First Person
Postcard from Nashville, Ice Storm Edition
Dear all,
There’s ice everywhere, isn’t there? In Minnesota, the cold-hearted kind is being melted by the fury of people who are not taking it. My heart goes out to the people of Minneapolis, who are demonstrating a resolve and a moral fire that is profoundly inspiring. I’m drawing courage from theirs, and hoping that our country can survive what is happening to it.
In Nashville, a second form of ice has arrived, as if one form weren’t bad enough. It’s a glossy, frozen coating on every outdoor surface, from streets to cars to houses to power lines to—unnervingly—every tree and shrub. The cracking of tree limbs—like a rifle shot—is a sound we’re all going to carry with us for a long time. It’s often hard to tell where the limb is that’s giving way, and you wonder if it’s the one over your roof.
Half the city has lost power, and the devil of it is that the deep freeze will persist for the week. Wind on a brittle, ice-weighted tree is murderous. The Nashville Electric Service crews are working around the clock repair the lines, yet newly broken limbs take down their work. They’re making progress, though, and our gratitude is enormous.
At the moment, I keep thinking about cold and warmth and the gift that knitting provides, as Elizabeth Zimmermann put it, through all crises.
Meanwhile…
I’ve managed to make three motley swatches—one by the gloom of our gas logs, before we left the house on Sunday for a place with electricity. How did people in the 19th century do anything? All respect to knitters working by candlelight.
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No tapestry needle, unblocked, here’s our Jane yarn in Caladium, that hot pink, when paired with (from left) Heather, Yorkshire, and Citronelle.
For those of you joining just now, these swatches are for the spectacular, dazzling knitalong that begins tomorrow, January 30: Bang Out a Sweater, where we’ll all be knitting the Waffle Pullover by Amy Christoffers, from Field Guide No. 29: Mosaic.
Read all about it here.
Our three-session virtual class begins tomorrow, starring the marvelous Lorilee Beltman. Sign up here.
And use whatever yarn you like, but if Jane is piquing your curiosity, you’l find 22 colors of it here. Note that the undyed color, Yorkshire, will be back in stock at the end of February. We’re finding Frost, a light gray, to be a fine replacement.
Finally, if it weren’t so dreadful, the ice would be so beautiful.
And, when you need to insulate your door, you’re so Nashville if you use a mic stand to hold up your Kaffe Fassett quilt.
When I see this beautiful quilt, I think of Elmira Sanders in Greenville, Alabama, who made it 20 years ago, using the shirts of Jon’s beloved dad. I wish they could see this setup.
Love,
Ann
If only we could even out the second form of ice in your part of the world with the 40deg Celsius days and bushfires of the last couple of weeks in southern states of Australia – would make for more comfortable knitting conditions for everyone.
And I can only echo your sentiments for the first kind.
Knit the RED HATS folks!!!
It will keep you warm and show solidarity!!
Oh I love ALL those hot pink Caladium versions! So sorry, Ann. All that ice seems extreme even for a northerner who’s lived through plenty of ice and snow and no-electricity. It’s the unpredictability of ice, like you said, that is so unnerving and none of the fun of snow. I often wonder how the homeless can withstand it. (Of course, not all of them do.). Love the solace of that stunning quilt to dwell on. I hope knitting is bringing you solace as well.
Take care and keep safe and warm. We think we are cold in England but we are so fortunate not to be as frozen up as you xx.
Gorgeous quilt! I just completed a memorial t shirt quilt for my brother, who would have turned 71 tomorrow. Definitely not even remotely classy as your quilt, but it is a good reflection of his personality!
Ann,
I’ve thought of you often over the past week.
I hope you are warm & enjoying electrification when you read this.
And yes, Minneapolis: we are all shocked & praying for the very strong souls who call that city their home. May this nightmare end soon for all.
Sending warm wishes…
Spinning is the best for extended power outages. When mine was out for a week a few years ago I set up a wheel every evening as soon as it got too dark to knit and spun by candlelight. Extremely relaxing!
Thank you fot taking a stand on the horrors in Minnesota
We can now knit “melt the ice hats “
They are red resistance hats modeled after the resistance
To nazi invasion ln 1940 in Norway