Stasia's Place Of Grace

Monday, November 18, 2002

 

Grateful For...

Mr. Cardinal in a tree in our orchard.

Know what I saw in my yard this week? A fox! He was sniffing around near the beehives... probably looking for a sweet treat! He had thin, little black legs, which rose to red, fluffy "pantaloons" above, and I can now see why caricatures of foxes often portray them with riding boots and jodphurs on!

He was very cautious and wary, and as he was poking around the hives, he turned and approached the house and I had a wonderful, near, clear view of him through the bay window.

His eyes were positively wild - not at all like a domestic animal. Very beautiful and striking... and intimidating. I'm not sure that if I saw one out in the woods, I'd extend my hand for a pat!

Tori finally saw him and barked in alarm, and off he went, down the mown path and into the woods.

I hope he sticks around, and that I'll see him again. I have never seen a live fox before. They are much smaller and "finer" than I imagined. And so lovely...

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Kary mentioned that she'd gotten some new fiber from Rovings. It has always been a favorite shop of mine - Jeff got my first Tabachek spindles for me from Rovings, and I ordered some lovely washed locks from them. I see that they now show their fibers in color! Thanks, Kary!

I was good and didn't purchase any, but I sure am drooling!

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In a conversation with Kary today, I again realized that though I may not have had the best childhood, I am really glad my parents had us volunteer in a soup kitchen when we were little. They also gave us exposure to people of other ethnic backgrounds than our white bread, suburban neighbors by joining an inner-city church. And finally, they instilled in us that charity was very important. Those were good lessons for which I'm really grateful, and which I continue to foster in my life.

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It is getting colder here, and I'm grateful for my thin but very warm long underwear, which I wear daily under my jeans or sweats!

I'm also grateful for homemade gingerbread with homemade vanilla whipped cream, and a tea cosy to keep my endless pots of tea warm during the day.

(Unfortunately, it isn't knit; it is a placemat folded in half and stitched on two sides! But it works!)

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Speaking of cold, we've had little fits and starts of snow here lately.

I believe the Inuit/Esquimaux have something like 100 words for snow, describing all the different variations in its texture and rate. This week, I experienced a light, dry, tiny snowflake snow, which blew in gentle spirals around and around, never making it to the earth... much like dandelion down in the summer. Then we had a hard but still small, pellet-type snow, which you could hear as it hit the ground or your hood, but not see! We also had some larger flakes which started imperceptibly, fell amazingly fast, and then disappeared as quickly as they'd started - that was "lake effect" snow coming off of a storm on Lake Michigan - a weird snow, because it travels from east to west here, rather than the usual, opposite way. We always have to be careful of the lake effect snowstorms near Milwaukee.

Last night I took the dogs out one last time, around midnight. There was a full moon, and there was a sort of a frost on the ground... not a thick, white frost, but just enough moisture to reflect the moonlight and make it appear as though fairies had dropped thousands of diamonds in-between the blades of grass, just waiting to be picked up and put in a tiara!

It was breathtaking, and I'm so glad I got to see it. I love moonlit nights in winter - whether or not there is snow on the ground! Isn't it amazing, the many shapes and forms ice and snow can take?

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I am grateful that my holiday shopping is almost completely finished, including Jeff's eight gifts of Hanukkah! I got him a bottle of kosher wine, books on Judaism and Yiddish, a cigar, a Green Bay Packers fleece top, a recipe book from the 2nd Avenue Deli, and some chocolate and other treats. Also a new dreidel. And I fixed the one that lights up and plays music when it spins.

I am planning the Hanukkah menu now, drooling over Faye Levy's "1000 Jewish Recipes" book. And I have been playing "Hanukkah carols" on the piano... slowly and with lots of mistakes, but at least I'm playing!

Now all I have to do is wrap and mail the Christmas presents, and I'm set!

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Knitting Progress

Continuing to work on the blue vest for Jeff's grandfather. The back is finished, and I've started one side of the front. Yes, I went with a flat pattern after all. Am working with Clover bamboo needles and really loving how weightless and warm they are!

The Cranberry Cable Sox are past the heels and I'm starting the ankles. I replaced the incorrectly-sized instep needle with one that matches the sole needle's size. I am using Susan Bates needles as one of the two circulars on each sock, and though I usually dislike that brand, I have to say that their smaller cable needles are very nice - not so sharp and pointy as the Inox, and less likely to split the strands of the yarn.

My order of Patons Kroy in various colors arrived safely from Yarn Forward in Canda... I am pleased with the speed of the two recent Canadian orders I placed.

I need to knit or crochet a yarmulke for Jeff for Hanukkah, too.

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I hope you have as much to be grateful for today! Have a wonderful week!

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