I am a book worm through and through, so I immediately want to share my love of books and the books I love with everyone I meet. This doesn't always come off so well in conversation ;) so I thought I would share here. I will do my best keep this updated with what I am currently reading, using, and loving.
Currently Reading
The Hobbit
Novels:
My favorite series of all time is Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series. It is a wonderfully long series that has something for everyone. It has romance, adventure, tragedy, loss, love, death, life, intrigue, magic, history, lies, and truth. The first book is Outlander. I really just recommend anything she has written. The Lord John series is a spin-off of Outlander, and is just as good, and uses many of the same characters.
Amazon's Page on Diana Gabaldon
And if you're looking for an epic series of adventure, George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire is very good. It's a fantasy series beginning with the Book Game of Thrones, which HBO is making a mini series (with Sean Bean playing the lead role!!)
Amazon's Page on George R. R. Martin
I also recommend anything by Tad Williams, his Otherland series is really the only sci-fi I like. The Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series is very good too.
Amazon's Page of Tad Williams
Sewing:
Being a huge fan of Martha Stewart I, of course, recommend her book of fabric Crafts. It is in encyclopaedia form, with sewing hints, tips, and tricks at the beginning followed by project how-to's organised from A-Z.
Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: Basic Techniques for Sewing, Applique, Embroidery, Quilting, Dyeing, and Printing, plus 150 Inspired Projects from A to Z
I also recomend:
Stitch-by Stitch
Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time
Sew U
Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe
S.E.W
Sew Everything Workshop: The Complete Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide with 25 Fabulous Original Designs, Including 10 Patterns
Cooking:
After the movie Julie and Julia stole my heart I ran out and bought Julia Child's cookbook. The only thing I have been brave enough to make so far is the Queen of Sheba Cake which turned out wonderfully!
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Martha Stewarts Cooking School is a fantastic book for cooks of all levels. It really is more of a how cook book rather than a collection of recipes, which I found delightful. The directions are all clear and easy to follow and are surrounded by detailed and helpful photos.
Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook
College Cooking is actually what I use most often, I'm still not very good at cooking for two (before getting married I cooked for six) and the proportions in this cookbook are much closer to what the husbandman and I can actually eat in a single sitting. The recipes are simple but not basic, and have always been a crowd-pleaser whenever friends come over.
College Cooking with Julie
Eating for Victory is a collection of pamphlets published by the British government during WWII to teach housewives to cook filling and hearty meals using limited rations, which I find to still be useful in this economy.
Eating for Victory: Healthy Home Front Cooking on War Rations
Housekeeping:
I collect old house keeping manuals, buying them at antique stores, flee markets, and since the husbandman and I go into every used bookstore we see, I always search there.
Here is a list of some of the recent ones that were still in print the last time I looked.
Housewife's Handbook
Wonderful tips to run a modern household. I honestly could not put it down and kept reading tips aloud to the husbandman (he was less than thrilled).
Housewifes Handbook
Vintage Notions which is a book of columns, stories, hints, and tips from a 1920's newspaper published by the Women's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences. It is filled with beautiful illustrations and touching words of wisdom, not to mention filled with crafts, sewing tips, patterns, and recipes.
Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun
Make do and Mend is a collection of pamphlets printed by the British government during WWII teaching wives and mothers how to mend reuse old clothing instead of buying new.
Make Do and Mend: Keeping Family and Home Afloat on War Rations
How to Sew a Button and its companion book How to Start a Fire are both filled with helpful information on how to do the little things that no one does for oneself any more.
How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew
How to Build a Fire: And Other Handy Things Your Grandfather Knew
