Breathing in a Mid-November Sunrise

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different.

J.B. Priestly, English novelist, playwright and broadcaster (1894–1984)

How precious it was to drink in the beautiful sunrise with my morning coffee prior to leaving the warmth of my wee abode for the train. It won’t be long before darkness settles upon my morning commute, so I breathed in the view and gave thanks for daylight savings time.

And I do love how snow seems to quieten the world. All seemed reverently hushed as I made my way to the station. There seemed to be fewer cars passing and my own usual brisk pace slowed out of caution for slippery ice. The quietening felt good.

Lest We Forget

In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row, 
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard among the guns below. 

Col. John McCrae, Canadian poet, physician and WWI soldier, In Flanders Fields (1872-1918) 

My boss gifted me with a beautiful poppy broach made by an Indigenous artist of red and black beads, porcupine quills and leather.

You might notice that the edging of the poppy includes one bead, different from the others. As the artist, Marissa Magneson, wrote: This is a spirit bead. Spirit beads are intentionally placed to recognize that everyone makes mistakes, but it is important to embrace these imperfections as they make us human.”

I will treasure this broach and honour its many meanings.

Timing is Everything

Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.

Hesiod, Greek poet (living around 700 BC)

 Mom certainly timed things right. We were at the garage at 8am for her annual appointment to put on snow tires. The blizzard started before 8:15am.

While the snow mounts in the streets, I am sitting cozy in my wool socks and sweater with a quilt over my legs. A hot toddy is keeping the tummy warm and cheeks rosy.

In the moment I can say, “Bring on the snow!” Timing is everything.

Wishing everyone warmth on this wintery night.

Vineyard Treasures

Every season hath its pleasure;
Spring may boast her flowery prime,
Yet the vineyard's ruby treasuries
Brighten Autumn's sob'rer time.

Thomas Moore, Irish author and composer (and son of a Roman Catholic wine merchant) (1779-1852)

"Corkie" joined the Three Winos on our annual fall tour of local vineyards for the Wrapped Up in the Valley event. The skies were grey and the wind was cold but the ruby treasures of our local vintners warmed our souls.

Twenty Valley's "Wrapped Up in the Valley" passport to great wines and food pairings marks the beginning of the holiday celebrations. I'd opine that this is a fine way to begin a season of cheer.

Once again, the pairings rank superb: mouthwatering and highly complimentary to their vintners' showcase.

"Corkie" (aptly named by my wordsmith S-I-L) has been a bit of bear to create but I am happy with the result. After all is done, he brings a smile. The mom of the soon-to-be-born vintage is a treasure at one of our favourite wineries, hence the inspiration for the fabrics.

The quilting reflects love for child and love of the vineyard's treasures.

May all our souls be warmed by love!

New Year – New Post

The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.

David S. Viscott, American psychiatrist and author (1938–1996)

As the first day of the new year draws to a close, I am sipping some of the leftover bubbly – still effervescent thanks to the ol’ spoon in the hole trick. Surprisingly, I am also still effervescent given that I did see the clock tick over from 2018 to 2019. I have not done this in a good many years. While other late night revelers may have been watching the ball drop in Times Square or the fireworks from the London Eye, I was very happily sewing with my glass of Back 10 Cellars Smit*ten at my right elbow.

It has been a very sewy holiday and I have been very content. I set out a few weeks ago to make a comforting lap quilt for a dear lady who is grieving and found myself comforted by its colours and the lines of the Beatitudes worked into its reverse side. Those verses move me at my core and I have fond memories of visits to the beautiful mount on the north shore of Lake Kinnerat so the quilt was a joy to create.

Just in time for Christmas day, I finished a set of fleece-lined shoe bags for S-I-L. Once Dad helped me figure out how to make the grommets, the bags came together gorgeously. Sorry, no photo, so you’ll have to take my word for it.

The next project had me hand sewing the binding of a quilt for my aunt. The fabric reminded me of her lovely gardens and I hope the bright bouquet will be cheery during our gray days of winter. The piece work had been completed a few months ago and then Helen Huburt worked the beautiful quilted pattern using her longarm machine. She finished in time for Christmas so I just needed to finish the edging, which is metres long and requires small stitches to maintain the quilt’s integrity through washings. I never would have thought that I would take so much comfort from working with needle and thread. Yet there I was, sitting in my rocking chair, contently sewing. It’s quite an old-fashioned image and I found myself thinking of and connecting with all the women in my matrilineal ancestry who also took comfort in handiwork.

Last up is a very modern-looking pillow. This is what I was quilting last night and finished today. The design freely evolved as I worked. Thankfully, I like it. ;-)

The unicorn marks the last of the 2018 Christmas presents. It has been a wonderful holiday, full of family, comfort and joy.

I wish all my dear readers a new year full of such comfort and joy, fine friendship and good health.

Onwards into 2019!
(hopefully with more blog posts than in 2018)

Wrapping Up another Wrapped Up

When it rains,
you should pour.

Unknown wino

The Three Winos didn't let the weather dampen our spirits when the ever-changing temperatures allotted us a rainy Saturday for our annual Wrapped Up in the Valley tour. Twenty Valley's wineries warmed our bellies with good food and our souls with good wine. Our friends at Kacaba with Zooma caterers presented yet another winning combination with a pulled pork crostini and their 2016 Cabernet-Sauvignon. 

We definitely intend to cook up a pot of the spicy chili following 13th Street's recipe.

Stoney Ridge also served up delicious comfort-in-a-bowl.

Greenlane Estate Winery can be counted on to serve a fresh, mouth-tingling combo. We wanted seconds of their jalapeno chicken wings -- so we need to get cooking!

The pumpkin cupcakes at Henry of Pelham are swoon-worthy. I would never have thought to pair a dessert with a red but their Gamay works. S-I-L tried to coax the chef to let us buy a half dozen delectables for the convivial family gathering that followed our wine tour but alas we must wait we bake up our own batch.

I am looking forward to today's pairings and the ever-warm camaraderie of the Three Winos on tour.
Stay tuned!

6 p.m. Update

The Three Winos have returned to their dens well satiated. The day began with The Foreign Affair Winery's Cabernet Sauvignon. While extremely good, we are looking forward to receiving their Apologetic Red that will be launched December 8.

Harbour Estates Winery topped their Cremy Butternut Soup with sour cream laced with Vidal Icewine. Yum!

The presentation and flavour of Vineland Estates' pairing of Pork Belly Tacos with their Unoaked Chardonnay marked one of the high points of this year's Wrapped Up passport.

At our final stop we raised our glasses to another great Wrapped Up discovery tour, which launches us into the Christmas season with a pantry full of good cheer. Cincin!

Autumn's Cheer

From dewy lanes at morning,
The grapes’ sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
With yellow butterflies.

By all these lovely tokens
September days are here.
With summer’s best of weather
And autumn’s best of cheer.

Helen Hunt Jackson, American poet and activist (1830–1885) in her poem “September”

Sweet scents of fermented grapes wafted over a hidden glade within our local woods as Bro and S-I-L treated me to the Ancaster Autumn Stroll. Wine and brews joined delicious food provided by renowned local eateries as the Rotary club hosted its annual fundraising event. Having spent the afternoon in the fresh air foraging in the woods while singing along to classic tunes crooned by the terrific Dunn Brothers band, I certainly feel satiated with autumn’s best of cheer. What a wonderful feeling!