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.