Day 7... time for a walk

“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.”

— Thich Nhat Hahn

What path are you on?

Aimless wandering or wandering aimlessly?

Are you walking away from something? Towards something?

Each step...what does it mean? Or is it as simple as one step down, the other foot down, repeat. Simple, no need to overthink.

When you walk where does your mind go? What do you observe? Do you hear the sounds around you or have you drifted to a far off to Never-Never land. Or maybe it's a numb void and you can't recall where you've been during your walk.

Thich Nhat Hahn in "How to Walk" says you must take one step and feel your foot against the earth and not step forward until you are aware of your connection. Bring intention to your steps. Be mindful about your actions.

“Walk as though you imprint your solidity, your freedom, and your peace on the Earth.”

— Thich Nhat Hahn

Without intention, perhaps it's just a walk and there's good in that. Yet it's a walk of peace if you bring your awareness to your steps and there's greatness here. Learning to be present on your walk; a gift you can give yourself.

Day 7. Peace tip.

Today, take the time to go on a peace walk. Be aware and don't let the walk pass you by. Look for signs of peace...maybe that's internal or perhaps external. Today, we intentionally slow things down.

Practice mindful walking with a simple mantra. Perhaps you repeat with each step... I - AM - PEACE. Or maybe it's something else. Using your voice will help keep your attention on your stepping.

Feel alive on your walk...

Breathe in the fresh crisp air of the winter morn or the salty, heavy moisture of the summer ocean air.

Listen to the crunch of the fallen leaves under your feet or the chirp of the birds.

Touch your surroundings....

Look for signs of growth, life, nurture and nature.

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.”

— Thich Nhat Hahn

May your day be filled with peace...

~Christina

Day 6... a sense of place

Querencia is a word to describe a place where one feels safe, a place from which one's strength of character is drawn, a place where one feels at home. Where is this place for you? Perhaps it's just being at home or maybe in the middle of the forest or toes dipped into the ocean. Maybe it's with a certain person or being in a religious structure. We all have that place that provides us with a sense of purpose, wholeness, and completeness.

For me, being in the forest is definitely "my place." If there's water around then it's an added bonus. But over the years, Scotland has become another querencia for me. Something about living on the southern coast of England for four years of my childhood and spending a holiday or two in Scotland became integrated or infused into who I am today. The sound of the rain hitting the roof and the bleating of sheep instantly transports me back to those days in the fondest of ways. And as much as I like snow, the rain plays an even stronger role in bringing me comfort.

As an adult, I've had the opportunity to travel to the UK several times with my most recent trip to the Highlands of Scotland and Shetland in the summer of 2016. (You'll even find a bit of Shetland infused into the border of the shawl with the old shale stitch pattern). And once again, I fell in love and began plotting my return trip immediately upon my return. This next trip will be a slow-one as I'm planning my own peace pilgrimage with miles of walking that allow me to connect with the people, the sheep, and the earth.

But today's tip isn't about my querencia or upcoming plans. I provide these details as a seque into what I want to share with you. I spend hours researching multiple facets of Scotland life, mostly fiber- and walking-related with a bit of history as well. My Instagram feed is predominantly UK-based individuals. So, how I truly came to know Julie Rutter of Black Isle Yarns is still a bit of a mystery to me but it was fortuitous, to say the least.

Knitting provides us with a powerful opportunity to connect with the earth through the fiber that we use. Also, our purchasing habits gives us another voice in standing up for what matters. Around the world, there are small-batch yarn producers that are securing fiber from flocks of sheep that may otherwise would go to waste... there are many more sheep in this world than there is the need or ability to turn the fiber each year into yarn (I know shocking isn't it). And part of the "ability" has to do with someone securing the fibers and then having the knowledge and skills to transform the fleece into yarn.

Julie from Black Isle Yarns is one example of someone that is doing just that. I love her sense of purpose and what probably drew me to her even more was her almost daily posts of her walks in Northern Scotland.

