Brr, is it cold out there! Just the other night I watched as those heartless weather reporters on tv damned us all to temperatures of single digits, occasionally drifting down into negative numbers, just when we’re starting to adjust and thaw our frost-encrusted fingers. Too cold to even tempt the snow to fall, all that meets the eye outside is a desolate wasteland of naked trees and dead grass, looking none too inviting. If even the plant life can’t stick it out, accustomed to rude changes in atmosphere like few other organisms, then you can count this pampered, warm-blooded organism out. Hiding out, sheltered by my lovely abode, one would think that I’m safe from these harsh conditions… If only!
Certainly no where near as brutal as the conditions just a step outside these doors, it would still be hard to say that the temperature inside is ideal. Conserving energy is the name of the game, and if that thermostat mysteriously drifts up above 70, there will be hell to pay. 70 should be enough, you say? True, if it actually were that temperature all throughout the house… Too bad that meager breath of warm air gets sucked up into about a dozen large rooms, extinguishing any punch it might have had before ever making itself known to human skin. After racing around the frigid wilderness of downtown shopping centers, all I want is to warm my hands and peel off this thick layer of thermal padding, but alas, my room is its own icebox.
Now I don’t want to harp on the subject too much, as it has yet to kill any members of the family, but I can’t help but notice how much warmer everyone else’s homes are. Stepping inside feels like a warm embrace, enough that one might shed the protection of long sleeves even, and then returning to my own residence is more like a slap in the face. No, it’s not unbearable, so I might as well just bundle up, grin and bear it. Searching through piles of old, ragged quilts to protect my frost-bitten appendages, I just wish I had the time to finally make my own soft, cozy blanket to hide beneath, as I had dreamed of for so many chilly seasons now. The forecast doesn’t look so good on that one though, what with the endless to-do list that could keep me occupied for a good couple of centuries… But thankfully, I’m not alone on this quest.
Kind enough to take this project upon herself, this friend of mine has vowed to make a quilt to share. Judging by her slow but careful progress, I can’t say that it will be done anytime soon, or perhaps even in time to combat the elements… But I’m still certain that it will be done before I myself could find the time to make one. Silently stitching away while I take shelter in the toasty kitchen, heated thanks to the oven that is constantly cranking away, we both have our separate projects to keep us warm. Hopefully the season takes pity on us both, because while I do love baking for at least the first 4 or 5 hours, the constant work isn’t exactly my idea of a “winter break”!
Hannah – I feel your pain…I’m always cold too. My family is warm, but not me. After years of wearing lots of clothing, thermal underwear, 4 pairs of socks, double gloves, my doctor found I was hypothyroid. Now I take medication for the rest of my life which helps my feeling cold all the time, but still my feet. Maybe I’ll invest in some clown shoes, so I can wear all the socks I want…
Sheltie Girl @ Gluten A Go Go
if it’s any consolation, it’s cold here in hawaii too – got as low as mid 60’s (hee hee), but now in low 70’s. if and when it gets down to the 50’s, that’s when us hawaiians start to freeze our butts! it’s been nice to be able to comfortably wear my hand knit socks, and on thursday night at aloha knitters, it felt kinda good to wear the one maine morning mitts i had completed-though i think i would get funny looks wearing mitts around town….btw, i love your quilting lamb, and that peach looked mighty juicy!
The lamb is awesome. I love her! I am working on Bitty Baby, so hopefully it will get done before the baby arrives. I am knitting and crocheting like crazy before she comes.
I have always had poor circulation in my feet and hands. I always icy hands and feet in the winter. But not this year! Being pregnant has kept me hot. Weird, huh? I guess it’s because I am pumping twice the amount of blood. I am never cold in the house except for when I go outside. In fact, I wake up sweating even witht he heat turn down low.
Aw, so precious! I feel you on the cold, though! I was planning on busting out some yarn to crochet myself a new blanket right after lunch. Brrrr!
Hannah,
We have sheep (and lambs in the spring) and I would love to be able to make one to keep with me on my desk who’ll help me work on my UFO quilts that I’m bound and determined to finish this year. Any chance that you’ll share the pattern? I love, love, love that lamb!
I totally love your little lamb, she has such a sweet little face :)
I have a low tolerance to cold, so I definitely can sympathize – you can always find me wearing sweatshirts in the middle of summer, even!! I do hope that your little lamb finishes the quilt soon, so that you two can enjoy its comfort and warmth :0)
hope all is well, girl!! we need to catch up!!
What a cutie!
Sounds like you have the same weather as I have here in Norway, I couldn’t live without my woolblanket. My mum bought it for me, cause the one I started chrocheting some years ago, in mysterious ways still isn’t finished…I’m not a fan of big projects! But one day..one day I’ll finish it :)
Have a nice weekend!
