Okay, so y’all probably knew long before I did that knitting cables generally doesn’t take five needles. Saturday evening I finished my first cross-over.

Here it is (snickers):

Saturday night I decided I really needed help. I looked on YouTube and found some very helpful videos I’d like to share with you.

How to Knit : How to Knit a Cable Stitch - All this time I thought learning how to cable was for the knitting elite. Good grief. :)

This is a real cable:

For those who would like to see a lovely post in pictures on how to cable, The Purl Bee has a lovely post. (Scroll down aways.)

Here are some more helpful videos:

How to Knit Basics - The Cable Cast on Method

How to Knit Basics - Rib Cable Cast on Method

Continental Knitting Stitches : How to Knit Cable Stitches

And for Sara, the I-Chord: so über-easy, I can’t believe it! Did anyone ever “Cork” to make these?

And here is my latest knitting project-in-the-works:

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The fun thing about summer reading lists after graduating is that you don’t have to put all the books down once school begins! My parents have always provided good books, but this year I’m especially eager to dive into the books they gave me for my graduation:

( * Currently reading )

The Real Lincoln by Thomas DiLorenzo - A shocking exposé on his real agenda

*Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer - I’m just bursting in anticipation to get to this one

The Annotated Mona Lisa by Carol Strickland, Ph.D. - A lot of Art history

State of the Arts by Gene Edward Veith - I can already tell it’s a fascinating book

Color Choices by Stephen Quiller - I need more help with color theory than you know

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay - What can I say? I know it’ll be an excellent book!

The Family (formerly Homemaking) by J.R.Miller - Excellent

Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola - Just love this book

*How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor by Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D. - Who doesn’t like a good medical book? Fascinating!

Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC - May not read the whole thing: It’s enormous

Betty Crocker Cookbook - May not read all of this ;)

Holiness by J.C.Ryle - It’s about time I read this

*The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs - I’ve already started this one in my quiet time

*Desiring God by John Piper - Started this one, too!

These are some other books I hope to read:

*For the Family’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay - A favorite I’ve skipped around in, by am finally settling down to read cover to cover

(June 10) Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris - Excellent!

Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis - Stepping Heavenward mentions this often, and curiosity has been aroused

Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan - Second time ’round

The Institutes of Christian Religion by John Calvin - I’ve heard only good reports

Confessions by St. Augustine - I’ll be studying this book and the three previous books with Kevin Swanson’s Christian Classics Study

(June 29) Christy by Catherine Marshall - Already reading and enjoying it

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy - Not nearly as dry as I thought it was :)

Practicing Hospitality by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock - Mom and Emily and I will be going through this together

*Culture Making by Andy Crouch - I don’t agree with everything in it, but there’s a lot of good stuff

*Guns of the Lion by Douglas Bond - Lots of adventure, reading with Mom and Emily

Twenty-five books, and no real time limit. Joy!

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Recently I have come to the conclusion that if I have in mind to become a well-rounded, well-informed children’s book illustrator (and possibly even a writer), that I had better catch up on all those books I had passed up on as a child.  I did read plenty of books as a wee girl, and still do. But somehow I did not read all the classics. Don’t ask me how it happened in the first place. Maybe I thought I was too mature for those “kid” stories, or they just weren’t my type, or I didn’t think they were very important in my overall upbringing. Whatever it was, I have pushed that aside. I am now very appreciative of all the imaginative, and creative work that goes into these tales.

I have decided to take you all on this adventure with me! So, every now and then, I will post my reviews on various children’s literature and illustration.

And for my first review, I bring you, James and the Giant Peach!

• Author: Roald Dahl

• Illustrator: Lane Smith

• Publisher: The Penguin Group

• Copyright: Text, 1961; Illustrations by Lane Smith, 1991

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The only memories I had of this story was the sticky, gloomy peach filled with creepy-crawly bugs poking fun at a poor little boy.  Of course, like any good modern American child, I had only seen the movie, and never read the book.

James’ story officially begins when he is seven years old.  As a lonely little orphan boy, he must live with his gruesome and detestable aunts, Sponge and Spiker.  One day he discovers a peach, grown to the size of a house!  Finding a hole in the side, he climbs through, and entering the door at the end, finds a surprise.  Several Surprises!  And they are all as big as he is!  Inside, awaiting his arrival, is Centipede, Earthworm, Green-Old-Grasshopper, Miss Ladybug, Miss Spider, Glow-worm, and Silkworm!  It’s only a matter of a good night’s sleep before the peach rolls away with them all to an adventure.

Throughout their journey, James’ clever resourcefulness continually saves the day. It is full of whimsical songs and poems, adding a charming touch. A journey across the Atlantic Ocean full of hungry sharks, past the ferocious Cloud-Men, and into New York City, eventually lands them all into happily ever after. I must refrain from giving away the ending for those who haven’t read it yet.

The illustrations by Lane Smith completely capture the feel of the story. Black and white may be boring to some, but I enjoyed its simplicity and room for my own imagination. If you ever get a chance to take a close look at them, see if you can find anything a little interesting in the last illustration. If you look close, you may notice something kinda cute.