Beginning his medical practice, Walt Larimore landed in a small Smoky Mountain town called Bryson where he records the experiences not only of a country doctor, but veterinarian, and psychologist. The simplicity of life in this rural village and the descriptions of nature are well told.
Desiring to live in such a quiet and uncomplicated place, stimulates reflection on bucolic times and regret for loss of locales which generated meditative contemplation.
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book. Show all posts
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
John Newton
Finished From Disgrace to Amazing Grace: John Newton by Jonathan Aitken. Wow! Well written and enlightening how much he influenced the future with his mentoring impact on three Williams: William Wilberforce (abolition of the slave trade and slavery in England); William Carey (first missionary from England) and William Cowper (hymnologist, poet).
Friday, August 10, 2007
Vogue Stitchionary2 - Cables
Vogue’s Stitchionary2 - Volume Two Cables
Vogue has developed a series of knitting pattern encyclopedias which places six balls of yarn in various shades of one color on the front cover. Each volume uses a different color. This one the choice was brown and the topic was cables.
I have some partiality to cables, Arans and Celtic designs and so I was anticipating looking at the various patterns contained in this volume and I wasn’t disappointed. The first few pages give a short history of cables. It is believed that the cable originated with Celtic tradition via the Book of Kells in the 9th century. Further, there is some idea that the Book of Kells may have contained illustrations of cable-knit sweaters. The book relates that Aran patterns were used for fisherman sweaters and used for identification purposes which is somewhat suspect in current histories of Aran development.
The book is well organized and arranges the patterns from easy to most difficult. There are written instructions and a chart for each pattern. Some of the pattern names enable you to imagine the cable in your mind, such as:
Easy - mock, argyle, thistle, horseshoes and snow angels
Diamonds - embossed, tic-tac-toe
Pretzels - river run, Cleopatra, wheat
Braids - bean stalk, Pippi
Allover - honeycomb, waves, pie crust (lattice type), cable maze, ribbed cable
Combinations - Jacob’s ladder, rick rack and Art Deco
All in all there are 202 pattern designs from which to select to create your personally styled-cabled sweater. I’m hoping to use some of the above mentioned to develop a special design of my own. I would rate give this stitch directory 4 stars for variations in pattern and difficulty of knitting. The only disappointment is that the history section was a little short and some of it is discounted by several other historians.
Vogue has developed a series of knitting pattern encyclopedias which places six balls of yarn in various shades of one color on the front cover. Each volume uses a different color. This one the choice was brown and the topic was cables.
I have some partiality to cables, Arans and Celtic designs and so I was anticipating looking at the various patterns contained in this volume and I wasn’t disappointed. The first few pages give a short history of cables. It is believed that the cable originated with Celtic tradition via the Book of Kells in the 9th century. Further, there is some idea that the Book of Kells may have contained illustrations of cable-knit sweaters. The book relates that Aran patterns were used for fisherman sweaters and used for identification purposes which is somewhat suspect in current histories of Aran development.
The book is well organized and arranges the patterns from easy to most difficult. There are written instructions and a chart for each pattern. Some of the pattern names enable you to imagine the cable in your mind, such as:
Easy - mock, argyle, thistle, horseshoes and snow angels
Diamonds - embossed, tic-tac-toe
Pretzels - river run, Cleopatra, wheat
Braids - bean stalk, Pippi
Allover - honeycomb, waves, pie crust (lattice type), cable maze, ribbed cable
Combinations - Jacob’s ladder, rick rack and Art Deco
All in all there are 202 pattern designs from which to select to create your personally styled-cabled sweater. I’m hoping to use some of the above mentioned to develop a special design of my own. I would rate give this stitch directory 4 stars for variations in pattern and difficulty of knitting. The only disappointment is that the history section was a little short and some of it is discounted by several other historians.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Back on Blossom Street, Debbie Macomber
Just completed Black on Blossom Street with Lydia and the gang. Two new characters were introduced, Colette Blake (who is currently living above A Good Yarn) and Susannah Nelson (who is the protagonist of Susannah's Garden has opened the shop next door on Blossom Street called by the same name). Lydia has decided to hold a lace shawl class. Alix (a baker in the shop across the street and engaged to Jordan Turner) signs up for the class, along with Colette and Susannah. Colette is hiding a secret, Alix has wedding nerves and Susannah is learning the nuances of having her own business. Margaret(Lydia's sister and assistant at the store) endures an assault on her daughter and deals with her anger toward the perpetrator. The characters are well-developed and describe women you would like to invite to sit down and share a cup of tea with you.
