books & histories

I really don't know what is wrong with me, I have actually been reading! Like a real book with pages and everything. Most of my literary pursuits the past year has been via audio book (while I sew, clean ect). It's been a while since I really sat down and read something cover to cover.

Ahh, it takes me back to my childhood, when I used to read for days at a time. Our curriculum was literature based (I love homeschooling!) so I read A LOT. I miss the pure time I used to have to do that. My only consolation is that I knew at the time that I was living a privileged life and I tried to take full advantage of it.

So what has inspired this feat of paragraph devouring? The Duchess (formally published as Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire). I really enjoyed it, finding it far superior to the film (surprise, surprise). I know what Hollywood is like but even still I'm actually a little shocked at how fast and loose they played with the timeline, facts and people in the story. If they had just filmed what happened I think it would have been much more engaging (plenty for this gal to fast-forward through too). But then again I apparently enjoy "dry" books (I thought the reviews for this book were pretty entertaining).

Next up is Manhunt: the 12-day chase for Lincoln’s Killer. I discovered this book last year via audio book and have actually listened to it a couple of times since. I got out the paper-book in Dec, just to look at the pictures, and discovered that what I’d been listened to was abridged! Ahh! I’m torn between being ticked off at books being abridged (SO annoying) and happy that there is more to read/learn!

more Poe-stage

I am sick. Moo. I don't want to be sick.

I also don't want to sit around and do nothing (despite the fact that nothing is really what I have energy for) so I'm making ruffles. Last night I cut out over 800 inches worth of bias strips for the Poe skirt. The skirt will have a total of 6 rows of ruffles, each row needs to be about 313" long. So I still have a way to go but enough of laying out slippery fabric, tonight I am ruffl-ing. At least it's a brainless exercise.

In happy news:
1. We had a wood fire going all day so the house smells lovely (it's freezing out!)
2. Mom made the best turkey & rice soup ever for dinner
3. I bought Edgar Allen Poe-stage stamps today while I was at the post office.

I couldn't resist. :P