Yesterday's surprise in the kitchen was this
The Thai basil had put out this tiny perfect six-part exotic bloom. I collect seeds every year and I've been keeping a plant going for quite a few years since my friend Lakshmi gave it to me before she went back to India.
Today being cleaners' day, I went off for a trip to give them my parking place and leave the house empty for them.
The weather is in the 50s and sunny, so I seized the day and went to our local bit of preserved nature, the Plainsboro Preserve.
Here's how it looked today
The beauty of ice moving and climbing as it breaks and meets the trees at the water's edge is a favorite of mine.
Inside the beech wood. The atmosphere in here is very different from on the trails, quiet, warmer in winter, cooler in summer, the monoculture creating its own climate. There's a peace here you can't find anywhere else.
And I found that the sneaky route I've been taking for years, back to my car, along the field parallel to the main trail and separated from it by trees and hedges full of butterflies, is now an official trail
If you walk it, they will come. And name it
Lovely trip today.
And once home to a clean house, yay, a thump at the front door, and the eagerly awaited yarn had arrived.
The Sock Ministry is officially open.
And, just to remind us of the long tradition we're in here
Mine will be for the homeless, cared for by the Sisters of St John Baptist in north Jersey.
Aside from massive programs in a lot of social contexts, including turning over a section of their property to grow food for the food bank, and hands on social work and advocacy ministry, the sisters who can knit also spend their precious "free" time knitting to donate.
Yarn is donated to them, and they set to nunfully. They're big on nun puns, so they'd like this.
Anyway I found that none of them can knit socks, an urgent need, so I said that will never do, I'll do some. And here we are.
Now I have to go cast on, once I decide which color to start with.
Those are going to be some comfy, cozy socks! What a nice project.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out and about today. I've never, ever seen a river with the ice cracking in it. Not sure I've ever seen a frozen river for that matter!
Doesn't basil make a pretty blossom? Bees love them.
Great photos as always Liz and I'm loving your mission to knit socks.
ReplyDeleteMary, what, never? Gosh, this northerner is having to digest this! Ellen commented recently that she's not experienced with snow so painting it is challenging. I'm just getting used to that and here you come! You've never heard the music of water lapping under ice? It sounds like bells, when the sun and wind are just right.
ReplyDeleteMarianne so good to see you in here. I cast on the first one. I've done the short row toe and I'm into the foot.
I think I missed an r in your name, Minimiss.
ReplyDeleteThe ancient sock is fascinating! I thought folks used wraps as socks. Ancient toe sock is wild.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful scenery. Listening to lake ice thaw, crack and thump, is neat, but in a way eerie as well.
Wow those socks look comfy and your basil is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThere will be a lot of happy feet.
ReplyDeleteA nice day for a walk! Do you watch TV or listen to books while you knit?
ReplyDeleteI sometimes listen to books, don't have any tv service, haven't for over a decade. But today I was doing a short row toe snd all I could do was the that, remembering how to do it! Now I'm on to the foot, I can chat, listen, etc. Just steadily knitting on four needles, my favorites.
ReplyDeleteYou should teach those nuns how to knit socks as well!
ReplyDeleteToo far for me to drive. Or I might! Not something you can do successfully via zoom.
ReplyDeleteAfter a stressful grocery run, I grabbed a coffee in the drive through then parked beside the lake at the town. It was the most blissful half hour I've had in months.
ReplyDeleteThat area is beautiful in winter. It must be lovely through the seasons. The socks are a great project. I look forward to seeing your progress.
ReplyDeleteI think water is a great tranquillizer. Just sitting near a lake is so calming and happy. And, as you say, Marie, in all seasons.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for filling the nunfully void by knitting socks, but even better on nunfully.
ReplyDeleteI think water is a great tranquillizer. Just sitting near a lake is so calming and happy. And, as you say, Marie, in all seasons.
ReplyDeleteKaren, I published then accidentally deleted your comment, sorry, tiny screen, no undo function. It was about sitting by a local lake after a difficult shopping, and enjoying calm. Her words were better, but the gist is valuable.
Beautiful sky, beautiful pictures of a beautiful place. How lucky you are to have it nearby. And I'm sure the socks will be gratefully received.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as if my restoration efforts with Karen's comment worked.good.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm several days late, but these "outing because of cleaning day" posts always make me smile - imagining how good it must feel to come back home after an outing to a cleaner home. The blue sky in these pictures is just stunning. You captured the day well, I think.
ReplyDeleteAt least being cleaned gives you an additional incentive to spend some time at the preserve. Beautiful place, no matter the season.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see the design of those ancient socks. They don't look as though they'd be very comfortable.
At least being cleaned gives you an additional incentive to spend some time at the preserve. Beautiful place, no matter the season.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see the design of those ancient socks. They don't look as though they'd be very comfortable.