WINTER MEDITATION

Sometimes life throws unexpected curves and all that seemed normal and easy somehow takes on enough weight to slow you down, interfering with the daily flow of things.  Thankfully winter is my favorite season, and thankfully we have recently had snow so that I can engage in my favorite outdoor exercise, cross-country skiing.  I love skiing for its quite solitude, its surround of beauty, and the opportunity to be one with nature.

When the earth is blanketed with unsullied snow and the bare trees and dried weeds stand out so starkly, I am overwhelmed by the surrounding beauty.  I step out my back door, turn to the left, ski up over my garden plot, up short but steep hills, traverse through the sumac, across fields, following the trail up yet another hill (hard to avoid here in the Kickapoo Valley) along the upper edge of the hay field, through the woods, down the now snow-covered alfalfa field, crossing the road, and then for a long stretch along Jug Creek, until I have made a huge circle of our property, back to where I started.
There is something about the circle that keeps one together and calm.

The first leg of the journey, just above the sumac and my workshop, overlooking our eastern hills.  By the time I arrive here, the rhythm of skiing has quieted my inner agitation, and the trees have absolved any turmoil within.

This stretch of field covered with fresh snow seems ready for an artist's touch...
I am struck by the stark beauty of winter, each and every schuss of my ski presents something so beautiful I must force myself to continue and not stop continually for photo shoots...each tree, each weed calling out the beauty of itself.

This photo does not capture the exquisite color of these dried weeds.  They may appear a drab tan to others, but to me I see the hidden reds alive with the colors of sunset.

How like a lovely piece of antique jewelry this is.  It moves me so deeply that for a moment I am consumed into it.

This seems to beckon , like my grandmother's filigreed earrings, to adorn me.  I have yet to pass a weed that does not call out to me its statement, its presence, its integral place in the all.

Jug Creek curving and moving...
The gentle gurgle of water moving under the ice is hypnotic.

The very last leg of the journey, the field across from the house and barn, looking northeast.

Each day I give thanks for the beauty of this area, how it speaks creation's artistry so eloquently, and how it comforts me.

DESTRESSING ON THE RESERVE

To say we have all been under some stress since Andy's diagnosis of cancer is an understatement.  (For those of you who may not know, he is my son-in-law and the father of Iris and Elsa who are so often on these posts.  He is of strong and positive attitude, and if you wish to know more go to Possum in the Compost blog.)

Yesterday Freddie and I decided to take a hike on the Reserve, the first we have done in a long time.

We entered off the highway and traversed down, rather alongside, a steep and slippery hillside for quite some ways...

until we reached the Kickapoo River.  We were graced with the sun for the entirety of the hike, and that made it all the more beautiful.  

At this point in our hike we heard voices from above, and as odd as it is on 8500 acres of land, Freddie's brother, nephew and grandnephew had also hiked to this point, unbeknownst to us.

We proceeded to climb up the hillside and visited with them for awhile.

A totally untouched photo of the river...it was stunning.

...snow covered rocks...

...and the beauty of the roots...

No matter the level of stress or worry, stepping out in nature has a way of righting one's inner turmoil.  

A poem I recently wrote inspired by Ranier Maria Rilke:

Leave wariness behind

     entering the vast expanse

set before us…

     Step into the wild

with all yourself open

     and quiet,

move softly

     and the silence will come to you,

and with it an astonishing

     calm and beauty.

Nature is not a miser

     and offers her wealth

to anyone who steps forth

     in wonder.

 

BUSY DAY

Nonnie Day arrived and so did these two

...Barbaloots...

from one of their favorite Dr. Seuss books.  I actually thought donning striped tights on their heads was quite attractive... 

maybe she kind of looks like a Nun???

surely not her, this is more of the Imp.

They came full of energy.  Iris raring to organize the 'toy' room.  Elsa, not so much, though she finally got fully into it.  They removed every single item from the room, got damp cloths and dusted everywhere, even getting stools to reach the high spots.  They got their brooms, swept, and then insisted they did not want my help in returning things to the room.  They had the idea they wanted to make it into 'their home', and so they did.

This is the kitchen, with one cozy 'bed' against the wall...

this is the other 'bed'  along with shelves of sundry items.

The clean up took about two hours of honest dedication and they made it fun.  When all was as they wanted, they proceeded to play

I believe, Mother and child.

I am not altogether sure that the room is neater than before, it is cleaner, and well suited for their play.

I was little needed that day.

FIRST TUESDAY ART GATHERING

The first Tuesday of the month brings together a wonderful group of women artists who share, inspire and engage in activities.  This past Tuesday we met at Colored Pencil Artist, Monica Jagel's home.  Before we began a project Monica had so generously put together for us, we did a 'show and tell'.  I brought along several of the weaving projects I had been doing, and have posted prior to this.  Acrylic painter (and now studying oils) Susan Cushing brought along some of the work she is doing in the class she is presently taking,

here is a painting that is, in part, a study of shadows/shading.


