Sally Watson, Where Are You?

When I was growing up back in the '60s and '70s, I loved to read. Somehow I managed to get through school even tho I usually had a "fun" book hidden inside the text book I was supposed to be paying attention to. Or maybe that was the reason I managed to get through school. One of my favorite authors was (and, really, still is) Sally Watson. She wrote historical fiction books like Jade, Lark, Linnet, Witch of the Glen and others I can't remember the titles of right now. Those books are probably the reason I got a BA in History. I loved those books. In fact, I have several, and when I've had a really long day at work and I just want to relax I grab one of those and re-read. It's like visiting an old friend that you haven't seen for a while.

Do you do that? Do you find a book that was a childhood favorite and treasure it? Of course, sometimes you find an old favorite and when you re-read it you find that either your reading tastes have really changed or the book just didn't live up to your memory. Sad.

I haven't found an author like Sally Watson in a long time. A lot of the Young Adult books out today are really good. I love Stephenie Meyer's series about Bella and Edward. And anything by Tamora Pierce is a keeper for me. But too many books are full of teenaged angst. Children trying to make their way out of a broken home, tormented by alcoholic parents and no way out. is there any hope? Those kinds of books are just too much work for me to enjoy. Even worse, though, are the Girl meets Boy stories. Girl has a pimple. Will he ask her out anyway? I'm sure they are very well written, but I'm past that in my life, and I don't really want to go back to it.

So where are the simple historical fiction books like Sally Watson's?

My New Year's Resolution: No More Projects With Deadlines

Well, I've been plugging away at these socks. I was going to give them to my friend for her birthday, which was before Christmas. Obviously, I missed that deadline, mostly because I was working on that crazy afghan for my sister. But I figured it would be alright. I could finish them up in time for 12th Night. Well... nope. See a pattern here? Yeah, so I have made a resolution for 2007: No more making birthday presents, housewarming gifts, Christmas pressents!!! I will make things that I want to make for people I love. But I will not plan to have them done by a certain date!!!

But these socks are beautiful, and so soft, and so warm. I'm sure Fina will love them. Next summer sometime when it's 85 degrees in the shade. :)