I am determined to conquer the art of knitting socks!

I have never been a quitter and I'm not going to start now! Well I do have to say I think something has finally slowed me way down and that is knitting socks!! I was doing ok in the first class I took (that was the day of my accident 9/11/10) but the second class on Saturday just has me plain confused and discouraged! I can't say I have ever been discouraged about learning a new craft. I am not giving up though, I will push onward and conquer this battle! Tomorrow night my knitting groups meets and I am begging one of the girls to help me figure out what the heck I am doing wrong! Please say a little (or big prayer if you are so inclined) prayer for me that I will finally understand the world of sock knitting.

My youngest daughter, Jenny (who is 27) said to me the other day, "Mom do you know you can buy a whole bag of socks for about $2". Thanks for those wonderful words of wisdom Jenny-LOL!!! She is right but I have always wanted to learn how to knit them and I will!!

Here are some beautiful knitted socks I found online-they are really beautiful!

I would love to be able to knit a sock like this one some day!


This sock is called a mock cable and I think they are just gorgeous!


I don't know of anyone who wouldn't want to go around the house in these cute little slipper socks!


When I see yarn like this I just see beautiful things, like shawls, sweaters, scarves, hats and yes SOCKS! Wish me well everyone!!

The Wonderful World of Books

I have loved books for as long as I can remember. I read the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House on the Prairie series, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, the classics and just about anything I could get my hands on when I was younger! My Nana started taking me to the library at a very early age. She would read 3-4 books a week along with doing numerous knitting and gardening projects! I still always try to end my day reading a paragraph or chapter or two before bedtime. Books are just a wonderful way to relax, learn about something new, escape to another world or life, etc.! I have about 4 bookcases of books in my house right at the moment. If I had more room, I would have more! I also like to display books on tables, chairs, dressers, nightstands, etc. That started me thinking about different ways to display new, vintage or not so new books. I searched the web and here are some ideas-maybe you can use them in your home.

The traditional bookcase is a great way for storing books, but there are so many others ways we can display our favorite books.


This is one of my favorite ways I found on the web to display books! Put them on a tea/kitchen cart! You can also put other accessories on there to complete the display.


Dried flowers tied together with some French ribbon draped over these vintage books would look beautiful in your bedroom, living room, den, sitting room or just about anywhere in your home.


I have always loved ribbons ever since I was a little girl. Rich, luxuriant velvet ribbon would be my choice in a lovely blue color! This is a great idea if you have some vintage books that are not in such great shape. The ribbon will hold the books together and still make them look lovely.


Architectural pieces are a great compliment to books. Place an architectural element with a stack of vintage books and you've got a wonderful decorating group.


You can never have too many books or too many candles as far as I'm concerned! Fresh flowers fit in that category too!


Here is a great way to display some books in your bathroom-on a chair by the tub! I can just picture this bathroom with an old clawfoot tub, this lovely chair painted white and a stack of my favorite books for when I'm soaking in the tub!
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Well that's it for my book decorating ideas. I hope you decide to display some of your old favorite books or maybe some new books in your home. I think it makes a home look and feel lived in and cozy. Enjoy!

The Flowers work gave me!

While I was home mending after my accident earlier this week my work sent me these gorgeous flowers! I usually order the flowers for the office when someone is ill or has had other things happen in their life, so it was really nice to be on the receiving end! Not that I am glad I had my accident! Flowers are wonderful at any time, but they especially meant alot to me.

Secretariat by William Nack

I haven't read this book yet but the movie is coming out soon about Secretariat's life. I remember when I was a Freshman in high school Secretariat had his debut at the Kentucky Derby. What a gorgeous animal he was!! I have always loved horses since I was a really little girl and when Secretariat burst on to my TV screen I knew he was going to be something special. Below is a review from amazon.com about this book.

Product Description
"Secretariat is an elegantly crafted, exhilarating tale of speed and power, grace and greatness, told with such immediacy that the reader is lost in the rush of horses and the clatter and ring of the grandstand."
--Laura Hillenbrand, bestselling author of Seabiscuit
Updated with a new preface by the author

In 1973, Secretariat, the greatest champion in horse-racing history, won the Triple Crown. The only horse to ever grace the covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated in the same week, he also still holds the record for the fastest times in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. He was also the only non-human chosen as one of ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the Century." The tale of "Big Red" is an enduring and inspiring classic, more than thirty years after its initial publication.

