I downloaded a number of books over the years for the Kindle app on my iPad. I read a few of those books while on vacations, but it certainly wasn’t my favourite way to read. The iPad, because it is a first edition, is heavy and not easily read in bed at the end of the day. My preference was always a “real” book.

I received a Kindle for Christmas, along with a generous gift card, and I am loving the convenience of it. It is so light which makes it much easier to carry in my bag and pick up while waiting for appointments or events. It is lovely to read in bed – no need for even a bedside light which is also a bonus if I’m reading during a sleepless night.

I mostly read at the end of the day after I go to bed and I think, with the Kindle, I probably read more than if I were holding a real book. With a real book I set goals (read 25 or 50 pages a night, depending on the length of the book) and with the Kindle I often find myself saying, “I’ll just read until I’m at 25% or 50%” which means I’m reading a quarter of the book a night. I’ll get through the books much faster.

The only time I miss a “real” book is when I’ve finished a book. There is something about closing the cover on a book, setting it aside, and then anticipating the next book (because the next book is generally picked before I’ve finished the current book). Closing the cover on the Kindle doesn’t give me the same sense of closure and I never scroll through my list of books to see what might come next – I just start reading whatever My Library says is next. So far I haven’t run into this on my Kindle but with a “real” book I never finish one book and start a new one on the same day; that would be so easily done with the Kindle.

I still have a number of “real” books on my shelf that I will get to. As I learn more about the eBooks that are available I hope to make better choices. I guess you get what you pay for and so far the Kindle freebies and very cheap eBooks haven’t been all that satisfying.

Saturday, February 3, 2018

I told Pat yesterday that if it was pouring rain I wasn’t going to walk down to the terminal to catch the morning ferry across. As it turned out there was no rain and, although it wasn’t sunny, it was a nice jaunt. While I waited for the ferry I watched two eagles chase a couple of cormorants off the pilings so they could take roost. There were a couple of loons in the water and when I had given up on seeing any mammals a big sea lion swam past.

We went for a walk before heading out for lunch. After lunch we took a drive around town; I really hadn’t seen anything of the town since we got our place. There are more houses than I realized from our trips in and out, some new and some very old.

The rain has started in earnest now, Pat is lighting a fire, and I’m going to get out some stitching.

Friday, February 2, 2018

Since Christmas I have been very careful not to join any online groups or sew-alongs. But my favourite sampler shop (Temecula Quilt Company) came out with a new one today and I couldn’t resist joining. It is call the the Quirky 1880 Sampler and I plan to use the scraps of my 1930’s fabric for it. It sounds simple enough – one 4-inch square every Friday. What I don’t know is how long it lasts. My Circa 2016 is one of theirs and one of my Christmas miniatures was from their company; I have another of their sew-alongs started (Wild Goose Wednesday) but its a long way from being finished. I have saved all the clues on another one (Patchwork Olympics) but it isn’t started yet. I may regret it further down the road but these on-line sew-alongs keep things interesting.

I got most of my last Valentine project pieced this morning before heading out to do some errands. I am more or less packed up for my trip across to the studio tomorrow; I tend to have a bag “going” all the time so there is less last minute packing. It helps that I have enough clothes over there and I just need to pack the fun stuff that I want to do while I’m there. I’m looking forward to getting back to my cross stitching.

I’m off to a concert tonight – performers I enjoy, an early start, and absolutely no responsibilities!

I may try to finish piecing my Valentine before getting a bit of knitting in before supper.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

I was actually looking forward to turning the calendar over today. The first of the month is the release date for the UFO number we will be working on for the month. My #9 is the quilt I am making from the strips I won/was given at the Texada Retreat in November. Although the idea is to tackle unfinished items my list includes a few projects that have deadlines attached. #9 will be a new project for me and I’m ready for something new.

I had to make a quick trip to the Hall this morning but was home by nine. I volunteered to bring goodies to the Guild meeting tonight and since my cookies from the concession last weekend were given away I had to start fresh. I made a batch of oatmeal cookies and I’ll add a plate of cheese and call it done. The rest of the morning was taken up with getting reports written for the meeting.

I have two more Valentines ready for binding. I hope to start on the final project tomorrow. I thought there was some hand stitching involved with it but as I read my pattern this afternoon it is all pieced. Even with being away for the weekend I think I’ll still have time to finish it before the 14th.

Off now for some dinner and then my meeting. I’m hoping to get a bit of knitting time tonight after the meeting. I only have a few episodes of Once Upon a Time left and I’d like to get them finished before the weekend.