TGIF - Last Friday of 2022

The morning began with a frosty overcast sky but now the sun is shining. The fox just went by on his morning run and a red-bellied woodpecker is climbing the birch trunk. His bright coloring shows beautifully against a blue sky. 

Thinking about the red-bellied woodpecker and his name. His breast is hard to see but honestly it looks creamy white. Since the color on his head is the dominant feature, the name seems off-kilter to me. Perhaps the red-headed woodpecker had already been named and someone thought an orange-headed woodpecker would be confusing or redundant. An internet photo of the bird shows the brighter colored breast. Once more, google to the rescue. 

Grateful for my family, near and far. Although we weren't with our kids in person, we talked to them via Face Time on the Christmas weekend. My husband's brother and wife invited us to have Christmas dinner with their family and it was nice to be included. This past Wednesday we had a lovely sweet day with my sister and her husband, my niece, and little great-niece. My sister made a delicious soup and served it with cornbread and fruit. We had a few cookies for dessert. This simple celebration warmed our hearts. They gave us this special gift. 

When we were girls, these two pieces of needlepoint hung in my grandparents' home. We think Grama made them from a kit. She did all kinds of needlework and sewing. She taught both of us to sew and me to knit. Anyway, I hadn't seen them for years and didn't even know my sister had kept them. She took the pieces out of frames that were falling apart and gently cleaned the needlepoint. My brother-in-law made new frames out of some pine he reclaimed from his Dad's work bench. The wood grain lines up beautifully. This is a gift that comes from the heart and hand. What a treasure. After I put away the Christmas decor, we will find them a special place for them. 

Inspired by the reading done by friends both locally and in this little blogging community. My local book group met earlier in December and chose books for the coming year. It's a varied and interesting list. As always, there are a couple of books I would never read on my own but that is one of the benefits of a book group. I have enjoyed the Erdrich-Along organized by Mary. In the past Erdrich's books felt almost too heavy to read but I enjoyed discussing them with this group and we have two more to go. It's been interesting to see how Erdrich expands the characters as well as themes, particularly in the justice trilogy. 

Fun. This morning I talked to Jonah and Norah as they painted snowmen with watercolors. Jonah was quite careful using watercolor pencils to add special buttons and mittens. Norah painted a rose-colored snowman with enthusiasm. Then we read The Mitten Tree and Wake up Bear, It's Christmas. This week I cast on a Christmas sock with yarn from my stash. Next to turning the heel, the other part of sock knitting I enjoy is knitting enough cuff to see how the yarn is going to look in the pattern. The yarn is Holly and Pine by Fibernymph Dyeworks. The pattern is Impossible Girl. 

And so, onward we go into 2023. This afternoon I'm going to take a walk and put most of the Christmas decor away. I am ready to mop up the dust and generally tidy the house as the new year begins. This evening I will finish the Advent Scarf. 

Happy New Year. 

Kindness 2022

I chose the word, kindness, for 2022, kindness as kindling for a practice. What I have learned is that kindness is doable. One doesn't have to be an activist on a street corner to be kind. Quiet actions are valuable and kindness is a place to begin. Kindness is extended and received. 

I kept a fuss-free imperfect journal, making an entry for each month. In September, Norah picked out this birthday card for me. She thought I would like dogs in pink tutus. She was right. What Grammy wouldn't love this card on her 71st birthday? Right after she brought it home, she showed it to me and signed it while we were on FaceTime. I love that her Mom let her choose the card and share it immediately. 

Extending kindness to those near and dear is natural and easy. Extending a smile or thank you to a stranger or a grocery checker becomes a habit. Donating food to the hungry feels good. When I reframe, I am able to think kindly about the driver who pulls into a parking stall just ahead of me. Perhaps that person carries a heavy load. Perhaps they need to get to work on time or home to a sick child or family member. As a wise friend once said, "There is no need to send my angst into the world." Being kind to myself is also part of the practice. 

