Change

I love fall, it is my favorite season, but nevertheless it is sad to see the flowers go and the leaves laying, brown and crisp, on the ground. They always remind me of the passage from Milton's Paradise Lost where he is describing the fallen angels.

"Of that inflamed Sea, he stood and call'd
His Legions, Angel Forms, who lay intrans't
Thick as Autumnal Leaves that strow the Brooks
In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades
High overarch't imbowr; or scatterd sedge
Afloat, when with fierce Winds Orion arm'd"




The first time I read this I lived in Florida, and the image didn't really stick out, but now as I drive through the country roads in autumn and see the forest carpeted with these fallen leaves, I think of Satan's newly banished legions and try to comprehend there number.



Winter, I think, has its own beauty because with winter comes snow, fires, cider, scarfs and boots. And there is nothing quite like the stillness which is felt when crossing a freshly snow covered field late at night and seeing the stars, bright and far away. On those nights it is as though the atmosphere had dissolved with the cold and that there is no barrier between heaven and earth. And as I look up at the sky and see my breath, I am struck by the vastness of it all.

Strolling Sunday

Relaxing, slow, Sunday. Is there anything better? There was a chill in the air as E. and I walked to get breakfast, the sky was sort of grey but the yellow leaves brightened up the atmosphere. It was like being in a postcard walking down the quite streets. I really do love the northern east coast, changing seasons seem so much more natural than the perpetual summer of Florida. We both had coffee and a croissant with eggs, cheese and bacon inside of it. All was warm and crispy and I am healthy as well as relaxed.



Blake needs to be read, but that is all, classes are off all of next week so I have a nice long break to look forward to. I also need to memorize The Albatross by Baudelaire in french, to recite in front of everyone (scary). But right now I'm dreaming of lilacs, wool, sheep, England, Virgina Woolf, and Christmas. Strange combination I know.

Earthly Delights

Hello! I was thrilled to get my first batch of comments. I can honestly say that they made my day! Much to tell you about, first of all a story: I was walking through town the other day and I heard all this rustling inside a bush, so being curious I stopped and tried to see what was making the noise. As I gazed into the shadowy depths I realized that another pair of eyes was also watching me, in fact there were many pairs, I had stumbled upon a flock of sparrows hiding from the wind and as I stood there, one after another would grow bold and peep their little heads out. Now wanting to show all of you I slowly raised my camera to take a few shots, this didn't really disturb them (in fact it heightened their curiosity) of course it also did not make for a terrible good photo. So pushing my luck I got a bit closer--and closer and then I heard a loud PEEP and out all of them flew. In a matter of seconds they were eyeing me from the safety of the trees. I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty, they looked so cosy in their bush and I really had no intention of bothering them. Oh well, I'm sure they returned to their little haven the moment I turned my back. But while I was watching them, I kept thinking I was in some sort of fantastical story or painting complete with magical creatures(aka the sparrows) and the unsuspecting mortal (me). For some reason it reminded me of the painting The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch, only much (much) more innocent.



Yesterday, after my exciting bird adventure, I started my Icarus shawl! Its going well, not as difficult as I expected, but then again I am only just starting. I've already gotten lazy about the stitch markers, but I think the amount they recommend is a bit ludicrous (about four in every single row). I'm using Jagger Spun Zephyer wool-silk 2/18 in juniper. At first I wasn't too sure about the color, the intense blue green is not exactly my usually style, but as the shawl began to grow I started to like it more and more. And hey who doesn't need some variety in their closet? ( I am a very monotone sort of dresser, usually black with some earth tones and if I'm feeling jazzy I'll throw in a dark red or dark purple.) It has gotten to the point that when I hang my clothes out to dry it looks like I've just done laundry for a large party of mourners.



In other news, I consider it officially November in Maryland the light is golden, the air is crisp, and the leaves are orangey-red and the urge to knit is overpowering. On the down side it gets dark pretty soon after my last afternoon class is over, which is somewhat depressing. But I think night ( as well as rain and cold weather ) add something to tea drinking that sunny days just don't. One of my best friends once said that only the really dedicated tea drinker can be found sipping his hot brew in the summer months, this was said as he fixed us some tea in a room with no a/c (in the middle of August). So I plan to compensate for the lack of sun with an overabundance of tea.

Well, I have a Blake preceptorial to go to fairly soon, and so I will say goodbye for now.