Foliage and Frivolity

Foliage is finished.



Well, it's been finished for a few weeks, but it's finally cold enough to wear it.



This hat will probably be worn most often by Avery. I'll be knitting another (there's just four ounces shy of half a ball of yarn left), but making it a few rows shorter and a little looser around the bottom. The pattern called for switching to a smaller needle for the ribbing; I'll keep it on the size 7 needle next time.



Avery and I are currently reading Daddy-Long-Legs. The story is very familiar to me, but I don't think I ever read the book - must have seen the movie in my youth. I'd like to share an excerpt with you from Judy's letter dated January 11th. Keep in mind that this book was published in 1912.

It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones - I've discovered the true secret of happiness, Daddy, and that is to live in the now. Not to be forever regretting the past, or anticipating the future; but to get the most that you can out of this very instant. It's like farming. You can have extensive farming and intensive farming; well, I am going to have intensive living after this. I'm going to enjoy every second, and I'm going to know I'm enjoying it while I'm enjoying it. Most people don't live; they just race.
Jean Webster, Daddy-Long-Legs, p. 134

Living in the now is far from a new idea. Ms. Webster was one forward thinking woman. Her description of college life in the paragraph prior to the one above reminds me much of life in the blogosphere at times:

We spend the whole evening in nothing but talk-talk-talk- and go to bed with a very uplifted feeling, as though we had settled permanently some pressing world problems. And filling in every crevice, there is always such a lot of nonsense - just silly jokes about the little things that come up - but very satisfying. We do appreciate our own witticisms!

So in the spirit of sororal frivolity, Diane of Mackville Road and I are hosting a new flickr group - Conspicuously Incognito. In response to my hat and sunglass wearing picture I posted a few weeks ago, Diane posted this picture of herself. So here is my next installment in our repartee:



Join us by taking a picture of yourself somehow disguised. Have fun with this self-portrait exercise, get creative, give us a good chuckle, but keep us guessing what you really look like.

And if you haven't read Daddy-Long-Legs, pick up a copy (or follow the link to the google book) and prepare to be impressed by this little gem of a classic.