Speaking of work…

I know you all are dying to know…

Here’s the bounty of my needles from June. It was kind of a slow month, fiber arts wise – but here they are, wrapped in the ever lovin’ arms of the ugly chair. (It may be ugly but it sure is comfy!)

Some squares for a long term project blankie…

Another baby hat for a friend due in August (I know it’s out of focus)…

Another long term project, a scarf to match some gloves I made for another friend…

And a BSU scarf for Mrs.Patrick based on the Harry Potter Scarf pattern from atypicallyknit.

I’m not sure what’s up with the scarves in June. I have two in progress and another two patterns in my head – one for a toddler and one for either myself or my mother-in-law based on something I saw on the “Avonlea” series. Oh, and when I get some fun money I’m going to start stocking up on yarn for my first sweater. Probably in July or August. Figures…

Who says I don’t work?

My father and I have these interesting conversations every few weeks. He seems to think I need to find a job. Like a nine to five job or a part time job or a job for someone else than myself. Like a job that provides income. These conversations never go well. We never argue, but it’s fairly clear we’ll never see eye-to-eye unless something changes in either of our situations. Financially speaking, this little Meaden family doesn’t need me to get a job. We aren’t rolling in the dough, but we have enough to pay the bills and put a little bit away once a month. And if a big need comes up then God usually provides for us. Like a free car.

Still…

I find it a little insulting that my father doesn’t think I work enough. I’m pretty sure he would tell my mother the same thing if she didn’t work. And I’m sure most of you housewives would agree that just because someone doesn’t pay you doesn’t mean you don’t put in a lot of work during the day. For example…

Today I mucked out our computer room. It hasn’t been fully cleaned since we moved the bed out and the computer in. It’s also our laundry room and the epicenter of the hurricanes which are our cats so it needs regular cleaning. But since usually I only go in there to do laundry, fill a food or water dish or ask my husband something when he’s on the computer – it’s gotten a little hairy. Today that changed. All the old laundry was picked up, sorted, and is in the process of being washed, dried, folded, and put away. The catboxes were emptied, and much to the furries’ dismay, the entire room was vacuumed and the carpet was spot cleaned.

This happened in our bedroom too. And the upstairs bathroom and some necessary re-arranging/trading furniture happened downstairs as well. And a lot (I mean a lot) of vacuuming. Tomorrow I’m tackling the guest room.

This isn’t to say I do this everyday. But I try to make a point of cleaning up one room at least a day or making an attempt at finishing our neverending pile of laundry and junk mail shredding. The carpet cleaning is necessary because one of our cats considers the entire apartment her litterbox (although I try to pawn that off on my husband whenever possible, cat pee smell makes my head spin). Not to mention I do all the budgeting, lots of the bill paying, the menu planning, cooking, social calendar organization, and juggle the plethora of doctor visits we rack up between the two of us.

Overall…I stay pretty busy. Except when I’m bored. Or tired of working. Then I blog. Or read and then blog about it.

Who says I need a job?

The Dresden Files 4: Summer Knight

Who wrote this book and when?
Jim Butcher published this book in 2002.

Has there been a film version?
No.

Who are the main characters?
Harry Dresden – a wizard for hire, who happens to have a bit of a shady past and a shadier reputation
Billy – a werewolf and leader of the Alphas; a group of young adult werewolves
Mab – one of the Queens of the Winter Court of Faerie
Elaine – a woman of questionable character from Harry’s past
Murphy – a member of the Chicago PD, one of Harry’s truest friends
Maeve – the Lady Queen of the Winter Court
Meryl – a changeling teen who has hired Harry to find her friend
The Winter Knight – a psychotic human given powers by the Winter Court to do their bidding
Aurora – the Lady Queen of the Summer Court

What’s it about?
Harry Dresden still hasn’t gotten over the changes in his life due to the war with the Red Court of Vampires. Now, he’s up for trial for his very life and failure could mean the White Council of Wizards handing him over to the vamps to do what they wish. Not to mention, he’s been forced into working for Queen Mab, the most frightening of the Faerie Queens. To get out of the trouble he’s found himself in, Harry must find out who murdered the Summer Knight – Queen Aurora’s right hand man, and has thrown off the balance of power in the Nevernever. If he can’t do it in time, it won’t only mean the end of his life, but the end of humanity.

Why is this book a classic/bestseller?
It’s part of a great fantasy series.

Do you recommend I read this book?
Yes, but I do recommend starting with the first book in the series, “Storm Front.”

How did this book make your list?
My husband introduced to me to both the TV series and the book series.

Has it won any awards?
Nope.

Favorite quotes:
“I could feel Mab watching me. Sylvester to my Tweetie Bird. That thought kind of cheered me up. Generally speaking, Tweetie kicks Sylvester’s ass in the end.” – p 30

Personal thoughts:
When you get to the fourth book in a series you enjoy, you start running out of things to say that don’t sound the same as every other book in the series. This book is just as wonderful as the previous three in the series. It focuses on the faerie courts and spends much more time in the Nevernever, as opposed to the past three novels which mainly took place in our “dimension.” Butcher does a good job filling us in on a few of the differences between real Chicago and Nevernever; and the differences between faeries and humans, no matter how much alike they look. This was a great read, just for the descriptions. Butcher found a heck of a lot of creative ways to describe beauty while still emphasizing the fact that faeries are scary and for the most part, evil. He also brought interesting twists into the idea of changeling children. And Toot-toot has to be one of my favorite B characters in this entire series.