Fortrose Beach and Black Isle coastline

Julie and I began chatting several months ago about releasing some of her small batch yarns during Project Peace. At the time, it seemed too daunting to time her unknown final production date with Project Peace. Several weeks ago, she said, I've got the yarn. It's incredible and just about as special a yarn as you can imagine.

Black Isle Zwartbles BFL

About this yarn...Zwartbles Bluefaced Leicester Blend (50:50%) - this yarn blend brings out the best attributes of the two wools, it has a crisp, plump definition and beautiful deep colour from the Zwartbles and soft, smooth  handle from the BFL which also lends a slight sheen and lovely drape.  It's a DK weight with 180m/100g (3 plies).

Julie writes this about the farm that produces this fleece... Our Zwartbles comes from "hedgefield Zwartbles" which is the show name for Jim and Linda's award winning flock. Their sheep are a very handsome bunch! The flock is based on the edge of the small town of Beauly - set at the head of the Beauly Firth (just a few miles inland from the Black Isle). Jim clips his best youngsters early ready for the coming show season which means we are able to benefit from their 'shearling' fleeces. The wool has a softer handle than that of mature Zwarbles and the fleece is a beautiful rich bitter chocolate brown with less of the bleaching that comes in with age.

Black Isle BFL Suri Alpaca Blend

About this yarn...Bluefaced Leicester Suri Alpaca Blend (70:30%) – this is a beautifully soft, silky and drapey yarn from a blend of 70% Bluefaced Leicester and 30% Suri Alpaca. The blend uses several undyed shades giving a heathery depth to the silver grey colour. This is a 4ply/Fingering 330m/100g (2 plies)

Julie writes this about the source of this fleece...Our BFL comes from ‘Eilean Dubh’ a small flock of pedigree Bluefaced Leicester sheep kept and shown by John and Sheena’s children (one of whom is a school-mate of my eldest).  They are based near Culbokie on the north side of the Black Isle (Eilean Dubh being the Gaelic for Black Isle). Their beautiful flock of majestic-looking Bluefaced Leicesters produce typically fine, silky and lustrous fleeces. The Suri Alpaca used in this blend is sourced from a small flock in the north of England.

Both yarns have been beautifully spun by The Border Mill in the Scottish Borders. 

Shop update today. Julie is having a shop update today at 7:30 PM UK time but the yarns are ready for previewing now. Either of these yarns would make the most special Project Peace shawl and Julie specifies on her website just how much of each yarn you'd need for Project Peace. Your purchase supports a small independent family-operated business with a sense of purpose. Yet another aspect of peace.

Day 5. Peace tip.

Where's your querencia? In times of chaos, overwhelm, and stress can you pause, breathe, close your eyes and transport yourself to this place to bring a sense of calm back to the present moment.

Peaceful knitting today....

PS - the origin of the word querencia is from the Spanish word querer, to desire. This word was been used by E. Hemingway to describe the bull's feeling of confidence in the ring; and so, some people don't like this word. 

And I am grateful for all of you.

~Christina

Day 5... alphabet soup

Wow! what an inspiration all of you were yesterday. If anyone has a few extra moments, please take the time to read the comments about snow and peace. I'm inspired and you've given me so much to think about. Food for thought as they say. Speaking of food, today's post is all about soup.

Soup has to be one of the best food creations ever; able to span across the seasons from the light and thirst quenching gazpacho served in the summer to a hearty variety such as mushroom barley in the winter. For me, it's the ultimate comfort food... truly nourishing.

