Flying on a learning permit
Saturday April 16th 2011, 11:04 pm
Filed under: Family,History,Knit,Wildlife

(Parker saying Gooo! Qiviut! to the baby in the mirror.)

1. Today there was a newly-fledged Oregon junco, the little bird’s colors pale and its landing bouncy and uncertain. What seemed to be a parent, a tad larger and rounder, flew down a small space behind it. (Mother! I can’t be seen in public with you!) Not coming to eat too, but just keeping a careful eye out as the little one hopped around a bit on the box, found the food, and scooped it up rather open-beaked.

Good job, well done, honey, and they turned in tandem and the little one followed his mom back up into the air a split second behind.

2. In case others don’t know why the federal Tax Day isn’t till the 18th this year.

On April 16th, 1862, with the Emancipation Proclamation still eight months away, Abraham Lincoln declared slavery over in Washington, DC, paying $300 for the freedom of each one.  Your big government at work. It became a holiday in the Capital, and, to quote the Washington Post, “By law, local holidays in the nation’s capital affect tax deadlines the same way federal holidays would.” Most states changed their date to match.

April 16 being a Saturday this year, DC’s holiday is being celebrated the 15th.

3. I spent a lot of time winding yarn today, and found myself thinking, if I’m going to wind merino to have all ready to go then I just have to wind that qiviut too. I can’t let unwound hanks ever stop me from diving in at the right moment.

And so I got out the bag of 50/50 qiviut/merino from cottagecraftangora.com. As each delicate strand passed through my fingers, I realized that soft as these felt in skein form, actually handling the yarn was a revelation. Wow, this really is what I’d hoped for.

But I completely did not expect that it would also tell me in those minutes playing with my eyes and my sense of touch what pattern it wanted to be among all the lace swatches I’ve toyed with and what story it needed to tell, a story I love of people I love. It came to me, it took me by surprise, and it was and is going to be perfect.

Now I know. All I had to do was let the yarn come closer to hear it speaking its own language.

Parker could tell me all about that one.


7 Comments so far
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You scored a hat trick today – all 3 stories are winners. I wound some yarn up yesterday, too, so it would be ready. But my handspun is more coy than your quiviut. Maybe it will lose its shyness today…

Comment by twinsetellen 04.17.11 @ 4:41 am

Parker is a cutie! Don’t blink or he’ll be eighteen and getting ready for college. That’s what happened to me.

Comment by Judith Foldi 04.17.11 @ 6:49 am

Do you really think it is a good idea to tell the world that your yarn talks to you, and you listen?

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 04.17.11 @ 6:51 am

You know, some people have suggested “yarn fumes” overcome us…

Comment by Channon 04.17.11 @ 6:59 am

such wonderful yarn — I’m sure you’ll stay “in tune” with what it wants to be!

Comment by Bev 04.17.11 @ 8:25 am

Parker is a young man of impeccable taste! I had no idea about the reason for the deadline extension – thanks for that info. I love a good story!

Mmmmm….. qiviut……

Comment by Pegi 04.17.11 @ 10:11 am

Parker looks like he is ready to sing, Oooooh, ooooh, oooooooooh!

Ah, the yarn whisperer!

Comment by Don Meyer 04.17.11 @ 10:53 am



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