A note from the prairie...

So many thoughts, feelings, emotions… I write to you from the prairie in Northwest Minnesota, a very special place it is. A place of peace… the people, the land, the animals, and the much needed time to step away from many of my day-to-day responsibilities.

I write this on my last evening of an 11 day respite for mind, soul, and body. A place where I feel at home perhaps like I’ve never known before…

I’ve laughed out loud with no one around,

cried just because,

yelled with joy with no one but the cows and steers to hear me,

listened to the coyotes party all night long,

felt safe in an old farmhouse while the wind ripped from one corner of the prairie to the next,

engaged in the most inspiring conversations with those that live on and with this land,

watched the clouds shift in form and color…

my heart is filled with hope and promise.

I came here to “get work done” and also to brainstorm with a new friend about the intersection of food and peace. And what an adventure it’s been. A journey of two sojourners whose paths now merge to focus on what it means to cultivate peace through food and place.

I’ll share more about this magical place during Project Peace.

Speaking of Project Peace, I wanted to provide an update. I’ve now posted yarn requirements on Ravelry and the Yarn Scout has put together kits with the yarn that I’ve used for the project. My vision for this project was one of cozy and comfort; the alpaca/wool blend yarn is exactly what I dreamed of creating. I finished knitting my sample during my stay in the farmhouse on the prairie and as the shawl continued to grow, it was the perfect project to keep my lap warm and toasty.

If you aren’t able to access Ravelry, please take a look at the Yarn Scout page to view the yarn I used for the project. For those of you not wanting to purchase the pattern from Ravelry, I’m working on a way to buy the pattern through my website. If you are wanting to stash dive or use a different yarn, here are the requirements:

A total of 200 g fingering weight yarn (~800 yards) is needed. I used 150 g (~600 yds) of color A for the body and 50 g (~200 yds) of color B for the border. For the main color I choose a solid color and for the border I used a hand-dyed contrasting yet complimentary color.

Photos of the project are forthcoming… I am headed home tomorrow, to block the shawl and then persuade my daughter to yet again, engage in the photo-taking process.

I am so looking forward to spending December with all of you… whether you are knitting, writing, drawing, stitching, reading, or taking some time just to be, it’s a time to slow down and focus on peace… seeking, making, building, keeping, sharing. It’s 21 days of saying yes to peace.

peace,

Christina

Here comes Project Peace 2020...

“It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts - adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take “everyone on Earth” to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale. ”

— Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Here we are, a few weeks away from our 5th annual Project Peace. The first occurred in 2016 on the heels of the US Presidential election. And now, 4 years later, here we are… in the midst of a pandemic and the on-going need to cultivate peace in our world. Somehow, I stumbled upon this quote early this morning… it was exactly what my soul needed… keep going, one small, simple act at a time.

“Peace is a journey of a 1000 miles and it must be taken one step at a time”

— Lyndon B. Johnson

This quote remains one of my all-time favorites as it reminds me that peace is a process, a journey. While it would be comforting to believe that peace is a destination and once you arrive, the work is over, this mindset can lead us to easily become discouraged. So, please join me for another peace-filled December where we can come together with a common goal of fostering peace in our world, one simple act at a time.

Project Peace is a knit-along and peace-along. For the knit-along, I will have a pattern available for purchase via Ravelry (let me know if that doesn’t work for you) and I’ll be posting daily musings on The Healthy Knitter website from 12/1-21. My mum and I have been designing some very special, limited edition bags to celebrate the occasion and I have several give-aways provided by generous friends. Keep in mind, you don’t have to be a knitter to participate. Raise your knitting needles, paintbrush, pen, spatula or maybe even just your tea cup during the month of December… all are welcome. The goal is to foster peace…

Each year, I spend a lot of time pondering an appropriate theme for Project Peace. This year the idea, “peace in place” came to me early on so I’ve had a lot of time to think about how to connect this with the daily December posts.

The year 2020 was a year that was to be filled with travel. With 3 planned trips to Shetland, 2 with my mum and 1 with the University, it seemed my dream of being able to spend time in a place I feel so connected to was now on the verge of being a reality. Many of you know of my love for Shetland, an unexpected love affair with place. As a mountain gal, I never anticipated feeling so at home in Shetland, a place without trees.

I’ve lived in the Mid-west for 11+ years now and while I find many aspects of the prairie quite beautiful, I’ve never felt truly connected. Last March, with lock-downs looming, I remember thinking “well, it’s time to connect with this land” and the idea for “peace in place” began to take hold.

Identifying with “place” provides the opportunity to create peace with self, others and the Earth… This year’s Project Peace blog posts from December 1-21 will focus on possible ways to cultivate “peace in place.” I think you’ll really like what I’ve come up with!

While the pattern link is now active on Ravelry, the actual pattern instructions won’t be published until November 30. Details on yarn supplies will be ready on November 15. A portion of the pattern sales will be donated to a yet-to-be-determined peace-oriented organization; remaining funds will be used to offset the costs of operating Project Peace.

This year’s pattern is an elongated shawl with a textured stitch pattern and a ripple border… in many ways it represents the land and sea. Cozy was my vision when designing this shawl with thoughts of wrapping oneself in a big hug in a place you find peaceful. I’ve worked hard to keep the design relatively simple to make it accessible to many knitters.

Please join me this December as we focus on peace, collectively…

one breath,

one stitch,

one word,

one step,

at a time.

International Day of Peace 2020...

