knitting and books

my latest knitting project is rainshadow, by melanie berg. i caught an interview with her the other day, during which she explained how she enjoys relaxing with simple patterns, and, thus, likes to design simple patterns for others to enjoy also. i have to say that this is a very enjoyable pattern, but i'll save labeling it as simple for when it's completed.

i've been reading three summers by margarita liberaki. i saw it in our neighborhood bookstore, and then found it at our library (now i have it out indefinitely). she was born in 1919 in athens, greece and lived there until 1947, when she moved to paris. three summers is about three sisters during three of their young adult summers living with their mother, aunt and grandfather in the countryside of athens. 

". . . an orange moon appears from behind the mountain and falls on the reeds, the stream is gurgling, the frogs begin their nightly song, an owl gives a shrill hoot landing on the roof. i wish i could take it all in, hold it in my arms or be held in its arms. something is swelling inside me, getting larger and larger . . . i sigh. "what's the matter, katerina? are you sad?" everyone asks. "no, " i answer. "i'm perfectly happy." i'd have whispered in mavroukos's ear if he were still alive, becuase he too would often lower his head between his paws in the evenings, and sigh deeply. inside him something was surely swelling and overflowing."

i guess i should add that she is writing about her bulldog, mavroukos. i found her memory so poignant as our bulldog, jack, used to do the same thing; he would place his head on his paws with the deepest sigh, and i would always look at him and breathe deep myself in empathy.

" . . . . for the universe is limitless, and the earth so intricate . . . . "

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joining ginny and friends . . before april ends . .