Category: Books

Books · Cooking · Life

New Year New Weight Watchers

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Well I had well and truely fallen off the WW bandwagon and found that I am now 2stone above my goal weight – eek.  I sat on the bus home thinking Oh My God!  It wasn’t the figures on the scales – they were exactly what I expected but what I can’t figure out is why I did it.  That is 28lbs worth of weight I shouldn’t have to work on.  The other scary thing is that at least one of those stones is a stone worth of chocolate!  Ah well these things happen and I’ll work on it through out the year and get back down to goal (again)  The main aim is to be down by my cousins wedding in August which is achievable.

Anyway I went back to the meetings at lunchtime and had a read of the new plan – basically it’s back to points again.  I didn’t mind it works for me when I do it so here I come.  In order to try and get off to a flying start I’ve my breakfast ready for tomorrow – it’s a fruit smoothie and I’m going to start on lunch when I’m finished writing this.  I’m somewhat curious about the smoothie – normally I’d have a bowl of porridge but have decided to go for variety for the week.

Ok now I’m rambling so I’m going to stop but I want to mention that I really have to willpower and bought yet another book !  This time it’s:  Fireside: A Family Companion yet another book to keep me entertained during those long winter nights – all I need now is lessons on how to turn the telly off!

Good night!

Books · Cooking

Yet one more new book

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Today I picked up my copy of Kitchen Essays from our favourite book shop – Chapters

Kitchen Essays

I really am looking forward to reading this.

Books · Cooking · Home

Book Buying

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Well we went on our first book buying session of 2009 and I think I came away with one or two nice things – well five to be precise.  I managed to pick up the following:

Battles at Thrush Green
Lark Rise
Toast
The Second Irish Christmas Book
The Country Diary Of An Edwardian Lady

However the absolute treasure of the day came from my Mother-in-law:
Christmas Recipes
I’m looking forward to sitting down and picking out things to make from this as I reckon it could be good fun and to top it off the book is beautifully done – the book is “written out in manuscript form and illustrated”.

On a slightly non-book related purchase – we picked up a duster made from ostrich feathers – it is so funky! It is funny how the little things can make you happy – just the thought of not having to sweep the ceilings – who would have thought it! So now I’m off to dance with my feathers – woohoo!

Books · craft · Life

Knitting & Stitching

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I know that it’s been a whole week since we were at the Knitting & Stitching show in the RDS here in Dublin but it’s been a busy week.  Anyway I managed to pick up treasure!!!!!  I saved up my money so I could have lots of carefree spending.

The carefree spending turned into :

A Drop Spindle Kit – I’ve no idea how to use it but I’ll figure it out.  Although this comes with some stuff to spin I also picked up some red felting wool which I can also use for spinning.  I also managed to fill out my collection of Brittany Crochet Hooks so I am very pleased with this.  I am now getting to the point where I’ll have to keep a note of the sizes I have – they are so pretty that you make an effort not to lose them.  I know I tend to pick up the other hooks willy nilly.

So back to the shopping – I also picked up a copy of Traditional Blackwork Samplers by Lesly Wilkins and lots of aida fabric for what the book inspires.  In the stitching end of things I also picked up a cross-stitch Christmas Stocking – I don’t think I’ll start it this year as I’ve one or two things to finish up – however it’s for himself and should be ready for next christmas.

After that it was bits and bobs – a victorian advent calender – but as I haven’t figured out how to use the sewing machine yet it will be project for a later date – mind you I have my own notions on how I’m going to do it and if it turns out right -yippee if not it’s a lesson.  I also nabbed a spiced mug mat – put warm mug on mat it releases spicy aromas (apparently)  However I do love the instruction – hit with hammer to reactivate scent.

