double dose of canada

In the past month I have finished #9 and #10 in my Canadian Reading Challenge list.  Both have been sitting on my shelf for over a year, and I'm glad I finally got to them (that's the beauty of this challenge - I actually get through the books that are piling up).  One thing is for sure though, as much as I may be reading through this pregnancy, I'm having a hard time reviewing what I read.  My knitting comparisons are definitely one step too far for my meandering brain...as are decent reviews.  I'm into very, very condensed versions.

First up, The Line Painter by Claire Cameron.  I appreciated the Toronto and Northern Canada references, but for some reason I was suspicious of the "thriller" aspect all along.  I didn't know if the suspense was building to something or whether the story would just quietly play out.  In the end the novel landed somewhere in the middle, and therefore I found it mildly satisfying.  That's not to say I wasn't engaged - I just wasn't able to get lost in the story.  I was very conscious of every move the whole way through, but I had no problem finishing the novel, and I am someone who will abandon a book if I'm not enjoying it.

In contrast, Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb swept me off my feet and transported me into another world.  Someone had mentioned that it took them about 70 pages to get hooked, but I loved this novel from the very first page.  In short, I devoured it.  I enjoyed the regular shifts in time and location, because it always kept me wondering how the main character ended up where she did.  And the characters were full and fascinating, and I really appreciated the insight into Islam, and its differences geographically.  I think almost everyone on the reading challenge has chosen this book, and it is no surprise why.  It just may be my favourite pick this time around.

And now the baby is kicking (or more so, scraping my insides) and my concentration is shot.  Better luck for #11, I hope.

southern thrifting

We took very little luggage to California, so Jay and I had to have discipline thrift shopping. My only exception was this great aqua enamel pot (with black!).  The Hershey's recipe book and heart-shaped molds were small, packable extras, and they all turned out to be great toys for Sadie in our many hotel rooms.  I found everything at an antique place just down the street from the beautiful San Juan Capistrano Mission - one of our stops along the way to LA.  We had to skip over the "Retro Antique" shopping brochure they had there, which was certainly difficult for us.  I think we'll have to get our thrifting fix a little closer to home.

a simple plan

There is no time like the present to start living a more simple life.

No doubt the economy is scary, but I also have a maternity leave coming up which means we will be living on a reduced income for the next year.  But in all honesty, I find this opportunity exciting.  I often reflect fondly on the days when Jay and I had no choice but to be frugal.  I left university with a large student loan to pay and I chose to come up with concrete strategies to pay the loan off in 2 years.  And not once did I feel like I was missing out.  We enjoyed eating in, never missed cable, lived happily without a car, borrowed movies from the library and spent our time making art with the supplies we already had.  It was simple and very satisfying.

Then life changes and you slip into bad habits.  The current crunch on our time is certainly the culprit for us now because when I had my year's maternity leave with Sadie - and Jay wasn't even working then - we had no problem re-living our frugal ways.  This time around I'm leaving work a month before the baby is due and I'd like to spend that time stocking the freezer with meals (I love the idea of once-a-month cooking), making simple baby items like flannel cloths instead of running out to the store for supplies, and spending quality time with Sadie, figuring out simple ways to enjoy our time together (which is one of the main things I am looking forward to - time with my girl, each and every day).

Oh, and I may make a thing or two.  I have piles of wool and fabric to keep me busy for years, as long as I can manage "making" with a new baby in the picture.  As I write this, my mind is racing with ideas, a sure sign that I'm excited to begin.  Jay is already on board (he's campaigning to quit cable right now) and I think Sadie will embrace it too (she already understands the rule of "stuff" - with her toys, if something new comes in, she happily donates something she can live without).

But I wonder if the library will stock Molly Wizenberg's (aka Orangette) new book?  Okay, at least one more book purchase before the frugal year begins.  I've never been one to limit the written word, especially when life is about enjoying the simple things.

california dreaming

We've escaped to California for a final family vacation as just the three of us.  After a night's delay in Chicago we landed in San Diego and now we're headed up the coast to LA, stopping tonight in Laguna Beach.  But we had a particular highlight today - the seals at a protected cove in La Jolla.  We've never seen so many seals and it was such a treat to see them in their natural habitat.  Not that this image does the experience any justice - what you might think are rocks on the sand are actually seals, sunning themselves during the pup season.

It was simply awesome.  And way better than Sea World.

laptop cosy

Electronic gadgets are great and all, but can a laptop ever be complete without a cosy?  Of course not.

