B is for

Book(store).

I spend an average of ten hours a day, five days a week in this long, narrow, creaky-floored, book-filled space. It is my second home, my responsibility, my daily challenge.

Each morning when I walk in the door I take it all in, survey my domain, take deep breaths. What is on my list today, orders? Will I have a chance to get to that reorganizing project? Will we be busy? Do I have enough of this or that title?

I'm fortunate. I have an extraordinary job in an extraordinary independent bookstore. It has weathered the stormy waters of the book business for thirty-seven years. In my almost thirteen years here it has been rare that I wake up thinking I wish I didn't have to go to work. It's only when I'm still worn out from the day before that I want to stay put...

...or, sometimes -- I must confess -- when I am in the midst of some knitting that consumes me!

(Silent) Poetry Reading

LOOKING AT THE SKY

I never will have time
I never will have time enough
To say
How beautiful it is
The way the moon
Floats in the air
As easily
And lightly as a bird
Although she is a world
Made all of stone.

I never will have time enough
To praise
The way the stars
Hang glimmering in the dark
Of steepest heaven
Their dewy sparks
Their brimming drops of light
So fresh so clear
That when you look at them
It quenches thirst.

Anne Porter
Living Things: Collected Poems

An announcement and a small request

It's poetry time again -- this is from Reya (of The Gold Puppy):

From Deborah Oak:

Let poetry bless the blogosphere once again!

WHAT: A Bloggers (Silent) Poetry Reading
WHEN: Anytime February 2, 2008
WHERE: Your blog
WHY: To celebrate the Feast of Brigid, aka Groundhog Day
HOW: Select a poem you like - by a favorite poet or one of your own - to post February 2nd.
RSVP: If you plan to publish, feel free to leave a comment and link on my (Deborah's) blog. Last year when the call went out there was more poetry in cyberspace than I could keep track of. So, link to whoever you hear about this from and a mighty web of poetry will be spun.

Feel free to pass this invitation on to any and all bloggers. Thank you, Reya, for beginning what is now an annual event.


You're welcome, Oak [says Reya]. I'm thrilled this event has been so popular. Special thanks go the knitters. They're the people who made this event work so well the first year. Poetry on Feb. 2? YES. Count on it.

Well, I'll definitely be there/here again this year. I "met" Reya through the first (Silent) Poetry Reading in 2006 and I've loved her writing and her photographs ever since. One of these days we'll meet in person!

I'm spending this grey and sort-of-snowy day knitting and spinning, with the warmth of a cozy cat tucked at my side. I started the Baby Soft Cardigan from KBoY, and I'll be finished with the knitting in an hour or so. I love Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton yarn. It's happy knitting.

Otherwise, I'm all over the place with ideas, and overwhelmed by all the possibilities that my yarn collection presents. The Japanese Vines scarf gets attention in the evening, when I'm relaxing. I just finished some socks that I've been working on since July -- Crosshatch Lace in Sundara's Blue Grape Hyacinth color. I'm itching to cast on a new pair of socks, even though I'm sure I have three or four pairs to finish.

I think I'll spin this afternoon, though. The Reeves wheel and I are getting along so well that I don't want to neglect our deepening friendship. Crown Mountain Farms Corriedale pencil roving is just the right fiber for today -- Teyani's Inspiration colorway is like a shot of Spring, and the wheel can do most of the work while I sit back and admire it.

~:~

If you are on Ravelry, you probably know that voting is open for the 2007 Bobby Awards. Yes, they are silly. Yes, the categories are somewhat strange -- but I hope you'll choose Hedgerow Socks for the Best Free Pattern! They were nominated along with eighty-one other patterns, most of them "famous" like the Clapotis shawl and Jaywalker socks, so they don't really stand a chance. Vote anyway -- I'd love to get a hundred votes (there are 64 so far)! Go to the Bobbys Group page -- my pattern is the 18th post in the Best Free Pattern category. Thanks!

Observations

I have just one goal for NaSpiMoMo: SPIN. It's been hard to get to it this month, but at last, today was the day.

My observation: I like quiet when I am spinning. I don't need music, television is distracting, and frankly, what's running through my head is noise enough. I don't sit down at a wheel with pure concentration in mind, but I suppose quiet helps me focus. I do sometimes listen to a book as I spin, but more often than not it's silent except for the whirring of the wheel.

Speaking of whirring, I made another observation: the Reeves makes a very nice little schooshing sound when the drive band leaves the wheel. It's not rubbing anything, just moving from the big wheel, across itself, and on to the flyer. Nice. I'm working on some camel-tussah roving. It's the same yarn I've been working on since last year. If it existed, I'd join NaSpiMoYe.


I'm almost finished with the baby bonnet that I started the other day. It took a while to get the I-cord to look the way I wanted it to; Kay's I-cord technique saved the day. I'll make a pair of booties, block the hat, and this gift will be ready to send to my niece before her babe arrives.

Baby bonnet observation: I will forever imagine this little one wearing a tea cozy on her head!


My Palindrome scarf is finished and blocking. It is such a beautiful color, and I love the way the yarn looks in cables, even these simple ones. It's so soft and luxurious!

Scarf observation: If I were persnickety, I'd be bugged by the way reversible cables (or at least these, in K2P2 ribbing) are off-kilter. The cables aren't set into a background, so they don't stand alone. I don't mind; this is a scarf that is reversible, for goodness sake, and it will spend its time wrapping me up and keeping me warm.

Since I didn't couldn't get enough of hanging around the house last week (I'm feeling much better, thanks to rest and everyone who sent good thoughts) (and my sheepy pj's came from Macy's, Chris!) I'm taking tomorrow off, too. I plan on doing more spinning, more knitting, a little de-cluttering, and there's a birthday dinner for Judy in the evening. That's plenty for one holiday.