One thing I can count on in Debbie's books is that by the time I reach the final chapter, the problems have been resolved, relationships have developed and deeper connections made through trust, communication and friendship. The author understands the yearnings of a woman's heart to make committed friendships, ones which will endure times of difficulty. Friends who exhort to do what's best in the situation and will spend time listening without passing judgment.
The forward mentions that Leisure Arts will be publishing another project book to coincide with this third installment in the Blossom Street series which will contain the shawl patterns found in the front pages, one of which is the Myrna Stahman pattern. Once I have a chance to glance at the patterns, I will review this item, too. Another announcement within the front piece is the launching of the web site, www.debbiemacomber.com which will make available a new free pattern once a month.
I guess I'm a sappy reader who likes tales with resolution. These books exhibit that plus allow me to explore my emotions, connect through the experiences and growth of others, and glean wisdom in how to deal with some of the harsh aspects of life.
In my "rating system" this merits 4 stars.
One thing I can count on in Debbie's books is that by the time I reach the final chapter, the problems have been resolved, relationships have developed and deeper connections made through trust, communication and friendship. The author understands the yearnings of a woman's heart to make committed friendships, ones which will endure times of difficulty. Friends who exhort to do what's best in the situation and will spend time listening without passing judgment.
The forward mentions that Leisure Arts will be publishing another project book to coincide with this third installment in the Blossom Street series which will contain the shawl patterns found in the front pages, one of which is the Myrna Stahman pattern. Once I have a chance to glance at the patterns, I will review this item, too. Another announcement within the front piece is the launching of the web site, www.debbiemacomber.com which will make available a new free pattern once a month.
I guess I'm a sappy reader who likes tales with resolution. These books exhibit that plus allow me to explore my emotions, connect through the experiences and growth of others, and glean wisdom in how to deal with some of the harsh aspects of life.
In my "rating system" this merits 4 stars.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Sins and Needles, Monica Ferris
This is a paperback, mystery novel, whose heroine, Betsy Devonshire, is the proprietress of Crewel World, a needlearts sanctuary for the locals in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The store stocks embroidery, needlepoint and yarns and conducts classes in many forms of handwork.
Betsy has been called upon in her spare time as an amateur sleuth due to her success in solving a half-dozen crimes of murder. In this installment the murder weapon is a 00 sock knitting needle, the victim a wealthy senior named Edyth Hanraty, who has made a will leaving her estate to the females in the direct family line. At this juncture, Lucille Jones from Texas who looks like a regular at the LYS, Jan Henderson, enters Minnesota looking for her birth parents.
On her way to church, Jan finds her Aund Edyth dead in bed. So the story begins to unwind leading the reader through the history of each family member and the incriminating motives of many. The tale narrows down to a handful of suspects but until the last pages you are not sure which one actually did the dastardly deed. I enjoy these lightweight novels for the entertainment value and recommend them for a quick read.
At the end of each volume is a pattern for one of the objects mentioned in the book. This one is a knitted flag pillow containing 49 stars for the United States after Alaska joined but before Hawaii was admitted.
2 stars.
Betsy has been called upon in her spare time as an amateur sleuth due to her success in solving a half-dozen crimes of murder. In this installment the murder weapon is a 00 sock knitting needle, the victim a wealthy senior named Edyth Hanraty, who has made a will leaving her estate to the females in the direct family line. At this juncture, Lucille Jones from Texas who looks like a regular at the LYS, Jan Henderson, enters Minnesota looking for her birth parents.
On her way to church, Jan finds her Aund Edyth dead in bed. So the story begins to unwind leading the reader through the history of each family member and the incriminating motives of many. The tale narrows down to a handful of suspects but until the last pages you are not sure which one actually did the dastardly deed. I enjoy these lightweight novels for the entertainment value and recommend them for a quick read.
At the end of each volume is a pattern for one of the objects mentioned in the book. This one is a knitted flag pillow containing 49 stars for the United States after Alaska joined but before Hawaii was admitted.
2 stars.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Friday Night Knitting Club, Kate Jacobs
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.
4 stars.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
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.
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