Today, the last day of summer on the cusp of the autumnal equinox, we celebrate, honor, reflect on the meaning of today, the International Day of Peace. Yes, on 9/21, around the world, today is a day of peace.

Hello, my friends. I think of you often… I’ve written so many times… in my mind, thoughts placed on paper, talked to you on walks, and taken so many photos to share. Yet, finding my way back to this space always seems to be the missing next step. Hopefully, you’ll understand my need for solitude of late, and despite the months with no communication, you’re ready to welcome me back into your life.

The past 6 months has provided a sincere opportunity for reflection… to grieve, to dream, to dig deep, to let go, to embrace new opportunities, and recommit to my core values. At the beginning of each year, I choose a word for the year. This year, my word is “SHIFT.” Never did I have any idea what this word might come to mean. And a shift it has been that is leading to new doors opening and old ones closing.

The global health crisis has brought many issues to center-stage compounded by on-going wars, crimes against humanity, civil unrest in the US, climate extremes… the list goes on. The loss of life in the past 6 months is crushing… with all of this there is a need to find a path forward; a way to actively engage in building a peaceful and just world.

We must find a way forward…

“I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. ”

— Ruth Bader Ginsburg

It’s time. It’s time for me to move from grieving to action. It’s time to do whatever I can to repair the tears in society… to make things a little better.

I must…

I commit.

I’m here and all the work I’ve been doing over the past 6 months… learning, growing, letting go, finding my way, digging deeper to find more solitude, creating, dreaming, and cultivating new friendships and work partners. It’s time to get to work.

What you can expect from me…

I’ll be more present in this space. I’ve a lot to share related to upcoming Healthy Knitter events and so much more.

I never got around to mentioning this, however, I published a free pattern in April. The title is Metanoia. I’ll tell you more about the meaning of this pattern in a coming post however, you can find it here if you’re interested. It’s all about “change.”

The Metanoia Wrap available for free on Ravelry

There will be a pattern in honor of the International Day of Peace. It was my intent that it would be ready to celebrate the day however, work is super overwhelming and has been since March. So, I decided to be kind to myself and not stress over the fact I didn’t quite get it done in time. It’s worth the wait and we can certainly honor peace on any day of the year. The pattern is called “Sun-broch” which is a Scots word for a sunbeam. So, yes, it has a connection to the sun.

And finally, Project Peace 2020 will be happening, December 1-21. There will be a new pattern. This year’s theme is “peace in place.” More details to come.

I’d love to hear from you via the comments or even an email. How are you?

Prairie sunrise

Peace to all,

Christina

Day 21... imagine

“The Great Turning... is about joining together to act for the sake of life on Earth.”

— Joanna Macy and Molly Brown from Coming Back To Life

“Imagine” in Central Park. Photo used with permission from Roy Tamashiro, peace pilgrim.

And today, completes our 21-day pilgrimage with peace. Sometimes you don’t even know you are on a pilgrimage until you find yourself in the middle of a journey and then realize this had more meaning than the sum of it’s parts.

“Peace is the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part.”

— The Earth Charter, Principle 16f

Over the past 3 weeks, we’ve explored peace as it relates to self, others, and the Earth as a means of creating “right relationships” or as I like to think of it, “connections.” And when we began, the journey 21 days ago, I myself, didn’t really know where we were going… only that we needed to engage in this process. It wasn’t until the second day that I realized the structure I would use… and that was based on the Earth Charter.

On my own journey with peace… I rely on the Earth Charter definition time and time again. The charter resonates with me as it brings me back to the Earth… nature, the “place” that nourishes my soul.

And yes, this year was less about knitting which is perhaps reflective of my own current state… that knitting is becoming something more personal and meditative for me. Knitting is an act of peace for self, others and even the Earth (with wise and ethical consumer practices). Yet, the deeper I dive into learning about “peace,” the harder it is for me to always connect knitting with peace.

Today, on this day of a turning point, the winter solstice, where the days begin to get just a bit lighter, we too, have the opportunity to bring more light into the world… for self, others, and the Earth.

All hands on deck (or needles if you wish)…

we must act now…

to knit the world together in peace.

Today, we move forward on this peace journey…

a sequence of single acts that add up to more than the sum of their parts.

As always, it has been a privilege and an honor to be with you these past 21 days. Sharing these early mornings with all of you has given me hope and inspiration. You’ve motivated me to dig deeper and to continue cultivating my relationship with peace… for self, others, and the Earth.

“You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will live as one”

— Imagine, John Lennon

Daily peace tip #21

A friend recently introduced me to this musical group, Pentatonix. Here’s their version of Imagine by John Lennon (their might be an ad at the beginning). Perhaps take a moment today to listen to this song.

On this solstice, also known as our “group-proclaimed” World Wide Knit for Peace Day, please take a moment to knit in solitude or with a group and contemplate peace in your life/lives. Also, take a moment of silence with 1000’s of others around the world.

Give-aways

Give-away #3… goes to Michelle A. for her wonderful comment about healthy snacks as a way of teaching kids about peace. Thank you Michelle! Send me an email and we’ll make arrangements for how you can get your wonderful peaceful package!

Final give-away… 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn from my stash, a project bag, project peace stitch markers and a Net Loft peace sticker. All give-aways will be mailed the weekend of December 28. Please leave a comment by December 27 in response to the following:

How will you cultivate more peace in your life… whether that’s for self, others or the Earth?

Imagine peace

Commit to peace

Create peace…

Cordova, AK