Sunday, February 24, 2008

Shhh...The Prairie Is Sleeping



We joined Jonathan's dad for a walk in the prairie/woods near his home. The prairie slept as we strolled along, but there were definite signs of spring. The walk was followed by pumpkin waffles. Yum!

I thought I'd share a few of the pictures from the walk...





Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Frozen Toes

Jonathan and I trekked north last week, ending up in places like Glen Arbor, Elk Rapids and Traverse City. We traveled through the snow and the cold to write and enjoy ourselves.

The drive up and the drive back were both intense. It snowed the entire drive north. As the sun began to set visibility became increasingly difficult. Especially when semi-trucks rumbled passed and blew up clouds of snow, completely blinding our view. It took us much longer to reach our destination because of the weather, but we did see foxes hunting for a midnight snack!

The journey back made me wish cars had crampons. As we woke that morning we had no idea an ice storm lay in wait just beyond our door. The roads and sidewalks were sheets of ice. The harrowing drive was filled with overturned SUVs, a large fire that caused a detour with an uncertain end and long patches of thick fog. But, hey, we also had peanut butter pretzels and we survived!

One lesson I learned during this trip? I need new shoes. My supposedly waterproof boots soaked my socks and feet with icy, cold snow.

However, the snow-covered hills, the dark forests and the frozen lakes fed the imagination and made for a magical time.


Frozen Elk Lake (and a patch of rare blue)...


Another frozen lake...Glen Lake, I believe.


Lake Michigan--not frozen!


The Journey Home...Scary! I kept waiting for Annie Wilkes to show up.
Jonathan said, "She'll show up, break our legs and force us to write forever."
She actually might be a good cure for writer's block. ;o)


Friday, February 8, 2008

A Bit Of Color On A Gray, Wintry Day


"I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight"
~William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Magical Stories Are My Favorite and My Best

I heard of Charles de Lint long before I picked up one of his books. Certain authors permeate a genre even if you've never actually read their work. Usually, on a day with no particular meaning, their names lodge in your psyche but you aren't really sure what they're all about. Charles de Lint was one such author for me. Last autumn I finally read one of his works. It came from a collection entitled The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest edited by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow. From there, I decide to pick up an entire book by him. I chose Widdershins. The world he painted was mythically familiar. The characters were endearing, frightening, maddening, delightful and true. Now, I'm reading a collection of his short stories entitled Dreams Underfoot.

Every one of the stories I've read thus far has enchanted and entertained. Younger versions of many of the characters from Widdershins move throughout the narratives like old friends. The stories were written in the late 80's or early 90's and remain as relevant as any mythic tale. I can't put the book down!

In knitting news:
I've finished the bottom of the sweater as well as the collar and have moved on to the sleeves!

Hooray!