for auld lang syne, for 2009

And surely you’ll take your pint cup!
And surely I’ll take mine!
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Happy New Year!!

erethizon dorsatum - porcupine

There are two large hemlock trees next to the garden. The porcupine like to visit these trees in winter, to eat and rest in them. I sometimes meet them in the path, at twilight, on my way to lock up the hens. I often see the branches of the hemlock that fall to the ground when they are eating. The whitetail like to clean up what the porcupine drop. I think the porcupine is kind to think of his friends. I imagine the porcupine intentionally snipping off branches to share with the whitetail.

Gaag- from the Moozwaanowe group--designated to the duties of hunting...gathering..and scouting....

Trust innocence and companionship are words that have been associated with porcupine.

We met briefly under the fallen pine.

And I found these words to be true.

seasons greetings

With faithful leaves unchanging.....

....Not only green in summer's heat...

...but also winters snow & sleet....

...your leaves will teach me also....

...that hope and love and faithfulness
are precious things I can possess...
Earnst Anschutz

solstice

This morning, outside my front door, I am reminded that the winter solstice arrives tomorrow. Just in time. Shed a little light....

miles to go

I'm glad someone around here can sleep. There is so much to be done, that even when I finally put my head to a pillow, my mind is checking over items left on the to do list. I always have trouble sleeping at this time of year, and yet the urge to go and hibernate under a cozy blanket is quite strong. Is it barometric pressure, or just plain pressure that causes me to feel like this?

Maybe it's just the weather report:

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM EST WEDNESDAY. SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION EARLY THIS EVENING...BETWEEN 5 AND 8 PM. SNOW...MODERATE AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE FOR A TIME TONIGHT...BEFORE MIXING WITH AND CHANGING TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN BY AROUND OR SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE WINTERY MIX WILL GRADUALLY CHANGE TO RAIN EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY IN VALLEY LOCATIONS... BEFORE TAPERING TO SOME PATCHY DRIZZLE LATER IN THE MORNING. STORM TOTAL SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...ALONG WITH UP TO ONE-TENTH OF AN INCH OF GLAZE.

frozen moments

Many times, when I am observing the river- I think of what Davinci said, "The water you touch in a river is the last of that which has passed, and the first of that which is coming. Thus it is with time present."

Staring at the water, I study the contrast between water in its frozen state, and water in its liquid state. The frozen water accumulates in little lines...time lines...moments where the flowing water stops and freezes...frozen in time. Visible moments.

There are other moments that are frozen in time. Visible moments. I look at the stitches on my needles. They represent the hours, minutes, and seconds of time captured in thread.

Are my thoughts focusing on time because the end of the calendar year is approaching? Probably. There are deadlines to meet.

putting the top down in winter

After spinning grey laceweight alpaca for weeks, a gal needs a break. Not that I mind working with luscious alpaca mind you...it's just that from time to time a spinner has to put the top down, step on the gas, and let 'er rip.

I had a little bag of stash that I purchased at Rhinebeck for just such an occasion. Curly Wool Locks from Lisa Ann Merian at Spinners Hill. She really had some lovely colors to choose--selection by handful out of large baskets--I couldn't resist. The breed is Border Leicester- Finn Cross.

Prepped the locks with combs, dizzed them off...spun singles with abandon on the Traddy. It was a treat for my index finger and thumb to feel the slubs fly by! And the rich tones of color were a delight to my eyes.

My eyes are not yet accustomed to the lack of color in my world. After all that color that was in the garden all summer and the intense brilliancy of the autumn leaves....the landscape is now dull, and sunlight is diminishing daily. The curly, colorful locks were the remedy for the soul.

Color in the workbasket can be so soothing, especially with a little sun shining on it.

walk with me, its wednesday

Better bring your orange. It is hunting season, so the woods belong to others today.

I walk the road. I walk the road often in winter, but mostly after the snow falls and walking the wood trails becomes cumbersome.