The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer.

My bookclub is going to discuss The Wet Nurse's Tale for our 9/27 meeting. The author, Erica Eisdorfer will be joining my bookclub. I can't wait to meet her! I love historical fiction and this fell into that category. I have never really read anything about wet nurses of the Victorian time period. What a pretty dismal life wet nurses had.

Here is a review from amazon.com:

In her first novel, Eisdorfer offers as a guide to Victorian England her entertaining and surprising protagonist, Susan Rose. A bawdy young woman who could easily have walked off the pages of The Canterbury Tales, Susan ends up wet-nursing after getting unexpectedly and illicitly pregnant, and her alcoholic and abusive father forces her to leave her child and take up the occupation. Her journey into the intimate lives of England's upper crust proves an illuminating and dangerous one as Susan jumps from family to family—until her father sells her son. As Susan attempts to balance other peoples' babies with her quest to regain her own, she is faced with difficult choices between duty and love, and between her life and her child's. Whether she is carousing in the Jewish quarter or planning how to reclaim her son, Susan navigates the stratified social world with humorous vigor. A promiscuous, randy and hefty lady, Susan's a vibrant character, at once sweet and scheming, and given to such a crass frankness that even readers wary of historicals may want to give this a look.

My review:

Susan Rose certainly had a very hard life. I think even if she wasn't a wet nurse her life would be hard. Her father was a horrible man, but as much as her father was hard her mother was a saint! I love historical fiction so I have to say I really liked this book even though there were some sad parts. Sometimes you have to read about how someone's life in another time is to understand how far we have come. If you like historical fiction and an interesting read I would recommend this book.

Coastal Living's Seawatch Idea House

I was surfing the net and came upon the Coastal Living Idea House at Sunset Harbor, North Carolina. It is gorgeous and who wouldn't want to live here!! Here are some pictures to drool over!


I have always loved a house with cedar shingles on it! This is such a gorgeous house!


At first I thought the black cabinets were too dark, but with all the white I think it looks great! I'd love to cook in this kitchen!


What a nice terrace! I can picture myself having my morning tea on here.


The triple windows really let alot of light into this Dining Room. I love all the colors they chose!


Any guest would love to sleep in here.


Now this outdoor area is just what I would love to have! It is wonderful!

I hope you've enjoyed a preview of this house. If you would like to see more check out www.coastalliving.com.

A stroll through my garden this morning!

The weather in the mornings is much cooler here now. I am not usually home but due to my accident I am recouping at home for a few days. I decided to take my mug of tea (and the ever present straw) outside to the courtyard for some fresh air and sun! As I said I'm not usually outside at this time of the morning and shadows and sunshine fall diffently. I decided to take some pictures to show you. Come along with me...

Here is my little garden fairy I brought with me from NJ when I moved to Charlotte 6 years ago. I gave her I nice new coat of paint this summer.



Here is my red hanging geranium. I think this is it's last blast of color! It is so bright and beautiful!


I happened to look at the fence and my neighbor's wistera drapes over the fence into our courtyard. I so an unexpected surprise! There was one wisteria blossom blooming and in the next picture is the bumblebee that thought it was a nice unexpected surprise too!




I have a double red camellia, which is starting to form buds! I love this camellia.


The herbs are just beautiful this time of year. My mint and rosemary loves this weather as you can see!





This hosta plant was new this year and it just love the cool mornings I guess because it is getting all new leaves. A little piece of my ivy is trailing down from the main plant.


The Lamb's Ears are coming back in full force too now that the hotter temps are cooling off too.


This ivy plant has doubled in size this year!


My palm tree has to come in the house in a month or so. I thought this frond looked so graceful this morning so I thought I would share it with y'all!


On Saturday John bought this beautiful African Violet for me at Pike's Nursery. It is a beautiful shade of purple. I guess it likes its new surroundings!






I hope you liked my garden stroll this morning! Enjoy your day!!