Untangling some leftover sock yarn a friend sent from all the pairs of socks she knit. There was just a bit of it tangled in a bag. The rest was ready to knit. I’m knitting a scrappy striped sock blanket. Terry has generously shared her sock yarn with me. Treasure!
Dorothy Holley’s Iris planted by Liane Ellison Norman
I Dug Up the Iris
in Dorothy’s garden
to plant in the soaked
soil of mine, memorial
to her each spring
when they’ll open
complicated ruffles
and flourishes, purple
or blue with speckled
throats. They’ll rise
out of rhizomes
sprawling at soil’s
surface like the joints
of my old hands
anchoring the tall
stalks and frilly petals.
This morning
in the brief breath
of cool I dug shallow
trenches for this legacy,
this pantry of pollens
the bees prospect,
insects with lives
beyond what the mere
gardener knows.
Liane Ellison Norman, a Madwoman in the Attic, has published two books of poetry, The Duration of Grief and Keep (www.smokeandmirrorspress.com). She has published poems in 5AM, Kestrel, North American Review, Grasslimb, Rune, Voices from the Attic anthologies and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Her poem “What There’d Been” won the Wisteria Prize in 2006 from Paper Journey Press.
The same type of lilies in the 2011 post, the ones I photographed blooming in her garden, are opening up fully in my dining room this week in my birthday flowers bouquet
A knitting friend, book club colleague and neighbor invited me for soup and this was dessert. A hearty winter lunch. I walked around the block in the snow. Most people had shoveled. It took twice as long to get there, though
My friends Linda and Eileen baked a delicious fruitcake and shipped it before Christmas. I guarded it carefully and was waiting for my sister to arrive for a visit. She arrived on the train from NYC Tuesday night. Tonight I unwrapped the liquor soaked muslin and sliced it by candlelight. We each ate a piece, savoring the fruits and nuts that were perfectly delicious.
Do you like fruitcake? Not everyone does. We enjoy it immensely. Thank you Linda and Eileen. Voted Best Fruitcake in the USA!
A little cutting of the special fruitcake ceremony by candlelight.
Look what our friend and blog follower Tookie baked and brought up the the house. Her delicious almond cake. Wonderful with coffee, tea or a little scoop of vanilla ice cream. Perfect timing with houseguests ready to share. I knew how good it would taste as I’ve been fortunate to receive her almond cake previous Christmases.
Recently my friend Vincie sent a NY Times article about the comfort of taking a Signature Dish everytime when going to a party. Her family and friends are always counting on her making Black Bean Salsa and also her signature Broccoli Casserole for holiday meals. When I then sent the article on to my friend Joanne, she was preparing her signature dish of deviled eggs to take to a party.
Are you known for a certain dish that you share?
Thank you Tookie. What a thoughtful and delicious gift.
My friend Jen lent us her festive Advent Calendar as I’ve three grandchildren living with me right now. (And their parents) I’m sure the excitement level will increase as each day draws closer.
I was hard pressed to think of what to put in the pocket for the first day.
Ahhh, I’d purchased some Christmas colored M&Ms the other day at Aldi. Fortunately I had a lot of little mesh bags ( thank you for tip, Joanne)
I usually put my homemade knitting markers in the bags for knitting friends.
My five year old granddaughter said the calendar was good for math !
This evening we went to Nine lessons and Carols for Advent and the music was so beautiful at Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside.