Yarn Along and What We're Reading Wednesday 10/2/13



I'm currently (slowly) working on a doula baby hat for a little boy due next week.  Nothing fancy but I really like to give something to my clients for their little ones.  I'm trying to not buy any new yarn until I make a dent in the stash I have now.  It's silly to buy more when I have so much right here, right?  (Tell me yes.)  I'm not even sure what I originally bought these two colors for but there was enough of them to knit up a little ribbed hat.  I know they're both wool and I think the colors are cute even thought that oatmealish color is looking a bit darker than I thought it would.

I'm almost through with Hiking the Camino by my former spiritual director and awesome priest Fr. Dave Pivonka.  Katie generously sent it to me (thank you, Katie!) and I've been working through it during nursing sessions which is perfect.  The chapters are short and it's a very simple read with a lot of good back to basics reminders about our faith.  

I did finish Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child a few months back but have been rereading some of it with highlighter in hand as a little refresher.  I organized a little book discussion group based on this one so I'm thinking it's a good idea if I sorta know what I'm talking about and remember the details.  I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.  It took me a while to get into it but then I ate it up.  I do think some of the critiques I've heard are valid - it is most definitely directed at boys, which, as I don't have girls, I didn't even notice until another mom brought it up.  It's a bit idyllic in the way it looks at the past and doesn't address how implementing some of his ideas could backfire on respecting and fostering a child's innocence and imagination even back in the days he describes from his childhood.  I'm sure as heck not going to be letting my children wander the neighborhood or spend hours with people I don't know or even many I do know.  I just know too much and have seen the other side of the coin on that.  However, I don't think it's meant to be a how-to book as much as a social commentary.  I love the points about gender differences and letting them on their own and it gave me confidence in letting my kids do things that other modern parents cluck their tongues at me for...crazy things like climb trees, shoot arrows, use knives and hammers, and keep screens to a bare minimum.  It's worth the read it if you haven't yet.

As far as read alouds, the middle two boys are still working through The Hobbit with Brian.  He and John Paul have moved on to The Two Towers.  John Paul and I are reading The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, number two of the series that has prompted him to declare that he would like to be a detective when he is older.  We've had next to no read aloud time during the day.  I miss it but they've been playing so hard outside and the fall has been so great that I just can't bring myself to bring them in for it.  For now, the evening will have to suffice.

Happy feast of the guardian angels!  Don't forget to say hello to yours today!


7 comments

  1. Your hat may not be fancy, but so special. How lovely of you.

    I tied in with the Imagination book today too on my post, boy is that book making the rounds!

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  2. I picked up a copy of 10 Ways... at the recommendation of Sarah at Amongst Lovely Things. I'm having a hard time getting through it. I think I like the concept but the writing style is challenging for me. Too bad I can't come to your discussion group. That would probably be just what I need!

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    1. It seemed to pick up after the first few chapters for me. The satire was a bit hard for me in the beginning but you get used to it. After I finished I read through the first few chapters again and got a lot more out of it. I always say I'm going to do that with books and then never do! But I'm glad I did this time because his portion on memorization has changed the way we're learning this year!

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  3. I think the hat is super cute. Hope your discussion goes well.

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  4. The colours of your little hat look lovely and just to reassure you: yes, you are doing the right thing to cut down your stash at least a little. I know how it feels when you definitively have enough you could work with but new yarn is so appealing. Same here :-)

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