Comfort and gratitude

As ever, knitting is a balm to my aching soul, and this hat, with its traditional snowflake motifs and fluffy-hairdo-retention beret shaping, fell from the needles almost automatically. I used one stray skein of KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in “Down Heather” and some of a partial skein of Patons Classic Wool in the wonderfully grayed-navy “Mercury”. As I worked, feeling very gray indeed, I wondered if it would’ve been more fun in zippier colors. Maybe next time. I’ll probably do another, probably involving--heaven help me--“Lemongrass”. I don’t know what it is about that yarn, but it compels me. It is the perfect foil for the stormy-looking everywhere gray of early winter. The free pattern for the hat is here.

I can’t thank you all enough for your kind words and thoughts about the loss of my lovely old dog. She came into our lives when I was kinda down and out, and with a most generous spirit she schooled me in play and laughing and running free in the fresh air, and in being fully your own self. She was better than good, she was the very best, and I feel so lucky. And I’m lucky to have all of you here, too. Thank you, thank you. Thank you.