Shhh! Don’t turn your head too fast to look or you’ll scare it. The signs are clear, solstice is nearing, at least if my Solstice Cactus is telling the truth.
I felt like I received an early Solstice gift today. My dear friend, Jeanne, told me she had a little something for me and I should stop by and pick it up. Look what “a little something” was:
Jeanne sewed this bag for me as a surprise! It fits a bunch of my ugly polyester project bags. And making it even more special, the fabric was designed by an artist who has become friends of Jeanne’s. Barbara Lavallee lives in Alaska, Jeanne’s home state, and does wonderful watercolors of the people and places, especially the native Eskimo women. She does all right by the cats, too.
And tucked inside was this:
The Knitting of Elizabeth Amelia by Patricia Lee Gauch and illustrated by Barbara. Barbara even inscribed it for me - cute, eh? The modern folk story is of a baby knit up by her mother from special wool and how she knits up her own babies from herself, almost using herself up. The children and husband realize what is happening and they pitch in to bring her what she needs to reknit herself. It sounded very realistic to me, it really did.
I am so grateful to have Jeanne in my life. When you come visit, we will have to all get together - you’d love her as much as I do.
Finally, before we rush the next season too much, I had to share Wilson’s Halloween costume. We cut this volleyball so it would fit on his head, painted his palm with acrylic paint blood, and recreated, yes, Wilson from Castaway. He was such a good sport to wear it.
Now go ahead and bring on Thanksgiving, but not Solstice, not quite yet.
Love,
Ellen
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Oh, so many good things! The bag is lovely, and that book, in particular, sounds wonderful — especially when everyone brings what she needs to be whole again. So many of us mothers need that from time to time
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
WILSON!!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA — OHMIGOSH, OHMIGOSH, let me catch my breath! You won’t believe this, but we watched that movie a couple weeks ago and during the scene when Wilson floats away I said aloud that ball would be the perfect (understated) Hallowe’en costume for a certain someone. We imagined him carrying it under his arm — but getting him to wear it on his head!? You’re killing me! First “Pimiento” and now this. He IS, indeed, a good sport.
PS I got carried away with laughter and forgot to mention the special fabric bag and illustrated book. Very nice, you lucky duck.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Great bag, and what a fabulous (and quite truthful) book!
HAHAHAHAHAHAH, Wilson. When I got to that photo I just let out a big “It’s Wilson!” How wonderful and funny that Wilson went as Wilson, heeeeeeee.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:46 am
I always start thinking of the solstice when the days start getting darker faster. But no, not quite yet. I agree that there should be a little Thanksgiving first. (And it looks like you have some fun things to be thankful for!)
November 4th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I’d love to see a close up of that fabric!! And get a clue how to find it…
I didn’t see it on the website, but will go back and look again…
What a lovely lovely gift!!
(((hugs)))
November 4th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
What a wonderful friend you have! A girl friend can know just the right way to put a smile on your face. My dear friend sent me a postcard today with a woman crowned queen of Zion with a costume full of hot dogs. I don’t know what to think about that, except that good friends often know that we just need something to chuckle about on a random Wednesday.
And the Wilson thing… that’s just too good.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Looks like my Solstice Cactus is going to try again to be a Vetran’s Day Cactus. I guess they all have their own personalities. So glad you have such good friends that make you stop and smile.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:24 am
I still think it a shame that Wils didn’t tolerate a photo with it on his head, but then we’d be REALLY spoiled, wouldn’t we!
I look forward to meeting Jeanne…and I look forward to seeing if I can find folks to help me reknit myself…though in a few years I’ll be able to scrounge my own materials at Fair Winds.