A great book

Last night I read this book - what a great read.  My daughter had picked it up on a visit to Sydney and was showing me her holiday purchases.  I sat down and read it cover to cover last night (it doesn't take long).  So much of it resonated with me.  It's going to live on the coffee table so I flick through it regularly. I'm probably the last person to hear of Austin Kleon, so I'm glad I reached out from under my rock and caught this little ray of sunlight, or rather was yanked out by my daughter into the light.

The Year in Books

I have joined up to The Year in Books.  I stumbled over it via Millefeuilles. 

I'm in a book club, but I'm always looking out for more books to read, and to diversify my reading.  I am only too conscious of how my little world is only a micro dot in the greater world, and I yearn for knowledge of the greater world, new surroundings and to open my mind to all the different lifestyles and worlds out ''there''.  I worry that in my comfortable western life, I will become too narrow in my thinking.  My upbringing was conservative, middle class (I am totally blessed for this and so thankful for it - please don't think for a minute I'm disappointed by it). I lead a comfortable life is suburban Perth, a very isolated city.  It's not easy to leave Perth and experience lots of varied cultures. Everywhere is a flight of several hours away and with only 4 weeks leave a year, not readily accessible, so I fuel my senses by reading.  It's the only way of immersing myself in other's stories and lives in my day-to-day world.

So I'm excited to hear of lots more books, that I may not ordinarily stumble across and add to my reading list.  Thank you!

Here's what I'm currently reading and enjoying. 

It is perhaps particularly relevant as we read of the theories currently surrounding the missing Malaysian airline.

and here's what I've been doing in my craft world this weekend

putting the binding on my retro squares quilt.  I'm nearly done.  It will be my first FINISHED quilt this year.  Hooray!

Weekend in Review 6

Okay so my weekend was busy and it was almost a week away. So what went on last weekend - I'm having trouble remembering and need to refer to my diary.

I want to say nothing on Friday night, but somehow I'm not sure this was the case.  No maybe it was - I remember watching Silent Witness.  Yes that's right!  I did a bit of running around after work and then watched tv.  I was knitting my socks.  Knitting my socks has highlighted that my eyesight is changing.  I can't wear my glasses and see to knit clearly, I need to have them off, but then I need them on to see the TV.  Best get to the optician soon!  I just love these little reminders of aging.  I'm a 19 year old at heart, so it kinda takes me by surprise when I realise I'm doing something like reading menus from a great distance, just like my mama and gran used to do!  Bless!

Saturday I had some girlfriends round for a Nutrimetics fabulous facial party.  It was a hoot!  We had so much fun, sitting round with our bowls and mirrors and being taken through a facial.  All helped along with champagne and nibbles.  Trying lots of lotions and potions.  We were also treated to a hand spa.  We all giggled like schoolgirls - it was a great afternoon.

Saturday night was off to a fun quiz night fundraiser for the rowing team at Penrhos College.  I came away $100 richer, winning one of the raffles.  Perfect timing, as I'd treated myself to some books on-line, which I will share with you when they arrive.

Sunday I headed off to Perth Upmarket for a little looksee.  It's been a couple of years since I had my bag stall.  It has really grown and there is some fabulous gear.  It's great to see how creative people are.  Then my friend and I went for coffee and brekky at Halo on Angelo Street in South Perth.  The scrambled eggs were absolutely YUM!  Treat yourself if you're in the area.

Sunday arvo was spent at home.  By then I was coming down with this lousy head cold.  So I just kept myself topped up with hot lemon and honey drinks.

My latest read has been "The Lavender Keeper" by Fiona McIntosh.  I picked it up due to its lavender title.  I would like to see the lavender fields of Provence - it's one of my bucket list items. And I just made my first visit to Provence (albeit for one day!) last year. Also, it's set in WWII which is another one of my favourite eras to read about.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's not in the same literary class as "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" but an easy enjoyable romantic fiction read if that's your thing. Done and dusted in a few nights of bed time reading.

I didn't realise it has a sequel, so I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

Weekend in Review 5

A weekend plagued by headaches, that pounded away making me feel pretty lousy.  It's a regular once-a-month thing these days.  Pills help lots but it puts me in a bit of a fog.  Right now I can't even remember what I did on the weekend.

The one thing of note was that I finished "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" by David Wroblewski.  I really enjoyed the book.  It was different and beautifully written.  A story about a mute boy and his dogs.  I found the ending unexpected.  I gather that the ending of the book has been the source of debate which I found some notes about online. I was curious to find out what others thought of the book.  It's been around since 2008 so there's quite a bit on the web about it.  Read here if you're interested

I just discovered that it is the National Year of Reading here in Australia and it's almost half way through. (Must have had my nose buried in a book!) I worry constanTly that my girls don't read nearly enough. I have grown up in a family where everyone reads/trades/discusses/gives/is surrounded books. They inhabit desks, bedside and coffee tables, and shelves everywhere.  But my girls are that next generation caught up in all things digital and rarely pick up a book on a rainy afternoon.... I try to ease my concern by telling myself that they are busy teenagers with a wide range of interests.  They will come back to books and reading in the future and it is in their genes.  Their home environment exposes them to books.  They see me reading everyday...so fingers crossed osmosis is at work.  Because I cannot imagine a life without books.  Or does the future hold a life without books for future generations to come?

With the announcement of 2000 or so jobs to be cut from a newspaper printing house on the east coast.  It's a constantly changing world where the only thing certain is change as the saying goes.

I'm so glad wonderful artists captured reading.  Imagine people viewing this painting in generations to come. The description will have to explain what the subject is holding and why!