For me, the challenge is to extend kindness to an acquaintance who is annoying or irritating for some reason. Let's say, they don't recycle or they litter their yards with eyesores, or their political opinion is different from mine, or they monopolize a conversation with trivia, or, or, or.  Here, as the saying goes, is "the rub" that creates a blister. However practicing kindness or trying to reframe a behavior makes me feel better. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail. Kindness is a practice, a process. I hope I don't sound like goody-two shoes here. I am far from perfect. I make mistakes but for me it's worth the effort. As I mull over a word for the new year I will carry kindness with me. Onward we go. 

This is the poem I sent with our holiday greeting cards. Now I send it out to you.

Kindness *

Outside my window

junco shelters in the birch.

Around her, bark flutters

like a string of prayer flags.

The gale peels away

layers of roughness,

years of care that

protected the heart.

A flag frays, then falls,

a postcard of kindness

sent to a neighbor

just down the street.

What if we squared our shoulders,

bent our hearts to generous care?

What if we spoke nothing

but kindness to the prevailing wind?

*Copyright Jane A. Wolfe

Birch comes from Burg and means the tree whose bark is written upon.

Happy Solstice 2022

Today is a very solstice kind of day. The sky is a soft gray and frost clings to tree branches. Light snow fell earlier and the temperature is a balmy 15 degrees. A warm home is a blessing. The neighborhood fox went by earlier. He is a busy guy. Last night, I saw him around 9:45 p.m. as I was getting ready for bed. I hope you are all warm and well. My back went out earlier this week but is improving. Between my husband's ankle (also healing) and my back, we are almost a functioning pair. Walking doesn't bother me but sitting, lifting, and carrying heavy objects does. He can lift and carry but not walk long distances. Oh my, at least we still smile at each other - most of the time.

I join Kat and other makers for Unraveled Wednesday. I continue to knit on the Guernsey Scarf. I prefer the lighter colors but am enjoying the last skeins with their rich moody colors. They reflect the deeper winter days ahead. In today's light, it is hard to get a good photograph. Now and then I take a break from the scarf to knit on another project. In this way, I finished the shawl that's been languishing for quite some time. I'd like to finish the cowl below by the end of the year and start fresh in 2023. This almost never happens but maybe is the year. I am dreaming of two new projects.  

This shawl could have been slightly bigger but it is the size I prefer to wear. I also didn't want to play yarn chicken with the picot bind-off. Who wants to get half-way though a long picot bind-off and have to rip out rows to have enough yarn?  Although the cashmere in the yarn is lovely, I am noncommittal about the shawl. I enjoyed making it but may give it to someone in the future. 

Last night I put a few rows on a cowl I'm knitting from some early handspun. It's my reward for finishing a section on the Guernsey Scarf. I used the stitch count and three motifs from the Land of Sweets Cowl. I'm nearly out of handspun so I started the ribbing rows. The next week and a half are quiet here so I plan to savor these days. I'm letting the dust pile up while I knit and spin. I have coffee and tea in the cupboards and a nice selection of books and cookies to keep me company. 

In an evening or two, I read an old mystery by Anne Perry, A New York Christmas. Perry writes a short mystery each Christmas. I prefer the first few in the series. Later on, she gets too preachy for me. This was fluffy reading and I enjoyed the NYC setting. Two weeks ago, I was looking for an audio book on Libby and happened onto The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See. This historical fiction is the story of two Korean women who work in the sea with their village's all-women diving collectives. The writing is good enough but the story is more than excellent. The novel begins in the late 1930's as two young girls from different backgrounds become friends and learn to harvest food from the sea. Set against the turmoil of Korean history from the late 30's to the present day, I learned more about Korea. The heart of the story is the strength of these women, physically and emotionally, as they face tragedy, hardship, and joy. I am still thinking about the story and characters.

On this frosty day, however you celebrate,  I wish you peace, joy, love, and light. 

Ravelry Links:

Guernsey Scarf

Cosmic Girl Shawl

Mostly Handspun Cowl

Oh, the USPS delivered all the hand knits safely to Connecticut.  Jonah has his scarf. 

