brothers murder and her attempted death Monza brings together an unlikely band of bloody villains. An optimistic Northman trying to be a better man, an under appreciated master poisoner, a convict named Friendly though he seems anything but, a former torturer and the man she once betrayed to gain control of the Thousand Swords. Together they set off on an unlikely and blood spattered trail to eliminate those seven men who tried to kill Monza.

In Joe Abercrombie’s latest book Best Served Cold you are thrown smack dab back into the circle of the world he created. Shoulder to shoulder with some of the same characters made me smile as I could see the under currents and references alluded to from The First Law series. Though this is a complete and independent read from The First Law I think that reading both gives the reader a much more comprehensive grasp on what is not said outright.

The fight scenes in this book are worth the read alone. Graceful, intriguing, brutal, like a train wreck that you can’t pull your eyes from Joe Abercrombie has an almost poetic portrayal on all things horrific. I applaud him for going the extra step, to truly bring down hell on his characters is something so rarely seen in fantasy beyond the expected Tolkien style “questing”. His characters are so finely wrought that you expect them to be based off real living and breathing people. His ability to give such different characters different voices puts him head and shoulders above most writers. Even before a name is mentioned the reader knows who is thinking or speaking.

That said and though I enjoyed Best Served Cold I have to admit I had more trouble getting through it than The First Law series. Maybe it’s because the characters were so similar in motivation or because maybe I am not as jaded as I would like to think. Joe Abercrombie’s characters of women start to grate by the last one hundred pages of his book. Just as it grates when you realize that there is not one single redeemable quality in all of the characters he has employed. I am not to naive to think that there is always a happy ending, but maybe one a little less brutal.

As much as I enjoyed Best Served Cold I gave it four out of five stars on my goodreads account because while just as engaging as The First Law it lacked the humor and even good spirited moments that gave the reader some repreave of further depression lying for them just a few pages away.

In all this was an enjoyable and smart read. The dialogue was well written and witty, the scenery and battle scenes gracefully and beautifully executed, and the characters bold, brilliant, and brutal. I would recommend this book tops to anyone looking for something new and different in the fantasy genre.

901 days ago Short URL Comments