theknittyvritti

the party's over

This week, my streets are littered with pine trees ands wreaths, the detritus of the season. Yes, the party's over.

In the past, I've thought of this time of year as the great slog, the longest, hardest time. Lately, I have nothing but good feelings toward any time, as I understand more and more the meaning of the word transitory. I'm looking forward to the rest of January. Even February, which I used to call the longest month. And March, that month here in the Northeast when we can be battered by major snowstorms and enjoy balmy days in rapid and disorienting succession.

An appreciation of the time I've been given, any time, changes everything. It allows me to see the beauty in even the darkest days of winter.

Settle in, snuggle up, but don't forget to look around you. Don't just survive this winter.

 

red hot winter

The extra day off feels like a second New Years Day, and here's the cake I brought over to a celebratory dinner yesterday. It was as good inside as out...if you're in Brooklyn, check out Betty Bakery where it was just hanging out on December 31 looking for a good time. My kitchen is out of commission, as it's being rehabbed, so I've been doing quite a bit of food crawling when I might otherwise be unadvisedly trying this at home myself.

Not cooking has also meant more knitting. I waited until yesterday to put the finishing touches on this Wintry Mix sweater, made out of Cascade 220. That way, I got a good head start on IntSweMoDo 2012, which I am currently determined to complete. In no way should that statement be taken as a resolution.  I don't make them anymore, they seem to go against the essential grain of life.

The sweater is cozy, comfy, was super-easy to knit, and it's perfect for a skirt I bought without a plan for what to top it off.

Turns out to be perfect. Operations Man thought it was all a bit preppy, not my look at all, and he's probably right, but once in a while it's nice to go out in camouflage. I have a feeling it may unsettle people at work too, everyone jokes in the summer that I'm no longer wearing black, and this much color will be unexpected in December.

I don't know, I'm feeling very excited for the coming year, and kind of in the mood for a red hot winter.