best books of 2014

This year I read 30 books. That's about 20 fewer than last year. And while that bothered me at first, when I look back at my year I'm really okay with it. Here's some of what I read:

Really, really long fiction (600 pages or more):

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (~800 pages)

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (~800 pages)

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin (~1200 pages)

A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin (~900 pages)

A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin (~1100 pages)

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (~600 pages)

The Passion of Mary Magdalen by Elizabeth Cunningham (~600 pages)

The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk (~600 pages)

The Witching Hour by Anne Rice (~1200 pages)

Shorter fiction:
The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren
The Midwife's Tale by Sam Thomas
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Nonfiction:
How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown
The Secret Life of Trees by Colin Tudge

Cookbooks:

Whole-Grain Mornings by Megan Gordon

The Oh She Glows Cookbook by Angela Liddon

Children's books:

Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story by Lisa Westberg Peters
Older than the Stars by Karen C. Fox
Flotsam by David Wiesner

Most of these books (all of the really long fiction, most of the shorter fiction, and some of the non-fiction) were read on my Kindle, which is why I didn't realize at first how long some of these books are. Some of them were re-reads (all the Game of Thrones books). Some of them were duds. But all in all I think it was a good year. I enjoyed immensely re-reading GoT, especially on the Kindle. Not only did I get to avoid lugging around such huge books, but it was very easy and efficient to highlight passages and add notations.

Reading Goals for 2015:

• 52 books - I can do it!
• finish the Divergent series
• read the Lord of the Rings trilogy (I can get past Tom Bombadil, I know I can!)

project 52: week 16

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.

Putting together one of my presents!

Cookies and candy - mostly homemade, some from the store, all yummy and good.

Our newest decoration - a darling little crocheted tree!

What's New?
We celebrated the holidays very quietly around here. The decorations stayed pretty much in their box, there was minimal baking, and I didn't listen to too much Christmas music. Amidst all that there wasn't, I must admit that there was still happiness. I didn't, it turns out, ruin Christmas.

It's okay that we didn't make cut-out cookies - our friends Tony & Alex sent us some of theirs (and that adorable crocheted tree!).

It's okay that I didn't decorate our wreath with ornaments - Joe's Aunt Marya and Uncle Alex sent us a new one that we can put up next year.

It's okay that I didn't get the kids' presents in the mail on time - it turns out that they won't be all together until January after all.

It's okay that we didn't light candles.

It's okay that we didn't drive around and look at lights.

It's okay.

Sometimes I need to step back and remind myself that no one is keeping score.

Currently Reading

• A Field Guide to Now by Christina Rosalie
• Lasher by Anne Rice

On the Needles
Recently off the needles is a Habitat hat for my friend. This is the first hand-knit I've ever made her, and I can't wait to see her reaction. And on the needles is the third of my three fingering-weight shawls for this year. This last one is called geology and is knit up in brown. It works up to look like rock layers.

Looking Forward To

1. soaking up one last week of break!
2. Skyping with the kids

project 52: week 15

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.

What's New?
As you can see in the photo above, my kitties have greatly enjoyed the last few weeks since it has involved the heater turning on each morning. And that drying rack? That becomes a favorite spot, hiding under the tent of winter hats drying on a towel. I still need to send those hats off to their intended recipients, but I hit a bit of a wall. I was trying so very hard to get them in the mail by the 15th, and then I found out that they won't be opened until after Christmas (when the whole family will be able to gather). I sighed with relief and promptly took a break from all of the hurried tasks that still have to be done (I've only sewn two of the four gift bags). But now it's time to start up again and get those boxes in the mail.

Currently Reading
I'm making my way through the second Mayfair witch book, Lasher, by Anne Rice. My school librarian sent me home with a new dystopia book as well, but to be honest, I have quite a bit of writing I need to do for work so I may not get in as much reading as I'd hoped.

On the Needles
This past summer I bought three skeins of fancy fingering yarn as a treat for myself (kind of a "congratulations for surviving a very hard year" treat). All three were intended for shawls. I even had all three patterns picked out. But during the summer I ended up only knitting two of them, because I ran out of time. So, I picked up the third skein yesterday and started the third shawl.

Looking Forward To

1. two weeks off for winter break
2. holiday celebrations, big and small

project 52: week 14

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.

What's New?
The energy at school this past week has been very frantic, and very high. I'm a little apprehensive of how the kiddos will be next week. But this is not my first rodeo, as they say, and I know it'll all turn out. The kids are just as excited about winter break as I am.

I pushed myself to ride the bus all week so that I could get some much-needed knitting done, and also to help preserve my sanity. No matter how strange or obnoxious the other bus riders are, it's still so much easier on my tired brain than driving in rush-hour traffic. Since I rode all five days this past week, I treated myself to a Starbucks holiday latte Friday morning on my walk from the bus stop to my school. I'm going to try to ride the bus all of next week, too. I think buying a skein of yarn from the local yarn store near my school would be good motivation to ride all five days.

I've been trying to be very mindful of my surroundings these days. I know it's easy to get consumed by responsibilities, projects, work, and well... stress. But there's something magical in the changing of the seasons, and all the cultural accompaniments that they entail. Lately that's manifested in paying close attention to all the twinkly lights going up around town. I notice them as I drive, and much more as I walk. The third picture is an early-morning attempt to photograph a house I pass by each morning on my way to work. Apparently I moved the camera before it was finished capturing the image, but I think it still looks interesting.

Currently Reading
I'm at 96% in my book... I just need more time to read. I might not finish before winter break. Things are just getting too hectic right now.

On the Needles
Finishing up the last two hats for my nephews. I started the last two and have been saving the double-point needle part for this weekend. It's just too hard to do that on the bus, at least to do it well.

Looking Forward To

1. winter break

project 52: week 13

What is Project 52? It's a little like Project 365, but instead of the goal of posting a photo each day, I'll post a photo or two each week along with a short update. Really I just need a little push to post something every week. Since I like to keep this space positive, posting every week forces me to look back and find something shiny to talk about (ten points if you get that reference). Some weeks that's a piece of cake. Other weeks it's more of a challenge, and those weeks give this task true meaning.

Winter gifts for my niece and nephews.

Afternoon sunlight in my science classroom (we're learning how to make microscope slides).

What's New?
This past week has been rough. I've been burning the candle at both ends - spending too much time at work (both with meetings and general prepping), along with an increasing sense of frustration at the terrible events happening around the country. Amid all the negative, unproductive, victim-blaming, and generally unhelpful dialogue on the internet I came across this article that deals with the science of how our brains perceive race. The scientist in me finds it fascinating, of course, but more importantly the article sheds light on what to do about unintentional racism in our brains. I'm willing to admit that I have unintentional racism (I think we all do, to be quite honest), as long as there exists strategies to combat it. Otherwise it's just too depressing and overwhelming.

With all that's been going on, I'm especially looking forward to spending time with dear friends today at the Urban Craft Uprising. We're meeting for brunch and then spending some time browsing for gifts. I love seeing what creative people come up with, and using my few precious dollars to support crafty individuals instead of mega-corporations. It'll be a great time, I'm sure.

Currently Reading
Still working my way through Anne Rice's The Witching Hour. The only time I have for reading is right before bed, so it's taking me much longer than usual.

On the Needles
Working on hat #3 out of 4. My goal is to get them packaged and shipped (with the pj pants) by next weekend. Last year I waited much too long to send gifts and I ran into predictably long lines and higher prices at the post office.

Looking Forward To

1. my friends' yearly Swedish Christmas party