Fab Five for Friday

So it appears that I like memes. Here's another one: Fab Five for Friday. Here's the info:

"It's very simple. Just list your favorite five things from the week. It can be anything from jokes to music to food. It's a fun way to get to know more about each other and maybe make new friends, find new blogs or new things to try. Expand our world's a bit. Make it as detailed as you like, but the more detail the more fun! Don't forget to link to this site and sign the Mr. Linky so I can come and read your favorites."

Go to Living to tell the Story to sign-up or for more info.

1) Blueberry Crumb Bars My friend made these with blackberries and it tasted great. I plan to make some with blackberries that I can pick from the bushes behind my work.

2) This cool quote I came across on someone's blog. "Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right." Henry Ford

3) Mountain Dew Cupcakes Another cool recipe that I came across by way of this blog. Such good pictures of sweets I'm surprised my keyboard doesn't have drool on it!

4) Help end world hunger by playing a game at http://www.freerice.com/ (I'm not sure if this is actually true, but its a fun game none the less. And if it really does help I think that's awesome!)

5) The "I Am so you don't have to be" on-line blog bible study. Did you know there was such a thing as an on-line bible study? I didn't. I haven't read this yet, but I want to.

In case you don't see the common thread, these are the top 5 things I found on the net this week. If you find yourself playing because you found this on my blog please let me know I'd love to read your Fab Five!

Friday Fill-Ins # 87 and a small catch up

1. When I'm sick I become a big baby.
2. When I take a walk, I think about what good exercise it is and how I should walk more often.
3. Money can't buy happiness but it can make me happy for a day.
4. Cotton makes me want to knit a dishcloth and leather makes me want a leather jacket.
5. The strangest person/character I've had lewd thoughts about was ?.
6. My favorite color these days is blue because it's purdy.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to buying E & J wedding present, tomorrow my plans include E & J wedding and Sunday, I want to take a ferry to Nanimo, and the holiday Monday I'm coming back to Richmond for the B family's farewell.

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. I just haven't felt much like typing. I've finished "The Yada Yada Prayer Group" book 2 (review to come). I've started a new book. I've made good progress on the socks, and I'm working on some fingerless mitts.

Friday Fill-Ins # 86

1. Dancing to the music while fully clothed makes me happy.
2. The last time I went to Walmart I nearly bought a $9 pair of shoes.
3. When I drive I listen to the radio (always).
4. I saw you standing over there.
5. Give me a good book, give me a warm blanket, give me time to read. (and I'll be happy!)
6. Next week I am looking forward to the labour day long weekend.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to meeting with my SCC knitting group at the organizer's house, tomorrow my plans include reading and knitting, ....along with housework and Sunday, I want to hopefully sit in the sun (sun please help me out with this)!

Southern Reading Challenge 2008 Wrap-Up

The Southern Reading Challenge ended on Aug 15th, and I have yet to write my final post so... here we go. The challenge ran from May 15th to Aug 15th and we were supposed to read 3 books that were written by southern authors and based in the south. My chosen list of book were:

1) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2) Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

3) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Unfortunately I was a bad reader and only finished one of my chosen books. I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It was slow reading for me and did not hold my interest much. It kind of killed my reading mojo. I know I started reading this late (sometime in June). But by the time I was finished the last thing I wanted to do was to pickup a book that is outside of my normal reading genre. Plus by that time there was only 2 week left in the challenge and I knew that To Kill A Mockingbird would take me longer then two weeks to read. So basically I gave up on the challenge. Bad form, I know, I know. I don't join challenges for this very reason. I like to read what I want, when I want. So my apologies to Maggie the host of the challenge. But hey, atleast I read one southern book that I'd not read before!

Book Review: The Friday Night Knitting Club

This book combines my two current passions: knitting and reading. The story focus on a single mom, her daughter, and the store she owns and runs. It's also about the lives of the women who come to the weekly knitting club, and how they go from a group who have a common interest in knitting to a group of friends involved in each others lives. I was a little confused at the beginning of the book as the store switched from character to character each being told in the first person. Once I got into the story though I couldn't put it down. I finished the book in a week and half.

I would reccommend this to others. And I'm adding Kate Jacobs next book Comfort Food to my ever growing to-be-read list.

Friday Fill-Ins # 85

1. The last meal I had at a restaurant was a chicken ranch wrap at Red Robins.
2. Pea soup is something I intensely dislike.
3. The full moon is something that should be wished upon.
4. Eh! is one of my favorite local expressions.
5. Sometimes it's best to eat fresh fruit. (I picked some blackberries today, yum!)
6. Mamma Mia is the best movie I've seen so far this year! (Or aleast the most recent good one.)
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include going to the lake and Sunday, I want to not melt in the heat!

Chocolate Cake in 5 minutes

Every week the knitter's website Ravelry posts a newletter. This has been going on for 26 weeks now. I have never read one until last week. Last week I read the funnies section and this is what I found.

For those without Ravelry access the post is a recipe for a 5 minute chocolate mug cake. Chocolate cake in just 5 minutes!! YUM! Here's the recipe:

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons cake flour(that’s plain flour, not self-raising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil (probably too much. 3 teaspoons seems to work better!)
3 tablespoons chocolate chips(optional)
a small splash of vanilla essence
1 coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla essence, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

I haven't made it yet, but if you try it let me know how it turns out!

