Early Hike

Yesterday, my son & I decided to see if any local morel mushrooms had started to pop up. We have had  unseasonably warm weather 70F/21C with some rain this week and wondered if nature's schedule would be altered for the local mushroom crop. Since my roses, and lilacs are budding about three weeks ahead of schedule and our daffodils are in full bloom, we logically wondered if fungi had started an early bloom as well.

We hiked a woodland riverfront trail where morels have been spotted before, but we didn't see any. We did see a lovely oyster mushroom blooming (photo op only) and got to experience a pretty sunset. This warm weather is disorienting for us people too; we finished our hike almost in the dark because the sun is still setting early, 5:46pm (1746) and astronomical twilight is a half hour earlier. Luckily, we had a flashlight in our pack and got to the car without mishap.

Climate change is impacting both plants and animals, including us... it is truly disorienting, accelerating our perceptions and causing us to underestimate our place in the seasonal environment.

Wedding Bells

My oldest daughter and her fiancé decided Christmas eve that they would marry early 2017. They have been engaged for about a year and a half already, but her husband-to-be, who graduated with a BA in Marketing in 2015 has gotten insurance benefits (yay!) with his permanent, part-time stock clerk position at a local warehouse store. This financial benefit encouraged them to legalize their status. I am an excited mother-of-bride, and we are busy crafting a beautiful, budget civil ceremony .

March is when the nuptials will take place at our local courthouse. We have discovered it is possible to plan a reasonable, yet unique wedding with only a few months lead time. My daughters and I hit the January sales at our local Macy's & Dillards department stores. The bride purchased a lovely indigo lace dress for a little over $100, and my maid-of-honor daughter and I found lovely dresses for less than $50 each. I also discovered, at a local antique mall, a charming vintage blue silk velvet pillbox hat with a blue rhinestone pin for the bride's headpiece; it was only $10, and looks perfect! The fresh flower bouquets and boutonnieres will cost about $100 and a mini custom cake from our local market will cost $35. So, the main symbolic wedding pieces are in place through a combination of lucky providence and some smart shopping. 

The one item I had the primary responsibility of crafting was the wedding garter... ah, yes a little knitting had to be included in the ceremony for my knitterly daughter/bride. I found a lovely knit garter in Piecework Magazine Nov/Dec 2014 pg. 58, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bridal-garters-to-knit . I knit the wider Garter B, and I have to say, this is not the pattern you want to knit with either noisy distractions or a glass of wine on board, it's a little tricky. I used Silky Alpaca Lace, colour #2498 on size 2 (2.75 mm) needles. This little project accompanied me to Tampa, FL a couple weeks ago to visit my aunts. I was trying to infuse only positive karma, but honestly there was a little cussin' before this garter was finished. Today, I swished the finished garter in a "happy-joy rinse" prior to blocking. It looks good, with only 1 tiny mistake.... of course, that I noticed after pinning. Happily, I am sure this little jog will be hidden once the silk ribbons are woven through for tying it to the leg. 

So, exciting times and life changes! I am looking forward to this Spring season. It has warmed up here unusually early, temps today were 73F/22.7C! My daffodils are 6 inches tall and the dogs have been loving their daily walks.

Refresh

Odd how little stresses combine to leave one in a frazzled and exhausted state... I had to get outta town and have some riveting caring chats, lots 'o' wine and some TLC with my wonderful aunts in Florida. I took a phone, computer & radio blackout for the last week and it has made all the difference. I am sure there has been an "atrocity a day" while I was out of town, but I was glad not to know about them. Contemplating my individual future in a climate of angst is not conducive to developing any degree of peace of mind or a rational personal plan. And self-centered or not, I was really ready to have some significant me time to figure out whether I'm retired, or simply between jobs and how my life moves forward from here?

We ate like pigs, stayed up late watching wonderful movies and had some truly compassionate discussions from a female perspective. Listening to my older relatives and their older (than I) friends share their perspectives and experiences really allowed me to learn about maturity and womanhood. While I am the knowledgeable "sage" to my kids, I also need to search out mentors to feed me. Many of these women (one with a broken arm and another age 84) participated in the march on Washington, DC and had visionary wisdom from their experiences. I have come away renewed from their willingness to share and a bit steadier & sturdier, as I craft my future. Thank you everyone!

