moving day

Hello Friends,
I am moving and I hope that you will follow me to my new place:

http://thevanillayear.wordpress.com

I've missed you all and look forward to reuniting with your words, your creations, your inspiration, your kindness.

best,
Jody
 

Greetings from cyber-hell. 

Tonight I will download an updated OS into my mac and hopefully it will play nice with my nikon.  Please keep fingers crossed.

I have been so pleasantly surprised by a growing interest in my knitted Snoods. 

I knitted them for my sister's cavaliers and dog fanciers seem to like them very much!  I am working hard to put a PDF together so that you can create your own snoods to keep your pooch's ears out of his/her food!  They also provide warmth during these cold northeastern storms that we've endured this year.

If you want to see these modeled by one very adorable Cav, go to my sister's blog on Wordpress -
jayneonweedstreet.wordpress.com 

to love means to stay

"If a woman holds on to this gift of being old while she is young and young while she is old, she will always know what comes next.." C.P.Estes

 I've embraced this notion for many years, but I never saw my hard drive crapping out in a nano second - and with it my journal, my images, my years, my Daily Fiber.  While I wait for the new part to arrive I think about resurrection, about starting over. 

In 10 months I will pass into my sixth decade (God willing and the creek don't rise!)  ETR (estimated time remaining) is in my thoughts more than I care to admit.  I've developed insomnia this year and when I do sleep, my dreams are peppered with the grostesque, the fantastic, the horrifying.  I calm myself with thoughts of travel.  I tuck myself deeper into my down comforter, disturbing the sleeping cat, puff up my pillows which are covered in the softest linen, and I think about sleeping in a little Scottie trailer, a tiny tin airstream, somewhere out west, under the stars.  Everything that I need, I have.  And then it is morning.

I will be back!  Thank you for checking in on me.
xox

thoughts on new year's eve

My coworker and I walked to our cars together this afternoon.  She turned and remarked that her father had a saying about the new year's day.  It was something to the effect that one should start with the best intentions, the best foot forward on new year's day, as that first fresh day would then determine the tenor of the year.  I wish I could have quoted her - I was intrigued by her words.  What if her father was right?  What other stories and myths and bits of wisdom had I missed out on!

We are all searching for something.  The horrifying events that took place this past year in classrooms, in subways, in shopping malls, tells us that we are living in a land where love and legend and heroes are disappearing and being replaced by a darkness that is destroying our humanity.  I don't have any answers.  Standing outside in the dark, long before sunrise, I wait for for my good dog to complete his business.  The stars are unspeakably bright and an owl is calling from across the marsh.  I feel safer in the natural world than in any city, on any sidewalk, or any island shared by my own kind.  What to do?

It's a start.  

No telling how much we could grow if some of these sayings were embroidered into our beings. 

 Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve and tomorrow - well, tomorrow, let us be the best that we know how to be.

merry and bright

Christmas in New Canaan.  This tribute to our father, the Fire Chief.  And to my son, working a 48 hour shift, keeping people safe.

Gifts to open - no one wraps like my sister.  She graduated from Vassar College with honors in English, but I secretly believe that she majored in Good Taste!

The table - something special to behold -

The white lilies literally opened while we dined -

And everywhere one gazed, a treasure or two!

Doesn't everything taste better served from Waterford crystal?  Oh, and speaking of crystal - we had a 'moment' when dessert was served.  I'll get to that, but first -  Pop overs.  Has anyone waxed poetically over popovers recently?  My sister makes the most amazing popovers - worthy of a sonnet!

Hadley and I stood guard from oven to table  - they are THAT mouth-watering...

Dinner was delicious - but dessert, well .... dessert was a different story.  I didn't take photos, but you'll believe me when I tell you that we had a marvelous cheese cake, a gorgeous pecan pie and a deluxe carrot cake.  Yummy City.  Long story short, a crystal cake stand collapsed and slide sideways shattering into thousands of shards which flew in ALL directions, including the tops of the desserts.  So long, desserts.  Each and every one, shoveled into the trash.

