Thinking about all my fellow southerners, and those who feel the soulful tug of the south in their heart no matter where they live, as we get ready for Fat Tuesday. My uncle in Tallahassee just ripped out his winter garden late last week and momma overnight expressed an entire box full of collard greens and mustard greens which arrived last night. I took the day off today (in part) so that I could cook up this mess of greens and make some cornbread and rice and some baked chicken to go with it. The pitcher of tea is ready and waiting and although Harald will come home and say the house stinks, it smells like heaven to me!
Anyone else got big plans for Shrove Tuesday, before the seriousness of Lent sets in?
Our church is doing a “read along” for Lent, with the congregation dividing into subgroups depending on which book from the “40 day journey with …” series that you pick. I went to the Luther Seminary bookstore this morning because I couldn’t find any of the “40 day journey with …” books in stock at any of the local stores. But LS had them all – makes sense since they are the primary retail outlet for Augsburg Fortress. Anyway, I read several pages of Sr. Joan Chittester and Madeleine L’Engle, but neither one of them really spoke to me. The Parker Palmer version did a little. But when I picked up the Julian of Norwich and read three pages, it shook me and wouldn’t let go. So I’ll be doing my 40 day journey with Julian. I couldn’t bring myself to leave, though, because my intuition kept telling me there was something else there I was supposed to see. I looked and looked at looked at all the displays and tables, and then out of nowhere, one lone copy of “The Parent’s Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents” and I knew instantly that was it. It will appeal to the sinophile in both of us. So I came home with two good books instead of one.
It is 42 degrees outside right now and the sun is shining bright. I rolled the front windows down on the way home just to get the refreshing, clean air in my lungs. I know, only in Minnesota, right? Well, anyway …..
Month: February 2009
You wanted a picture? … really???
Why any of you would want to see a picture of me in the sweater is beyond me, but for those of you who asked for it, here it is. Taken at work this morning by a knitsib. Geez this sweater is warm. I gotta go get a glass of ice water!
 |
My first fully completed sweater
Although this isn’t the first sweater I’ve begun, it is the first one I’ve finished. I’m still working on that dang Einstein coat. I must admit what at first seemed like a good idea (miles of garter stitch) quickly turned into some form of tedium. I’ve got the body of the thing done, but I have to do the sleeves to finish it. Anyway, back to this green beauty. It’s made out of Cascase 220 which I must tell you I like very much. The picture doesn’t do the yarn justice – it has these marvelous flecks of blue and yellow mixed in with the yarn, but the effect is very subtle. I’m glad I got this sweater done. I learned a lot of things in the process, the most helpful being those things I would do differently now that I know about them. But it is what it is and it will always be special because it was the first sweater I ever finished for myself.
 |
Groundhog Day … yeah, right ….
Today, Punxsutawney Phil allegedly saw his shadow, thereby predicting another 6 weeks of winter. Which led me to question, just how accurate is this “immortal groundhog?” Well, according to Stormfax, he is only about 39% accurate, which means he is 61% inaccurate. Sorry, I’m going with Stormfax on this one. Click here to read more about Groundhog Day than you probably ever wanted to know …