Try to keep warm dearest Hannah! I’m crabby in the 40 degree weather here, so I can only imagine what you’re dealing with!
I love the lamb!! I totally feel for you. Having grown up in NJ it got quite cold by the shore in the winter. Now I live in Seattle where it is not *quite* as cold but so grey that it just goes through your bones. I crave anything cozy and warm!
Oh Hannah, I could feel the chill in my bones as I read your post. I do recall how painfu; it was when I was studying in Michigan many years ago, it was minus 44 with the wind chill factor. But central heating was my savoir then. In Sydney, while it doesn’t get as cold, I do still feel the cold, so I hang out near the oven like you do too. Maybe that’s why I bake more during that season.
Lucky that your friend is busy helping you with the quilt. Maybe if you rope in all your little friends, your quilt will be ready much sooner ;-) (p/s: of all animals, I love sheeps and lambs the most, so I think your friend is VERY cute, you can tell him/her that I said that).
Take care, Hannah, and all the best for 2008.
Nora
Come visit Charleston for a book signing…we have currently 60F and next week 70-75F…our winter was a mere 3 days long…I fear the torrential rains this summer though.
Where do you find the time to make all those crochet people and things…absolutely cuter than cute!
What a great post! I was LOLing all the way through…because that’s how our house was when I was growing up! My dad wasn’t so interested in “being green” as he was in “saving some green.” He was the one who was always saying, “WHY ARE ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON IN THE HOUSE?!” Or rather, he was yelling it. :D
Love the lamb, so very darling! Our house is really cold too, but the other day was unusually cold – I realised after ages of sitting in the draft that I had opened the bedroom window to air the room the night before and accidentally left it open the whole time…oops! You should get a nice fleecey blanket, they are just gorgeous when you are cold
The lamb is lovely, I guess she feels not as cold as you. I hope it will be warmer in your house soon!
Very cute lamb!
Sounds like you need more woolly blankets to snuggle up with! I can’t stand this bitter (!) cold weather either, but actually, its my favourite time of year, in the same way that midsummers day is the worst – from now on, it can *only* get better!
We’ve been pretty lucky here in the uk, as this weekend its been pretty sunny. I don’t mind the cold so much when the sun is shining down on me.
How long does it take to knit up one of those sheep? its so cute!
Good luck to your sweet little lamb and her blanket, hopefully you both find an easier way of keeping warm! I can’t even imagine how cold it must be where you are though…… it doesn’t get that cold where I live…..
Adorable sheep!
P.S. About your baking: I’m amazed! I got your cookbook in the mail last week, and I tried it out this weekend with Peanut Butter Bombs. Absolutely delicious! I can’t believe what can be done without animals!
oooooh that is soooo cute! how do you do it?!
I totally feel where you’re coming from. Luckily, my room is an oven- the hottest room in the house. Unfortunately, if I want to leave my room at all to, you know, eat or even just live my life, I have to bundle up with tons of socks and sweaters. My house refuses to distribute heat evenly.
So here’s to a cold, (hopefully short) winter and braving the weather!
It’s been very cold for L.A. lately, too. :( If it’s any consolation, today, the people in my office gobbled up the remaining Crumb-Topped Brownies that I made on Friday! Sending you wishes for a lot of warmth!
Hi Hannah,
I just stopped by to thank you for making such an incredible cookbook. I requested (& received!) a copy of “My Sweet Vegan” for Christmas, and actually just tried my first recipe from it today…
I made the Pink Lemonade Tartlets, & they were incredible! In fact, I decided to make them for my b-day, & even posted a picture – with a link to your book, of course – on my blog : )
So, I just wanted to say thanks for making my dessert turn out so beautifully. I can’t wait to try all of your other delicious-sounding recipes!
PS I love your little lamb – she’s soo cute. Oh, & good luck keeping warm!
I love your lamb! I have this same pattern but could never decide what yarn to use for the body! I love the yarn you used! What kind of yarn did you use for the body? I wanted to make this lamb for my grandma for christmas but just ran out of time!
Thank you for sharing!
Oh I hope you stay warm Hannah!! We’ve had the opposite weather here… it’s been so warm in Houston the last few days! I will try and send some of it your way.
On another note… have really been enjoying your cookbook. I’ve shown it to many people and they remark on how beautifully put together it is, plus every dessert I’ve tried has been amazing. You should be so proud of yourself!! :-)
What a beautiful lambie and such a thoughtful friend to make a blankie to share with you. She’s just beautiful and I can’t wait to see her progress on the blankie for two!
Oh, I love the lamb! Would you please share the pattern source? Maybe she’ll help me quilt – it’s rather cold here too.
This is adorable, will you share the directions?
Thanks,
Mary