There were two non-shopping treats one of them was when we came in himself wanted coffee and there was this stall type thing standing in the middle of the coffee area and it was full of jars of buttons!

undefined Go through the link to see what has to be done with all of the buttons

The other one treat was the crocheted coral reef.  I sat down for a little while and did a twisty bit of crochet which will be attached to the reef for a later show.  I can now point at that and say – I did some of that.  There are a few pictures of the reef here.

Now it’s time to get busy with all of my new treasures because that’s what Autumn and Winter evenings are for.

Books

Books, Books, Books!

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I am trying to decide on my up and coming reading.  I am in the middle of an Ian Rankin phase and would like to continue with that.  However, I see that Little Dorrit is going to be on the telly soon and the other day I was in Chapters having a look at the back of it thinking – that looks good.  So the plan might be to record the adaptation on the telly and read the book – or should I watch it and then read it?  Not too sure which order to do it in – a faithful retelling of the story would of course generally spoil the storyline if I wanted to read it.  On the other hand artistic licence might mean that what is on the telly has little to do with what is printed on the page – oh decisions, decisions!

Another thing that has to be considered at this time of year is that it is this time of year.  One more festival to pass by and then we can safely say ’tis the Season.  I have 2 books I like to read – Alice Taylor  The Night Before Christmas and some other book (it has no cover) I think it’s called Dear Santa – it’s a romance book.  So the draw back to all of this is that I’m a slow reader – Little Dorrit could take me ’til Summer at my rate and as I’m not really a two at a time anymore that would knock any festive reading out the window – and believe me I have alot of festive reading = an entire shelf of short stories and interesting facty type books.

Ok I’ve come to a semi/demi decision: Finish the Rebus book I’m in the middle of at work and on the bus etc.  In bed read facty type books.  See if I can get Dickens with a decent font and see how it goes – it might turn out I can’t read it anyway (I get like that sometimes) and can pick it up at a later date.  If I am going to read it there is a chance that it will be too big for handbag and therefore relegate it to weekend reading.

It’s not totally satisfactory but it is a way ahead so we shall see what today brings.

Books · general

School Fairs & Flights

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I am very proud of myself – today we drove to a school fair.  It’s the fact that I drove there – previously we’d have been scouring the bus timetables to see if it would be possible to get there.  So a big thumbs up for that!

Naturally enough we went straight to the book room.  Prices were €2.00 each or 3 for €5.00 so I indulged and picked up Nigella Express,  Northanger Abbey & Learning To Drive (Teach Yourself).  So a big hurrah!  I was a bit worried as to the price of Nigella so I had to weigh up the fact that it’s lovely with the idea that I might not use it – but even for €2.00 it is so worth it – I’m such a skinflint!  well actually at the moment I am.

I also picked up a copy of Time Out Paris while in Borders and I think I shall keep this as my travelling magazine/bible between now and August.  That is because this evening we finally booked our flights to Paris – 8 days in Paris oh the delights and wonder of it all.  Last year was great if a little frantic this time will be a time of wandering and sauntering – Fantastic!

We also booked our flights to Manchester as we are going to Liverpool for the weekend in a short while.  We are both looking forward to this weekend but for me the highlight will be the possibility of fiddling with a spinning wheel – she doesn’t know it yet so I’d better warn her that I’ll be demanding and audience with the equipment – woohoo!

Books · general

Finishing the week

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I think I’m going to go to bed with a cup of Bedtime Tea and my book (there is also the possibly of a cat). I have 2 [books] beside my bed at the moment – The Gentle Art Of Domesticity by Jane Brocket and Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie. However the book I’ve been reading and am almost finished is Me & Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter. I think I have about 15 pages left so while I get through those my tea will have cooled down enough to drink.

One last thing about my cup of tea or mug – coffee in a standard mug = yes, but there is something special about tea out of a china cup or mug. Can you have a china mug? Anyway it has a totally different feel to it – coffee out of china – the taste is to robust for the fragile pottery in your hand and while tea can be drunk from an ordinary mug a china cup/mug lifts it to a whole new place.

Good Night.