Walker and Daughter was an establishment born out of a necessity for Georgia to support herself when her Daughter, Dakota, was born. Anita, a lady Georgia met in the park, encouraged Georgia to knit for others, and after the store was opened, Anita came to work there in need of something to keep her mind busy. The Friday Night Knitting Club was born by “accident” and survived week to week on 12-year old Dakota’s baking, gossip and knitting advice. Each woman learns something about the others in the group and later assists them when needed. Old relationships are re-formed and new ones thrive even though the backgrounds, occupations and social standing of each is very different. The ending was unanticipated but throughout the book there is courage to face life, the struggles each person faces with a bit of optimism, and the tenacity to see things through to the end.
4 stars.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Sophie's Yarn Shop, Louisville, Kentucky
Sophie’s Yarn Shop, Louisville, Kentucky, located in the Landis Town Center, was a veritable goldmine especially on New Year’s Eve when the proprietress featured a 20%-off sale for all yarns purchased. Located in a Georgian-style brick building that housed not only the yarn shop but Java Brewing Co. next door, I thought I had found my home for this trip. When you entered through the front door, Southern hospitality shone at its brightest. The staff were helpful and courteous, directing you to walls of well-stocked fibers of every multi-colored and textured variety and offering to get a stool so you could browse through the organized pattern selections. Displays of beautifully completed garments exhibiting some of the yarns available, were strategically located to attract attention to each variety of fiber. Each turn was truly soothing to a knitters eyes. After selecting sufficient yarns to keep busy for the next lifetime, I was offered a buyer’s club membership [something akin to “come back and see us again” and “if you come often enough, you’ll get free stuff”]. Regulars would visit the shop for “couch time” a euphemism for socializing with a little knitting thrown in. Unfortunately, that weekly event was scheduled for another day and time. Maybe my next trip to Louisville. 4 stars.
Java Brewing Co., much like Starbucks, had sufficient drinks and snacks to warm the heart on a winter’s day. Not only did the beverages heat the inner sanctum but the low burning glow from the fireplace, enjoyed from an overstuffed chair, evoked a homey feeling. A great place to sit, visit and knit after shopping next door!
Java Brewing Co., much like Starbucks, had sufficient drinks and snacks to warm the heart on a winter’s day. Not only did the beverages heat the inner sanctum but the low burning glow from the fireplace, enjoyed from an overstuffed chair, evoked a homey feeling. A great place to sit, visit and knit after shopping next door!
Fiberlicious, Madeira, Ohio
Yarn Shop
Fiberlicious, Madeira, Ohio, is housed in the restored Muchmore Home. Four inviting rooms of fibers some in colorways containing various weights and types of fiber are coalesced in bags as a challenge to creatively use these skeins together in one project. Many handspun and locally produced novelties here. Check out the website at: http://fiberlicious.com/index.html. 3 stars.
Fiberlicious, Madeira, Ohio, is housed in the restored Muchmore Home. Four inviting rooms of fibers some in colorways containing various weights and types of fiber are coalesced in bags as a challenge to creatively use these skeins together in one project. Many handspun and locally produced novelties here. Check out the website at: http://fiberlicious.com/index.html. 3 stars.
The Knitting Circle, Ann Hood
Book Review
Just finished reading The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. The main character, Mary, is coping with grief on the loss of her 5-year old daughter, Stella. As her world begins to fall apart, Mary’s mother tries to get her to meet "Alice" at a knitting shop and join a knitting group. The tunnel vision of her overwhelming grief prevents Mary from seeing others as having difficulties or sorrow in their lives. Through the Knitting Circle she begins to focus on things outside of herself. Slowly more of the experiences of members in the group are revealed which challenges Mary’s view of others having “perfect” lives. Each person’s existence entailed some major
devastation or turning point from an unblemished life.
This book is a basic circle of life going through sorrow, comfort and helping others. From my perspective, the author expresses a hopelessness in all of life and the inability to avoid heartache, pain and devastation. Life is not without difficulty but the burdensome despair communicated by this book would cause me not to recommend it as “light reading” or for anyone who becomes easily depressed.
Many years ago, my English teacher awarded two grades to each paper: one for content and the other for technical ability. As to her skills in communication with the written word, Ann Hood would receive a B+ or maybe an A-; however, the content itself, in my opinion, would be a C-. Contains a few vulgarities, crude language, homosexual and lesbian relationships and other adult situations.
Currently I am reading The Friday Night Knitting Club, and in order to compare books, I thought I might offer a rating system of 5 stars. This one I would award 2 stars.
Just finished reading The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. The main character, Mary, is coping with grief on the loss of her 5-year old daughter, Stella. As her world begins to fall apart, Mary’s mother tries to get her to meet "Alice" at a knitting shop and join a knitting group. The tunnel vision of her overwhelming grief prevents Mary from seeing others as having difficulties or sorrow in their lives. Through the Knitting Circle she begins to focus on things outside of herself. Slowly more of the experiences of members in the group are revealed which challenges Mary’s view of others having “perfect” lives. Each person’s existence entailed some major
devastation or turning point from an unblemished life.
This book is a basic circle of life going through sorrow, comfort and helping others. From my perspective, the author expresses a hopelessness in all of life and the inability to avoid heartache, pain and devastation. Life is not without difficulty but the burdensome despair communicated by this book would cause me not to recommend it as “light reading” or for anyone who becomes easily depressed.
Many years ago, my English teacher awarded two grades to each paper: one for content and the other for technical ability. As to her skills in communication with the written word, Ann Hood would receive a B+ or maybe an A-; however, the content itself, in my opinion, would be a C-. Contains a few vulgarities, crude language, homosexual and lesbian relationships and other adult situations.
Currently I am reading The Friday Night Knitting Club, and in order to compare books, I thought I might offer a rating system of 5 stars. This one I would award 2 stars.
United States Postal Service
Here is the friendliest face in the USPS! My wonderful husband! He had me take this picture for one of my nieces who needed to do a report for school on the Post Office.
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