Out in the woods most of the trees have shed all of their leaves now, but those that do still cling to the branches, mostly on the oaks and birches, have been burnished by the early morning frosts and shine like gold in the low winter sunlight.
There is something so very peaceful and calming about the woods at this time of year and when I’m walking alone I rarely see anyone, though I did meet a lovely lady and her dog the other day and we compared fungi pictures and best places to spot different kinds. But most of my wood walks are anti-social affairs, where I walk alone slowly, quietly and almost reverently, trying to attune my senses to the woodland world so that I can hear the rustle of falling leaves, smell the damp, richness of generations of decaying leaves and notice the subtle shift in the colours of the leaves, each one slightly different to it’s neighbour.
Coming home I always feel a sense of cleansed calm and a peaceful stillness that quiets my mind and I try to hold on to that as long as possible by sitting with a warm cup of tea and my knitting. Inevitably though the waiting chores call me back to the busyness of the day and life speeds up again. Are there things that help you find peaceful corners of your busy days? Do tell me about them in the comments if you have time.
Well, I have some ‘thank yous’ to say today.
Firstly, Thank You so much to Andrea at Fruity Knitting who recently invited me to be on one of their shows. Unfortunately for me the timing didn’t fit, and with everything that has gone on with Toby this year I currently feel a need keep things here as simple and flexible as possible, so I didn’t feel I could commit to an interview. But it certainly was a great honour to have been asked. I’m sure you already know about their 60 minute fortnightly shows featuring interviews with various fibre artists ranging from knitwear designers, sheep farmers to yarn producers – they are one of the most popular, well produced and informative knitting shows on You Tube, so if you’ve not come across them before, they are well worth a visit.
Secondly, a big thank you to Verena at BaerReport for the article about my knitted bears in the November issue, I was very flattered to be included in this lovely magazine all about hand-crafted and collectable bears.
Thirdly, Thank you to Sarah at Yarnologie magazine, for featuring my hedgehog pattern in the festive summer issue, there are some really cute projects to make in the issue and the front cover is so sweet!
Finally, before I go I wanted to share another wonderful you tube channel with you, Talasbuan. I started following Mathais and Tova on instagram because Mathias takes the most beautiful photographs and I quickly became enchanted by their off grid life in Jamtland, Sweden. They both have such intergrity and dedication to living a simple life that honours the animals they raise for food and they are inspiring in their hardwork as they begin to restore a much neglected small holding in a clearing in the northern woods. Their beautifully filmed vlogs centre on their daily life: caring for their animals; building a log cabin, root cellars and shelters for the animals from the surrounding timber; growing fruit and vegetables and preparing nutritionally dense, ethically produced, organic food. Recently they produced a short film to announce an exciting event – watching it is a beautiful way to spend 2 minutes of your life, and gives you a taste of the magic that they share on their channel, please take a look and if you are as moved and inspired as me, perhaps follow their channel or become a patron… New Beginnings, by Talasbuan
Well, that’s all from me today. Like most of you, I’m up to my ears in lists of things to do in the next two weeks. I hope your preparations for the festive season go well, that the queues diminish as you approach all checkouts, that you find the perfect gifts for those you love and that you have a little quiet time to yourself in amongst all of the craziness, J xxx
little cotton rabbits 
Olá !! É uma alegria acordar e ter um post seu para ler. O tricô é chá também são os meus refúgios da loucura do dia a dia… a macies do fio, o cheiro do chá, uma boa musica fazem as horas correrem um pouco mais lentas…
Desejo felicidade e até logo
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I totally know what you men about returning home after a walk, it is such a lovely settled feeling … aren’t chores a pain though!!
Your photos are as always so beautiful and I just love those socks!!
Wishing you a calm run up to Christmas,
V x
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Dearest Julie… lovely to see you checking in. My heart goes out to you as you speak about “keeping things simple” during this challenging year for Toby & family. Currently, my Jack, is my full time “job” as I early retired from my nursing career to work towards getting him ‘launched’ or at least supervised & engaged beyond a screen 📺. I crave calm, peaceful, self directed days where I am not putting out fires (87 year old mom, 94 year old mother-in-law both with health challenges) or running the roads to get Jack to his Culinary Skill development & Employment program and can knit & bake to my hearts content. I’m thinking this is a pipe dream so I try to grab moments. Your beautiful patterns are inspiration for my projects.
I wish you calm and the serenity of being content as we accept that we are exactly where we are meant to be… in the moment. Thanks for the walk… I needed that 😉 Merry Christmas & May 2020 bring joy your way.
Sincerely, Lori from Port Perry 🇨🇦🌬🤗🎄❄️❤️
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Beautiful pictures as always. We have snow cover here in the Boston area. Feels more like January and makes getting around a bit more challenging. Wish I could share your tea and cookies with you! Your “forest bathing” (an actual thing) is very soothing. Just being alone in the woods is wonderful. Fortunately I have woods out back, along with and old stone wall, that I love studying. Wish it could tell me its secrets!!!
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Beautiful photos from the woods, it is lovely out there at the moment and oh so calming. I like to curl up with a cup of coffee (my new vice!) and a good book if I can find a spare five minutes. Utterly blissful. You do find the loveliest patterns and the loveliest yarns, the new socks look gorgeous, that dark blue is divine. I am going to check out Mathias and Tovas now, they sound right up my street. CJ xx
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Dear Julie,
I am always in awe when I come to your blog, it’s soothing in photography, and it’s a beautiful insight into yarn working. When I am off a bit spiritually I always trek to the woods it’s home for all species it’s our roots as humans. I treasure her presence as the seasons change I am grateful to experience. Here it is cold, damp, light rain of course yet it’s peaceful this winter that reminds us to regroup, adjust, take a deep breathe, and just be to recharge. It’s what I love about seasons changing so do we. It’s nice of you to pop in as I’ve been following you for decades admire you, yet understand, can relate to your struggles. I know it’s not always easy and that’s the beauty moving forward everyday as with each new day things change. Congratulations on all your accomplishments. Have a very joyous Holiday Season, Merry Christmas. PJ
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I just wanted to share something that your post did for me. I also love trees. So much so that I wrote a poem about them. It is sort of a poem write off with a friend of mine. The subject was something that gives you joy. My choice, Trees. But I just couldn’t come up with a title until I read your latest blog. You used the word reverently. My title, Reverence. So I thank you for you wonderful patterns, your photos and your words. Happy Holidays.
Charlotte
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Your pictures are so full of wonderlust. I wish I had amazing land like that to walk in.
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I enjoy reading your posts and love the socks you knit. Walking in the woods is something I also love; I always return home feeling rested. I came across a quote that seems to sum it up: ‘ And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and feed my soul.’ (John Muir)
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I would say that jogging along the stream that flows along the end of the street, or sewing binding on a quilt are two things that bring me calm and joy.
These past weeks I have discovered another one: visiting my grandparents. My parents were off visiting my brother, who lives abroad, and left me with the task of driving my grandmother (my mother’s mother) to do her shopping (with tea and biscuits afterwards), and of visiting my grandfather (my father’s father) in the nursing home. At first it felt like more things to fit into a busy schedule (I work and have four young children), but I found myself enjoying these visits. There is something about taking the time to just sit by someone, just to enjoy each other’s company. (I do visit them other times as well, but always in the company of my children, now I was there alone, or with just one child, which feels very different)
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Thank you so much for the suggestions! I hope you have time in the future to do an interview. I would love to learn more about your bunny knitting, you have so much talent to share with the world. And oh my goodness, thank you for sharing the Talasbuan Youtube channel. Wow. How beautiful. I know what I’ll be binging this dreary January day!
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