Felt Like Knitting

The Fixer Upper

I recently downloaded a library app called iBookshelf to keep track of my books, people I loan them to, etc.  I have several books that I've borrowed so I decided I should read those books and return them.  The first book I chose was The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews.  (It must be a very popular book because it even has a video game based on it!) Last year I read Deep Dish and enjoyed it so I figured I would also like TFU.

And I was right.  I did enjoy this book.  (Thanks for loaning it to me, Mary!)  Living in Georgia and reading a book written by a Georgian author is always a lot of fun.  I feel like I know the characters personally and have been in their houses.  Actually, I enjoy Southern literature in general.

The main character, Dempsey Killebrew, is a lobbyist in D.C. who happens to get in the middle of a political and legal mess.  While things are calming down up north, she moves to a small town in rural Georgia to fix up a house that has been left to her father.  

Some of the plot is a bit predictable since it a romance.  But there are some fun twists and an exciting ending.  If you like easy-to-read books set in the South, this is a book you will enjoy.

 

 

 

 

WIP Wednesday - Colchicaceae

My LYS started another KAL last week: Colchicaceae (Rav link).  I was only able to go for a short time but I did manage to select yarn and say hi to a few folks.  And then I was able to cast on while I waited to pick up Emma from school.

I'm using Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK.  This is pricier yarn than I usually use but my mom had given me a gift certificate to the store and that helped.  I may not want to go back my usual choices now.  This yarn is so soft!  This pretty turquoise color helps me remember that spring will be here someday. 

(The real color is actually just a little lighter than the color in the photo.)  

What do you plan to knit for spring?

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Oscar Winning Movies


I didn't participate in last week's Ten on Tuesday topic because my nightstand was just too messy to be in a photo!  But I'm back for this week's topic.  To narrow down my choices, I used this list to highlight the films I've seen.  There are some I can't quite remember if I've seen, but I think I've watched about thirty of them.  And while some of the movies on the list are excellently made and could be chosen for their artistic value, I've just chosen movies I like to watch.  Here are my favorites in order by year:

2003 - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

1994 - Forrest Gump

1989 - Driving Miss Daisy

1988 - Rain Man

1982 - Gandhi

1965 - The Sound of Music

1964 - My Fair Lady

1943 - Casablanca

1942 - Mrs. Miniver

1939 - Gone with the Wind

It would be hard for me to choose my favorite movie from that list but if I had to choose, it would be either The Sound of Music or My Fair Lady.  What are your favorite Oscar winning movies?

Looking forward

Did you all have fun watching the Super Bowl last night?  I thought most of the ads were s0-s0 but the game was really good!  I happened to be home alone for the game so I got a lot of knitting done, too.

Last week, one of my local Ravelry friends (well, we're just friends now but we met on Ravelry :) ) called to ask how I was doing.  I hadn't posted for a while and I hadn't been on Ravelry.  Wasn't that sweet?  Thanks, Robin!  I guess I'd just gotten busy with a few things, one of them being my knee.

My right knee has been hurting for a couple of years and I finally got an MRI done.  While I don't need surgery for torn cartilage, it turns out that I have arthritis and not much cartilage left.  This has given me the incentive I need to lose weight and exercise.  So I joined WeightWatchers (again) last Thursday.  I've already lost over 3 pounds, just from starting to cut out the junk and heavy foods I was eating.  

I made a variation of this squash recipe last night for dinner and it was so delicious!  I can thoroughly recommend it.  And this morning I made scrambled eggs with sauteed vegetables.  Vegetables are so delicious and are my preference but I've gotten into the habit of cooking more meat and the "usual" vegetables because of my family's preferences.  I think my key to success may be prepping the vegetables as soon as I get them home - cutting up carrots and celery, sauteeing vegetables, etc.  Oh, speaking of celery, here is another delicious recipe I tried this weekend.  It doesn't taste "diety" and it makes a fulfilling snack.

Walking will be my exercise of choice but if you have other "flat footed exercises" that you enjoy, I'd love to hear about them.  I particularly want to start using the stability ball that I bought a while back.  (J, I'll soon be calling you to see if you're available to walk!)

I'll be back tomorrow for Ten on Tuesday and I have WIP knitting to share on Wednesday.  Hope you have a great Monday!