There was a moment, walking in the sun, that I got a feeling reminiscent of early spring and I realized with a shock that this winter has been so deep and consuming that I had forgotten that spring will come again. But it will!

Sometimes when I need to look at something different, or to see differently, I click through the inspiration section of Clarina Bezzola’s website. Many of the images are disturbing or creepy, yet I find myself stopped again and again by the marvelous mystery, unlabeled or explained.

Most everyone has seen this already, but I was sent back to this wonderful talk and want to post it here, as a reminder to myself, and a signpost for the year.

I’m in love.

Warm. Robust. Manly. The balaclava is the ultimate masculine accessory. I’ve written about my balaclava feelings before, and turning to this page in Knitting America I was felled again.

Not only is the balaclava a nifty fashion accessory, but the word itself is irresistibly beguiling. Say it over and over and you too will fall into its thrall.

In a recent conversation with a-friend-who-shall-remain-nameless I had the pleasure of higher than average “balaclava” word usage. She called me from her cell phone, which she had strapped to her head with a balaclava. Further illustration of the balaclava’s flexibility and usefulness, leading to a deeply-satisfying, “balaclava”-laden conversation.

I’m so busy in this run up to Thanksgiving weekend, and I’m very grateful for it. I’m hunkered down at the big table by the wood stove, with my beads and my order list, my cup of coffee, and War and Peace on CD. I kid you not. Forty-eight CDs, sixty-one hours!

My name is unusual so I get a kick out of seeing it out in the world. Seeing it knit makes it even better!

Found via yarnbombing, which I hadn’t heard of until my friend Liza sent me the link. Thanks!

My plan for a Year of the Cake petered out pitifully until last week, when I managed to get it back up and limping along by baking a Dark Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake for my friend Katherine’s belated birthday get together.

The recipe is from Serving up the Harvest by Andrea Chesman. You’d never know there was any form of vegetable in there, it’s the densest, darkest chocolate cake I’ve ever made. The leftovers were approved of and consumed by M, who is no fan of the green, but a dark chocolate aficionado.

Noola was considerably less approving, as you can see in this picture taken by Katherine.

“What the blank are you doing?! Where’s my cat food?!”