Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm taking a couple of days off from the '30 Days of Knititng' meme for the holiday. Before I go and leave you all hanging (trust me my stash isn't that interesting) I figured I'd do one more post. Sort of a 'which of these don't belong' type deal only not as all of the following go together.

Let me set the scene first. It's a late fall/early winter afternoon, gray and a bit rainy. You have a fire going or a row of candles laid out on the table beside you. You're sitting by the window looking out at the fallen leaves and the deep blue of the mountain in the distance. You're sitting in a rocking chair with your favorite blanket and a cat purring nearby. You have the stereo on, a cup of your favorite tea steaming next to your latest book and a basket full of yarn and a new project freshly cast on. This is where the following comes in.

The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow (above) is the first single off their new album. If it's anything to go by February can't come soon enough. Their free EP released after their show at Eddie's Attic is my favorite album at the moment. (youtube, website)

Firefly Chai: Behaving myself means cutting out caffeine, which was a serious problem until I found this herbal chai from Mountain Rose Herbs. It's perfect anytime of day and it's a perfect match to the winter around here.

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier: The movie itself (based on the book) is a thing of beauty but the book will blow your mind. Frazier's attention to detail is amazing. He pulls forth the tiniest of character beats with refreshing honesty. His description of the landscape and the people who live there bring the book alive. It's one of the fastest reads I've had in recent history.

Hemlock Ring Blanket: (Rav link) Knit from a modified vintage doily pattern, beautiful and perfect for cold days.

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Teaser Tuesday - April 14th

"My mother would never let the hearth die in her home," Margret said. She felt Agnes turn to look at her, but didn't meet her gaze. "She believed that as long as a light burned in the house, the Devil couldn't get in. Not even during the witching hour." Agnes was quiet. "What do you believe?" she asked eventually. Margret extended her hands towards the flames. "I think a fire is a useful thing to keep a body warm," she said. - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading . For other contributions click here .

Teaser Tuesday - July 29th

Lack of perspective in literature (or in readers) often causes a contemporary condition I've heard referred to as "presentism"; that is, a disposition to judge all literature by the narrow standards of present time and present culture. This leads to the phenomena such as the denunciation of classic novels such as Huckleberry Finn , on grounds that they deal with issues such as slavery, women's civil rights, ect., in a way not consistent with the notion of present-day political correctness. - "Presentism" The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading . For other contributions click here .

Vancouver 2014: Camping!

Camping is one of those things that's hard to share via picture, moving or still. It's so much about the experience, the stars overhead, the springy soft ground underfoot, the wind on your face, that first pure hint of morning light, meals cooked by fire and ember. Sure there are the stories you tell, the ones around the campfire and down at the lake, and the ones you tell after, but it's not the same. Stories can conjure memories and emotions but they can't make the sun shine or moths fall from overhead lights. Okay, maybe the last one, moths are sneaky, but the rest, these personal moments and experiences, they're a lot harder to convey. I'll leave it at I had an absolutely amazing time, despite the lack of nonrock based floors and comfortable chairs, I would have turned right around and done it again. The lack of technology was restful and the presence of that much nature was restorative. We mostly relaxed but I did get to see some amazing sights...

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