Anne of Avonlea

Who wrote this book and when?
Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote this and published it in 1909.

Has there been a film version?
Yes, but it’s titled “Anne of Green Gables: the Sequel.” How creative.

Who are the important characters?
Anne Shirley – now a young lady of 16 and the teacher of Avonlea school
Marilla Cuthbert – the aging woman who owns Green Gables and is surrogate mother to Anne, Davy, and Dora
Davy – the son of Marilla’s late third cousin, he’s been adopted by her and is constantly getting into trouble
Dora – Davy’s twin sister, very reserved and well-behaved
Paul Irving – an American boy who is living with his grandmother on P.E.I., he is dreamy and imaginative like Anne and they become fast friends
Diana Barry – Anne’s best friend
Miss Lavendar Lewis – an old maid who lives in Echo Lodge and is one of Anne’s kindred spirits
Gilbert Blythe – Anne’s friend and the teacher of White Sands School
Mr. Harrison – the nearest neighbor of Green Gables, a man with odd ways and a profane parrot

What’s it about?
This story picks up where the first one in the series left off – with Anne now teaching at the Avonlea school. She still manages to find herself in many scrapes which test her patience and develop her character. Marilla has adopted a set of twins from a distant relative, so Anne must not only teach but also help raise two orphans. She has also made fast friends with Paul Irving, a dreamy boy who adores her and with Miss Lavendar Lewis – a middle aged woman with spark and a mysterious past of romance. Anne has also put away her grudge against Gilbert Blythe, and the two of them help form a society for the improvement of Avonlea, much to the annoyance of those citizens set in their ways.

Why is this book a classic/bestseller?
It’s part of one of the best children/young adult series ever written.

Do you recommend I read this book?
Yes. Exceedingly so.

How did this book make your list?
I love Anne Shirley.

Has it won any awards?
No.

Favorite quotes:
“And I think the violets are little snips of the sky that fell down when the angels cut out holes for the stars to shine through. And the buttercups are made out of old sunshine; and I think the sweet peas will be butterflies when they go to heaven.” – p 218

Personal thoughts:
I don’t think I could ever pick a favorite book from this series. This novel, because it picks up right where the last left off, is just as enjoyable and beautiful as “Green Gables.” It’s hard to believe Anne is only 16 – she seems so much more mature than every other 16 year old I know. Not that this is surprising. But as mature as her roles may be – surrogate mother, school teacher, and leader of the improvement society – she is still the timeless Anne Shirley. Her “scrapes” are just as hilarious and embarrassing, her imagination still overflows in ways I can only dream of achieving, and her heart still pours out love for everyone and aspires for greatness. Davy and Dora and Paul all provide a portrait of parts of Anne from days gone by and allow a lovely opportunity for her to see herself.

The Fourth Bear

Who wrote this book and when?
Jasper Fforde published this book in 2006.

Has there been a film version?
No.

Who are the important characters?
Jack Spratt – the suspended head of the Nursery Crime Division of the Reading Police Department
Mary Mary – the acting head of the NCD
Goldilocks – a hard nosed reporter who has gone missing
The Gingerbreadman – a psychopathic cake (cookie?) who murders for fun
Dorian Gray – a sketchy used car salesman
Madeleine – Jack’s wife
Punch and the Mrs. – the Spratt’s new neighbors
Ashley – a Rhambosian alien who works in the NCD

What’s it about?
Despite the fact that the most notorious serial killer of all time, the Gingerbreadman, has escaped – Jack is suspended from duty pending a psychological examination. He spends his time working a case on the side. A reporter known as “Goldilocks” has gone missing and the last to see her were three bears who live out in the forest. Before he knows it, Jack is not only tracking Goldilocks, but breaking a porridge-smuggling ring, braving a WWII themed amusement park, and investigating strange catastrophic explosions; all while trying to evade both the Gingerbreadman, and the head of the police department.

Why is this book a classic/bestseller?
If you’ve ever read a Fforde book, you’ll know why.

Do you recommend I read this book?
Yes. Especially if you liked the Thursday Next series.

How did this book make your list?
I liked Fforde’s other works.

Has it won any awards?
Nope.

Favorite quotes:
“No one was quite prepared for the disgraceful scandal the following year when it was discovered that one French minister had no mistress at all and ‘loved his wife,’ a shocking revelation that led to his resignation and ultimately to the fall of the government.” – p 296

“Jack trotted up the stairs, past the landing where the Easter Bunny had once held him at bay with a stream of hot lead from her M-16. It was over a decade ago, and she’d done her time. People were often fooled, he mused, by the one day in the year on which she did charitable work – the rest of the time she was the rabbit from hell.” – p 417

Personal thoughts:
This NCD mystery has a lot more hardcore detective work in it. I always enjoy Fforde’s books because there is no way I will ever be able to figure out the ending before it actually happens (and sometimes even then…). He is such a creative writer, both in allusions and plots. I don’t think I’ve ever come across an author so well-versed in not only literature (the Thursday Next books) but nursery rhymes as well. If you’re a bookworm, bibliophile, or any other type of voracious reader, I highly recommend either of Jasper Fforde’s series.