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Archive for April 1st, 2007

Creature Comforts

Sunday, April 1st, 2007

It’s chilly again. the wind is wild and mean. Although I had a great Watercolor Bag class at Threadbear, now that I’m quiet and at home, I’m grumpy and cold.

Off goes the cheerful cotton Egyptian dress I got on my Africa trip. On goes the gray alpaca/mohair/wool cabled sweater that is far too big for me, but really warm and cozy. Off go the thin cotton socks my friend Julie hand-dyed for me, on go aran-weight Louisa Harding Kashmir (cashmere/ merino/ microfiber blend) handknit socks, and a pair of over-the-knee legwarmers.

On go alpaca-blend handwarmers and the stole/wrap I bought in Egypt, which even though it’s machine-knit acrylic is really really warm because it’s longer than 5 feet and I can wrap it around me fully. Of course I am still wearing my angora-blend beret here inside.

Brian made dinner (that man, he’s so good). He does a great job at steamed fish and greens (tonight it was perch and collards). I put an olive paste/sauce on my fish and though I’m not a huge fan of fish for dinner, the olives make me like it just fine. He also made “baked” (microwaved) sweet potatoes. Comfort food! And hey… when I eat, my body warms up, it understands what fuel is for.

So now the dishwasher is making its typical working noise while both of us are at our computers. I am wrapped up in all those clothes plus my gahbi (hand-spun/hand-woven four-layered cotton blanket from Ethiopia). I have a cup of tea near me (black ceylon tea with arabic writing on the package, it reminds me of Egypt). I think I’ll survive the chill!

The two things I can’t live without, are wool (and alpaca, etc.) and tea. It looks like I can make it a good night, now. I hope you are cozy, too.

Photos: Tea at Altu’s mother’s home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; tea at the Marriott hotel on the nile in Cairo, Egypt. In Egypt the tea was typically served in glass as you see it here. In Ethiopia it was usually in a cup, with spices (cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and cloves). At a restaurant they would often serve me a cup full of amber spiced water, and a black teabag on the side.