Winter Dormancy

year of the horse, EPHEMERA

T’s radicchio, turning red after a cold snap

A quiet come-down in early January has always resonated more than diving into resolutions, celebrations and buzz. When all is quiet and still, if there is no agenda, what do you turn to?

PROJECT INVENTORY:

• planning my dye garden

• turning the heel on a second sock for T

• knitting this for my sister

• finishing a baby blanket

• working on my sweaters

• baking

• working on a sampler quilt

YEAR OF THE HORSE

Horses, almost mystic in nature, are revered in my mind and memory. I stare out the car window at the paint that lives down the road. I keep a photo of my favorite horse from Wyoming on our bookshelf. I look up to “horse people” and envy them, hoping I can be one someday. I often remark with T, I have everything I need, except a horse to talk to and brush, walk with and care for, watch from afar and share my worries with.

A horse is a mirror. They can sense your anxiety, your fear, or your tranquility. They have an innate sense of what is below the surface. They can be steady or stubborn, sensing forces far beyond their control. I am choosing to focus on steadiness, intuition, sure-footedness and knowing the way. To embrace quiet diligence over spectacle and shine. One foot in front of the other.

photo from Wyoming, 2019

BUILDING THE HERD

Using the tutorial from Ann Wood, I’ve made several horses out of found materials, cardboard from holiday boxes and old paper. Hoping to continue to build and hang them on a wall at the restaurant.

LINKS OF NOTE

• holidays are past us, but these sausage rolls from Milli Taylor remain in my brain. I added some garlic and ginger, and used dried cherries and golden raisins instead of barberries. I also cannot fail to mention this steak pie - we’ve fallen in love with buttered cabbage as well.

• making these cookies with the remains of our very sweet tree that we’ve yet to take down - as seen in Céline Thomassen’s newsletter.

• The reason I haven’t published a newsletter in months is because I was turning my energy towards self publishing EPHEMERA. Because I am uncomfortable and frankly bad at self promotion, I have yet to share the news here. My small book of recipes is out now, available here for purchase.