Today it is still mild. I pass my neighbor's place and notice the garden. The garden is turned over and ready for winter, but there is no winter rye. Funny how gardeners have different methods. My garden does not look this neat and perfect, I think to myself. Maybe I like to leave some work to do on those nice days during the January thaw.

Across the street the Pee Gees are brown.

Continuing down the road I come to the other neighbor's property....

I notice the brand new signs that have been tacked up. They won't last long...there are those who pull them down. And soon new ones will be up again. This has been going on for years. I think the new signs are up because of the hunting season.

Around here people are usually casual about property. We usually mark boundaries by stone walls or big trees. Deeds make for interesting reading.

On down the road, I notice something I have never noticed before, ever. I have been walking this road for many years ...but what I saw has evidently been here longer than that. I wonder how I could have walked passed it for so long and never looked at it.

Had I seen this before --I know I would have looked at it each time I passed....and from now on I will. Inosculation is about to happen.

phenological events, nov 08

1st - juncos arrive
4th - harvest turnips
11th - oaks let go of
their leaves
12th - whitetail rut

late fall harvest

Trying to guess when the frost will set into the earth in my garden is tricky business. I keep records...and they tell me that "the moment" usually arrives around Thanksgiving. I watch the weather, and try to wait as long as I can before the last harvest. This year I got my root crops out just in time!

When I pulled the carrots, there was already about 2 inches of frost in the ground. I pulled a carrot and a hunk of dirt the size of a dinner plate came out. I had to break off the frozen soil to free the carrots.

I pulled almost all of them. I left a few...you never know when someone might have a Scarlett O'Hara moment.

This one looked like it was from Transylvania.

The turnips were easier. There were turnip tops to grab onto. These turnips will last me into January or maybe February.

I like good root vegetables to eat over the winter, so I always plant a few in mid-July...and if I time it right, I will not loose them to the frost. As I said, it's tricky business...you take your chances. This year worked out fine.

These will be stored in the basement, much like the potatoes...in the cool and in the dark.

On a fiber note, I have been combing and dizzing...making a big pile of Alpaca bird nests. Makes me want to jump in and roll around. Kitty has the same idea, so I have to put it up and out of the way. NO SMOOSHING!!!

meleagris gallopavo

a few facts...

...they can grow up to 4ft from tail to beak and weigh in at 30lbs...

....all the men are named "tom" and they all have beards...

....they can fly at speeds up to and sometimes surpassing 55mph...

...their average life span in the wild is 1-2 years....

....they are often trapped and translocated by the DNR Wildlife Division and the use of rocket nets...

....their feathers are used in prayer sticks...

.....collectively they are known as A rafter. ....

But a single one on a plate is known as delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving!

gems

I woke up before first light today. I could see the ice blue snow on the ground, but it wasn't until the sun started coming up that the beauty revealed itself.

It is a wet snow and will most likely melt inside of a few hours.

The camera finds a moment to freeze time. The snow sparkles like gems, but the camera cannot capture what my eyes see.

I am reminded of something else I've been wanting to show you.

My sister has been encouraging (enabling) me to get busy with opening my button store on etsy. She has been creating some of her own to sell in the store too. They are beautiful.

There is so much going on here...all of this on top of a button!

and who knew button making could be so much fun? I'm doing my best to get the store up and running ...details...details...

an FO over the phone

Have you ever tried to help someone knit over the phone? My mother has been trying to knit a pair of mitts for her Doc. She ordered the pattern and yarn from the fall 2008 KnitPicks mag. I told her I would help her out if she hit a spot that she couldn't do. I figured I should knit along, so I copied the pattern when I was visiting with her.

These are "Negative Space Mitts" from Knitting New Mittens & Gloves by Robin Mclanson. I used some hand-dyed handspun thick and thin superwash that I had in my stash. The book write up states that it is "ideal for beginning knitters"...hummm...this pattern features a provisional cast on and an I-cord BO with Applied BO over 5 needles. I would say those stitches are not exactly for beginners. Needless to say, my mother has hit some tough spots, but we have been working them out over the phone. This has proven to be an exercise in my communication skills.

