first frost

ice on the windshield

All week I've been waking up early to go into work.

This morning I was greeted by the first frost of the year.

It took some digging through my car trunk to find the scraper!

Nestled in the oak and dogwood leaves is my latest knitting project 

along with some pumpkin seeds I roasted last night.

The fingerless gloves are knit with a qiviut/merino blend.

(My treat from last year's trip to Rhinebeck)

They're very light and yet cozy warm, perfect for the cold weather,

and I love the mushroomy color.

The seeds were roasted with olive oil, salt, cayenne pepper and a pinch of sugar.

A spicy sweet snack, they taste almost like popcorn.

Thanks to all who left such nice comments on my Rhinebeck posts.

It's lovely to be able to share it with all of you.

xo, j

two moons

I often water my plants in the evening allowing them regenerative

 time without the danger of damp leaves burning in the sun.

Last night while performing this task I popped out the window screen and tried to

 take a few photos of the waxing moon as it cleared the bare tree branches.

Obviously, the moon was reflecting off my lens and casting a ghost image of itself.

Rather than try and correct it I had fun moving it around the composition.

Only a few more days until the New York Sheep and Wool Festival!

Now it's off to another long day at work.

super moon

Yesterday was the summer solstice and tonight is the "super moon."

Just before nine o'clock I threw a shirt over my nightgown

grabbed my camera and drove to a favorite farmland.

Brown bats were circling the fields

(I have a soft spot for those chubby little aerialists!)

and the occasional car pulled over to watch the moon rise.

I don't quite understand how to use my new camera and

 time was passing quickly so all settings were on automatic, 

but I love this blue color.

Wishing all my loved ones around the world

a safe and happy summer season.

xo, j

Late Afternoon Walk

crab apples

knitting gifts

belted kingfisher

Today I made a last minute trip up to the mountains.

There were only a couple hours of sun left so my walk was short.

By the time I left the moon was almost set and it was 27F.

brrrrrr!

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my previous post.

It really made my day and prompted this little walk.

Thanks for getting me out of the house!

xo, j

Blue Moon

On Friday night I took to the mountains

to sleep under the Blue Moon.

A makeshift bed in the back of a pickup truck

with only leaves and sky above me.

The next morning I caught up on my reading 

and worked on some knitting.

The experience was so amazing 

I had to stay a second night.

Campfire, crickets, moonlight and frogs

Feeling much better now...

Sunday - Done!

Not feeling at all well today, I ignored the very long list of things

that I should have done and instead finished up the little books.

All six copies are bound

I took a late day ride over to the neighborhood baseball field 

and photographed two of the copies on a green bench.

The long shadows and half moon of late day.

Will work on my knitting tonight and plan out my next book!

Tuesday

The light was so lovely when I left work today I went for a short ride.

The hilltops are green and the farmers are starting to turn their fields.
When I was young I remember this as the best time to 'walk the fields'
looking for quartz and arrowheads in the deep ruts.

And a beautiful card in the mail from a dear friend in Arizona.
She hand cut the stamp, I love the image and will put it in a frame.
Thanks Suzanne!

Tuesday - Ride Home

Sophie is not a morning girl and doesn't much like her picture taken,
but we both love that the sun is coming our way again.

The sky was soft and the air still cool tonight.
Willows are turning yellow.
And that beautiful moon...

Sunday Wandering

Yesterday I took a long walk around a dormant cornfield.  

When I first moved the Pennsylvania I lived in a farmhouse surrounded by fields.

I miss being able to just wander through them.

Fortunately, there are still many agricultural areas only a short drive away.

The sun was bright and warm and the field so isolated I was able to relax

and indulge in the slow process of ground exploration.  

Sifting through corn cobs and rose quartz in search of arrowheads.

The tortoise shell was so bleached at first I thought it was a deer skull.

The moon rose as the sun was beginning to set.

I made a campfire and had dinner before returning home.

Perfect.

Monday Morning Moon

 

                                 

     
                                                                   

                                  It was a very cold day, about 17F at sunrise.
                                  The moon rose at 2:00am and was still visible
                                  when I left for work this morning.
                         
                                 The ice pattern through my car's windshield before
                                  I pulled the scraper out!

                                  Someone in the neighborhood had a wood fire burning last night,
                                  the smoke scent lingered in the air.

                                 A good way to start the week.
                                                                               

New Year's Eve/Day

                                                           up to the mountains last night

                                                    started the new year beside a roaring fire

                                         and under an elusive half moon...the clouds were heavy

                                                                        home now

                                                 working on a new pair of 3/4 length gloves

                                              the sun bright through my Olive and Ficus trees

                                                                     happy new year

Friday

A gift of oranges arrived from my family in Florida today!  I made a small mess on my desk at work, but the taste was heavenly and the smell divine ( I collect and dry the peels to use as fire starters.)  It's been so mild here that the bulbs outside have started to come up...Spring will be a bit less colorful next year.  The full moon was rising as I left work tonight.  I sliced some small mandarin oranges and hung them in my kitchen window to dry.  It smells like sunshine!

Weekend

curling flames

welcome sunrise

Snow Geese flying too fast for my camera to catch

" fire bites"  in my first handmade quilt

The morning ice attests to the cold night in the mountains.  Sophie naps, as cats do, while I prepare my bulbs.  The kitchen window now full of orchids and bulbs.