So instead of teaching myself Illustrator, I've spent time making a cosy for the new - and very helpful - laptop.  This fabric came from Purl Soho, and it really makes me smile (though it may be a touch too cute for Jay's liking).  A simple vine pattern lines the inside and I used two layers of cotton batting for the top and bottom.  A one-button closure seems to do the trick, and the plan was to make this double as a placemat for the laptop when it is in use.  And these days nothing is complete without my favourite polka-dotted ribbon.  I love this ribbon, and I should probably just buy the whole roll from Designer Fabric Outlet.  5 metres at a time seems silly.

nesting part I

If there's any room in our house I'd love to get "just right", it's definitely the kitchen.  Not only is it the sunniest room, but there's no denying I have to spend a lot of time in there.  Thankfully it has already come a long way since we moved in - gone is the black peel-and-stick plastic flooring and the back door has been removed so we can use the back cubby as a pantry.  Originally the cupboards were various shades of white that sported terrible brass hardware, but a coat of oil paint and new hardware made a dramatic difference.  The layout works great, so at this point it's only about appliances and finishing details.  Unfortunately for me, the finishing details can take me forever to figure out.

Here's main issue number 1: the cupboards, like all the woodwork in the house, are a nice off-white (Cameo White by Para).  However the stove, range hood and fridge are all bright white.  This may not bother other people, but it drives me bananas, especially during the day when the sun is shining in.  It makes the cupboards look dirty, and truthfully I find regular white appliances boring.  I'm not keen on stainless appliances either (the black sides are problematic for those of us who have to have the sides exposed) and I think black would feel too dominant in the small room.  So right now, we're considering a retro-inspired fridge in bisque by Northstar.  In our layout, the fridge stands on its own, so we'd rather have a piece that feels more like sculpture and makes for a nice view from the living room.  This leaves the stove.  Not too many manufacturers make bisque stoves anymore, except maybe Kenmore.  So I probably could get a regular bisque stove and (a nicer) range hood, keep the black dishwasher and go with the fancy fridge.  Not inexpensive, but way less money than starting fresh overall.

Issue number 2 is harder: the finishing details.  The kitchen has only been painted this dark grey for a year now, but it's not right.  I think painting the walls off-white, but a with a hit of colour somewhere would be nice.  Maybe a section of the fridge wall?  Aqua, like the chair?  Wallpaper?  I love the window blind fabric, and the wooden floors will stay as they are.  I've painted the backsplash tiles 6 times now (seriously) and I think this is a reno project we could take on ourselves.  But what would we put there?  Subway tiles in a simple ivory?  Glass?  Marble?  Marble would be my first pick, but that's probably WAY out of any budget.  It's the grid pattern of what we have that bothers me most, but painting was a big improvement over the pink and grey cloud pattern that lies underneath.  And the counter is a black laminate - practical, but showing its age.  Again, I don't know what we'd go for otherwise. I'm completely open to suggestions, for everything!

At least there is inspiration aplenty out there.  I love Flickr for this, especially the Domino group.  Today I'm inspired by this simple table setting (and the blog that it came from), the ivory goodness here, the colour palette and fabrics in this living room, this great vintage stove, the compactness of this kitchen space, and even though this isn't a kitchen at all, I just love this space.

Two things are for sure: I should never take photos when groceries are all over the kitchen and there's clutter everywhere, and I'm officially nesting now.  Clearly.

hearts all over

Valentine's Day was almost a bust.  Sadie has been sick since Wednesday and missed not just one, but two Valentine parties.  I promised we'd have our own little party today, but it ended up being super low key because Sadie is still under the weather.  We didn't even have the energy to bake (it's been a long week at work, plus sleepless nights, so we're all running on empty).  At least a little bit of colouring and crafting went down - enough for Daddy and Gramma to get pretty nice Valentines.  Also I made sure to pick up lots of chocolate for me and Jay, and a little treat for Sadie, but when your little girl isn't herself, Valentine's Day just isn't either.

The first photo is my latest knitting project, and in a colour palette that makes me thinks of hearts and candy.  I picked up this Sheep Shop yarn at Purl in New York, confident that Sadie would dig it.  And dig it she did, first she asked that I knit a doll sweater with it and then reconsidered and asked for a cardigan for herself.  So I'm using Knit and Tonic's Drive-Thru pattern, but adjusting a bit for the lighter weight wool.  I haven't done a yoke-style sweater before so it should be a good challenge.  If only I could actually knit today - this low energy vibe is strong.  Even Glen Miller, a usually active cat, was perched on the radiator all day.  But I do love that he seems to be dreaming of hearts.

February, Schmebruary.

for the love of reading

Traveling to other blogs is always rewarding.  The other day I stumbled upon this inspiring post, and I immediately started thinking about which books have changed my life.  The idea is that you would devote one shelf to your own life-changing books.  Wonderful idea, don't you think?

It also made me wonder about reading in general, and the eager student in me started researching the tangible benefits of sitting down with a book.  Recently a friend had mentioned a study (or psychologist) that suggested people who read a lot of fiction are generally better equipped in relationships, due mainly to the fact that they develop empathy for all sorts of character types - not to mention their situations, challenges and experiences.  A Canadian study written about here confirms this basic thought, as the U of T professor stated that "[his researchers] found that fiction readers had substantially greater empathy".  And Maryanne Wolf, the Director at the Center for Reading and Language Research has wonderfully suggested, "we bring our life experiences to the text, and the text changes our experience of life" (with thanks to this review of Wolf's book).  All to say that reading is important, rewarding and simply put - time well spent.  So on to the list of life-changing books!

