Sunday, January 16, 2011

Halfway


I love listening to the radio when Sandy Wood from the University of Texas McDonald Observatory starts to speak. Her voice is hypnotic and her Stardate stories always make me look up. In December, she spoke of the holiday skies, the winter solstice, and of course, the eclipse. She talked about how in present times, the winter solstice marks the beginning of winter, but in the past it was a time of celebration marking not the beginning, but the middle of winter.

I liked the idea that we were halfway through the season even though everyone else was saying it was just beginning. Using that show's premise, we're almost done with winter and if Sandy timed it all right, it ends with Ground Hog's Day which, hey, look at the clock, is only 16 days away! From this point forward, I will not look at the calender in the same old way. I'm adopting Sandy's point of view.


Keeping with the halfway point of this post, I want to talk about some things that weren't to the halfway point on Friday, but by now have passed it by. The Pimpelliese shawl is one of them and lo and behold, is that wool I've been spinning?


Yep.

Lately I've been spending more time with my wheel and it feels pretty good. The bobbin is full of some fiber I picked up at the Michigan Fiber Festival in Ann Arbor this past fall. I'm half way through spinning this. I'm not sure what all of the fiber is, but it's an alpaca blend. It does feel sproingy, so there may be a little merino in there, too. Doesn't matter. It wants to be mittens when all is said and done and despite its makeup, all it really needs to be is warm.

Enjoy what's left of January as you head out in the morning. It's already halfway gone.


To hear her voice, be sure to click the play button if you click the Sandy Wood link.


Photo: Wiki commons, The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, shines above Bear Lake. United States Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang
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13 comments:

Unknown said...

I watched a documentary on the stone circles in the UK. It seems the druid or the celts celebrated Winter Soltice as the end to the darkness as each day would then on get lighter longer.

While you all up north are looking forward to spring, I'm dreading it. That's when my "winter" begins in that I'll hoard my hinney in the A/C. The good thing is I can go out very early in the morning or after the sun goes down.

Not much you can do when it's damn cold sun up or sun down.

Nice spinning. Glad your fiber tells you what it wants to be. Mine often stays quiet.

Unknown said...

Wow, I posted on your post. Sorry about that. *blushes*

Rose said...

I love that program; it comes on with my alarm clock in the morning. Even the name Stardate sounds cool. Your yarn looks gorgeous, as always.

Unknown said...

Its interesting how different cultures look at different things as a beginning or an end,,,I love learning things like that . I love some of the documentaries that the german channel NTV brings.. such interesting facts you learn..
anyhow.. love the yarny stuff you have been showing... I am trying to find some yarn right now for a hat my son wants.. but can't find it..lol
he wants a red and black variegated.. but similar to the homespun... Oh well gotta run more to read... Hugs from South Texas..Birgit

Celia said...

Gorgeous! You're making excellent progress on that shawl!

Stephanie V said...

Like you, I had a little consciousness-raising moment before Christmas when I heard someone talk about the beginning of the lighter days.
Love your shawl. And you're spinning made me realize I hadn't done anything for a week. Got to get back...I need the practice.

Unknown said...

15 days sounds doable. I will get my hot pink flipflops out..but, methinks you're a teasing strumpet wench!!!

The Bug said...

I like how you think! I don't think I'll get MY flip flips out - but I'll watch for a lighter sky for longer....

Gail said...

Winter have gone, I like that.

Winifred said...

Sounds like my husband! Once it gets to the winter solstice on 21st December he keeps on saying summer's coming, the days are getting longer. He's right but it's still a long wait for the long summer nights!

NCmountainwoman said...

Halfway is a good thing indeed. I love the yarn you did. It's gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

..And that land mass over there is called a "stick out" because of the way it sticks out into the water.

sandy said...

I'll have to check her out. I never heard of Sandy..but I have been facinated recently with some solar stuff coming out and also as you probably heard, magnetic poles are being naughty and not staying put...