Lately

Tea :: Moon and Stars :: Winter Branches :: Fir Tree Lit from Beneath :: Defrosting Window :: Backing Up :: Winter Herb Garden :: Simmering Elderberry Tonic :: Mentos and Coke :: Refracted Light :: Rosy Light :: Sunset Behind a Filbert Orchard :: Favorite Restaurant :: Pattern Folding while Skyping with my Sister :: Hot Cocoa :: Lichen on Fence :: 80,000 Miles :: Tire Swing :: More Tea :: New Bass Guitar

Silver Thaw

(sil-ver thaw)
n.
1. a freezing rainstorm.
2. a glassy coating of ice formed on the ground or an exposed surface.
3. glaze.
4. glitter storm.
5. treacherously magical ice world.

Snow Days

I know that for many of you, this winter has been way too long, way too cold, way too white and frozen. But for us, it has been mild. So mild we thought we wouldn't get a chance to play in snow. Western Oregon is known for its mild (rainy) winters, and many love our part of the state for that very reason. Well, we love living in the higher elevations of the Cascade foothills because we get the best of both worlds. In the fourteen years I've lived here there has only been one winter with no measurable snowfall. We thought this would be the second such year.

But then Wednesday morning we woke to just enough for a before-school snowball fight (yes, we still have lights on a few trees in our Christmas patch... why not?).

 Just enough to see bird and kitty tracks leading to the feeder.

And on Thursday the snow settled in for reals, causing schools to let out early and close entirely on Friday. I don't know many people who weren't happy to get a Snow Day. Here's how we spent the long weekend...

We sometimes get snow into March, so there may yet be more fun in store for us, but as I look out the window this morning, all I see is an onslaught of rain melting away all the white. So sad.

This.

Before this can happen, the laying of threads through the welcoming pores of linen,

the creating of textile art that soothes the fingers and occupies the mind, this thing that I do day in and day out...

Before the frames can be filled and walls covered in thread,

before the last masterpiece begins to fade and the next can be birthed..

This. This is what takes place.

On the floor, spread out in every direction, bathed in natural light for best color comparison, on hands and knees, charts, linen, threads, pencil, eye and brain all come together to make sure each future handwork is as balanced as can be.

And I love each and every second of it.

I do have one project that I would like to pass along to someone else. If you are interested in trying your hand at model stitching, please send me an email.  **I have found a model stitcher! Thank you for all of your interest. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in future projects though. I like having a list of contacts to go over when the need arises.**

Around Here

I tend to do my best thinking and writing in the morning. Before little voices and to-do lists take up their space in my head and crowd out those ethereal threads of thought that used to come effortlessly. But my mornings are now full of packing lunches and combing hair and serving vitamins with breakfast and have you brushed your teeth?

I've been letting my photos speak for me. I hope you don't mind.

There is still a hermit recluse writer living inside my skull, and she comes out to threaten me with angry words every so often. She has even mentioned bodily harm to my camera, since I keep using it as a blog crutch. I tell her often that her time will come, but my kids have to take first place. That usually calms her down for at least a week or two.

My Funny Valentine and a hand-made treasure, my Grandma's yellow bird, With One Accord, Threads, the Letter T, Old Painted Landscape, Well-loved Doorknob, Forever Young next to Forever Old Spoons, Mincemeat, Yarn, Rusty Screen keeping Treasures un-dusty.