an ideal snowfall

It snowed today, and conveniently fell on the ground, and almost not at all on the road.

It arranged itself perfectly on this fir tree,

and when it was over Tricia said it looked like cherry blossoms. It does, doesn't it?

cats sleep so much...

I don't know how they get anything done.

two-tone knit dress, finally finished

It was a year ago when I posted about this dress, and I guess I never said another word about it.

Well, I added that other layer of the persimmon knit, and wore it to work one day. I did not like myself in it. I was pleased that it came out well - it's interesting to try to copy something from scratch, but it didn't look well on. Surely it could be fixed in some way, but how? I left it hanging in my closet.

Then we had a mild spell last week and I was panicked that there weren't enough in-between-the-weather-extremes pieces in my wardrobe. I saw it hanging there and put it on. Immediately I could see that it was too long, so I cut off two inches (these knit styles are great - no hemming necessary) which gave the whole a better balance. I also modified the "points" at the sides, which seemed a little too extreme.

Now I have a new dress that looks good, is very comfortable, and I like it. And rather more "sedate" than the original. What took me so long?

arise

Of him who did salvation bring,

I could for ever think and sing:

Arise, you needy, he'll relieve;

Arise, you guilty, he'll forgive.

To shame our sins he blushed in blood;

He closed his eyes to show us God:

Let all the world fall down and know

That none but God such love can show.

-  Magnificat, March 2017

trees, like people

"The reason trees share food and communicate is that they need each other. It takes a forest to create a microclimate suitable for tree growth and sustenance. So it's not surprising that isolated trees have far shorter lives than those living connected together in forests."

                                                    -   Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees

dust

Often on Ash Wednesday, you'll end up with a dark splotch on your forehead or maybe even a light one, but yesterday there was no mistake - I got a real cross. 

"During Lent, we who are dust entrust ourselves to the healing care of the Lord who promises forgiveness and life to the dust he has made and loves."

                                  -  Magnificat, March 2017

morning prayer

Rise, O glorious orb of day,

Draw the curtains from the sky;

Let your light in glad array,

All creation beautify;

Bid the fears of darkness born,

Melt before the light of morn.

Light transcendent! fill the skies,

Glorious Orb of heav'nly light!

Take the darkness from our eyes,

Fill our souls with visions bright.

Jesus, Light of lights, appear,

Rise upon our souls with cheer.

From your throne of splendor bright,

Shed your glory far abroad,

Let the wanderers in their plight

See the path that leads to God,

And upon their pathway shine,

Heav'nly Orb of light divine.

There no sun illumes the day,

Where the wanderers find their rest;

Moon nor stars their light display

In the kingdom of the blest;

For the Christ himself is Sun,

And the day is never done.

- from Magnificat, February 2017

like June

Spring has gone away, and it's winter again now. But not before we had two more days of warmer, and yes - even balmy! - weather.

I had to work Friday, and patrons were coming in and saying it was over seventy outside, but we enjoyed it, too. We opened the front door and some windows and let the breezes blow in.

Yesterday was the same, though it wasn't supposed to be so warm. It was wonderful, and the sound of the blackbirds squeaking and creaking (what they sound like to me) was almost enough to fool me into believing spring had come. This doesn't happen too often. I'm grateful. Today it was thirty degrees cooler.

spring, inside and out

They did say it would be in the sixties today, but it wasn't just a lovely, warm day - it was truly spring-like. I sat outside and kitted for a while, without a sweater. It was a bit cool, but really nothing. And the concrete step was warm to sit on!

I had a temptation to prune the roses or some such thing, but it's too early for that here. Very unFebruary-ish.

And inside my paperwhites are growing.

a pretty patch

I like my flannel nightgowns, and I got a funny tear on one of them. In front of the underarm, near the seams. A funny place, and the rest of it in good condition.

First I cut a piece of cotton and pinned it below the tear, intending to reinforce the whole thing and do some sashiko type stitching all around it. It was awkward trying to finagle it - I wasn't able to get the torn edges to meet back together again, but I stitched the piece with white thread all the way around the tear, and then did some reinforcing stitches in light pink, in three rows. I didn't think to take a picture, but here's the back:

You can see some of the stitches here.

When I finished the hand stitching, I still had the patch fabric showing through in the center - not that I minded that, but it was a thin piece of stuff, and I didn't think it would hold up to wear. I decided I had to make a patch to go on top.

I found some white sheeting and cut a larger triangle than the area I was patching, then pressed each of the sides under. I basted it on and then chose burgundy thread and a scallop machine stitch.

I'm all for making patches look obvious!  Here you can see just where it is on the nightgown -

So it ended up covering my hand stitches, but it's a learning process. I think I needed both a bottom and a top patch to keep the whole area strong, so all's well that ends well. I hope it holds up.

fresh air and a fresh understanding

I actually had windows open today - and it's still fifty, even now! We'll be able to enjoy this warm-up for a few days.

