My knitting this week has been rather uninspiring...(unlike my book!!!!!!!), so let me get the knitting out of the way fast. This is a socks-that-rock club pattern and yarn from some years ago---I've lost track. It was too big for me--it fit #1 Daughter, but she has declared a moratorium on socks. I really dislike afterthought heels; it's sportweight yarn which to me is just too heavy. It went from sock to this......
in no time flat! Yeah. That project is done. Check.
I then proceeded to frog a vest I started sometime in the 90s--well, maybe not that long ago, but I don't even wear vests. I don't know why I started it (cul-de-sac vest) except that it has an incredibly wonderful cable incorporated into it. Surely, I can find some other way to use that cable. Check off another WIP that is no more--and I retrieved two favorite stitch markers in the process. That was definitely a win-win.
So--what is currently being worked on? I could almost see the yarn trembling for fear that it was going to meet the demise of its neighbors in the closet as I pulled it out....
(those are just plain ole "vanilla socks"--co 64 st. and go--in unknown yarn that I love)....but THE BOOK!!!! Oh, my--the book!! Where to start. (Just about) everything about this book is perfectly done. The styling and photography is outstanding.
There are pictures of the food, pictures of the craft projects being made and being used, pictures of the parties, and just plain beautiful pictures. It's divided into "seasonal" parties (and something like the egg-dyeing spring party and the strawberry picking/jam making party have a specific "window of opportunity") but many of them could be used anytime of the year. For each party you are given a list of materials you need and a timeline to get everything done. Natural ingredients/natural materials are obviously used throughout--as the title indicates.
But, while the title calls this a party book---please be assured it is so much more! Sure, I would have given my eye-teeth for this kind of book 35 years ago when my kids were party age. But now, as a grandma to 7 (under the age of 9) this book is a resource guide for all kinds of fun things to do at Grandma's. (I guess, though, every day at Grandma's is supposed to be party-day, right??? )
And as a recipe book....YUM. Natural ingredients presented very inventively; there are several I'm planning on making for my dinner club in May. Lemon-vanilla pizzelles? Sweet and savory strawberry and apricot tarts? Grilled peach, blackberry, and granola pafaits with lemon-vanilla whipped cream? These are seriously delicious sounding recipes! As I was thumbing through the book, PapaGeek happened by at this page....
and was just about beside himself.....BREAKFAST for DINNER!!!! (his favorite meal).
Join Ginny for yarnalong---and, she's a contributor to the book!!!
(way up at the top I said the book was almost perfect.....I think they misspelled Ginny's name in the acknowledgements. bummer. otherwise--perfect.)
