good books

Thought I would take a moment to recommend a really good book I just read. I picked up The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews. It is a story about a road trip by some (messed up) Canadians into the US, so I thought it a good read for our recent trip. Miriam is actually from Manitoba, and the characters from Winnipeg, like me, which was a nice little bonus. She has written several other books that have won literary awards. Anyways, it was a really great read, her writing style is very quirky and keeps you interested, and despite the dismal topic (an aunt takes her teenage niece and nephew on a road trip to find their long lost father when their mother is admitted into the hospital with mental illness), it had me laughing all the way through and was, in the end, very uplifting.

While away, I also picked up a couple crafty books with which I am completely enamored. First up, this little number:

I am not having another baby (touch wood) nor do I know many people still in baby production mode, but I may have to seek out some new fertile friends strictly for the excuse to knit stuff from this book. Some of the cutest patterns ever, like these:




I just couldn't resist buying this book, even at (gasp!) full price. Love it.

I also managed to score a 40% off coupon at Joann's and bought this book:

This one got my embroidered hoop juices flowing again, people! You see, I was just faking it before, but now this book shows me the actual PROPER way to do hand stitching! Oh, I love it, and some cute little stencils to boot. Check out some of these projects:


Will be having some fun with this book, I am sure. Oh, if I only had more hours in a day!!