Agora

Today was the Agora, it went pretty well. In my opinion, there weren't enough people there. But I sold some photos and had fun knitting my hat and talking to other artists. Now I'm settling in to do some other work and watching for the snow (squeak). I think my love of snow comes from spending my childhood in Florida, where the christmases are green, bright, and 80 degrees.
Oh which reminds me, happy December! Can you believe its already winter, I was just settling into fall. Soon I will be sitting in front of a fire, drinking tea and not writing papers.
Hope your December is starting well!

Sleep and Waking

I've been so worn out the last couple of days, on Wednesday it got so bad that a half hour nap turned into a seven hour snooze, with a rude awakening at midnight and then after about a hour of reading I went right back for another seven hours or so of sleep.
But the good news is that I convinced my preceptorial professor to let me hand in an illustrated series of poems rather than an essay (hooray). Blake doesn't really lend himself to the essay form, and I'm sort of sick of writing essays at the moment.
Also tomorrow is the Agora art fair, which I am very excited about and they are predicting some snow for the weekend ( thats always good news).

Kristina Knits

Lots of knitting and writing going on. With winter pretty much here, the weather dictates that I must knit and I follow its decree with the utmost sense of duty :) Also working on an essay about light for my lab class. Its going pretty well I already have most of it down.



I got my brand new rain boots in the mail today! YAY they are full of rubber goodness perfect for those dark, rainy days; during which it seems women (including myself) feel the need to look like their former six year old selves as they dawn their pink and green duck patterned boots---mine are not so drastic--- and prepare to explore the puddles. E., does not understand this overwhelming need and just shook his head as I paraded up and down the room. They are surprisingly comfortable for being made almost completely of rubber, I think they are well lined inside with some sort of soft fabric. Anyway I love them and I'm hoping it rains tomorrow.
I've started the tychus hat. Thank you very much Eliza for your help!

Past and Present

Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a
book known to him by heart and his friends
can only read the title.
-Virginia Woolf

Routine

Its back to classes today after a nice week off. Its sort of funny to be back because there are only two more weeks until winter break ( which I long for ). However there is much (too much) to do and I unfortunately could not bring myself to do any work over break. So here I am ready to take on a nice long winter break with a stack of work by my side! Oh well, I like class and thats what I plan to keep repeating to myself until December 12.
My shawl is going well, I've sort of not been working on it very much but I'm nearly done with chart one. Also if anyone has ever made a Tychus hat, or is familiar with the pattern or with using short rows, I need help, I just don't seem to understand how to alternate the colors.
Hope everyone has a happy monday. Good luck with all the holiday shopping ( I know I'll need it)

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.

Sitting in the Park

I am a park sitter. I bring my books along and my softest wrap, and find a bench preferably near some lovely trees. There I will stay sometimes only for an hour and sometimes for five, depending on my mood and the weather conditions. Today was a perfect day for us park sitters it was crisp, bright and the benches where moisture free, I had my new shoes on, my camera, a well loved shawl, as well as Blake and Baudelaire as my chaperones. Didn't get a stitch of work done but was relaxed and happy at the end of it.



While I was at my parents, I framed and matted all the photography that will be sold in the up coming craft fair my college is hosting -its official name is Agora which is greek for marketplace. It was a lot of work but I did it, all 35 pictures framed and matted (and anxiously awaiting their new owners). Oh which reminds me, if you ever get a burning urge to own one of my photos all you have to do is email me and we can work it out as far as pricing, size and frames are concerned.