My mother is frustrated. She is at the point of the I-cord BO...so close ... The negative space mitts are quickly becoming the negative vibe project. I told her to set them aside. Knitting should be enjoyable, not frustrating. She will pick them up again when she is ready, and I will cheer her on--and they will be finished someday.

Meanwhile, I have finished mine. They are a bit, unusual in their appearance. I have been using them as work mitts and walking mitts. I'm not thrilled with them, they are just OK.

I wore them into the garden when I picked the broccoli. The broccoli is still coming in nicely. I am leaving some to seed up for sprouting over the winter, the sprouts are a nice addition to salads. There are lots of flowers that I add to the salads now.

I took the mitts off when I pulled the carrots. The carrots are some of the best I've ever grown. They are so sweet and tender. We have been enjoying carrots almost every other day.

One reminder to self--fall broccoli needs to be checked for cabbage moth worms...see photo..

..during the summer, I set up homes for the wasps. They move in and patrol my broccoli patch...flying off with the worms. The wasps have long since disappeared to where ever wasps go in the winter....leaving the cabbage moth worms to multiply and munch my broccoli. A good salt water rinse removes them prior to steaming.

rutting moon

There have been several whitetail bucks (with nice sized antlers) passing by the riverrim. The photographs in this post only show a young male, there have been others. Yesterday, during the setting of the sun, I witnessed two of them butting their heads together. Their antlers made a loud clicking and clacking sound that disrupted the silence of the twilight. It was not a violent encounter, they were not really engaging full force, nonetheless, it was a stirring sight to see. The sounds of antler on antler echoed off the ledges.

I watched their confrontation continue as the moon started to rise over the mountain. It reminded me that I had once read about something called the "rutting moon". It was an article by Charles Alsheimer. He refers to the second full moon after the autumnal equinox as the rutting moon. I wonder if there is truth to this theory about the moon... I tried to take a photograph of the fight for dominance, but I didn't have enough available light. Too bad. The battle ended when a third buck came running out of the woods into the clearing. The three of them looked at each other, and then went their separate ways. Interesting.

This morning, just after sunrise, I was sipping my coffee and noticed out my window, a large 8 point buck in pursuit of a doe. Both of them were running very fast and had their mouths open, panting. The doe jumped over a fallen tree, the buck followed, but got his antlers tangled in a wire that was strung as an anchor to a telephone pole. It whipped him around and his body twisted to try and correct itself before he landed on his haunches. The entire telephone pole shook and swayed from the inpact. The doe stopped running. She turned to look and see what was happening to the buck. He stood up on all fours, shook his head, and went after the doe again. She then jumped across the fallen tree again and went back in the direction that they had come from...he was right behind her.

I made a mental note to myself....be careful driving...the whitetail are in rut...they have only one thing on their mind for the next couple of days.

Except for this year's fawns...they, on the other hand, seem quite content to go about life as usual.

becoming a spindler

I'm not a spindler, but I have reason to become one. You know, the kind of spindler that makes it look effortless. So when the opportunity presented itself, I requested the help of someone whose spindling talents I admire...someone who could enlighten me as to finding the path to happy spindling. Fortunately for me, she was able to shed a little light on the subject.

Until that day, I had never met a spindle I could like. Now, I practice with a fascination, appreciation and yes- love and respect for the process. What a surprise.

Until that day, spindling had always seemed tiresome and awkward, a necessary skill that was learned before being able move on to the wheel. I could do it when called upon for demonstration purposes...but beyond that I had no interest. I was impatient with it. Now I practice everyday.

Along with the spindle, came a few techniques - pointers- and a parlor trick. Fun! Things to build upon. Thank you!

Yesterday, I had an ah-ha moment with my long draw on the spindle. And I am reminded why I love learning new fiber skills.

No matter how many years I work with fiber, or how many different types of fiber, or how many different tools I learn to work with, there is still so much to explore about how it behaves in my hands.

And btw, the corkbark is putting on a brilliant display in the garden.