Weekend at Talarico House
The littlest plant found a home.
The Kettle Slayer found some ice cream.
The knitters got their heads together and counted a swatch.
The socks got longer.
Did I mention the sweet little plant?
More words when there is less coughing.
Sockgress
My friend Anne girl and I share a funny little habit of writing new words to the Tallis Canon. These socks inspired yet another verse.
I knit and knit and still it seems
This sock will be done in my dreams
I’m nowhere near the end of it
And so I knit and knit and knit
I added an inch or so today. The short row toe and heel has been my favorite so far, but I may try something different with the next pair. Each one gets better.
I told Lima Bean I needed to trace her foot. She reminded me she didn’t want socks. I think TARDIS socks will change her mind.
Coming Soon!
Mark your calendars, everybody! November 16, 2014 is Jell-O® Sunday! A much anticipated annual event at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Pittsfield, MA, Jell-O® Sunday has quickly become beloved and frightening all at one time. The planners have conspired, the recipes have been chosen. We can’t wait to see you at coffee hour!
Things I Love: My Piano
All the moving is done. While three able-bodied men hauled the piano out of one apartment and into the next up a long, narrow staircase, I hid in another room and tried not to be anxious. It is in place now and I just love it.
In the few minutes between work and dinner and rehearsal, I snuck in some Mozart. Life is so very good.
Making and Making
Turned a heel. Stopped to take sock pictures.
Daydreamed about a new fallish tablecloth.
Stopped to look at the dots on my quilt.
It was a whole day like that. Ideas and stopping. Planning and noticing. Moving a little bit forward, but not completing entire tasks.
I came home to grumpy bears. The time change is harder on them than they notice. I was grumpy too, but miraculously managed to keep it together long enough to eat and gather them in to a calmer space. We talked about school and upcoming trips to the city. As gumbo bowls were emptied, one word answers evolved into sentences and entire stories about the day. The grumpiness still clung to us all, a sticky veneer we couldn’t quite shake.
I’m going to the positive attitude store!
I yell to no one in particular. (Mostly to myself.)
Anybody need anything while I’m there?
The larger bear goes with me to run a quick errand. On the way back we stop at the fabric store.
Why are we here? She whines, rolling her eyes.
I told you I was stopping at the positive attitude store!
We say hello to Bird Girl and laugh at silly Christmas decorations. We head home and sing loudly with the radio.
Returning to the light and warmth of Talarico House, we hear shrieks and squeals from the smallest smallish bear. Video game racing.
Some knitting, some digging through old pictures for a school project. The grumpy is all but forgotten. A little tired hangs on and we head towards a peaceful bedtime.
I am thankful that tonight I ate first instead of yelling more. That I remembered to listen and to ask without giving in to that nasty attitude that is so much less work than grace. Tonight we all managed to wade through the muck and come out clean. Sometimes it works out.
If tonight wasn’t your night, keep showing up. Be gentle with yourself. It’s worth another try.
A Day of Knitting
It feels good to be back to these socks. Progress!
What She Said: Ursula K. Le Guin
Infinite are the arguments of mages.
From A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
2014 Socks 7.2
The second July sock. I am not likely to get all twelve pairs done in 2014. Still, I’ve made more socks this year than any previous year!
What making goals are you working towards?
My Little Room
One of the only drawbacks of the old apartment was the lack of personal space. I like the quiet and to be away from the others sometimes. Now we all have little nooks to duck into.
The piano will be in this space soon. Lots of opportunity for making. Music and quilts and socks and spinning and writing letters. I am overjoyed already.
The closet still needs a bit of attention.
Even Pirate Winkie approves.
My New Room (and a gratuitous picture of the dog that isn’t mine)
This is Sassy. She is the sweetest dog. That means a lot coming from me because I don’t really understand pets. But I understand that other people understand pets and Sassy belongs to the smallish bears. She is lovely, but does not like to sit still for pictures.
My new room is almost done. There is one more curtain to hang and new sheets to go on the NEW MATTRESS!
Since we bought the bed last August, we’ve been using a full-sized futon on the queen-sized frame. It made the bed feel like a little boat you climbed in to. So far (twenty minutes) it is amazing.
The ship is sailing above the jewelry box. The beautiful lamp is near the bed. Every time I see it I am thankful for Spartacus and The Library Fairy and the healing time they let me spend at Shinobi Retreat.
Saint Odile is close by, a gift from Bird Girl when the Kettle Slayer was first ill.
The sparkly mirror is in place and only a tiny bit crooked.
New sheets are ready to be washed. I’m loving this orange! It will look great when the quilt is finished.
Nearly finished. So very thankful for the beauty in this sacred space.
Naming Mountains 