Classic woodland socks April 16, 2007
Classic
I don’t know how much (or little) attention you pay to the goings-on in my sidebar… I’ve been reading classics lately. I started a week or so ago by reading Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, moved on to 
Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, and am now entrenched in William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair.
And I’m having a ball.
Not only are the stories wonderful—we already knew that from watching the movies all these years—but the writing is engaging, and the turns of phrase are delightful. Over and over in Jane Eyre, people didn’t open things, they “unclosed” them. Like this, “He unclosed the door and walked into the room.” Isn’t that fabulous? There are the expected spelling differences, like “prioritise” instead of the current American “prioritize,” as well as some unexpected spelling differences, such as “dixonary” and “connexion.”
If you haven’t read any of these books yourself, I highly recommend them. I’ve been getting sucked in. The reading isn’t difficult—just because the stories were written 150 years ago, doesn’t mean they all read like Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities—I’ve yet to progress past page five or so of this one. Dickens spins a fabulous tale, but geesh. Some of the sentences are a page long (I kid you not), and I lose track of where I am before I get to the point. These other books aren’t like that at all. Much, much easier to read. Much easier. No comparison.
Woodland
The replacement yarn arrived on Saturday. Remember this so-called red yarn? I mailed it back to Sheri, and she sent me this lovely Fleece Artist yarn in Woodland.
Here. Let me take the wrapper off for you so you can see it better.
Dave was slightly disgusted with me when he saw it. He said it looks like everything else: green. I beg to differ. Most of my socks are blue or blue-green. Only one pair is straight out green. And this only has some green in it, the rest is brown, lovely shades of forest brown like the bark of different trees. The greens are different, too: some are dark, brooding colors, others are bright, like the new growth on the tips of pine and redwood branches. And then there are touches of blue, like seeing the sky peeking through the treetops. I love it.
Socks
Not much progress was made 
on the second Conwy sock this weekend. I spent nearly all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at my computer entering data into QuickBooks. I finally have most of the inventory in. I got a couple inches done on Conwy, though, including two decrease rounds. It’s slow, but it is progressing. When I sat down to knit last night, picked up the yarn, it felt like it’d been ages since I’d knit a thing. I’d forgotten how soft this Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn is. It’s wonderful. I can’t wait to wander around with these soft socks cradling my feet.
Miss T April 16
Ooh, that yarn’s gorgeous.
Robin April 16
Well, I had noticed that you were reading a couple classics! I have always wanted to read Jane Eyre but never had the gumption. Maybe I will now. I haven’t seen any of the three books in movie form so I haven’t “ruined” anything. The yarn is GORGEOUS!! The first photo, I was like, “ummm, Laura, doesn’t look like much”. Then, when you took the band off, I started drooling.
So, how do you like quickbooks so far? I really like the reports part the program. So many options. Have a great day.
Kim April 16
Enjoy your journey through the classics. There are A LOT of classic authors who are in love with the “one page sentence”. It drove me nuts in college :)
~Kristie April 16
I read and wrote an essay on Pride and Prejudice in college. It remains one of my favorites to this day. I had forgotten though about the differences in words and spellings. So fun for you to remind me.
Dave and my husband are SO alike. He thinks I always choose yarn with red tones, and I probably do, so I let him choose my last order from The Loopy Ewe. He’s helping me get out of my comfort zone which may or may not be a good thing. I disagree with Dave though, I think those colors are definitely different than the blue/purples hues you’ve been knitting. Silly boys!
rhelynn April 17
Beautifull yarn! (especially without the wrapper - what beauty was hiding under there!)
Donna April 17
GORGEOUS YARN! excuse my shouting…
prajantr April 17
The woodland yarn is wonderful. I love the colors. :)
I’ve often thought about reading some of the classics such as Pride and Prejudice. I’ve read Tale of Two Cities and a few others, but since I tend to gravitate towards science fiction/fantasy it’s been a rare thing that I come back to solid classics. It might be a nice change that I’ll have to look into.
Angela April 17
Pretty yarn!
I am currently enjoying Moll Flanders.
Jenna April 17
I haven’t read Vanity Fair, but the others are my favorites. I might have to take a run at Vanity Fair at some point in the future.
I like the new yarn! Good luck on your work with switching over to Quicken. As someone who tried to bring up my business on Quicken and then had to move it all over again, I know your pain!