Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Of Dragons, Food and Tiny Stitches

Be warned, ramblings ahead!

It is with sadness that I see Anne McCaffrey (1926-2011) passed away on Monday, November 21, 2011, at her home in Ireland. A stroke felled the literary giant that many of us thought would live forever. She was the first woman to win a Hugo award for fiction, the first woman to win a Nebula award, and the first author to make the New York Times Bestseller list with a science fiction title (The White Dragon). She influenced many writers, her words offered escape for many of us and gave our imagination wings. The fantasy world, and we, will never be the same. I raise my cup to you Ms. McCaffrey... May the white dragon carry you to green fields.

Normally, I have a few books on the go, and these past few months have been no different. Usually the subject matter changes, but there are some constants. Homesteading, soil and farming are always in my stack somewhere. This week's stack is only marginally different.
"Codex Alimentarius: Global Food Imperialism"
"Lords of the Harvest:Biotech, Big Money, And The Future of Food"
"There Is A Cure For Diabetes"
"The End of Food: How The Food Industry is Destroying Our Food Supply And What You Can Do About It"
"Reversing Diabetes"
"The Body Toxic: How The Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-Being"
"Slow Death By Rubber Duck: How The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health"
And a couple of coffee table books on custom motorcycles.
(Wow, now that I look at the list, I wonder if I left the library any books...?)

On the knitting front, I've been working on a black knitted skull-cap style hat for S, on request, and a yellow scarf that is intended to go to a local homeless youth shelter. An acquaintance has ordered a knitted hat and scarf in "baby green", and I have an order from Jacqueline, which I'm not sure I can reveal the details of just yet. (I don't want the blog to self destruct if I reveal too much)

My mother always said the way to intelligence was to keep the mind busy. If that's so, my I.Q should be up there!