 

 
onica had some lovely dresses she made for her granddaughter with matching dolls.  These are additional dolls she is working on. 

We then began a project of making either jewelry or ornaments using a special glue and clear plastic 'covers' and metal backings.

Here portions of a card are selected, glue placed on the back of the plastic and pressed down on the image wanted....

Here are some finished products of mine.

I have also been working on a commission for a woven bag, which is now complete.  I finger-wove a strap for the bag, above finger weaving in progress....

...the completed strap...

...and the completed bag.  The bag is woven with cotton warp and wool weft, and the flap is 100% silk.  The inside is lined with cotton, and also has three pockets.

Perhaps I have said this before, but it is so good to be weaving once again!!!

RISOTTO ALLE PATATE CON SALAMELLE

Cold, snowy, rainy days bring out the urge to hunker down in the kitchen and make something warm and delicious.  Something that takes time to prepare, real slow-cooking, without the slow cooker.

Risotto with Sausage, Marsala and Potatoes
(to serve four)

*Three links mild Italian sausage, out here in the mid-west Johnsonville is pretty authentic.

*2/3 c. Marsala wine

*1 med. onion sliced very thin. 

Pierce the sausages in several places.  Heat skillet (I use cast iron and don't add oil at this point) over medium heat add sausage and cook until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.  Add Marsala and about half the onions, reduce heat and cook covered until pan juices are reduced by half, about 25 minutes.

 

*5 c. vegetable broth (hot)
*2 tbs. butter or olive oil
* 1 bay leaf
*1 medium Yukon Gold potato sliced thinly
*1 1/3 Arborio rice
* 1 clove garlic

In sauce pan heat oil or butter, add onion and bay leaf, cook until onion softens, about 5 minutes.  Add potato, cook 2 minutes longer.  Stir in rice, cook, stirring frequently until rice is slightly toasted, 3-4 minutes.  Add the chopped garlic.  Now begin adding the vegetable broth 1/2 c. at a time, stirring until completely absorbed before adding the next 1/2 c.  Do this until rice is tender, yet firm to the bite.  (this should take about 20 minutes or so.) You may not need to use all of the broth. 

Remove risotto from heat, remove and discard bay leaf.  Season with salt and pepper, cover and let rest 5 minutes. 

Meanwhile, reserving the pan juices, slice the sausages into thin slices.  Top the risotto with sausage and the pan juices.  I sauteed broccoli and served that along side.

This is an amazingly delicious meal, with deep and complex flavors.

Ended with a fresh banana cream pie, topped with Organic Valley whipped cream. 

WEAVING AGAIN

I finally cut an incomplete project I started many months ago off the loom.  I then retied the loom,

found this old wool blanket, and using my rag cutter

cut it into strips which I

wove on the newly tied warp.  The above photo shows the work in progress,

this is a close up of the weave.  I love the color play, and the fact that the back side is predominately beige with the rainbow 'flecks', as the blanket was beige on one side and this lovely bluish on the other.  With careful placement of the strips I was able to get a two-sided rug.  It is about 50" by 24" in size.

Below is the remnant that I cut off the loom prior to weaving this rug, here it is finished on the ends.  I did not really like this piece, although it was OK.  After much thought and a close look around the workshop at all my wool stash, 

it became this wall hanging, entitled

'Deep in the Pines'

It is so good to be weaving again, and for this I am thankful today!!

HALLOWEEN

Thank goodness for grandgirls who want Nonna to make Halloween costumes!  Since hand surgery last January 31st, I have done little handwork, virtually no weaving, limited sewing, and up until this month, no knitting.  The sewing projects for Halloween allowed me to be creative once again.  I plan to tie up at least one loom in the next week or so, as soon as the garden is put to bed.

In the mean time, I have gathered lovely autumn leaves and fashioned them into roses, easy, beautiful project.

And for the costumes...

Elsa wanted to be a Teddy Bear, and she said, you need to make a red bow for around my neck so they know I am a Teddy Bear and not just a bear.  At a local rummage sale I purchased a pair of child's footed PJ's, took them apart for a pattern, and along with an old brown wool blanket, and some died terry towels, made this Teddy Bear costume!

Iris wanted to be a pumpkin, which at first disappointed me, as I thought it might be too simple a project, however it became fun.  Her two 'boys' at first wanted to be salt and pepper shakers, which I thought would be kind of fun to do, but then they 'decided' they wanted to be pumpkins just like her.

Iris, Daisy Will and Thomas...

On Friday, as they were just down the road at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve at a Home school event, along with their good friends, Quinn and Abe, they all came here to dress before heading to town to trick or treat.

Elsa, Iris and the boys ready to head to town...

Cowboy Quinn, Davey Crockett Abe, Elsa and Iris!