Book 4 of 52:

I love to read... obviously or I wouldn't be challenging myself to read 52 books  in 52 weeks. When I first start a book I can tell pretty instantly whether or not I will make it through the whole thing. Its rare for me not to finish a book but every so often one will come a long that I just cannot get into. Then there are the books that, although they are not life altering, I am able to read them all the way through even though I find myself to be a bit bored or just not completely invested. Tithe by Holly Black was one of the latter. I was able to read the entire book but I found it all to easy to put down and often noticed that I had become wholly distracted... and not only by things around me but also by my own thoughts. I kept drifting off into different worlds and would come back each time to find that I had read an entire page and had no clue what it said. I did quite a bit of re-reading. I felt the author had many good plot ideas but that they could have been executed better. I was engaged more by the bits and pieces dedicated to the lead characters' relationship than by the fantasy of the book. Normally, the fantasy makes the relationship more intriguing for me. I will read the rest of the trilogy but not just yet.
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I have never seen
such an exquisite painting
on four legs
Intricate colors blend
together forming wild patterns
As if she were a mistake
A slip of the hand
forcing the brush
to dance recklessly
across the canvas

Only nature could
accomplish such a mistake.
No other artist
could fabricate a
stunning masterpiece
like her
So much beauty
on such a small being.

(a house I use to pet sit at had a gorgeous stray cat that lived right in the neighbor hood. she was quite young, had been spayed, vaccinated etc by a neighbor. I would spend more time outside with her than inside with the others because I fell completely in love with her. she inspired this poem. photos below are of her) When she would hear me pull up she would come around to my car and peek under my door when I opened it.

Book 3 of 52

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins starts off a bit slower paced than the prequel The Hunger Games. At first I felt as though it was just written to follow up on the characters and if I had been looking only for more action I should just stop reading. Then about half way in it becomes quite clear that you will be in for another fantastical, gripping ride. Suzanne Collins is one of the best authors I have encountered in a long time. The imagination on this woman is limitless and unparalelled. I hope the third book in this trilogy comes out soon because i am unsure of how long I will be able to wait.
And I just found out that the third book will be out in August. Oy that seems like a long wait


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There are only a few crochet projects that i have not yet posted on here so I figure I will finish them off today so I can continue on blogging each time I create something new.

I made this baby blanket, hat and booties for my brother's best friend and his wife. They just welcomed a new member of the family last month, a sweet baby boy named Ethan. I got the patterns out of a book from Michael's.

I wanted to make a special stocking for my cat Peanut Butter. She has been with me the longest and is my baby girl. This started out as a pattern for a slipper that looked like an elf shoe. I tweeked it a lot and this was the result.  Here is the link for the slippers.

And this is the stocking I made for our rabbit, Gadget. I also got this pattern from a crochet book.

Book 2 of 52

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a book that deserves all the words in the world but leaves you completely speechless and unable to gather any kind of cohesive thought. The Hunger Games has the ability to bring you to tears but you are so shocked at times that the tears never come. Right away I was able to describe this book as both completely intriguing and utterly devastating. You end up loving both Katniss and Peeta, even when they do the unspeakable. They do the things they do out of the fear of losing everything and that... makes them real. They hurt each other, they hurt those around them, they even hurt themselves and in a setting that one could never imagine to be real. But the pain they feel and the pain they cause, the confusion and love that consumes them... all these things make them more relatable than any other fictional characters. I don't find books like this often enough but when I do it's effects can last a lifetime.


Often I felt reminders of other things i have read and watched but all in all this book is one of a kind. I can't imagine that the second book can live up to this one (I have already started it and it is good so far). (Things the Hunger Games reminded me of: The Uglies series, The Giver, The Village, Hatchet)
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My latest crochet project was a gift for Mike's brother in law.

Bat-Logo Chart was by Merissa Raymond Hat pattern I used was by April Draven




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Forever Moth

I stretch out
after emerging from
the cocoon of my old self
A new creature
A new person
A new mind
I desire to be the painted butterfly
But my reflection
in the clear water
shows a moth
of white
I hope that this is not me
but the water
The water is plain
and reflects the only thing
it has ever known
I know that I am wrong
I wish for what I cannot have
I wish to be what I am not
Better than before
Yet best all the same.

