2010

This is what my knitting patterns usually look like by the time I am finished. I always copy them on the copier so I can write all over them, cut them up and tape them in the order I want and then throw them out when I am done, never ruining the original.



This squirrel is 5 feet up on that post that he climbed. He will just never give it up! Where there is bird seed, there are squirrels.



What's happening - Cold, Cold, Cold! On Sunday it was 10, but the wind was blowing 15 mph so with the wind chill it was -15. Indecently- we do have some snow on the ground now, about 4-6 inches (where the wind hasn't blown it away).
My husband was home for New Years eve! I didn't think he would be, but he left the following morning. We went out to dinner at an old Hotel built in the 1800's. They had a great buffet with Roast beef, turkey, ham, scallop potatoes, stuffed shells, ravioli, rice patties, baked beans, home made applesauce, cheese and crackers, breads and rolls, and a great salad bar. Followed by cookies and hot cocoa. Then we came home had a glass of wine and watched "Amittyville horror" remember that movie? I haven't seen that since I was a teenager. Man, for a movie made in the 70's it was scary! You guys do know that it is based on a true story right here in NY! The house really does stand in Amittyville NY. Anyway I stayed up till midnight, Glen fell asleep but I woke him up at 11:59 (that is our tradition) we kissed and were in bed by 12:10.

A friend of our from the church passed away on Christmas day. She was one of the nicest, sweetest, and godliest women I knew! I know Jesus is so happy to have you with him, Betty.
We will really miss her. Glen was home so he could go to the memorial service with me. It was really, not a sad one, but one where there were alot of stories and good memories.

Glen was off to work at 5:00 Mon. morning and will not be home probably till Fri. or Sat. I will know when he gets here. On Sunday afternoon he gave me snowblower lessons (his parents gave us their old one), yeah, like that went well! I told Glen - I think it would be easier to move down south. I really can't see myself doing this every morning.

Monday morning - back to work, kids cam bright and early as usual. Everyone seemed glad to be back. They were all very talkative, telling me all about their vacations.

Knitting - You guys are not helping me out choosing a new knitting project! I think I am going to knit a cowl, or smoke ring, or wimple (what ever you want to call them) here are some links - Abby, Wavy feathers wimple, Birds nest smoke ring. Get your vote in, help me decide!

Books I have read - "A Room of One's Own" Virginia Woolf. This is a classic written in 1929. While this may not be for every reader, I did enjoy it. It is an extended essay on women as both writers of fiction and as characters in fiction during the 1400 - 1800's, It is really about sexism! Back then women didn't or couldn't write. They never really stood a chance. And even if they had written they wouldn't have gotten the recognition for it. I loved the line - "I would venture to guess that Anonymous, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman". I dare anyone who likes great literature and is interested in sexism throughout the ages, read this book! (I own it if anyone wants to borrow it!)
"The Outsider" by Ann Gabhard, This book about Shaker life in KY during the early 1800's wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. It was good, just not great. It was a very simple story line, but... for a very simple story line it seemed very long, like things were added to make it longer, and then for such a long, simple story line, the ending seemed way too abrupt! I think the story should have been shorter and the ending longer. The story took place over 3 yrs. but the ending was like 5 min.

In 2009 - I read 75 books.
65 of them were written by women.
All of my top 10 books were written by women.
23 were non-fiction (or memoirs)
24 were historical

My favorite books of 2009
1.The Help - Kathryn Stockett
2. The Believers - Janice Holt Giles
3. Children of the Dust - Betty Grant Henshaw
4. North of Beautiful - Justina Headley Chen
5. The Shape of Mercy - Susan Meissner
6. Still Alice - Lisa Genova
7. Casting Spells - Barbara Bretton
8. Roseflower Creek - J. L. Miles
9. In the Land of Cotton - Martha Taylor
10. William Henry is a Fine Name - Cathy Gohlke




Lady Antebellum is one of my favorite groups and this is my favorite song by them! Their new CD by the same title is coming out Jan.26th. I will right there buying it. This video clip is not the one seen on CMT or GAC, it is a behind the scenes video (I actually don't really care for the real video, I like this one better). I liked this group right from the start, which is unusual for me. There are not too many "newbies" that I like right away. Little Big Town was one of those that I liked right away too.