The sun is shining today, and there is a taste of spring in the air. No, it's not warm, and the wind is wild, but there is something about the angle of the sun coming through the kitchen window....the worst of winter must be over.
For the first time since last fall, I feel the urge to take a trip north to our cabin. The woods are lovely in the spring. Oh, but spring and the cabin are truly about two months away.
For now,I can enjoy this winter/spring sunshine on my little terrarium that I received as a Christmas gift from Lynda
Stream of consciousness, or as I call it "one thing leads to another"..all connected in my little brain:
I heard a snippet of a song and it stuck...I like the song, but it is much better played by an orchestra than by my brain. The song is In the Hall of the Mountain King. Yes,yes, you know this song, listen.....
I like the build up to the frenzied ending....I have almost no knowledge of Edward Grieg, the composer of this great piece of music, or of Peer Gynt, the play. But..this song brings a feeling of adventure and fantasy and playful danger. (Playful danger- an oxymoron?) The title "in the hall of the mountain king" brings to my mind fables of kings, beanstalks, trolls......OH, Trolls!
A few weeks ago we took a weekend trip to southern Wisconsin and we drove past a sign that said Mt. Horeb, Troll Capitol of the World. Imagine my delight! I love trolls, and so does Emili. See this post for proof. Well, specifically Emili loves Russ Trolls....but this love has lead to a interest in all kinds of trolls. Since Em was not along on this trip, we did not stop, but plan on making it a "troll adventure" this summer in Mt. Horeb.
Emili and her mom and her brother went to see a troll related movie last night. Okay I know,,, gnomes are not trolls....or elves or brownies or leprechauns * ..........but this is stream of consciousness , remember?
So we saw Gnomeo and Juliet, in reality, some of us saw the movie, someone was busy running around the lobby, while someone else was busy chasing the first someone... Em and I saw the movie, Gael and Lauren got some exercise. Gael is not ready for movies just yet, I guess. Even though Elton John songs are featured in this animated film...I advise waiting for rental..
Oh, Elton John, I love "Your Song"
I hear this song and I am young, wearing bell bottoms, and my heart on my sleeve.
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Time to stop, I must go to work...Old, stretch pants, and my heart much more guarded.
* for the curious
Gnomes: A gnome is a legendary creature characterized by its very small size and subterranean lifestyle.
The word gnome is derived from the New Latin gnomus. It is often claimed to descend from the Greek gnosis, "knowledge", but more likely comes from genomos "earth-dweller".
Often featured in Germanic fairy tales, including those by the Brothers Grimm, the gnome often resembles a gnarled old man living deep underground who guards buried treasure.
Trolls: Are a fearsome member of a mythical anthropomorph race from Scandinavia. Their role ranges from fiendish giants – similar to the ogres of England – to a devious, more human-like folk of the wilderness, living underground in hills, caves or mounds.
Knitting and crochet are year round sports for me, but at this time of the year the needles must fly! I make gifts, and I make things to sell at the shop. Some years making the things to sell can be a chore, just another thing to get done. Not this year, I am in the spirit, the mood is here, I want to create. ........Mostly monkeys.......
Yes, I am making monkeys, sock monkeys...Not exactly the traditional sock monkey made from men's hosiery, but mini crocheted monkeys to hang on Christmas tree, inspired by the traditional sock monkey. So far, I have crocheted 13 little simians. A whole troop. Did you know that the collective noun for monkey is troop? As in "A troop of monkeys invaded my kitchen and ate all my bananas!"
Speaking of bananas, my friend Linda P. found the cutest miniature banana pattern to go with the monkeys. I haven't actually knitted a banana yet, but tis the season!.....hmmm, I think I'm channelling Jimmy Durante......yes, we have no bananas!
I've roasted many turkeys over the years. Brined, basted, trussed, stuffed. This is the first time I have made a Thanksgiving dinner, at my house. Turkey and all the rest,,, It went well.
Except that I was too busy putting food on the table to take any photos. I did get a snapshot of the CANNED cranberries on the pink dish.
And a photo of my kid's favorite, pickles and olives.
Here is my grandson Gael sitting with Lisa. Lisa is new to our family.
Dave put up the first Christmas tree today....outside our front window. It's starting to look festive around here.
This blog has TWO faithful readers. This post is for them, and if anyone else actually reads this post, count me as shocked.
I have the house to myself today. Dave continues his hunt for the elusive deer. The weather in the northwoods has been icky and they have not even seen a deer...maybe he will come home tonight, but today the house is empty. And quiet, except for the noise of my choosing. I choose the radio station, on loud. Christmas music, on loud. Living with a hearing deficit, I tend to have the volumes at levels that can be a bit irritating to those in the house that have normal hearing.
Radio on, knitting on the couch. I made yet another sock monkey ornament (#11) and a headband. Before the knitting I decided it was about time I cleaned up my "nest". My spot on the couch becomes very nest-like after a few days of projects....here is a photo of the nest-cleaning in progress.
I have no idea how all that stuff got into the living room in just a little while, I blame the cats. They must be working on Christmas projects, I guess.
I received a gift this week. My Aunt Jean has given up housekeeping and gave me this lovely dresser set.
This set belonged to her mother (my Grandma), an engagement gift from her husband. My Dad was born in 1925, so this set dates from the early 1920's.
It might be Bakelite, do either of my two readers know how to identify bakelite? Ann? Flouride? Anyone?
