I haven’t updated my list of books read lately so I thought I would do so now.

Recent books read (actually, re-read):

Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I was missing Harry so I thought a re-read of his adventure was in order.

Due to all the reading I have been doing lately, my knitting has fallen to the back burner. But not for long, I expect to work on either the Feather and Fan Shawl or the Spiral Tube Socks tonight depending on my mood. Since I have to wait until Saturday to pick up the final two books in the HP series I need something to do. (When I read the books before I borrowed my sister’s but now since we are so far apart, I feel I must have them)

I have had a request by Princess Ivi for a bigger blanket. (She has a small throw but she is growing so fast that it doesn’t do much to keep her warm.) Before I can tackle a project like that, I need to sort my yarn and see what I have to work with. I was thinking that I may be able to hold multiple strands together so that it works up quick but I guess it depends on whether she sees yarn that she approves of. Another option is to go by Walmart on Saturday and pick up some more. I know that they have a purple-ish yarn and as that is her fave color it might work. If so, I will make a 6 hour throw and consider it part of her birthday present. The blanket will be done though because it is not often that I get a request for a knitted item from her. Normally, she is too "cool" for them.

This weekend was pretty uneventful. On Saturday I slept a little late, went grocery shopping, made homemade chili and guacamole, read while Princess Ivi watched Peter Pan, took a nap, made tapioca, and talked to my sister. (Since my brother-in-law works nights on Friday and Saturday, my mom and I talk to my sister until he gets home. Mom has Friday night and I take Saturdays. Most of the time, I am off of the phone by 1:30 a.m.)

On Sunday, I slept late again and then did laundry. I also stripped the sheets and pillow cases and sprayed the bed and pillows down with Lysol. (I am waging a war with my cold germs.) For dinner, I made baby-back ribs and potato salad.

Princess Ivi spent the day watching Anne of Avonlea. She really enjoyed it.

Then we watched Sense and Sensibility on Masterpiece Classic. What a good movie. Even Princess Ivi is loving it. She can’t wait for the sequel next week. She can’t wait to see what happens between Elinor and Edward and Marianne and Willoughby. She is rooting for Willoughby. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that Willoughby may be dashing and handsome but he won’t love Marianne for the right reasons. She thinks the age difference between Captain Brandon and Marianne is "gross". I suppose by today’s standards a 35 year old man marrying a 17 year old girl is pretty "gross" but then it was acceptable. I, of course, know how it all ends because I have read the book but I won’t give anything away.

Princess Ivi is amazed with how things used to be done Like the age difference between husbands and wives, the fact that so many marriages were just for money not emotion, and the fact that relatives married each other.

There was a scene in Anne of Avonlea where Pauline told Anne that Morgan never should have married his cousin. Princess Ivi and I quite agreed. Her words were "Ick." Of course, Pauline didn’t mean they should not have gotten married because it is gross or morally unacceptable but because the two were not matched well.

Last weekend when we watched Wuthering Heights and Princess Ivi realized that both Lynton and Hareton were Catherine’s first cousins and she married one of them and was in love with the other. It was quite a shock for her.

It is interesting to see her maturing to the point that she recognizes all the complexities of older books.

Princess Ivi worked on her birthday list. In addition to a camera and a stuffed panda bear, she has put in a request for a "real, live puppy" which, hopefully, is in the works.

She also requested a gourmet meal of hot dogs, french fries and macaroni & cheese (and she suggested Easy Mac - yuck. I think I will make homemade mac and cheese and if she wants, I will pick up the powdered stuff for her but not for me.) For her cake, she wants a red velvet cake with white chocolate frosting with chocolate drizzles and shavings.

She is even happy to have a birthday party with just mom and I and then grab a movie over the weekend. I think it helps her to know that on Saturday (the 28th) we will be going to the Northeast Florida Scottish Games which is always a fun treat for all of us.

As an aside, with respect to the retail therapy in my post of 1/23, Princess Ivi was pretty disappointed because she was unsuccessful in finding a pair of shoes with an acceptable heel height. She found many that she liked but none that weren't too high of a heel. She did get a really cute bag though. (And I got two pairs of really cute shoes.)