Everything on a Waffle

Lately, I have had a fierce craving for waffles. On Saturday mornings, I often meet a friend for coffee and we share a waffle. Sometimes a half is just enough. Other times, I leave thinking about waffles for dinner. A few weeks ago, I came home thinking about Polly Horvath's book, Everything on a Waffle.

Do judge Everything on a Waffle by this terrific cover which does tell you a lot about the main character Primose Squarp and her amazing story. You'll have read the book to find out what happens to Primose. Here's a quote to wet your appetite.

"Well, Uncle Jack always had a solution for eveything and this one would have been just about perfect if it hadn't gone so wrong and landed me in a foster home."

Each chapter of this delicious book ends with a recipe--the last one  is for waffles.

More about Everything on a Waffle

Everything on a Waffle  Book Trailer

 Everything on a Waffle at the author's website

Everything on a Waffle at Amazon

Patterns

A Waffle Stitch Washcloth Knitting Pattern at HomespunLiving

Thermal a waffle stitch sweater at Knitty

Waffle Stitch Blanket at Fiona's Friends

Waffle Stitch Preemie Hat at Zibeline Knits

Monday doodlely-doo

With complete confidence I proceeded. A Friday blog seemed like such a good idea in June. I did not count on an eventful July. Last week a family emergency completely derailed me. My carefully planned Friday post was never posted. Never even written. Instead I did what mothers do, I took care of my sick child--an early morning emergency room visit, several doctor's appointments, and a two night sleep over in her hospital room. I'm happy to report that she is home and that she is feeling much better.

Exhausted, yesterday I rested up. I did think about this blog and the newsletter I am planning. Being away from both my desk and studio for many days gave me some insight to changes I'd like to make. Stay tuned.

And now a word about the doodles. All of them were drawn on a yellow legal pad with a Creta Color pencil. You can see the pencil below. Several other companies make these multi-color lead pencils and all brands are in the top three of my favorite pencil list. They are wonderful for sketching, taking notes and doodling. The way they change colors seem rattle loose stray thoughts and images. Try one, I bet you'll like them.

In the spirit of Mondays and the hope they bring for a productive week, doodle on!

Peace and Quiet

“In writing of a spider, I did not make the spider adapt her ways to my scheme. I spent a year studying spiders before I ever started writing the book. In this I think I found the key to my story.” E.B. White.

  E. B. White. A writer at work.  In a space so wonderfully austere it gives me a sense of profound peace and quiet.

   I always joke that if I could get my desk to look more like White’s was in this photo, I might be able to write a book like Charlotte’s Web. I greatly admire White’s essays and his other children’s books. But Charlotte’s Web is my favorite of all.

   I keep this image tacked on my studio wall over my mess of a desk. Some years it's the simple beauty of his space that grabs me. Other years, I take heart in the ocean outside the wide rectangular window--sure that it spurs his stories on. This year it's the grain of authority in his soft posture telling of his focus that pulls me in. As always, I'm touched by his need of  the barest of elements  to create: a desk, a chair, some paper, a typewriter. And a wastepaper basket. Empty.

   It’s quite possible that this photo was posed. It’s possible that while writing Charlotte’s Web, E. B. White’s desk was filled with pads of paper, notes, candy wrappers and cups of moldy coffee. It doesn’t matter. Not to me. Because White was right when he wrote—“… that reality and fantasy make good bedfellows.”

  Happy Fourth of July to one and all. May you each find some time and space to be quiet and peaceful.

Notes:

  Tea Time – Include a little civility and grace in your weekend.  Lilac in May  shows you how to make a perfect afternoon tea.

 Thanks to Mrsrunofthemills  for a lovely review of A Knitter’s Home Companion. Check out her site and click through her blog roll. That’s where I found Lilac in May!

I am thinking about starting a newsletter with stories, pictures, pattern and recipe links. If you'd like to be on my mailing list, send me an email from the contact page.

Thanks to all of you who have written and asked to be on the newsletter list.

Blog Posts also appear on my Facebook and Ravelry Pages.

Please visit me there.

I tweet @Knitsweet.

You can read my latest Lion Brand Essay--A Knitter's Ode to the Sweatshirt by clicking here.

Iowa

A few weeks ago my friend, middle-grade novelist Anne Ylvisaker, posed a question on her blog--Why Iowa? She invited me and other Iowans to answer.

This week traveling on country roads to Northwestern Iowa with my pal,  puppeteer Monica Leo, I found even more to hearten me. Like in Charles City, Iowa, where their mighty library houses an enviable gallery of spectacular prints including Hiroshige, Durer, Chagall, Rembrandt, Whistler, Picasso, Pissaro as well as printmaking giants, Piranesi and Meryon.

More, too, in that the heartbeat of even the smallest Iowa towns, is their library. And in library meeting rooms in Charles City, Hartley and Sac City, I watched in wonder as Monica performed her In the Mirror: Three Tales from Asia  to terrific and attentive audiences.

Notes:

If you happen to be in the neighborhood of  West Bend, Iowa, you must visit The Grotto of the Redemption-- a testament to faith, perseverance and geology.

And if you are hungry and want pie for breakfast, or eggs and has browns with toasts and coffee, stop in Early--made famous by this Greg Brown song.

I am thinking about starting a newsletter with stories, pictures, pattern and recipe links. If you'd like to be on my mailing list, send me an email from the contact page.

Thanks to all of you who have written and asked to be on the newsletter list.

Blog Posts also appear on my Facebook and Ravelry Pages.

Please visit me there.

I tweet @Knitsweet.

You can read my latest Lion Brand Essay--A Knitter's Ode to the Sweatshirt by clicking on the image at the top of the blog or clicking here.

On a Road Trip

I didn't mean to drop my laptop. I certainly did not intend to kill it. Sad news here. My faithful HP Pavilion Pc is no longer among the working. Unfortunate.

Tomorrow when I leave for a three day road trip, I am packing the usual clothes, books, sketch pads, and knitting. My laptop will stay at home. I'll be unconnected for a few days. Check back on Sunday for the Friday blog.

Hope you enjoy my new essay in this week's Lion Brand Yarn Company newsletter.