I recently stumbled on a book, a perfect holiday gift for those of us who love reading as well as knitting. Alice Hoffman, author of so many notable novels (I especially loved The Dovekeepers), joined forces with her cousin Lisa Hoffman, a master knitter, to come up with a book that weaves together … [Read more...] about Knitting and writing: what do they have in common?
The writing on the wall
My mother’s birthday was a few days ago. She would have turned 92. Birthdays, holidays, sentimental moments make us think of beloved people gone from our lives. But today she’s on my mind mostly because of something she said more than once. On almost any night of the week our tiny … [Read more...] about The writing on the wall
The best of times, the worst of times
Today was a perfect autumn day. Crisp, cool air. Golden light. The crunch of leaves underfoot. Tonight, barely 7 p.m. and the sky is ink blue. A crescent moon casts its spell. To be in sync with the seasons is to be reminded that autumn is tinged with the stickiness of nostalgia. To feel … [Read more...] about The best of times, the worst of times
the holidays
Come late August there’s a noticeable shift in light that catches me off-guard. Little by little, the shortening of days so imperceptible since the summer solstice is suddenly dramatic. Leaves start to lose their lushness. The lazy hazy days of summer are about to give way to September, with its … [Read more...] about the holidays
What did you read this summer?
Summer reading is a world unto itself. It’s not as if the love of books doesn’t have us immersed in reading all year long. But summer brings with it memories of freedom from school, with all that’s attached to assigned reading, textbook or otherwise. Some things, like the smell of library books, … [Read more...] about What did you read this summer?
Rain rain go away . . .
This morning had me scrambling outside for a walk during a brief break from the rain we seem to be getting a lot of lately. Scattered thunderstorms are a summertime staple, the operative word being ‘scattered.’ Rolling thunder. Lightning bolts cracking through the sky, as mystifying and … [Read more...] about Rain rain go away . . .