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Today’s segments include: drafting, fully drafted, lit review, five favorite things including Origins 2015 recap, and noteworthy. Pull out your knitting and let’s knit together!
Drafting:
Camp out fingerless mitts by tante ehm in Into the Whirled handspun colorway Tickled Pink, 8 wpi, on size 7/4.5mm signature circular.
Nanaimo socks by Cookie A in Marigoldjen 75% BFL, 25% nylon colorway Earl Grey on size 1/2.25mm 32″ Hiya Hiya sharp circular.
Spinning Into the Whirled Polwarth/Silk colorway Moriarty on my Ashford Traveller spinning wheel.
Fully Drafted:
Fish lips kiss heel socks by Sox Therapist in White Birch Fiber Arts 80% SW merino, 20% nylon colorway Nothing Says Screw You Like a Rainbow on size 1/2.25mm 32″ Hiya Hiya sharp circular.
Spinning Into the Whirled Targhee colorway Winds of Change on my Ashford Traveller spinning wheel.
Lit Review:
All I’ve done is start some new books, rather than finishing any of them.
What I’m Reading on kindle: How to Be Both by Ali Smith.
Update: I didn’t finish the book before book club, but our book club discussion was excellent. Some really liked the book, and some appreciated it’s unique style but didn’t care for it. I came down somewhere in the middle on this. My recommendation, read the book with your book club.
What I’m Reading on audio: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Update: Still listening to this, still really enjoying it.
Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins for June’s book club
A mystery with an unreliable narrator. This book was gripping from the beginning. Every time we learn more information, we’re not sure what’s true, and what we believe to be true is constantly being challenged. I’m enjoying this book so much that I can actually listen to it on my 10 minute walk to campus. That’s pretty impressive.
What I’m Reading on paper, nonfiction: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Update: I put this book aside for some other required nonfiction, however, Kizmet wanted to do a read along. Anyone want to join us? There was a redialing in the Ewe University group as well.
Nonfiction: In Defense of a Liberal Education by Fareed Zakaria
This book is required reading for a working group at my College that’s assessing our general education curriculum. The book is easy reading, and fairly affirming for those of us interested in preserving the liberal arts. I don’t agree with everything he says, but I can see where he’s coming from on most of his ideas based on my pedagogical leanings and personal experience. Here’s a gem that really appeals to the writing teacher in me: “But for me, the central virtue of a liberal education is that it teaches you how to write, and writing makes you think. Whatever you do in life, the ability to write clearly, cleanly, and reasonably quickly will prove to be an invaluable skill” (72).
YA Fiction: Boys don’t knit (in public) by T.S. Easton
When I go to the library, I like to sit across from the new books in the YA section, and this one caught my eye. I am reading it at night before bed because it is super light and fun. The basic premise is that this boy is on probation and must take a class, and he ends up taking a knitting class to avoid class with his father and to be around the hot teacher. So far, I am really enjoying this book.
Five Favorite Things, Origins 2015:
I recently returned from Origins game fair, the annual game convention in Columbus, Ohio. I had a good time seeing friends and playing games that I don’t get to play very often. This year, I also purchased a couple of children’s games for the kids in the regular gaming groups we play with, as well as a Christmas gift for my nieces.
1. Old games: Terra Mystica 4 player, Russian Railroads 2 player, Tzolkin 3 player, Alchemists 3 player, Dead of Winter long game, 7 wonders 7 player, Endeavor 5 player, Baltimore and Ohio 5 player.
2. New games: Deus 4 player, area control card game; Temporum by the designer of Dominion, card game traveling through time; Diamonds 5 player, trick taking game; Gravwell 3 player, I can’t categorize this one but it has to do with physics
3. Kid’s games: for 9 year olds, the Hare and the Tortoise; for 5 year olds, Animal upon Animal; for my nieces 2 and below, My First Orchard
4. Party games: Konito, fill in the blank with fun challenges; Double Feature, movie naming category game
5. Not related to Origins, I got my new issue of Ply and Into the Whirled club fiber.
Noteworthy: World Wide Knit in Public Day is Saturday, though I have too many things on the agenda so probably won’t make it again this year. SSK is in July.