One of my favorites is a simple chicken noodle soup. Even when my kids were little and super picky eaters, this was always a winner. I'm providing my "recipe" but realize this is a "throw it together, make it bigger or smaller based on what you have" recipe. Perhaps it's more of a guide than a recipe and now that I think about it that's a perfect analogy for peace. There is no one path to peace as if there's a prescription to get there; just a map with many possibilities. Nonetheless here you go:

Peaceful chicken soup (because when everyone at the table is happy there's a wee bit of peace even it it's for a moment)

• 2 boxes (32 oz each) chicken broth
• meat from a rotisserie chicken, shredded into bite size pieces
• 2 carrots; peeled, sliced about 1/2 inch thick
• 1 celery stalk; sliced about 1/2 inch thick
• 1 can garbanzo (aka chickpeas) beans, drained
• 1 cup pasta, alphabets if you can find them otherwise I use mini bow ties.

In a separate pot, boil some water and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain water and set aside.

Bring broth to a gentle boil. Add carrots and celery and cook until on the softer side of firm (you don't want them ready yet). Add the garbanzo beans and chicken, heat until warm. Add the pasta. Stir and serve. Sometimes I top with a little bit of shredded Parmesan cheese.

Day 5. Peace tip.

Our journey with peace wouldn't be complete if we didn't take a moment to reflect on gratitude. So, let's create an "Alphabet Soup of Gratitude." Pull out a piece of paper, journal (aka peace log), or note card and write each letter of the alphabet along the long edge of the paper. Now write down a word (or a phrase) for something or someone that you are grateful for that begins with each letter. For example, A for apples (because I am crazy about Honeycrisp apples and can't believe how one simple food can be soooo good). I started my list last spring and return back to it often to add another item. Interestingly, I have one letter that is much longer than any of the others. Which letter has the most words for you!

Enjoy the process!

And let me say how grateful I am to be stitching this path of peace with all of you!

May your day be filled with many opportunities to choose peace.

~Christina

Day 4... snow

As the seasons change from autumn to winter the leaves fall from the trees making their way to the earth's floor. The bare trees prepare for a long slumber to recharge during the winter months; to rest and renew for the coming spring.

As the snow begins to fall all is quiet. One might say, it's peaceful. Standing outside in the dark of the night, arms stretched out wide, head raised to the sky allowing oneself to be showered by the snowfall.

Slowly, one flake falls from the sky, meandering from way above, drifting on it's own path until finally it lands. One flake alone is beauty, simple, quiet yet it's the powerful act of what happens when all the individual snowflakes collectively work together. Each in their own right unique yet it's a different experience that brought the snowflakes together to blanket the earth.

Each snowflake is unique because each flake takes it's own path to the earth being exposed to different air temperature, pressure and humidity. Because of this, the amount of ice formed on the snowflake varies. Snowflakes are typically depicted as a six-armed star shape called a dendrite however snowflakes come in multiple shapes including needles, columns, hollow columns, six-sided prisms and plates. If a snow crystal passes through droplets of water and then freezes this is called rime which can become graupel but is not to be confused with hail. The colder the temperature, the dryer the air leads to a type of snow called diamond dust, perhaps the most magical of all snowfalls (Snow by M. Sedgwick).

Knitting and snow. Each individual snowflake collects to make something bigger. Each knit stitch is like a snowflake... we link each stitch together to create something beautiful. It starts with one, then we add another, plus one more until finally we have a hat, mittens, cowl, sweater, socks, etc. And really, it is our knitted product that we've made to keep us warm and protect us; just like the accumulated snow that protects and provides warmth to the earth during it's winter slumber.

Snow and peace. One tiny, unique snowflake makes a difference. That peaceful snowflake gathers with other individual snowflakes to create something rather powerful.

And so is the collective power of all of us; our own experiences in life bringing us together now working to enhance peace in our own lives but there is a cumulative effect of all of us working together to create change. Never doubt the power of one, just like the snowflake; it's the individuals that make up the total that has an impact.

Day 4. Peaceful tip.

Today's tip is simple. Pour yourself your favorite beverage, sit down in your favorite place and listen to some music. And now imagine yourself as that peaceful snowflake.

Here's a YouTube link to Snow by George Winston. If you have access to Spotify, Amazon Prime or Pandora (free) listen to the collection called December by George Winston. It's a treat.