Steady...


After all of the Thanksgiving visiting and joy, it's time to get back to normal.


The days have become soft and gentle again. I finished planting the daffodil bulbs!

I'm still working on emptying the silk fabric storage baskets. Since I'm so busy with dyeing all the time, they fill up  fast.


Vintage block prints

 



 I really love old Indian block printed textiles and keep my eyes open for them at yard sales, estate sales and second-hand shops. Sometimes it's hard for me  to use these fabrics, just because they're so beautiful. Then I ask myself if I'm waiting until I'm 150 years old before I dare to use them?!!!?

I allowed, (forced), myself to use some of these wonderful fabrics and yesterday morning I took a few pictures of what I've made so far.

Winter has fallen!

Most of the peach tree leaves have fallen straight down without changing color.


Hiding in the leaves



 The temperature fell to 17 overnight. The rhododendon is a good weather gauge - it really shrivels in the cold.



The first snow has fallen. As usual, I'm in the middle of an indigo dyeing project. The cold complicates this a little - mostly it's just less pleasant to work outdoors.


There are still dozens of daffodil bulbs to plant. Winter is beautiful, but I'm just not ready yet.


 

First snowflakes

The first snowflakes arrived this morning. The Japanese indigo is finished growing.


Dogwood bush 



Redbud leaves and bits of snow


Frozen indigo dyed linen on the clothesline


Cold feet!


November

It was quite cold this morning, with beautiful yellow sunlight.


Sparrows warming themselves on the windowsill and mock-orange branches.



Maple tree in the neighbors' backyard


Late rosebuds


 Almost ripe


Houseplants in!


 The annual bringing in of  ihe houseplants has begun. The nighttime temperatures have been in the 30's.


Old blankets help, but it can;t go on for long. Carrying them in is a heavy and tiring job. Figuring out where to place them is too.


  Most of them are great-grand-children- plants from Mom and Granny. They are living heirlooms and connections.

This picture shows about a third of the houseplants settled into their winter headquarters, Now for at least 6 months of plants indoors.