knitting: first scarf

Shortly before Thanksgiving, I took up knitting and started on my first project: a blue scarf. (I was only on my first skein when this picture was taken; it has grown considerably since then!) I'm using a nice, soft-feeling yarn called Sugar 'n' Cream, avaliable at most craft and hobby stores. Knitting is an especially great project in the winter!

Book Review: Briar Rose

This haunting (and I do mean haunting) tale is very well-written. Jane Yolen's use of parallels is amazing, utilizing the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty throughout the book to contrast with a moving account of the Holocaust. The main characters are fictional, but the storyline is based on real events. That said, this book is a fairy tale meant for adults only, as several parts are not child-appropriate. (I read this book originally in high school and disliked it so much that I'd blocked out the storyline entirely-- it gave me nightmares.) This book also has a pro-homosexual agenda, which I did not appreciate. Re-reading it now, I can appreciate several aspects of this retelling, but it's still not a book I really want on my bookshelf.

pensive

comments on the "New Moon" movie

I saw New Moon tonight. My friend and I arrived at the theater an hour and a half early with advance tickets, expecting the show to be sold out (it wasn't). Because we'd waited a day, the fangirl insanity wasn't nearly as bad as when we went to see Twilight last year. My friend absolutely loved every second of the movie, but I left the theater with mixed feelings. I thought that the werewolf parts were very well done, and I enjoyed them. The vampire parts were mostly just cheesy. Overall, I wasn't sure what the point of the movie was supposed to have been, but it seemed mostly an excuse to showcase the non-explicit "porn for girls" of extremely good looking, muscular, shirtless young men. Easy on the eyes, to be sure... but I'm not sure I like the idea of seeing guys that way. I am a Christian and I'm not afraid to say so, and I couldn't help wondering how my future husband (should I get one) would feel. I'd rather save myself in all ways for my wedding night, and to me, that includes not feasting my eyes on the perfect-looking men that Hollywood favors. I rather think that by doing so, a wife could possibly negate part of the love that should rightfully belong to her husband. (Why would I want to wastefully lust after the guys on the silver screen-- when I could reserve my eyes until I'm married to someone I truly love, and have those feelings be a new experience to me then?) Just as pornography will destroy the love a husband has for his wife, I think that this also can be destructive to a relationship. (And what of the young stars who are being made into sex objects-- what kind of horrible lifestyle is that? Oh, don't believe me? Just how many relationships and lives in Hollywood have made it through the fame? Almost none!) Get more at http://www.pluggedin.com/.

Book Review: The Fair Folk

This elven-themed anthology contains six stories specifically written for this collection. Each one of them were thought-provoking in different and unique ways, and that's what I really loved about this book. Some stories were funny, some serious, but all were themed around faerie folk. (Not the Santa Claus kind. Think Lord of the Rings.) Edited by Marvin Kaye and published in 2007, this book is already out of print, and I can't understand why. (It's so good!) In some stories, the book does contain a few flaws (the f-word is overused by some authors). It contains stories by Jane Yolen, Kim Newman, Tanith Lee, Craig Shaw Gardner, Midori Snyder, and Patricia A. McKillip. The best place to find it will probably be at your local library or a good used-bookstore. If you're able to find it, I highly recommend this book.

Book Review: Dr. Pompo's Nose

As Dr. Pompo goes about his morning rounds, he finds a mysterious object. What could it be? A garden tool? A horn? A fossil? Or perhaps... someone's nose? These clever photographs will appeal to young children, and the easy reading level helps young readers who are learning to rhyme. Kids will love the pumpkin faces inspired by the natural shape of the vegetables. Other books by these authors include How Are You Peeling? and Dog Food.

I threw a Halloween party last weekend, and these are the pumpkin pies I made. Topped with real whipped cream, they were delicious!