cross-processed dreams of summer

i got a bunch of films developed when i was in new york. i had waited way too long. but somehow in these dark, dreary, pre-solstice days, where we are awaiting a storm, it seems good to look back on these bright, cross-processed memories of summers past. and dream of summers to come.

hmm, i do wonder where that pentax camera is...

* * *

and speaking of weather. 

and winter.

there is this marvelous piece.

i'm so glad there are still people and places like this in the world.

winter blues

a proper snow at last.
let's hope it sticks around for a little while.

* * *

seriously hard core stitching.

winter's welcome arrival

at long last, yesterday morning we awoke to a proper, thick frost and then this morning, there was the dusting of first snow. don't get me wrong, i'm not complaining about the gloriously long, mild autumn we've had. but we are ready for winter now. the earth and the plants and the hibernating hedgehogs need a proper freeze. it helps them sleep and rejuvenate. we all need a quiet, waiting, resting period. we need to hunker down, to settle in and snuggle up. we need cold, crisp air filling our lungs when we step outside. i've been craving it without even realizing it until it was here.

why does it seem like every season is the best one when you're in the midst of it?

* * *

anna maria horner's new fabric lines are delicious.

and she's so genuine and authentic. 

reading about them on her blog is like a big, warm hug.

hedgehog in the fog

there are things i love about winter - candles, fragrant hyacinth, hot elderberry drinks. but what i hate is when winter doesn't really come. it's been grey, grey, grey for over a week. we've had mild temperatures, and a bit of rain, but we haven't had proper winter. we, and the trees and plants and soil, need some cold temperatures and a blanket of snow. i can handle the darkness this time of year when there's snow.  but i'll admit these unrelentingly grey days are chipping away at my will to live. or at least my will to remain awake. i'm thinking of crawling into bed and hibernating 'til spring. those hedgehogs know what they're doing.

speaking of hedgehogs, i know i've shared this before, long ago, but i give you hedgehog in the fog (Ёжик в тумане), a delightful little piece of russian animation from 1975:

i hope it lifts your spirits as it did mine.

snowdrops already?

isn't it too early for snowdrops? i spotted this one in front of the house this morning during the 20 minutes of snow we've had this year. later, rain came and washed it all away. i do wish for a proper winter, but it looks like we won't get one this year. 

i've spent the bulk of this day knitting on my ever-longer rainbow scarf. i just keep knitting since i don't know how to cast off. i'm on my 3rd skein of yarn. i've also been watching those cadfael programs on youtube (on this channel). in 9 minute snippets. it suits me well. it speaks somehow to my attention span and allows me to jump up to change the laundry or get a cup of tea or nearly die of a coughing fit and then get back to it again. 

do you think it's normal to cough (really cough, this is not some wussy cough but the kind where you eventually just throw up from it) for three weeks?

*  *  *

there are pretty pictures of copenhagen on this blog. 

a lovely photos of spanish wine country here. 

and of course, there are always beautiful pictures here.

i especially love her review of a year in pictures.