Short Story Long

The other day, I found half a sock that I'd begun in a meeting.  Busy hands slow down my words, I find, and sometimes that is a good thing.  I finished the sock and made a mate in about two days.  Green ish socks, not quite in time for St. Patrick's Day; still, new socks.  I love the bind-off row of multi-colored knitting.  Those stitches are not shy, they don't blend; they make sure they get noticed!   Unless something specific is called for, I usually do my binding off with a needle a few sizes larger than the one I was knitting with, and I just mind those stitches to keep them loose.  I haven't found a "stretchy" bind-off that was truly stretchy unless it comes with a whole lot of effort, and sometimes ending up too stretchy. I have another several projects I'd really like to do but they take thinking, so I find that I keep coming back to my Reclamation Blanket.  I'm almost done, one more row, maybe two.  I am counti...

With the flu going around, one of my go-to dinners is chicken noodle soup.  I know it sounds cliche, but it really seems to help.  I'll tell you the secret:  making it yourself means that you can make sure all the best ingredients are in it - lots of garlic, carrots, and love.  Recipe from my mom. Chicken Noodle Soup Broth: 1 pkg bone-in chicken (I usually get 4 thighs) 6 c cold water, or enough to cover chicken 4 carrots, peeled and sliced 2 stalks celery, chopped small 1 onion, diced 1 bay leaf 2 whole black peppercorns 2 or more cloves of garlic, minced Noodles: 2 beaten eggs 4 tbsp milk 1 tsp salt 2 c flour To make soup:  Fill pot with water, place on stove on High.  Add all vegetables and spices.  Bring to boil and add chicken.  Turn down to medium heat and simmer one hour.  I find I sometimes have to add more water; it's better to do so early on, to avoid thinning it out too much at the end.   ...

On an unseasonally warm morning in February, I met up with a group of photographers to photograph the early light on downtown Denver's skyline.  I don't have much else to say.  Maybe soon.

If my blog comments are an indication, I'm not the only one who finds it is very difficult to "lie low" these days.  If we don't quickly reply to emails, texts, and have a passing understanding of the latest news, trends, scandals, etc., people get concerned.   It's as if there is a vacuum that holds us all against the lighted screens.   Much to their dismay, people with my cell phone number can confirm that I often leave it at home!    Between editing pictures, writing patterns, and searching for genealogy clues, sitting at the computer is more challenging..  However, once I can pull myself far enough away from screens to focus on real things, priorities realign in a way that allows tight muscles to relax.  There's nothing revolutionary, but here's what works for me.   -I turn off the sound on my cell phone , and leave it on a short wall where it can be plugged in to charge.  When it is silent, I can sometimes...

I've been trying to "lie low" for the month of January, and establish some foundational habits.  I'm still working on it.  And I'm still knitting.

Happy New Year! I had a little chat with my boys a few days ago, that we would be discussing goals on the first and last days of the month this year.  They may have these big, trudging goals of the school years going by, and feel like there's not much they can do but wait it out.  But these days are so precious, and I want them to stop and realize that they can be working toward something  now to build a more intentional tomorrow.  We'll see how that goes. (Of course, this is also a practical lesson for us adults.) In recent years, we have had nothing too exciting planned for New Year's Eve, and have opted for an early New Year's Day photo shoot.  This year, with the changing of the decade we were invited to some fun parties, but already had in mind to get out for sunrise, so that's what we did.  I don't know if it was amazing , but it was a beautiful, regret-free morning, and we will be back to this spot (see photo) in the spring.  ...

Silent night, holy night