Women's March

Way to go! OMG I am so proud of this event and I hope that worldwide politicians/lawmakers took note of this powerful representation of citizens. I didn't get my Pussy Hat finished until today, but I intend to wear it with pride for however long in solidarity with the marchers. See pattern here on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pussyhat-project . When I'm not wearing it my youngest daughter will be wearing it at college & my other daughter has knit her own to wear. We need to let it be known in Washington D.C. that we do pay attention and will be vigilant protecting our rights and the rights of those LGBTQ, disabled, immigrant and other marginalized groups that have become fearful during our President's campaign. Democracy and human rights are not just for a select few, but for all. Let's not forget...

Walkin' in new shoes...

Icelandic shoe liners

Inauguration day approaches, and I do not intend to add to the litany of opinions and fear generated thus far about our President-elect. Instead, I want to express my appreciation for the Obamas and their courteous/thoughtful/socially-aware representation of our country worldwide.

Never before has the role of President been so publicly scrutinized throughout the media, both increasing public access and disseminating information about the inner workings of our government. Hopefully, this awareness will endure, keeping us vigilant of our rights in these changing times. As I look forward to these next four years, I want to remain a good steward of the gains our society has made, make thoughtful contributions to my community and continue to vote in good conscience. While this new administration may not have been my ideal choice, it has been democratically elected, and I wholly believe in the goodness of people, the power of a free citizenry and the wisdom of the Constitution.

Climate change?!

Emma & Trixie sporting fur

Missouri is known for changeable weather, but I think we have hit a new extreme today. It was 5F/-15C a few days ago, with an arctic wind and a crispy dusting of snow. Today, the high temperature was 71F/21C! An unsettled environment that seems to add to my general anxiety related to the changing political situation.

I suppose this heatwave gave us all a welcome break from winter though, and that itself was a bright point. Yeah, it felt like spring, birds singing and mud... It is a lovely change to wear a tee shirt and sandals outside in early January. I took the coats off the dogs, turned off the heat and opened the back door to get some fresh air in the house. I will be sad if all my daffodil and tulip bulbs start to pop...

Of course, the weather will change again by tomorrow night, there is a winter storm watch posted for snow, freezing rain and twenty degree temps. Our local power company must be worried, because their contracted arborists were in our neighborhood today; they trimmed my massive silver maple and it is across the street from the power lines!

2017 Begins

Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL

Wishing all a Happy New Year!  New Year's Eve was quiet here until midnight when the neighborhood erupted with fireworks. My son & I ate BLT sandwiches, sipped sparkling wine, and watched the first Independence Day movie on DVD. Hard to believe that movie is twenty years old. Years seem to be zipping by...

Are New Year's resolutions still a thing? I've never been a fan of resolutions, and I usually do not make them, but this year I signed up for an aerobics step class starting next week. I suppose this commitment to attend an exercise class twice weekly, is my resolution. All part of my 2017 plan to expand my thinking and get out of the ordinary... okay, get out of the "stay in one place" rut I have been since ankle surgery in mid 2015.

I have been reluctant to take risks for the last eighteen months, and stayed close to home. Now I am BORED, and want to have an adventure. It has taken a full year and a half to get back to walking real mileage, negotiating stairs, improving my balance, realigning my hips and strengthening my lower back. 

So, this is the year to celebrate my personal jubilee, and I am going to do some traveling. I will head to Florida soon, to visit with my aunts and soak up some sunny warmth. I am also touring Scotland later in the Spring, hence the need to take the aerobic step class. I have written previously (see mid post here: http://dustoffurthinkin.blogspot.com/2013/11/working-out.html ) about my trip to Paris in 2012; learning then, that we "lazy" Americans, lacking stairs and frequent neighborhood walks need to physically train to fully enjoy a European tour. I am preparing for Scotland with four months of step aerobics to beef up my ambulatory skills. So, besides my resolution to take an exercise class, I seem to be resolving to travel as well.