Yesterday I read this:

"Jesus invites us this morning to deny ourselves - to realize that we do not know who we really are".
(emphasis mine)  It really struck me; this will be good to remember during Lent, which begins in a week and a half. Very good to remember - the purpose of Lent.

coming along

I'm definitely the tortoise rather than the hare with most projects

not to mention that I do have other things to do at the library other than crocheting all day. But it is coming along. And it looks nicer than this picture.

Henry's very little adventure

If it were any other cat, you would be right in wondering why I would post this at all. But Henry isn't one hundred percent cat, and so when he scrambled up onto the back of a chair, it was sort of a big deal.

I'd been shopping and left a few bags on the chair, where he sometimes likes to nap. I was so surprised when he was suddenly up so high - Henry, who doesn't like being up high.

He realized he had a good view out the front door.

But as he began to wonder what ever had possessed him, I cleared off the chair, and he came down. And that was that.

like this

It began to snow yesterday while we were at Mass and continued all day, like this -

and we were nice and cozy inside, like this -

Valentine scone

Friends had given us a Cinnamon Quickbread mix for Christmas, with a cute baking pan attached. I was surprised to find a list of ingredients which didn't sound bad at all, so today I made it. The recipe called for milk, but I used sour cream because I had it, and added an extra pinch of baking soda. The little pan wasn't usable because that gluey stuff which attached it to the box would not come off, but we have an old heart-shaped pan and it was the same size. The batter ended up very thick and so I tossed a few chocolate chips on top, and knew they wouldn't sink to the bottom.

It came out like a big scone. Very yummy. And that was the Last of the Christmas Goodies.

gobs of it

There was a robin in the front tree two days ago. One always thinks of spring when they show up, but it's only early February, and the Audubon Society says there are some who stay up here all winter. But we will still always think of spring when we see a robin.

Yesterday it was sixty degrees while I was in the library. Not when I went to work, or when I left, but in between.  Or that's what they all told me.

TODAY

At three o'clock, and seventeen inches. (Is this the kind of winter you dream of, Lynda?)  ;-)  It's about nineteen by now, and drifting.  Actually, this kind of weather is far more likely here than 60 degrees in February. It's just that it's been quite a mild winter until now. 

a close-up for you

But I think that's it for the mildness. There was actually thunder and lightning with this storm.

paperwhites in white paper

I haven't have much success with bulbs indoors before, but I'm trying again.

These are in an unattractive gray container, so I stuck it in the first paper bag my hand found. And I just remembered they're paperwhites. Ha!

Sweetie relaxing

blue winter

(I like the blue cast)

crocheting at the library

About three weeks ago I saw a box of yarn in Trisha's office, and realized we had to do something to use it up. She gets many donations of yarn and fabric, and I just got this sudden notion to make something - anything!

She said that a small throw might be nice; it's all in double crochet and I do two rows a day, generally, and am trying to keep it harmonious with the children's department colorway. So far, so good.

improvement in the bathroom closet

Debra got me one of those nice canvas bins, and since it's gray, I thought of the bathroom first.

It's serving as my new ironing basket; I cleaned all manner of unnecessary items from the bottom of the of the previous one, and tossed an old and cracking plastic bin which held rags I never seem to need. Things I needed to do for a long time, and accomplished entirely in the space of about ten minutes, all because of this new, unexpected gift. Wow.

sashiko style mending

I say sashiko style - I am totally unable to make stitches in neat rows.

But I like the idea of covering the whole area with stitching, which really reinforces everything

and the knit fabric I'm using, which seemed maybe a little thick, is being nicely flattened out by all the stitches.

These are my brother's thermals - the seat is worn, but the legs are good. So, I'm patching.

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

God our Creator, 

we give thanks to you,

who alone have the power to impart the breath of life

as you form each of us in our mother's womb;

grant, we pray,

that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,

may remain faithful to this sacred trust

and constant in safeguarding the dignity

of every human life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

- from Magnificat, January 2017

Margo's Midwinter Buns again

I made Margo's Midwinter Buns again and brought some to work Friday. I make buns of this sort rarely, but it isn't because they're not wonderful. We just don't want this kind of thing (bready, sweet stuff) around so much.

It was a sudden scheme to make them, and I found I didn't have all the proper ingredients. And I altered things somewhat, too; I used one-third the amount of yeast, and water instead of milk, because I didn't want any dairy. That was a concern because I know milk makes bread nice and soft, but they were fine as far as that goes. I thought I had walnuts, but couldn't find them, so used pecans instead, but not toasted, and not a cup. I also threw in some dried cranberries, left out the sugar (but not the honey!), used a little extra melted butter, pumpkin pie spice in place of cinnamon, and mini chips so I didn't have to chop. A big concern was that I didn't have any orange zest, which would give the whole a nice fruity aura. I puzzled over that one a long time, until I thought to add a splash of red wine!

