Homemade inspiration

In this week's library haul, I came across a delicious little book, Homemade - Gorgeous things to make with love by Ros Badger and Elspeth Thompson. I could tell straight away that it wasn't a brand new publication (you probably can too! It's not your screen that's dirty - this book has been well-used!). Yes, it's a couple of years old, and craft ideas become old hat pretty quickly these days, but this one is worth seeking out. It is divided into seasons with activities to match, with stunning seasonal pictures alongside. With winter kicking in sharp and strong here in Hawke's Bay, I am going to start in on the stripey glove knitting pattern first off, and add some cheer to our evening meals with the paper-lined night-light holders.

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A cup of tea and a bit of book chat - September with The Conductor and Yoghurt Banana Muffins

Every quite often it seems a New Zealand author writes a book that I love so much that I can't stop talking about it. In the last few years there was Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs, then Mr Pip , and this time it is..... The Conductor by Sarah Quigley. The Conductor by Sarah Quigley It's cold, it's spare and it's very stark, but Sarah Quigley has created something powerfully beautiful in this book that follows the story of the composition and first performance of Shostakovich's 7th symphony amidst the seige on Leningrad by the Nazi's in 1941. Based around the story of Shostakovich’s single-minded endeavour to write his 7 th Symphony, and see it performed, the book shows the lengths that an artist will go to to express himself. While most people are fleeing the city, and others starving and dying, Shostakovich determinedly writes his piece of music, and it falls upon conductor Karl Eliasberg to rise above his own starvation and grief to bring toget...

The young readers' dilemma

Sometimes it really hits me just how many and varied are the responsibilities of parenting. There's stuff like the values we model, and then there's other stuff like making sure they get to all their teeth when they brush. It's a big gig. It's a gig that gives me infinite joy, ( oh, and sleepless nights occasionally too ) but I don't take the responsibility lightly. I'm conscientious, that's just how I'm wired. And I'm also a librarian. So, imagine this: I go to my daughter's parent/teacher interview, and am told that my child is doing just fine (good), but....there's one thing....(uh oh) she could do with extending her reading . As I walk past the empty playground after the meeting I erupt; "bwah hahahaha". Because the irony certainly isn't lost on me. But, I'm so glad for that parent/teacher meeting. It got me to thinking. Both my older children have been hooked on reading book series - ch...

A cup of tea and a bit of book chat!

Welcome to our first Cup of Tea and a Bit of Book Chat session Surely, one of life's greatest joys is having friends who recommend you good books. With that in mind, I really want to start monthly blog book chat sessions with you all. I'll start with the best book/s I've read during the month (I'll try to limit myself to two!) and would love it if you post your latest read too. Bring your favourite vintage teacup, and I'll bring the baking. This is going to be fun! Well.....down to it then. I've had such a great pile of books beside my bed this month, that I'm having trouble choosing! I will go with the two books that have inspired me the most of all: Short Fat Chick in Paris by Kerre Woodham & Gareth Brown - published by Harper Collins If you are having trouble dragging yourself off the couch to fulfil your ambitious new year sporting resolutions, then this is the book for you. A follow-up book from Kerre Woodham's first book Short Fat Ch...

The Librarian

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