  

Mid December Days

Hello on this gray chilly December morning. Two cardinals are the bright spot in the landscape and several juncos keep me company. Monday evening rain fell as our book group convened. We had a lovely evening enjoying treats, wine, and hot tea as we chose books for 2023. As I walked to my car with several good friends, lightning flickered and thunder rumbled. A thunderstorm in December isn't unheard of but rare. We were on the edge of the big winter storm that came in from the Pacific. A half an inch of rain fell. It's not nearly enough but it is some moisture.

After several trips to the mailing station in our neighborhood grocery store, I hope every package that needs to be mailed has been mailed. It was a process this year. Now I can bake cookies with a clear conscience. Last week I tried a new chocolate cookie recipe that was disappointing. Those cookies are in the freezer but probably destined for the trash. This morning I set out butter for a tried and true recipe, Cappuccino Chocolate Slices. 

Today is Unraveled Wednesday with Kat and friends. Although I forgot to take a photo of Jonah's scarf, it is finished. I added a second stripe sequence to the other end of the scarf. My husband mailed that package Monday. This morning I received a video of Jonah on the way to school telling his Mom "I need that Grammy Scarf because it is so cold." May the USPS elves be on their best behavior. My daughter promises to take a photo of him with his scarf. 

Last weekend I unearthed the Guernsey Wrap/Scarf I started last January with the Advent yarn set I received as a birthday gift. After seeing all the colors, I selected the pattern, cast on, and then set it aside in the Spring. This year I pulled the project out on 12/10 and discovered I had knit though most of the 9th skein. Up to this point, I am knitting the skeins in order they were numbered, light to dark. I plan to knit on it through December to calm the frenzy of the world and the season. I do not have a goal for the number of rows knit each day and mostly turn off podcasts and audiobooks while working on it. The pattern is lovely, easy but interesting as the textures change. 

I've also spinning this bright BFL colorway fittingly named Sapphire. I ordered two four ounce packages of fiber in order to have enough for a project. The fiber comes from Greenwood Fiberarts. Sunday I finished spinning, the first four ounces. The yarn will be a 2-ply of undetermined weight - maybe sport. 

The picture book Christmas Tapestry is one of my favorites. Patricia Polacco, who lives in Michigan, writes and illustrates her books. At one time, she toured and spoke in schools. Years ago, she spoke in Lincoln and explained that she struggled with dyslexia and learned to read by studying the space around letters and words. She had a wonderful Special Education teacher who believed in her and helped her learn to read. Her books have a lot of text and are better suited to older elementary students but are all wonderful. Christmas Tapestry is an interfaith story of a Christian and Jewish family and an act of kindness. It still brings tears to my eyes. 

I'm almost finished with The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. I have several thoughts about the cover design but will reserve judgement until I come to the end. As with all good artwork, several interpretations are possible. The characters are believable and the women are strong. Erdrich threads enough humor and many literary references to make it an excellent novel. 

I am off to redeem my cookie-making reputation and make a grocery list. What are you up to on these mid-December days? 

Ravelry Link

Advent Guernsey Scarf

Simple Pleasures

Hello on this bright December morning. I am watching a tiny tuft of a feather caught on the end of a birch twig outside my window. It has been there for at least a week, this little white feather with gray at the base, fraying a little more each day as the wind blows it to and fro. I took a photo but it's in the shade and doesn't show up against the birch bark. The birds have come and gone from the feeder. My husband is out for coffee with friends so the house is quiet. 

Or perhaps I am wrong about the birds. Now a flicker pokes his beak into the birchbark. Man, what a beak. He looks so large compared to the juncos, finches, nuthatches, and chickadees that are more common in this tree. The neighborhood fox just trotted though the cul-de-sac across the way. Maybe the neighborhood isn't so quiet this morning. 

But this is Unraveled Wednesday with Kat and company so on to the knitting and reading. I started Jonah's scarf three times. He requested a red scarf with gray. When we visited further, he mentioned "the same stripes as the mittens I like." He and his Mom hunted up the mittens and called back so I could see the hat/mitten set he had in mind. First I cast on way too many stitches and then I knit about twenty inches in a broken rib pattern that I use in the kids' hats. I hoped the broken rib would prevent the scarf from rolling but it did not. I did the thing a lot of us have done, I kept knitting even though the voice in my head said and eventually hollered "I don't think this is working." Perhaps blocking would have corrected the problem but the scarf was still too wide for a six year old.

So I asked Jonah if the stripe sequence could be on the diagonal. "Oh sure, no problem." He is an easy going kind of guy. I frogged the scarf and began again with garter stitch on the diagonal. I'm skating along 😉, knitting exclusively on this scarf, and relying on a progress keeper as motivation. When the scarf is finished, all four items can be mailed in time for winter weather.  

The picture book Red and Lulu is the story of a pair of cardinals who are separated when the tree where they nest becomes the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. Amidst the beautiful illustrations, Red searches and finds Lulu. When the tree is taken down, Red and Lulu find a new home in Central Park. Several years ago, I gave a copy of this book to Jonah who loves Christmas. He chooses Christmas-themed costumes on Halloween and also requests Christmas-themed birthday parties. Now and then he tells me he has seen Red or Lulu.  

As I read The Sentence by Louise Erdrich, I wonder about significance of the cover design. I'm about a third of the way into the book so maybe it will become clear as I finish the novel. Although the subject matter is never easy, Erdrich is a master at layering themes throughout a story. 

Today I am making a list so I can grocery shop for fresh fruit and veggies to balance to the butter, brown sugar, and chocolate I need for baking. I do like to make and share cookies. Last week the sun caught this small apple. Sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful. What simple pleasures are you finding this week?

November into December

Wednesday: Today, I have a lunch date with two good friends. It has been forever since we've been together so we are looking forward to catching up. We had a dusting of snow yesterday and today will be the coldest day of the week. FedEx just delivered an amaryllis bulb. This is an anonymous gift but how fun. I look forward to watching it grow this winter. Surely someone will confess to this kindness. Update: Yes she did. One of the friends I met for lunch, sent me the bulb so I could have flowers in winter. Evidently Breck's forgot to include her gift card. 

I am joining Kat and the Unravelers as we post about knitting and reading. Tuesday evening I finished Micah's mittens. He requested mittens with one inch stripes. Although the photo doesn't show the dark green stripe very well, the mittens came out just as he wanted them. I knit their hats, mittens, and scarves from superwash wool, mostly KnitPicks Swish. These are playing-outdoors mittens in cold but not snowy bitter weather. "Grammy Mittens" work for catching footballs and holding onto handlebars among other things. This family spends lots of time outdoors in all kinds of weather. My daughter's motto is there is no bad weather for being outdoors, just inappropriate clothing. Up next is Jonah's scarf with red, gray, and navy in "the same stripes that are in my mittens." We had a FaceTime chat so he could show me the stripe sequence he has in mind. 

Thursday:  My friends and I enjoyed a leisurely lunch with lots of good conversation. The rest of the day I ran errands and finished some housework. In other knitting news, I worked some on this shawl. I'm hopeful blocking performs its usual magic on the lace/texture portion. Honestly, I might just prefer garter stitch in that section but blocking does work miracles. One way or another I'm close to finishing this shawl. 

I am reading Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher.  It's a sweet old-fashioned story about five unlikely people, each with a past sorrow, who create a family during the winter holidays. I have also just begun The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. This novel is the current selection in the Erdrich-read-along with Mary and friends. As in other novels, Erdrich begins with a distressing event that I imagine will have repercussions for the characters. I am just into the book but am enjoying the word play and Erdrich's humor threaded through a more serious topic.  

So now I bring this two-part post to an end. A female cardinal searches for the last seeds in the feeder outside my window. Warmer temps today mean I will have a nice walk past this small plot of grass. If time allows I hope to finish decking the halls with a few more of our favorite things. Have a good week.

Ravelry Links

Micah's Striped Mittens

Cosmic Girl Shawl