What's on your current reading list?

Just as with my knitting, quilting and sewing projects, I also have more than one "reading project" on the go.

On my iPad I was listening to The Wise Woman by George MacDonald, who was a favourite author of C. S. Lewis. This story was published in the nineteenth century and is described as a 'parable' or 'fairy story'. It was a little hard to get into because MacDonald's language is very descriptive but once the story got underway it was hard to stop!I finished it while doing some embroidery in Friday's beautiful spring-like weather.

I have since downloaded The Amazing Mind of Alice Makin by Alan Shea (read by Zoe-Anne Phillips), which is billed as historical juvenile fiction. Set in post war London, it follows Alice's imaginative life to which she retreats when her home life becomes unbearable.

Also on my iPad, I am reading The Distant Hours by Kate Morton.  This was recommended by Renee of "Sewn with Grace" and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It is described as a gothic novel but I'm not sure that's how I would describe it.

All three of these books were borrowed from my local library, as was the audiobook downloaded to my computer: Teacher Man by Frank McCourt (the author of Angela's Ashes). This as an autobiography about how he came through teaching to become a writer. It is a little hard for me to understand because it is being read by the author who has an Irish accent and I have to listen carefully - not ideal when I am using my sewing machine at the same time! Nonetheless, it is an interesting read.

My Kindle has all but been forgotten in the excitement of owning an iPad but there are books there too. I am in the middle of reading the classic Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift. It's interesting but not compelling reading; perhaps that's why I left it several weeks ago. There are many other books stored on that device when I get to them.

And, yes, I still read books in print. At the moment I am reading two autobiographies: Mao's Last Dancer, which was loaned to me by a friend in my sewing class and Be Your Best, by Australian swimmer Geoff Huegill, which WM and I bought for DD. She has finished it and kindly loaned it to me.

I have dozens of books on my library wishlist, in my Kindle and on my "to be read" shelf. Oh for a few more hours a day! LOL

The current favourite book in these little guys’ house is The Red Tractor.

What's on your current reading list?

too much fun!

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you would know that the computer is my biggest “time-waster”.

Well it was until last Friday, when WM came home with this for me:

It’s an iPad 3, 16GB. I love it!

My poor desktop computer will probably wonder where I have gone. I use the iPad to read your blogs, write comments, search the ’Net, look around Ravelry, and as an e-reader for the books from the public library which I can’t read on my Kindle. I did, however, type this post on my PC (using Windows Live Writer which I can heartily recommend if you haven’t tried it).

I may not go missing from the blogisphere but my sewing machine and knitting needles might wonder what’s happened to me – at least till the novelty wears off!

I have been remiss

Several weeks ago, Vicki of The Accidental Crafter, sent me a pair of shorts for Younger Grandson. She had made them for her son but they were too small. As yet, they are too big for YG but he’ll grown into them soon enough.

I didn’t take a photo of the shorts but I did take a photo of the lovely surprise that came with the shorts. Because I read and comment on Vicki’s blog on a regular basis, she made me a cover for my Kindle.

The cable to connect it to my computer lives in the pocket but it looked a bit bulky so I took it out for the photograph.

Vicki also sent some fabric scraps to add to my collection.

Thank you so much Vicki; you shouldn’t have but I’m so glad you did.

And thank you, too, to Rosalin from the BM knitters’ group, for this gift: DD and I appreciate it and can assure you that it will have a good home.

Once again, thank you both.

update and thank you

Not much happening here in crafting land.

I am still sewing in all the ends of my "in the ditch" quilting. I like them all tied off and buried in the layers;  I don't mind doing it but it is taking a lot longer than I expected!

We gave my 77yo mum a Nikon Coolpix as a Christmas present last night (she arrived for a week's stay yesterday evening) - she is currently reading the manual!

WM has gone to pick up DD and the Grandboys as a surprise for Nanna/Gran-Nan.

Thanks for all your suggestions: WM and I are still sorting through all the options regarding the Kindle. The files from my local library (ePDF or ePUB) have "digital rights management" (as do the ebooks from the Book Depository) so they cannot be converted to Kindle readable files. We can't return it because I have used it and it is not faulty; I don't want to sell it because that would be insulting to WM after I specifically asked for a Kindle and I don't want it to become a paperweight! At the moment, we are leaning towards taking out an Amazon "Prime" subscription (currently $79US per year); I get a one month free trial to see if that's the path I want to take.

eta: I've just discovered that the Lending Library included in this subscription is limited to one book a month - hmm, more thinking required!

Because the next week will be full of  family activities, I may not have time to post to my blog but I will be back early next year!