My Birthday

Since it is 12:49 am on January 6th, it has been my birthday for the last 49 minutes. Woo Hoo! How exciting... another. year. older. Blah! I'm not big on the idea of aging.
My fiance already gave me my gift... he got me a 32gb ipod touch 3rd gen. With a cute pink case... of course. Almost done updating my itunes so I can load my music on it. Already downloaded a few apps. And I can check my blog from it... cool!
Already a good amount through The Hunger Games and it is excellent so far.

Book 1 of 52

I just completed the first book for my "52-books-in-52-weeks" challenge. I chose to start off with Amelia Atwater-Rhode's novel, Persistence of Memory.  Once again, Amelia has failed to disappoint me. With her excellent use of the english language and her vividly intense imagination, she has wowed me once more. The story was a mix between Vampire Academy and The United States of Tara. Amelia managed to combine two of my favorite genres of writing: vampire/horror and teen problems. In the end the teen problems turn out to be just as sci-fi as the rest of the story. I applaud Amelia and cannot wait for the release of her next book.

Next up for me: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Since my post today is about a vampire novel I thought I would post the vampire bite necklace I crocheted around Halloween. A friend had sent me a link to a picture of a vampire bite necklace so I winged it and I am pretty happy with the results.

Let me know what you think. If anyone would like a pattern I will figure out how I did it and post it for you.

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Morning comes

the moon reaches out

with both arms

Desperately trying to hold

onto the sky

Not wanting to miss the day ahead

The cruel sun laughs

and tells the moon

"it is time to move on,

to another part of the world,

to another dark, lonely night"

A Very Murphy Christmas

Today was the Murphy Christmas party. We had lots of fun, lots of food, secret santa and greedy santa. Every occassion with the Murphy's is a good time. Now that all of my crocheted Christmas gifts have been received... I can post pics of them all online.

I made this tree skirt for Michael's sister and her husband. The pattern is by Donna Mason-Svara. Tree Skirt Pattern

Shoulder shrug I made for Michael's other sister, Laurel. Pattern by Caron Yarns.  Shoulder Shrug Pattern

Cupcake scarf made for Michael's cousin, Katie. Cupcake scarf pattern

Little Turtles I made for my mom's friend. Turtle Pattern. Turtle Pattern

Two amigurumi's made for my Dad's step grand kids. Both are by Lion Brand  Snowman Penguin
 

Willie Warmer made as a gag gift for a grab bag. Pattern by Debra Matz Willie Warmer

The three above photos are Ruffle scarves I made for Michael's two cousins, Lori & Michelle and his aunt, Carol Ruffle Scarf

Cowl I made for Michael's Mom. Cowl

Flower necklace I made for Michael's sister Laurel. Flower necklace

Flower scarf I made for Michael's cousin, Amanda

2010 & Hats

Happy New Year everyone!!! Being that today is the first of January I need to choose a book to start off the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. I have decided to start the year off with one of my favorite Authors, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. I am going to start the challenege with her newest novel, Persistence of Memory. I bought it when it first came out and I still haven't read it.
To continue posting my crochet projects I thought I would post all the hats I have made thus far.

This is Bella Swan's hat from the La Push scene in Twilight. The pattern was created by April Draven (I use a lot of her patterns)Bella Hat Pattern

Shell beanie, pattern by Teresa Richardson  Shell beanie pattern

This was my first attempt at a slouchy beret. I made it too small and plan to try again soon. Tam Pattern

This is one of my favorites, the brimmed hat. The pattern is by Sue Norrad.  Brimmed Hat

The three photos above are another pattern by April Draven. This is her convertible hat. You can wear it three ways as the photos illustrate.  Convertible Hat Pattern

Those are all the hats I have made so far. Tomorrow I will post all the Christmas Gifts I crocheted this year. And stay tuned to find out how Persistence of Memory is.