Winters Darkest Days

After reaching 59F on Friday afternoon the clouds moved in and the temperatures dropped like a rock.  By 10:00pm it was snowing and 30F.  Winter has returned.  This picture was not taken in black and white, but full color, and as you can see, Saturday was very gray.  The longest night of the year is later this week and it is a good time to count blessings and assess the year. It was a year full of fibery goodness, fiber friends galore and more, I feel very blessed indeed.

This is the time of year for traditions and over the years Smith and I have made a few of our own. Each year we watch "It's a Wonderful Life", a movie that forever brings tears of joy to our eyes. As Clarence says in the movie:

Each mans life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole.

The message is that each one of us, even though we live lives without fame or fortune, has a great impact just by the way we choose to live. Not only does your life impact the people closest to you, you can change the coarse of lives around the world and Blogland provides easy and positive ways for us to accomplish great good.

Sunday evening we enjoyed another of our favorite traditions by attending the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah.  It was very cold and snowing, but we braved the weather, as any well dressed knitters family can (hand knit socks, gloves, hats and scarves made it bearable).  The ice Meanorah looked like cut crystal and a festive atmostphere filled the air.  Rabbi Zipple told the crowd that the only way to bring back the light was to perform a mitzvah, a random act of kindness, a giving of oneself to others. 

The message of the season is one of giving, but the meaning is often skewed into an act of consumption.  Giving is a mitzvah not only to others, but to oneself.

Stephanie   has set the goal for Knitters Without Borders  to double the funds raised for Doctors Without Borders and Wendy is continuing her drive for Heifer International. Both organizations touch many lives and help the people of the world, who have so much less than any one of us, to help themselves attain a better life.  A donation of any denomination can add up to an enormous amount of support  Give until it feels good and you will reap the rewards of a life well lived. 

Saturday's snow storm was a bust, but Sunday morning revealed a winter wonderland with snow continuing throughout the day.  We'd thought about breakfast in the canyon, but dismissed the idea as the roads would surely be treacherous. It will make our trip to Silver Fork on Christmas that much more festive.

Comments

[Carole]

I love the menorah carved from ice! It must be stunning at night when it's lit.

[Vicki]

Beautiful. Even in the "full colors" of black and gray and white, the mountains are beautiful -- as is the ice menorah, and your message.
; )

[Lark]

It IS a wonderful life. We are so blessed to enjoy our freedoms, to give and worship as we please. Thank you for a lovely message.

[Anne]

We definitely got a dose of the white stuff yesterday. We still on for this afternoon?

[Kathleen]

that menorah is stunning. i thought it was waterford!! :) Christmas at Silver Fork sounds wonderful!!

[Roxie]

What wonderful pictures! Just sharing those is a mitzvah. Thank you. I love the idea of you taking the time to remind us of random kindnesses, and how those random kindnesses will spread like shockwaves from an explosion of warmth, making the whole future a little bit brighter. You are ground zero for a goodness blast!

[Norma]

Yep, my only way of marking Hanukkah this year was by, in the midst of my mountain of pages churned out this weekend (417!), taking a few moments out to give to those two charities, plus Toys for Tots. I heard that they turned down a donation of 4,000 (or something) inappropriately proselytizing gifts. So I rewarded them with my dollars.

[Chris]

The ice menorah is amazing!

[Birdsong]

A lovely post! It has been a season of quiet and thoughts of ways to give, and thanks to your influence, no longer one of madly knitting gifts for a deadline. Instead, gift knitting has now spread throughout the year and includes knitting for strangers. Thanks for the gift of your friendship this past year.

[margaux]

i'm jealous of all your snow! i am also thankful for all your thoughts, knits and inspiration!

[Karen]

Oh that Menorah is beautiful!

It's a Wonderful Life is hubby's favorite movie too. It's going to be in his stocking this year because last year we missed it when it was on tv and he was so disappointed.

[caroline]

What a beautiful event. Stay warm, chica!

[Stacey]

These darkest days of winter are tough...all the more reason to get together with Emmylou and spin some color into the world.

Why yes, I can rationalize anything. :)

[Hillary]

What a lovely sentiment in your post. I really love the ice menorah. I'll have to show the pictures to my daughter tonight. I'm sure that they'll think it's very cool.

[Cheryl]

It is a wonderful life, and I love the movie, too. I cry like a baby. I was only able to donate a few knitted items this year - just some scarves, so I did most of my donations in $$ instead. Next year I hope to be able to do more knitting for charity.

[Marcia]

The menorah looks like Waterford crystal! It wouldn't last long here, though....still in the high 50's for at least another day. My iris are sprouting!

[Lucia]

"It's a Wonderful Life" totally makes me cry every single time. (Well, OK, about ten years ago it was on more or less continuously during the holiday season, and I didn't cry after the fourth viewing.)

I donated to MSF already and will probably give to Heifer as well... wait until my parents find out they're getting a sheep for Christmas.

[Imbrium]

The Menorah is beyond lovely! I can't even imagine how long it must have taken to make it.

[Carol]

Hey! Thanks for stoppimg by! It's a Wonderful Life is my favorite too. It never fails to make me cry and realize life is full and rich wether we see it or not. I've been to Wendy's and Stephanie's too, that's enough to make anyone feel "rich" in "things". Love your pics as always and hope you're enjoying the season!

[Beth S.]

That menorah is amazing--it really does look like solid crystal (which it is, I guess, for now!) I'm glad it's finally cold enough for it. 60 degree weather is delightful, but in December it's rather unnatural. We're at 51 today, and it makes me anxious even though I enjoy going out without my hat on...

[Wool Winder]

I find that giving to others in need is a sure way to brighten any gray day.

[Pat K]

That is a beautiful, beautiful picture of the mountains. You ought to know by now that I don't so much go for the calendar perfect pictures, but for the ones that show all the character of the landscape we live with. Watching your photos is like living there; the gray days, the sunny days, the seasons, the snow and the rain. Keep on posting!!

[Judy]

And all this time I thought your blog name was ze needle. As in very French. ha! It was good to see you spin on Saturday.

[vanessa]

the menorah is gorgeous!

[Laura]

The ice menorah is so beautiful! Thanks for the great post today Margene. :)