The filling came out delicious, which is a relief, but I'm not experienced in making these filled rolls, and I think there was too much filling. After rolling it up and cutting into one-inch slices, they were very full and hard to shift over to the baking pan without fruity pieces falling out everywhere. Also, the dough was starting to get too soft, and got to feeling wet, which made me decide to chill it for two or three hours (as the recipe says you can do), until I suddenly realized it might take a long time to unchill because I used so much less yeast than called for. Because of all this fiddling, I didn't finish them till suppertime, but they're awfully nice, and will be a little treat for us till they're gone.

sinus troubles and other things

We had a Christmas snow at Epiphany - at last.

It disappeared when the temperatures got up to sixty on Thursday; I actually brought trash out to the curb, after dark, in my sweater! But it's snowing again, so we'll see how much it brings.

I have a sinus infection which is taking its (slow) course, but had me in no frame of mind or heart to blog for a while. I've done lots of reading. I got one of those Pride and Prejudice spin-offs for Christmas - five hundred pages! - which entertained me when things were at their worst. It was perfect for illness, as I wasn't able to read anything more involved, and it wasn't something I would have gravitated to in healthier times. It wasn't bad, but I do wonder why anyone would want to rewrite a famous story; the author was definitely doing her utmost to avoid all the unpleasantnesses from the original - they are all gone from her book.

crows 

Sometimes you know that you've invited illness to come along. Several people near me have been sick in recent weeks and I didn't catch any of it, but I've been eating too much sugar, and way too much dairy - with my chronic allergies I know I should limit myself - and it finally got me. Well, I am eating clean now. I bought organic fruit and nuts, organic canned soup (haven't felt much like cooking). Larabars. Herb tea - Stash's Christmas in Paris. That is delicious! Minty, with an aroma of cocoa and some vanilla. Also lavender, but I can't detect it, and thankfully it doesn't make me sleepy, as lavender is a sedative. I just happened upon it while on Amazon - it's very smooth and soothing. I am having a Belgian chocolate now and then, but I have no desire for cake, and I haven't had dairy in a week. May it last.

lovely paper plates from Cyndi

The other day Dolly and I listened to a podcast on Teddy Roosevelt. It was from the Circe Institute, which I think is geared toward homeschoolers. Anyway, I was often laughing, not because it was funny, but the man could do so many things that when his abilities are listed, you just have to laugh because it seems so incredible. But they did tell a story. And I have to tell it here.

Apparently, Teddy was expert in ornithology, and when he was President there was a certain bird which could be found in the Adirondacks - this is in New York State - and he wanted to get a photograph of it. He took two Secret Service men with him, and they hiked into the area. I don't know how long this all took them, but they got to a spot where he could see the nest. Unfortunately they were at the edge of a steep cliff. 

He convinced the two to tie a rope around his ankle - yes, that's what I said - and lower him down headfirst - headfirst, yes. He got the photo. Well, they couldn't pull him up. Not all the way. So he decided to cut the rope, which sent him down thirty feet (!), where he bounced off something and landed in a stream. 

They thought they'd killed him. They got down there and found him face down in the water, inert. Then really thought they'd killed him. One tapped him gingerly, whereupon he leaped up and cried, "That was BULLY!" 

Can you imagine such a thing? He reminds me of Winston Churchill in a way, in attitude at least.  

something to meditate on

I put away the Three Kings today. I hope Henry won't miss them too much.

The Holy Family is still there, which should be enough for his meditations.

In between the naps.

Epiphany

My Master was so very poor,

a manger was his cradling place;

so very rich my Master was

kings came from far to gain his grace.

My Master was so very poor, 

and with the poor he broke his bread;

so very rich my Master was

that multitudes by him were fed.

My Master was so very poor,

they nailed him naked to a cross;

so very rich my Master was

he gave his all and knew no loss.

-   from Magnificat, January 2017

obscure delights of Christmas

"...the spirit of Christmas is a paradox precisely because its largeness is made manifest in the smallest of ways: in little kindnesses, tiny pleasures, and obscure delights among ordinary people in the simplest of circumstances."

                                                      - from Christmas Spirit, by George Grant and Gregory Wilbur

again

I had just said to my brother two weeks ago, "Can it be your clients all know that you're not eating so many sugary things?"  He hadn't come home with anything; and if you've been reading here for a while, you know the mountains of stuff he gets at Christmas.

Well. I just needed a little patience.

He brought all of it home last week.

I've been trying to keep it under the tree just on one side, so the cats can get under there if they want to. This is growing. There's more, though.

This, plus three plates of cookies on the kitchen table; three cakes in the freezer. 

When I came home this evening, I found Henry between two tins of goodies, looking as if all he wanted was to figure out how to get them open. They had been left right in the middle of the doorway to the living room, although my brother insists he didn't leave them like that. Will we ever find out what that was all about? I doubt it. 

Right now, Henry is laying under the tree with his cheek resting on one of the tins. Yes, Henry, we do have Too Many Cookies. No, you won't be getting any.

how lovely shines the morning star

Christmas gifts

O rich the gifts you bring to us,

yourself made poor and weak; 

O love beyond compare that thus

can foes and sinners seek!

For this we raise a gladsome voice

on high to you alone,

and evermore with thanks rejoice 

before your glorious throne.