Knitting: My Going for Gold Asagi is finally coming along! I’ve made a few silly mistakes and keep having to rip bits out and redo them. But I think (touch wood!) that it should be pretty smooth sailing from here. I’ve been really enjoying the pattern, despite the mistakes I’ve made. The construction of the sweater is interesting, I really like the leaf lace detail, and the color of the yarn makes me sooo happy. As I mentioned last week, I thought I’d try to see if I could finish this while the Olympics was on as part of Ravelry’s Ravellenics. I think I’ll be lucky to finish by next Monday, but who knows. The remainder of the sweater is pretty easy knitting, so maybe I can just squeak in under the deadline!
Reading: James Rebanks, The Shepherd’s Life. I finished Girl on a Train Sunday morning. I ended up binge reading it in two sittings … Saturday afternoon on the beach, and Sunday morning. I really enjoyed it! It was the type of book that, once I finished, I was sad it was over and wished I had paced myself more on. And I’ve been reading for pleasure so little lately (sadface!), that I was a little unsure of what to read next. So on Tuesday, Mr. N and I decided to head to Vroman’s Bookstore. Founded in 1894, it’s the oldest independent book seller in Southern California. As I wandered around the huge shop, I realized that it’s been a really long time since I’ve been properly book shopping. When I was little, a trip to the book shop was one of my absolute favorite things. I felt positively giddy pacing the aisles, reading staff recommendations, and adding books to my little pile.
In the end I came away with this somewhat eclectic assortment, besides putting in an order for a title I was after that they didn’t have in stock. I also picked up a postcard of Gamble House to hang by my desk in Philadelphia and remind me of Pasadena. The houses in this area are really spectacular!
I decided I’d start with The Shepherd’s Life. I’m only about twenty pages in (women’s gymanstics has cut into my evening reading time!), but I’m enjoying it so far. Rebanks is a sheep farmer in the Lake District, working land that his family has been on for centuries. He does a really good job of evoking daily life on a farm, without overly romanticizing it. And he’s very historically minded, emphasizing longstanding continuities in the farming community, which I like. The book itself is also quite pretty. In addition to the sheepy dust jacket, sheep portraits grace the end paper:
What are you reading and knitting this week? As always, you can head over to the original Yarnalong post to see what knitters all over the world are knitting and reading this week!
fiber and sustenance 
Good luck with your Ravelennic project! It definitely looks medal worthy. Love the lace sleeves!
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Thanks for stopping by Wendy, and your kind comments! I just popped over to your blog and saw your Olympic hippo — just stunning! I’ve had that project in my favorites for ages, but have been intimated because I have very basic crochet skills …. yours is really inspiring!!
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Your Ravellenic games project is terrific; I love the bright, happy color. I will check out your book.
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Thanks, Stefanie! The color makes me soooo happy 🙂
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I’m so glad that you enjoyed Girl on a Train! I was also sad when it ended 🙂 Your sweater is very lovely…the lace details are gorgeous! BTW, I will not have a sock post this week. I haven’t been able to knit due to my cubital tunnel syndrome and have been wearing a brace all week; along with exercises. I hope to get back to knitting again soon because I miss it so much!!! I miss going to bookstores and the library. It seems so much easier these days to just buy on my Kindle. However, I did get the Harry Potter book in hardcover to add to my library of Harry Potter books. I can’t wait to see what you think of it!
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Oh Paula, I’m so sorry to hear that you’re still not able to knit — that must be so frustrating! I hope the exercises and rest help and you’re able to get back to it soon! I am not sure if I’ll do a sockalong post this week or not — I haven’t really made any progress on my Hermione socks, so maybe I’ll give myself a pass this week 🙂 I’m really looking forward to reading the Harry Potter book — I’ll definitely let you know what I think! Feel better soon, and thanks for your kind words on my sweater 🙂 Also, really like your new profile picture!
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Thank you! I hope so too. Last time I was out three weeks from knitting. It really makes me sad 😦 I know that Alex is on a break right now because she started her new job and I haven’t seen anything lately from Hannah or Jennifer, so I think we’re both allowed a pass. My hair had grown so much longer since that other profile pic (from fall last year), so I decided an update was in order. My husband and I went to his annual company picnic on Saturday and I snapped this pic right before we left. I rarely wear makeup anymore or have my hair straightened (I’m naturally curly) and really liked it! Thanks for the compliment.
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It’s a great pic! Didn’t realize you are naturally curly – I am too! Although I’ve pretty much given up on straightening my hair .. it takes me ages, and tends to frizz and kink up as soon as I do! Although maybe it would work better out here since it’s so much dryer … hmmm! I think I will sit this week out. I’m behind on my work, and so I’ll use the extra time for writing. Hopefully by next week, I’ll have my socks done, and you’ll be back knitting 😀 fingers crossed!
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Oh, the pictures in A Shepherd’s Life are gorgeous! I wish I’d bought the book instead of reading it on the Kindle.
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Oh, I didn’t realize you’d read it, Kate! I’d be eager to her your thoughts 🙂
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A Shepherd’s Life is on my list to read! Keep us updated on how it’s reading -Sierra
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Will do, Sierra! So far, so good — and thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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