Here are mine, but not in any order:

The Homemaker, by Dorothy Canfield: read just last month on a tip from Jane Brocket's The Gentle Art of Domesticity.  This book made me cry, made me want to reach in and embrace a 4 yr old as his emotions explode when he discovers the depth and sincerity of his father's love.  And it made me want to jump for joy for the progressive thinking about imposed gender roles even though the novel was written in 1924.

Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez: when I needed to pay off my student loans, this book put money into perspective for me and helped me develop values and strategies for dealing with money issues that have served Jay and me well.  I am forever changed because of this book - philosophically and financially.

The Powerbook, by Jeanette Winterson: I love almost anything Jeanette Winterson writes, but this book had sat on my shelf unread for years.  I picked it up at a pretty low point, and it couldn't have been better timed.  It reminded me that no one is perfect, that love is as beautiful as it is destructive, and that Winterson will always inspire me.

Ana Historic, by Daphne Marlatt: early in University a boyfriend had to read this for his English course, and although he disliked it, I devoured the novel.  It was the first time I read a novel written in experimental and poetic prose, and I was blown away.  That the main character made up the life story of a women offhandedly mentioned in an old newspaper article was an intriguing storyline too, and perfectly suited to the style of writing.  I could never look at words the same again.

Whylah Falls, by George Elliot Clarke: another novel written in a series of poems, but flavoured by the Acadian world of Nova Scotia.  I read this later in University, but it still binds me to my dear friend Kristen as we both loved Clarke's language and the visuals his words inspired.

Away, by Jane Urquhart: Urquhart is one of my favourite authors, and I read Away while Jay and I were adjusting to domestic life at the same time as trying to maintain an artistic practice.  The idea of a woman being "away" struck a chord with me and really influenced the art I was working then (and now).  It had never occurred to me that a woman might abandon her life, her family, and especially her children, for any reason.  But the human mind is fragile, and this novel was full of insight.

It's a small list, but these are the novels that immediately came to mind for me.  Do you know what would be lovingly placed on your shelf?

vest addiction

This house makes photographing dark knits nearly impossible.  Also, I'm impatient and couldn't wait until the weekend when I may have been able to count on some natural light.

I found this pattern by Susanne Pietrzak on Ravelry (for free!) and it was exactly what I was looking for - squared edges, a high collar and a simple closure.  Easy to wear as I grow bigger, and should still work next winter when I'm possibly back to normal.  I improvised for size, but the pattern was so easy to follow that it never became difficult to figure out.  As for the other modifications, I did a seed stitch border and collar instead of garter, and I ignored the buttonhole since this could be a great opportunity for a shawl pin, brooch or kilt pin like I've used already.  And the wool was a dream to work with - Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Tweed that Ragdoll and I first spied in Paris.  It's very soft to the touch and the palette is great.  I'm not really a purple person, but this deep eggplant works for me.

Next up, a cardigan for Sadie.  I'm starting to feel a little selfish with all this knitting for myself. Time to share the crafting energy around.

(Note to self: next time, smile a little.  Who knew a glimpse of a mouth could look so sour?)

halfway

20 weeks and counting.  I am 100% sure that my belly was not this big at 20 weeks the first time around, and the simple fact that I have to wear layers of clothing right now is making me crazy uncomfortable.  With Sadie, my bulging belly was covered with lightweight sundresses and single layer t-shirts.  But even with an elevated body temperature, I need layers in this chilly winter weather which has caused me to enter the I-can't-get-comfortable-sitting-on-the-couch phase about, oh, 3 months early.

The perk of the halfway mark is feeling the baby move and kick and punch with all of its 10 ounce might.  And the 19 week ultrasound was pretty fascinating too, although we didn't give in and ask the he/she question.  Sadie is completely on the side of it being a girl baby, while I have these boy feelings...but I had boy feelings last time and was certainly proven wrong.  It's nice to have a surprise waiting for you in 5 months, right?  Right?  This is what I tell myself anyway, over and over again, while I try not to think about passing up the one chance we had to find out.

In the meantime, I am trying to stay productive - as long as it means I can sit on the couch to do so.  Our trusty new laptop is helping this cause, and knitting is truly the best hobby (fingers crossed I don't get carpal tunnel syndrome this time as it ended my handcraft diversions until after Sadie was born).  Ravelry serves both interests, and Sadie and I have been known to lie back and indulge in videos at cuteoverload.com.  Now that I think of it, 20 more weeks of this sounds pretty good.

Big belly notwithstanding.