bee creative

friday field notes #31

It's cold.  So far most of the snow we've had has been dry.  The wind gusts and it billows across the sky.

There is something disorienting about the cold weather and high winds.  Wednesday night I woke up around midnight.  Lola was sitting in front of the fire barking.  Not her usual "Attention!" bark but rather "Woof....woof...woof." 

Outside, taking pictures of the snow in the dark, I blew a puff of air that immediately turned white.

layer of flower photo + puff of air

I should have brought the primroses inside. 

Yarn I've spun for the field note blanket. 

Almost daily spinning makes my yarn more uniform.  I have to pay attention to get thick and thin yarn.  The multi color is a blend of days where I picked a color for the day but didn't get to spinning.  There are days that I come home from work, take care of dog, cat and chickens, eat a bit and crawl into bed.  I try to knit just a bit on those nights and at least pick a color for the day. 

Field notes for me are about noticing. 

words

Five things:

1.  I have been reminded of one of the reasons why I like to work with toddlers. The stage where they seem to learn at least one new word a day is magic.
2. Thinking about how we learn words, through labeling things or in context. How subtle they can be.
3. The words I chose as I worked my way through the alphabet define who I am and what matters to me. There were a few words that I left out, not sure how to define them or write about them on that given day. A few words that I forgot.
4. My thoughts are clearer and more organized in the morning; but the end of the day brings it’s own truths.
5. Limits and structure can help things continue.

...

Today's lunch, about 90% local.

Wheat berries + roasted beets + kale raab + kumquats + hazelnuts + feta + olive oil and honey

Random word

I was going to reflect on my alphabet but am having some technical difficulties so I'll keep this short and sweet.

Bought at today's winter farmers market.

Yum: an exclamation of delight.

and z

and: Just one more thing... (Ever wonder how many children think "and" is a letter?).

Zipper: A closure.

I'll be back tomorrow with some thoughts about this alphabet business. 

y

yesterday, yarn, yes, yellow

Yesterday: the day before.  Yesterday it snowed in the morning, just a bit.  Today it was gray and cloudy.

Yellow:  The sunniest color.  Yellow primroses smell the best.

Yes:  The affirmative. A sentence all on it’s own, like no. Saying yes to something is saying no to something else. I’ve been practicing saying, “yes and” rather than “yes but."  It's a behavior management technique; the argument being that "but" places limits.  Maybe that isn't a bad thing?  Do we sometimes need limits? 

Yarn: Fiber spun into something that can be knit, crocheted, or woven. 

Making yarn is something I say yes to. 

 

x

Xylophone, x-ray, xo

Xylophone, a musical instrument usually found as an example in children's alphabet books or cards for the letter x.  I meant to take a picture of one at work today but didn't get there. 

It was a busy day.

X-ray.  A picture taken of the inside of a body. 

Pretty amazing when you think of it.

xo.  Hugs and kisses.  The best part of my day. 

Mending heart.

 

w

Words...so many W words to write about. 

willow, white weed write wind wound walk wonder why word who wish wisdom witness walnut wool weather wood water worn world worm work

What to choose?

Weed. Something not wanted in the garden. But who determines what is wanted or not?

The gardener.

 

I would not call this a weed. 

Among other things this a wish-machine.

Wool, weave, and worn.  I would like to make woven baskets.  I have books and materials but need to dedicate time. 

This will be the year.

Most of my baskets hold wool. 

I like worn things...like the red floor. 

 

Work:  It's about effort.

That's all I've got tonight.

Will be back tomorrow...

 

v

Victory garden, valentine, vase, verb, value, vulnerable, vanilla, validation, violet

Vanilla: a flavor. Vanilla pods are the fruit of an orchid. 

homemade vanilla (vanilla beans + vodka)

 

Vanilla ice cream is my favorite because anything can be put on top. 

Valentine:

u

Uniform. Implies, predictable and sameness.  In some ways my wardrobe choices are moving towards a kind of uniform. My favorite is a cardigan, tank top and skirt.

Unmentionables. Usually code for underwear! Most preschoolers think underwear is hysterically funny for some reason. As part of my make everything I wear goal, I am sewing underwear.

Umbrellas. People in this area have a funny relationship with umbrellas. Once upon a time it might have been said you weren’t local if you used an umbrella. I think this is changing. Research at the bus stop concurs. What is more true is that umbrellas are only useful when there is no wind. Mostly when there is rain there is wind. Gusts of 33 MPH tonight.  Unfortunately, it might not be restful. 

inspired by "Under starry skies above," Cole Porter

Up. I love looking up at the sky. There is so much to see and dream about up there...the universe.

 

t

Tree...time to trim.

Tomato soup with thyme

Tip: Every summer I freeze whole tomatoes. When I want a tomato for a meal I run it under hot water and slip off the skin.

Soup made by cooking tomatoes with onion + a bit of thyme from the garden and water to thin. And then blended with a hand held blender.

I can usually find a bit of thyme in the garden.

Oh, and garlic toast too...

Topping: A sprinkle of the garlic from making the toast

Thread...

I add thread tails to my wool for extra texture sometimes.

The movie Phantom Thread (trailer) is very good. Worth watching almost just for the setting and costumes.

Tailor, made to fit. I am taking apart the coat to remove the flannel layer.  While it is very warm, it just doesn't fit as well as I want it to. 

 Every project has something to teach.