Lighted Window

Bright Solstice, Merry Christmas

So much has been happening in the last eight weeks... much of it away from a computer.

The really short version: We closed on our house (in under 45 minutes... wow), Tim had a birthday and his brother came to town, we moved in, it snowed 6 or 8 inches, the fellas stripped wallpaper and painted and ripped out carpet while I went to work for two days of talks and poster sessions, and then they did more of the same with a little help from me. Then Tim's brother went home and we shifted down a gear, I continued to paint, Tim and I both went back to work, and there was a lot of what you might call focused effort on Christmas knitting. Oh yeah, and it dumped another foot of snow and sleet somewhere in there, too. I'm sure you've heard plenty of whining about that.

We had a few guests during the first week at our new home. Fortunately they did not come inside.

There is still work to be done on the house, but we have been having a little forced R&R by virtue of traveling to St. Louis. Tim's Mom celebrated her 60th birthday on Thursday, so we flew out early and surprised her. Flew out in another snowstorm, that is.

In weather like this, I don't have to tell you that knitting is a very pleasant, cosy pastime. It also beats hell out of sanding and painting trim. In order of finishing:

A Clapotis for my sister Jane. The color-puddling grew on me after a while, and it's more or less balanced out by the diagonal strips.

A Marsan Watchcap for Jane's husband, Joe. No photo here as I finished weaving in the ends at 5:10 pm and had to steam-block it, wrap it, box it, and get it to the post office by 6 pm, the evening before we left. Phew.

A Mitred Heart Sachet for my aunt Pauline. This was fun; the pattern was precisely written and I was always able to pick up the exact number of stitches specified, such a relief for some reason. I substituted Artyarns Ultramerino 4 for the Koigu, and I like this yarn very much. There will be more of these hearts next Christmas. (There would have been more this Christmas, but I didn't start this one till we reached cruising altitude on Thursday, and it took a couple of days at 50% effort.)

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you have been able to enjoy it in exactly the way you most needed to this year -- whether that be celebrating with a houseful of family and friends, or simply finding some Peace and Joy in your own heart. Love to you all in the coming year!

Long Days, Short Days

The days are dwindling, and so is the amount of light available for photography. My favorite contrast is that of slightly fluorescent leaves against a stark, wet tree trunk, or a conservative sky.

However, the leaves show up best when the sky is overexposed or just plain exuberant.

I found some leaves of another sort, gracing my countertop, about ten minutes ago. (Click to enlarge; they're subtle.) Now that the trees outside the kitchen window have given in, the sunlight pierces into the kitchen more strongly, and picks out the china pattern in relief.

And, finally, here is why the days get longer as they get shorter, this year:

Happy haunting, everyone!

 

At Ease

I took these photos at dawn, or just after, this morning. Was up early to get a little work done before work, as it were. (Paid work, same job, in both cases.) The quiet and restfulness in the garden, the end of a season of zany growth, are just what I need right now.

Things are anything but restful around here. Much cleaning, packing, gathering and gleaning; the last of the canning; a bit of swatching; and over all else, a fierce urge to get outside and enjoy the good weather while it's here. We have been making the most of autumn's good looks by going for long walks, and I finally got the rack affixed to my bike and brought the groceries home from Verrill Farm under my own steam.

The time is ripe for moving into, and growing into, our new home. Still, I'm going to miss this one for a while.

Brainwave

Started packing stuff. Best idea ever?
Using balls of yarn to pad the boxes when traditional packing fluff is used up.

I'm so proud of myself for that idea, it's possible that the decline of sanity has already begun. (Should be an entertaining seven weeks.)