In an effort to “get a hobby away from my hobby” I put on some classical music last night. (Okay, I listened to it while I knitted. But not the whole time.) I have a recording of the violin concerto by Jean Sibelius that my least-favorite violin teacher gave to me years ago. Because it reminded me of the violin teacher, I think avoided listening to it. But the violinist is Jascha Heifetz and now I realize I my mistake.
February 2007
BABY PANDAS!
Because The Yarn Needs A New Home, Too
Sometime last week, I decided the current yarn storage situation needed to change:
(What this picture doesn’t show is the bag of yarn in the closet.)
So I bought a lined basket about twice the size of the current basket. But I wasn’t satisfied with the existing lining, oh no. I wanted a drawstring top, and a fancy print fabric, and a pocket inside. After much swearing, starting over, and re-engineering, I got what I wanted:
A pocket and a fancy print lining:
On Marriage
Sorry, It’s All I Have Today:
The Beginning Of A New Beginning
Yes, it’s time for another Druidic festival! This one’s a “cross-quarter” day, meaning it’s not a solstice or an equinox. (There’s also a Christian equivalent, Candlemas, so nobody feels compromised reading this blog post.)
The festival? Imbolc, celebrating the very beginning of spring and all it entails, including lambing season, early bulbs, longer days, etc. Brigid, later a saint but first a Celtic goddess, is celebrated along with it and people used to have all sorts of fun making predictions for the coming growing season (Groundhog Day, anyone?).
So praise the lord God (or St. Brigid, or whomever), we made it through another winter. Here are some fun things to do today:
It is traditional upon Imbolc, at sunset or just after ritual [because you’re all performing rituals, I know you are], to light every lamp in the house – if only for a few moments. Or, light candles in each room in honour of the Sun’s rebirth. Alternately, light a kerosene lamp with a red chimney and place this in a prominent part of the home or in a window.
If snow lies on the ground outside, walk in it for a moment, recalling the warmth of summer. With your projective hand [I assume the dominant hand? Maybe it’s your most magical hand?], trace an image of the Sun on the snow.
And don’t mind the stares from the neighbors.