by Kat | Jan 17, 2017 | General, Words
In the letter’s to others category:
My dear, sweet Paper-whites,
It is week 2 and you are still blooming. You have no idea how much joy you have provided in your simple act of non-stop flowering.
However, I would like to address your distinct aroma. While I did not notice this at the apex of my cold – I must tell you, while you look stunning you really need to get a new perfume.
Joyfully,
Holding my breath
Dear Representative Lewis and to the 34 members of congress joining you,
Thank you!
Thank you for the statement this makes. Thank you for the example of peacefully protesting what is not right.
I shall be joining you in not watching any of the activities on Friday.
With Deep Gratitude and In Solidarity,
A Fellow Boy-cotter
Dear United States of America,
I want you to know that I have not lost faith in you, even though it might seem that way.
However, I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute my role as an American, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Signed,
Your Faithful and Recommitted Citizen
And, finally…
Dear Fitbit Scale,
We have a long love/hate relationship and for many years I have avoided and ignored you.
But then I got serious and so did you. Each week you have given me high fives when I have done well and you have helped me regroup when I have not done so well.
Thanks for all the encouragement – it really makes a difference. Especially, today’s nice little email!
I am looking forward to this continuing journey!
Signed,
Almost Halfway There
by Kat | Jan 16, 2017 | General, In This Moment, Words
“There comes a moment you have to decide: Do you keep quiet or do you stand up.” – Malala Yousafzai
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“We must not be silent. We all must act.” – John Lewis
A fitting start for a Monday.
P.S. Anna Maltz has tweaked Kat Coyle’s PussyHat and it is really spectacular! You still have time to knit one or two Kettunøsin – it is the perfect project to practice your colorwork!
by Kat | Jan 12, 2017 | General, Words
This week’s Think Write Thursday is to plan a dinner party, inviting 3 people, living or dead. To guide you, consider some or all of these questions: obviously, who will you invite? How will you invite them? What will you serve? Will it be a fancy dinner or a casual affair? What will the topics of conversation be? Who will go home early and who will stay the longest?
Surprisingly, I really struggled with this post – there are so many possibilities and even more conversations!
So, who would I invite?
First off, I will admit here freely that I would IMMEDIATELY call a cleaning person.
While they are whisking about spiffing things up, I would be working on the list of invitees…
Here is where the challenge comes in – the hardest part of this, who do I really want to invite?
I had entertained thoughts of HRC, or Gloria Steinem, or Winston Churchill… Or perhaps a more historical dinner with Abraham Lincoln, or George Washington, or Alexander Hamilton… Or maybe a knitter’s dinner with EZ, or Franklin Habit, or Kate Davies…
I really was leaning to the Knitter’s dinner and then yesterday happened…
After seeing some of the hearings and watching the debacle that was hilariously called a “press conference” yesterday – I realized exactly who I need to invite:
Senator John Lewis, Carl Bernstein, and Michael Moore
I know, right?
An evening of resistance training and planning is just what I need.
What to eat, well since I would NOT want to miss out on any conversation – I would likely set up a meat and cheese board with appropriate cocktails.
Topics of conversation? Obviously, RESISTANCE!! And, I think Michael Moore has some excellent ideas on that very subject, but I think that the things that John Lewis would add with his rich history in peacefully protesting for the people’s rights are vital. And, Bernstein – I mean really. We will need excellent investigative journalists in the coming days – perhaps more than ever!
I would hope that conversation would continue long after the food had dwindled and that we would all be surprised by the lateness of the hour at the end of the evening. And, perhaps over the course of the evening, I would be left feeling that things won’t be as bad as I fear they will…
Now, tell me about you – who would you invite?
by Kat | Jan 10, 2017 | General, Words
Clusters of blossoms
growing on slender green stems
need a knitter’s fix
by Kat | Jan 5, 2017 | General, Words
This week’s prompt for Think Write Thursday is to write a post called “Hello, January”.
There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter. One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogues. – Hal Borland
Winter has been iffy in my corner of the world with temperature swings from the 60’s one day to the 20’s the next. And, the rain – my back yard is one giant spongy mess.
However, I know that there is no avoiding the bitter cold that will soon be upon us. January is good at bring the cold – but, the one thing that January also brings is the slowly lengthening days. Each day there is just a bit more daylight than the day before, which is a very good thing!
I have not completely given up on growing things either, despite my Amaryllis failure – I have orchids that are blooming and then there are those Paperwhites… I am completely smitten with their ethereal blossoms balanced precariously on a slender stalk. There is hope blooming during the winter and it makes my mind turn to gardening!
That is right – garden planning will be happening this month. Where will we expand this year? What will we work on? What will we grow? It is perhaps the best time of all – the time when you can dream big! Mr. Borland is right seed catalogues simply are the best diversion for January and I am hoping my Baker Heirloom Seed Catalogue will be here sooner than later!
I am sorry Dear January if it feels like I am cheating on you by wishing it was May but garden planning is the best way to get through you!
If you would like to join Carole and I on this writing journey, we would love to have you! You can sign up here!
by Kat | Dec 30, 2016 | General, Words
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” – David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine Monk
I worked through 2016 with a focus on gratitude – and though it took some effort, I really feel like I am ending the year with a better understanding of gratitude. This includes gratitude in my everyday life. From the simplest things to the most complex – I feel like gratitude is part of my being now.
Which brings me to 2017 – where do I go from here. I have been contemplating several words to focus on in 2017 and my mind kept circling around joy and then when I got an email on Saturday from Churchmouse Yarn and Tea with the above quote – the word seemed to leap out of the email.
It is so true, gratitude does make me joyful.
It is not complicated, nor does it indicate that I am adopting a Pollyanna-like view of life – but really, a simple joy stemming from gratitude in all things – even the difficult things.
In 2017, I hope you will come along with me as I celebrate finding joy in the journey.
Happy New Year to all of you!