What to do?  My mom and my brother-in-law and I piled into the car to go and have a walkabout at New Canaan's "Crown Jewel'  - the Waveny Restoration Park.

My BIL is a modest man and does not boast of his contributions to this incredible place.  But he has been instrumental in many phases of the Park - especially in the addition of the olympic pool ... but I don't want to embarrass him.  What I do want to say is that this place is so special - it is worth a stop and look.  My sister and her garden club have spent endless hours working in the Walled Garden -

And winter's dreary coat cannot veil all of those efforts.  It is a serene and splendid garden.

Imagine the summer concerts conducted on this lawn?

I fell HARD for this magical place ..

They had to scoop me up and head me toward home!

It seems, on this Christmas Eve, that our traditions are disappearing.  Or maybe this is life, on life's terms.  I am resistant though, to our family shrinking and scattering to all corners of the continent.  Our children, now young adults, have work schedules that do not include holiday sit-downs.  It is hard to feel connected.

I think that we need a few weddings and many babies to follow!  I want to see my family hunkered down around the harvest table, elbows rubbing, laughing, debating, sneaking scraps to the dog.  I want that fullness, that sense of everything-is-right-with-the-world that only comes with such a gathering.

Tomorrow we will journey to Connecticut to join my sister in New Canaan.  Andrew and Carson have to work, Hilary has the flu.  Matthew couldn't make it in from Santa Fe, BUT we will have Hadley and ourselves and mom.  It is enough.  It has to be.  No sense crying after some other arrangement - we have to move forward and create new traditions and share in the gratitude that we have what we have.  There, that's better.  On, on.  ( a little pep talk is good for the soul!)

There was no time to paint and washi the little clothespins - but they serve their purpose unaltered.  Perhaps I will paint them and give them festive jackets before I take them down.

And I am still working on gift tags!  Such addictive little pleasures.

The Christmas Banner is hung and a tree needs to be decorated.  The calamari is stuffed, the Spinach Rockefeller steaming and I am getting the carrot cakes out of the oven momentarily.

I took leftover carrots to the draft horses down the road and delighted Harley on my return with equine smells on my coat.  He's been following me around sniffing and trying to lick my sleeves! 

So, I am reporting from Empty Nest Central where we plod forward into this new territory, somewhat confused and bewildered by change.  Tonight we will honor the victims of Sandy Hook by placing a lantern at the end of the driveway.  " Imagine all the people, living life in peace ..."

sadness

My prayer is sent up for the Sandy Hook community - to all who are affected by this senseless tragedy.   My prayer is about unconditional love.  For ourselves, for each other.  

rainy weekend

The silent treatment always fills me with guilt, especially if it is given to me by the Dog.  (We spent far too much time in the sewing room on a rainy Saturday).  The Dog would prefer to be outside, mucking around in the tall daylily bed, sniffing out whatever the visitors from the night before have left.

This is resignation in its purest form.  Still, he is hopeful - so much so that I have to limit my trips downstairs to spare him the disappointment of NOT going out in the rain!  It means limited amounts of tea and restricted bathroom breaks!  I do love him so.  I've noticed that his gimpy hip is advancing and I know that surgery is in the cards and it breaks my heart to think that I will have to go on without him one day.  In a perfect world he would go with me everywhere - including work.  His cheerfulness would be a balm in that place, I can tell you!

I made a lined hat for my nephew who does ski rescue patrol out west.  I thought that it would be especially warm when worn under his helmut up in the mountains.  Unfortunately for Matt, Scott saw it first, tried it on and declared it perfect for working outdoor construction.  I've started another.

My niece has a business called Small Papers.  She sells the most wonderful cards and stationary, wrappings, stamps and who-hah's galore!  Her business has won awards in Connecticut and she is traveling now, doing trunk shows.  She has exquisite taste in all things.  I thought that a pillow would be just right for Christmas, done in one of her favorite color combinations.

