Gifts that count

A List of organizations that have gorgeous gifts, in case you want to opt out of the commercial carousel

Monterey Aquarium

New York Public Library

Art Institute of Chicago

Metropolitan Museum of Art

San Diego Zoo

The Smithsonian

National Gallery

NASA

Columbus Zoo

National Public Radio

Independent Bookstores: Bookshop.org

American made clothing: American Giant

Field Sweather

The job search scams are demoralizing.

On Saturday I cast on The Field Sweater, and the yoke is coming along nicely. 

Pro tip: after the ribbing is complete, I set markers every five stitches to mark the repeats, and added a row counter as my end-of-round marker. Both of these have been essential to being able to keep my place in the pattern with any sanity, since it’s nearly impossible to read a row or to count completed rows when I pick the work up after having set it down to make a cup of tea.

First snow arrived in the form of flurries this morning, and it’s a perfect day for knitting.

Sword, Stone, Hourglass, and Hearth

River Rock Triangle Shawl

3 Skeins of Woolstok 150

Ten Days to complete

52” selvedge edge

Gravel Road, Grey Harbor, and Storm Cloud

Rainy Days and Mondays

Fruits of our Labor

 

It’s Labor Day weekend here in the States, a time when we celebrate the fruits of our labor, and allow ourselves time and space to reflect on the work that has been.

The garden harvest turns to fall-colored things, deeply colored and golden. My favorite winter squash is delicata, the first variety to come to harvest, and one of the simplest to prepare, almost as if the garden said, “Here, take a rest and enjoy the fruits of your labor.”

Delicata plants are prolific, inviting us to gather friends, tell them to fetch a squash from the vine, and tell stories as they roast whole in the oven for 45 minutes. 

Set a pot of black lentils up while the oven is going, and serve as a hearty side. Start with a salad of baby kale and baby spinach, the first tender leaves coming forth from the second planting, and top with sunflower seeds and dried cranberries. Dress with garlic apple cider vinaigrette. 

All struggles

All struggles

Are essentially 

power struggles.

Who will rule,

Who will lead,

Who will define,

refine,

confine,

design,

Who will dominate.

All struggles

Are essentially

power struggles,

And most

are no more intellectual

than two rams

knocking their heads together.

—Earthseed: The Books of the Living