Red in Winter, Warm and Bright

Red in Winter, Warm and Bright

A Red Rose

     Red in winter lends a kind of warmth and brightness to cold gray days. A crocheted rose came in the mail for the Lady-of-the-House. She is as pleased as punch with its shades of red. A welcome feminine accent, it is pinned it to the hat she knit for herself. Lisa of Happy in Dole Valley crochets posies in pretty colors for her etsy.

 A Red Coat

     Some years back the Man-of-the-House came across a red wool coat in the community thrift store. He bought it for his wife for ten dollars. “Wear the old coat, buy the new kindle,” came to mind. This is the Lady-of-House’s modern twist on Benjamin Franklin’s “Wear the old coat, buy the new book.”

This 18^th century American, of relentless curiosity and ingenuity, would probably approve of the twist to his motto. The priority is the same.

How long will it be before the Lady-of-the-House gets used to her kindle and appreciates it for its convenience, economy and ability to pack whole bookcases into its memory? A printed page may always seem the normal thing to her but she is open to trying new things.   

A Red Ball of Yarn

     Do you know how to wind a ball of yarn so that it can be drawn up from the middle? Make a tail. Place this tail between thumb and forefinger. Wind the yarn around it loosely. Continue to wind loosely in varying directions with three fingers now, keeping watch that the tail is always accessible.

     Wool responds better to being knit up when it is allowed to keep its natural elastic kink and hasn’t been held taunt in a tight ball. A mother, too, responds better to her husband, her children, the day’s duties, when she is not uptight – can pace herself and reserve some minutes to unwind.

A Red Shawl

     Fine red yarn on narrow needles makes a bright lace edging. After the strand of lace reached the desired length to edge a shawl for Helen, the Lady-of-the-House attached yarn to the center of the strand.

     To begin the body of the shawl, pick up three stitches at the center and knit across. Pick up two stitches at the end of each row - knitting one at a time as you pick them up. Turn. Knit the next row picking up and knitting two, etc.

     Repeat, and watch the garter stitch shawl form into a half-moon.  

A Skirt with Red

     Wool plaid skirts are a favorite of the Lady-of-the-House. She collects them when the price is right. Knowing this, the Man-of-the-House stopped into the Pendleton outlet while he was running errands. “I found a skirt you might like,” he reported on his track phone. “I think it’s a catalog return. It’s been marked down three times and is your size.”

     “What does it look like?” What are the colors?” 

     “It’s plaid in gray and red.”

     “Hmm, How short?”

     “Let me ask the sales lady. . . . She says it’s petite and would be just below the knee if you’re 5’4” or shorter. If you don’t like it we can return it.”

     “Well, okay.”

     At home, with the skirt out of the bag the Lady-of-the-House feasted her eyes on its colors and ran a hand over the warm-as-a-blanket fabric.

     “Do you like it?” asked the Man-of-the-House.

     “Yes, I do,” she replied. He was instantly proud of his purchase - and again when she thanked him in her usual manner. 

    
     She likes the skirt’s 1940’s style. But she has one quibble. She is still getting used to the so-called “natural waistlines” of this century. Whatever it’s called – it means “off the waist” to her. Anyway, she is happy at how her butter-colored cardigan picks up the gold thread of the skirt, warm and bright.

A Story with a “Patch of Scarlet” 

     A story that could turn into a perennial read for those with early American leanings is A Gathering of Days by Joan W. Blos, awarded a Newberry Medal. It is a little novel, meant for girls ages 8 -12 - so it states on the back cover - but it proves a warm and bright companion to the Lady-of-the-House - a grown-up who can get uptight with life’s trials and cares. Trials and cares are common to most of us and it helps to be transported to another time and place - to unwind – to be put in company with the intimate lives of the people of a story. It is a relaxing comfort to the Lady-of-House to read this fictional dairy of Catherine age 13.

     Catherine begins her diary on October 17, 1830 in the state of New Hampshire where, like most of her neighbors, her father is a farmer. This is a gentle, quiet story where Catherine records the struggles and joys of pioneer living, her father’s remarriage, and the loss of her closest friend. She takes part in the traditions of a rural community. Although there is no mention of Christ Jesus, the family observes the Sabbath, respects and looks up to Providence.

     There is historical flavor to the writing, such as the subtleties of Catherine’s speech. Because the author did extensive research, pouring over archived newspaper articles of the 1830s, Catherine’s choice of words seem natural and so convincing that, along with its other early American atmospheric details, the diary seems more real than fiction. 

“ Of this I shall remember forever the look of that cold and wintery clearing, the quilt tucked in the foot of the tree and folded carefully to display a patch of scarlet.”

     Catherine comes of age during the course of the diary. She records timeless truths she meets in her speller and in life, such has her father’s:

“It requires but little discernment to discover the imperfections of others; but much humility to acknowledge our own.”  

A Red Ribbon    

     Have you ever noticed how the design on a Whitman’s Sampler resembles a traditional cross-stitch sampler? A deep red satin ribbon was wrapped around a box of four luscious chocolates - a February surprise for the Man-of-the-House. He shared his surprise with the Lady-of-the-House. And thanked her in his usual manner. 

     I wish you a February in many ways warm and bright.

     Karen Andreola

Post Script

A Song of RedRed

I like Christian lyrics by Petra in "The Coloring Song."