March 7, 2011

Book #17 in the 50 Book Challenge...


From Goodreads.com:
"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own.” Thus begins one of the most terrifying and morally prescient science fiction novels ever penned. Beginning with a series of strange flashes in the distant night sky, the Martian attack initially causes little concern on Earth. Then the destruction erupts—ten massive aliens roam England and destroy with heat rays everything in their path. Very soon mankind finds itself on the brink of extinction. Wells raises questions of mortality, man’s place in nature, and the evil lurking in the technological future—questions that remain urgently relevant in the twenty-first century.

My Review: 4 out of 5 stars. Great story, very interesting to see what people at the end of the 19th century thought mars might be like. Some of the language was a bit archaic and was prone to send me into fits of giggles (because I'm truly a child underneath it all), but I still love it.

March 6, 2011

Book #16 of the 50 Book Challenge...

Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling
From Goodreads.com:
More of "the best straight-ahead science fiction the genre has ever seen" (Amazing) from the bestselling author of Conquistador. An electrical storm over Nantucket causes all electronic devices to cease to function-computers, radio, even firearms-and plunges the world into a darkness humanity is unprepared to face. But as some people band together to help, others are building armies for conquest...It all started when an electrical storm over the island of Nantucket produced a blinding white flash, causing all electronic devices to cease to function-computers, telephones, engines, radio, television, even firearms-and plunged the world into a darkness humanity was unprepared to face. But even as some people band together to help one another, others are building armies for conquest...
My take: 3 out of 4 stars. It was good but not great. Not sure if I'll read the next book in the series.

March 5, 2011

Honey Cowl is done! And I love it!

Turned out so cute and the fit is perfect.

Goes with my purple snow jacket perfect.

So perfect!
Pattern: Honey Cowl by MadelineTosh
Yarn: Tosh DK in Black Velvet (1 Skein)
Needles: Size 8 US
Mods: None

March 4, 2011

I came down with a nasty head cold this week. Mostly runny nose, stuffed up ears and coughing along with feeling like my head was stuffed with cotton. I am a horrible, whiny sick person and I'm sure that Hubbs was grateful that he had to go to work and thus avoided having to deal with me for most of the day.

So as to not waste a day, I paid bills and balanced the check book but after that I ran out of chores to do. The house was already clean and honestly even if it wasn't I wouldn't have worked on it anyway since I just wasn't up to doing anything to strenuous. So instead I did a little shopping for stitch markers on Etsy. I found tons I like but I really wanted instant gratification. I hate waiting for stuff to ship. So I made my own.

Blue ones.

Green ones.

Both sets fit size 5 and smaller needles. I love my stitch markers that I bought from Miss Purl at Stitches West but they're better suited for size 8 needles then the size 4's I'm using for Larch. I made two sets of 7 each. And it was really easy. They're not as nice as the ones I bought but pretty good for a first try. I had problems wrapping the wire around to secure the loop at the top. Some came out better then others. It was fun and cheap since I had all the stuff to make them already. A good way to pass a couple of hours when you're sick.

March 3, 2011

I picked up a new bag over the weekend. I decided that I needed a small messenger bag that I could carry across my body. I found a Sherpani bag on sale at REI.
It's got one big pocket and one small pocket. In the big pocket it's also got a waterproof sleeve for holding a 16oz water bottle and one small pocket which is plenty big enough to hold my cell phone.

The big pocket is big enough to hold my full sized wallet, my glasses, my hair brush, a small bag for my Burt's Bees lip balm (of which I generally have four or five of them), my camera and even a large hard back book. The small pocket holds my calendar, my iPod and my badge for work. It also has a tethered key chain that I put my work keys on so I can always find them.

The flap also has a small pocket in it that's just big enough to hold my car keys and a lip balm for easy access. It's a great bag.

March 2, 2011

The Vogue Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Preview is up!

This is the only thing that I really liked out of it. It might go perfect with the dress for the wedding that I'm going to be making. Just enough to take off the evening chill of a summer outdoor wedding.

March 1, 2011

Larch is coming a long nicely. I finished the waist shaping and am working up to the split for the fronts and the back. I am still really in love with the color of the Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light, Candied Yam. It's so beautiful and soft.


I love my new stitch markers. I'm stalking Miss Purl's Etsy shop to see about getting at least one other set in a smaller size.

The stitch defination is lovely.

I really love this yarn and would use it again. But I am interested in seeing how it wears since it's 50% wool and 50% alpaca. I haven't worked that much with alpaca and everything I've read says that it streaches a lot. I'm hoping that isn't the case with this yarn since it's 50/50. Only one way to find out.