Knitting for the future.

Right now it is early summer. The birds are singing, the sun is warm, the breeze is soft. Swimmers frolic in the lake. Fisherpersons cast their lines and hope.

But it will not always be so. One day darkness will fall, a heavy chill will descend, and snow will blanket the land. Winter is coming.*

In preparation I am knitting myself a dandy pair of heavy boot socks. Remember this yarn?

It is in the process of becoming a pair of these:

 

Yeah, that's three photos of my left foot wearing the same sock. Work with me here.

I am in love with the way the two yarns stranded together make such a nifty marled, ragg sock look.

The oatmeal color of the Lana Grossa Megaboot Stretch works perfectly with the greens and turquoises of the tweedy Online yarn. I held the Lana Grossa next to another colorway of tweedy Online yarn, one that is less green and more blue; the two did not do a thing for each other. But these two seem to have just enough yellow in common to be happy together.

When we were camping on the North Shore a couple weeks ago I felt like I should dress in a flannel shirt, jeans, and hiking boots. And maybe sing, "She's a lumberjack and she's okay / She sleeps all night and she works all day." Maybe these socks are my first step in that direction.

While we are admiring these colors, let us take notice of how these same colors may occur in nature:

I missed a photo op earlier this afternoon of a parade of several adult Canada geese and at least a dozen nearly-grown goslings. These five babies (I had to blow up the photo to 100% to count them; you will just have to trust me on the number) are much, much younger. They are also possible loon lunch. This is the first year since 1991, our first summer here, that we have had both loons AND Canada geese on the lake. The loons always chase away the geese and claim this teeny tiny ocean for their own. Good luck, Mama and Daddy Goose! Take care of those babies! (Although the world does not perhaps really need any more Canada geese.)

* Extra points for anyone who can identify the book[s] from which this comes.

Comments

[sophanne]

There's a children's book called "Goodbye Geese" that has that line. Those socks are great! What size needle are you using?

[Amy]

You say that like winter is a bad thing.

[cindy]

Great socks! I just love combining yarns that way.

And now I'm going to have the lumberjack song stuck in my head all day.

[Chris]

Just stop already with the winter thing. :p

No, the world need more ducklings and fewer goslings...

[Jeanne]

Do not utter that phrase "winter is coming". I refuse to believe you. I like the way the socks are turning out.

[Lisa]

"A Game of Thrones" by George R. R. Martin (and the rest of the series). It's the motto of House Stark. :)

[Sheepish Annie]

It sounds to me like you are channeling EZ. She writes about that in The Knitters Almanac. Then again, I am a little obsessed with trying to understand The Way Of The Zimmerman these days...

[Nora]

Great socks! Yes, winter will come again, but I'm living in the moment.

[cursingmama]

It must be a year of Aviary peace, as we have both blue birds and tree swallows nesting just 50 feet apart in our yard this year.

Now, never speak of winter again!

[soxanne]

Love the look of the socks - the combination is fab!

Can't name the book, but now that it's been 80 for a couple of days, I'm ready for winter ;-)

[lisa]

Nice socks!

[tut-tut]

Aren't you clever! Those colors are lovely together. Barbara Pym and Dennis Lehane: aren't you eclectic!