And then, because it wasn't time for a bathroom break or a cup of tea, I made some coasters with my scraps.

i met a shepherd

The college hosts a crafty Tuesday where local artists can come and display their wares.  Some weeks there are enticing vendors such as the couple that makes 25 varieties of pickles!   Or the apple farmers who bring baked goodies that can move anyone's taste buds to indulgence!  This past week brought a lady shepherd and her really beautiful woven blankets, for starters.

I couldn't pass up these two skeins of chocolate - they were whispering "leg warmers" to me!  The yarn is sold by the ounce and boasts of having absolutely NO knots!  The lady shepherd explained that knots are not welcomed for the weaving of a blanket.  She was preaching to the choir!  

I auditioned buttons for Hilary's tree skirt ...

So much going on here - I was hoping to find some old glass buttons in my stash.  I finally found three quiet green ones.  I think that she will like this very much, especially when she sees the underside!

Hello Kitty never fails to bring a smile.

Morehouse merino mitts that need my attention (these were started in 2011, opps!).  I rarely buy kits, but Morehouse has delightful offerings, you should check them out if you haven't already.  Theirs is some of the most delicious merino around - it was a sad day in NYS when they closed their shop doors.  Some things aren't meant to change!

A holiday banner would be pretty -

When I was in my twenties I was wild for cross stitch.  These holiday place mats popped up when we were moving my mother, and I brought them home.  As with everything else, she kept them in impeccable condition.  I wonder if she actually used them for herself and dad.

They will grace the holiday table this year and bring a smile or two, and certainly memories of a time gone by.  

dilemma

The day after Thanksgiving always presents me with a dilemma.  I NEED to visit either the fabric store or the yarn shop.  The fabric store is a long drive to the east - across the river,  a different county, etc.  It means that I will bump into Black Friday shoppers (eeekkk!).  

The yarn shop, aaahhh, the blessed yarn shop - nestled under a bright blue Gardner sky with the Gunks as a magnificent backdrop. . . a pretty winding country road with sheep grazing and ponds dotting the landscape.

It's a no-brainer.  

If you ever find yourself in my corner of the world (upstate New York) you must take a trip to Gardner, which is south of New Paltz, another fun place to visit.  There you will find Paula's gem, The White Barn Sheep and Wool farm where she raises sheep and sells the most delightful combination of fibers.  When I say that it is the county's best kept secret, I do not exaggerate.  Paula is an artist and her fine sensibility reigns - the most unique patterns, the loveliest knitted samples, great tools, good assistance, workshops, knitting groups, gifts made by local artists (including moi) - but go for the FIBER!

You cannot leave empty-handed.  This discovery boasts almost 500 yards!  Paula believes in quality AND value. 

You can find whatever you need.  This is a place where you can drop your Thanksgiving inertia and inhale creative!

When I got home the mail lady had delivered one of my favorite catalogues - Isabella.  Have you seen this one?  I usually toss most of the catalogues in the trash ... but this one is special.  By the time I finish with it there are multiple turned down pages!

A happy weekend to all!

these funny gnomes!  I love them.

Fun!  What would be more wonderful than a holiday quilt with gnomes!

Monica, your designs make me laugh - they are so fresh!  

I have been working again in the sewing room - taking a break from my knitting.  Here is a special package which is ready to ship - I can hardly wait to get this one out there!

And I have a new pot holder for my son who is hosting our Thanksgiving dinner at his house -

He's so great - he ran out and got gluten-free flour and lemons and the spices that I'd forgotten today. I'm going to reward him with the most gorgeous cherry pie ever!  (with crumb topping!)  And keep in mind - everything that we are eating this holiday is freaking specially gluten-free!!!  I'll let you know how it all works out ...

It's going to be hard without this guy. We still miss him so much.  

Happy Thanksgiving, All.