Knitting update and winnings!

Good news! I have finished knitting my first sock! No, not not my first pair of socks, my first sock - singular. Yes, I am exceptionally slow at this, but I'm very excited that the first one is finished! This picture was taken last night at the SCC knitting group. After watching a great clip from this website I have kitchner stitched the end of toes. Whew, that took longer than I thought it would. Now I'm on to sock #2.

Monica joined me at the SCC knitting group last night. Monica recently had a contest for her 1000th blog post. She had several prizes and I won one! She brought the prize last night and here's what I received: The novel Chocolat, patterned tissues, a bookmark, cute little notepad, and a pack of gel pens. Which is great considering that I've been on a reading kick lately. Go read Monica's post for a picture of my prize, along with all the others she gave way.

Well, I'm off to start sock #2. Wish me luck!

Friday Fill-Ins # 84

1. You know you're old when you stop dreaming.
2. My heart is divided between knitting and reading.
3. Island Farms Bear Claw Ice-Cream is what I need RIGHT NOW!
4. I have felt the wind blow, I have known the depths of the Horne Lake caves. (well, partial depths anyway.)
5. Gah, won't these people watch the Olymipcs.
6. Go see Mamma Mia! as soon as you can!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to going to see Mamma Mia!, tomorrow my plans include housework, reading, and knitting and Sunday, I want to go to A's house and celebrate mom's birthday!

Book Review: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off- The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting

From the back of the book:

1) Pack your Bags (How much yarn?) 2) Map out your course (Where's the closest yarn store?) 3) Learn the language (" Just one more row..." ) 4) Find your traveling buddies. (Look for the telltale needle holes in the purse) 5) And cast off with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee on a trip from which you may never return-- if you're lucky. Knitting's Yarn Harlot, with her wry humor and unapologetic, obsessive love for everything about this remarkable place, invites you to join her on a hilarious tour of the land, its people, customs, and culture. She tells all-- from unusual geographical features such as the giant stash to common ailments you may be susceptible to, like Yarnesia, Finish-It-Upitis, and the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome. Along the way, you may get lost in Stitches or engrossed by the beauties of Lace, but, whatever happens, it's sure to be the journey of a lifetime.

So this is not quite a novel but a good, and quick read none the less. I enjoyed reading this funny book that reads like a travel book, and covers culture, customs, and my favourite section, history. Although this a is funny book, I picked up a serious bit of history. I learnt that in 1917 (WWI) every woman, boy, girl, and man not in active duty in Canada, US, and Britain was "implored to knit for soldiers......if anyone had any wool she hadn't turned into a pair of socks within twenty-one days, she was asked to turn it in for use by another, faster knitter." Yikes! I'd be in trouble my socks have taken me over a month so far. (Yes, I know I'm probally the slowest knitter around!)

To get a taste of Stephanie's writting you can check out her blog.

Book Review: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

I read this book as part of the Southern Reading Challenge. I had high hopes for this book but I was sadly disappointed. The story follows the life of Maya Angelou from age 3 to 16 and the hardships she encounters/endures in the rural south. The book felt dis-jointed to me. This is probally because she is as young as 3 years old in the beginning, and the younger you are the more choppy your memories become, but I had a hard time time staying interested in this book.

For sure, the story is a sad one. No child should have to grow up in the difficult way that Maya did. She was moved from house to house/relative to relative, and was abused at age 8. The book talks alot about racism as well. (It made me glad that I live in Canada and don't have to deal with such blatant racism. I know Canadians aren't perfect, but I think our multiple cultures blend a bit better. Maybe its just because we don't have a strong history of slavery. ~Ok stepping off the soapbox now.) Thoughout all the tough things that go on in Maya's life she finds comfort in books and literature.

Overall, I wouldn't reccommend this book, but I am sort of glad I read it because I've been courious about Maya Angelou as an author for awhile.

"I want a ferry with a hat on!"

If you closely at the picture on the right you can see a house and the roofs of 2 cabins. Last week I stayed in the house with K & L and their 2 kids, 2 year old L and 1 year old M. It was a nice place to stay and the beds were very comfortable. The view is super nice and we had a front row seat to see all the ferry activity in Active Pass. We saw at least a ferry or two every hour on the hour. At each sighting 2 year old L would get all excited, like he hadn't just seen one a hour ago! Oh the joy of being 2 years old. :)

On our last day there his mom pointed out that the blue smoke stack looked like a hat. He proclaimed that he wanted to go home on a "ferry with a hat on". He was very adamant on this fact!

Below shows the view from the porch (ferry in the background). It was a great view, with nothing between us and the water. It was relaxing to just listen to the water. I love listening to the waves.

**Pictures courtesy of the house owner.

I'm ba-aack!

I arrived back at my condo late yesterday. I had a good time on Mayne Island, but I'm very glad to be back home too. Stories and book reviews will follow next week.

I'm super thankful that Monday is a stat holiday. I get one last day before I have to go back to work. :)