Carol of the field-mice

Published on Wednesday December 7th, 2011

Villagers all, this frosty tide,
Let your doors swing open wide,
Though wind may follow, and snow beside,
Yet draw us in by your fire to bide;
Joy shall be yours in the morning!

Here we stand in the cold and the sleet,
Blowing fingers and stamping feet,
Come from far away you to greet—
You by the fire and we in the street—
Bidding you joy in the morning!

–Kenneth Grahame, from The Wind in the Willows

Advent is my favorite season. I didn’t know it was a season until I began choral singing for the Episcopalians — I knew the word only in the context of the many Advent calendars I made to count down to Christmas in my childhood (the tour de force being a rather intricate model castle for a young friend). But I could have told you that I liked the weeks of festive preparation, of secret gift-making, of gathering greens to decorate the house (my only horseback-riding accident was precipitated by finding myself unable, at full gallop, to untangle a branch of scarlet-berried hawthorn from my wooly glove and my mare’s mane), of tramping out into the damp fields to cut a spindly fir, of eggnog and satsumas and caroling in the cold, as much as the climactic morning with the stockings and presents under the tree. And in recent years, I’ve liked those weeks of anticipation more than the event itself, grinchy as it may sound to say so. (I get, quite frankly, a little overwhelmed under the deluge of generosity from our dear ones. If I could get everyone on board with thoughtfully choosing — or even making — a single gift per family member, I’d be vastly happy.)

Now I like the thought of this season as a time of beginnings, of preparation, of watchfulness and mindfulness that the winter earth is sheltering and nourishing the seeds that will thrust up and shake themselves free when the sun returns.

And so Advent feels like the right time to share that a little field-mouse has drawn himself — or herself — up by our fire to bide. In the way of little mice, this one didn’t wait for an invitation, but quietly established itself in the coziest way possible and made its own plans to appear in the outside world in June, when the world is warm and lively again. I haven’t knit him or her anything yet, but these summery little slippers are waiting to cover a set of tiny toes…

weeslippersforLD

The thing I’d most love to make for this second babe is Leila Raabe’s Spire Blanket from the new LOFT Collection. In that wonderful Old World color, blue flecked with red, exactly as shown. I’m sure that later I’ll be seized by fits of inspiration to design anew for my little one, but Ms. Raabe has already crafted every detail of this blanket just as I’d wish. (And really, why put pressure on oneself to design as well when one is already contemplating knitting a big lace blanket involving 1600 yards of fingering-weight wool? Will the baby care? I expect not.) But I am determined that this child shall be no less thoroughly swathed in woolen handknits just because it wasn’t anyone’s firstborn. You’ll learn, little field-mouse, that this is how your mama shows she loves people.

Yes, joy shall be ours in the morning.

25 Comments to “Carol of the field-mice”

  1. Mia Comment Says:

    Yay for the wee mousie. I confess to a bit of jealousness! Oxxoxoxox

  2. Lisa Comment Says:

    Congratulations!!! How exciting for you, and the Blue Garter family. Lots of love and hugs!

  3. Ariel Comment Says:

    Congratulations! What wonderful news for you. I’m sure you’ll have a truly lovely xmas and newyear. All the best 🙂

  4. Kelly from the Farm Share Comment Says:

    Congratulations!

  5. Ana Comment Says:

    Congratulations! Best wishes to you and your family!

  6. Kristyn Comment Says:

    Congratulations! June is a great month to be born.

  7. linken Comment Says:

    I 2nd Mia’s comment. 🙂 Congratulations to you and your family! May you find time for rest and relaxation before your next little one arrives. (Granted I found it such a surprise when my 2nd was 9 months, and my 1st 30 months – time- as they were so very happy and content to play with each other. Granted they were supervised, but this meant I could bake on a much more regular schedule, I could finish my tea/coffee without reheating it. *grin*) Wonderful holiday wishes to you all!

  8. frances Comment Says:

    Oh congratulations! What wonderful news to share at Advent. And in your charming, inimitable style, so beautifully delivered — you’ve made me smile, a welcome change to the grimaces induced by the piles of marking surrounding me right now.

  9. Amanda Comment Says:

    Yay, congratulations! What a cute image, wee little field mouse cozied up waiting for summer…

  10. CCK Comment Says:

    What a beautifully written post and the most happy of congratulations to all of you…

  11. Jill Comment Says:

    Congratulations!

  12. Max Comment Says:

    Congratulations! He or she is a lucky mousie! I must admit that I love to look at photos of your Ada. She is a jolly looking girl and I like to see her in action. Another in June would be perfect.

    That spire blanket looks wonderful. I regret that I did not knit either of my daughters a baby blanket, but I knit one for my sister’s daughter. It took me from March until August of this year. Maybe you will be starting yours soon? I suppose I could still make one, because at 11 months one is still a baby. My man, the girls’ papa, made a blanket for the elder that is now being used for the younger, so there is still a lot of knit love around here.

  13. Kaylee Comment Says:

    Congratulations, Sarah! So happy for you and your family. If you need a newborn photographer, I happen to know one 😉

  14. Betsy Comment Says:

    And lo, a children’s book, The Mouse and The Minnow?, sprang forth to gather in your wonderful writing! The mouse could sleep in a ball of wool (and knit with tiny twigs) when he/she wasn’t foraging on the stream bank and having exciting adventures with the minnow, in a little air-and-water world (overlap of cultures?)…?
    Meanwhile, we are SO happy about the real, “wee mousie”! May he/she grow perfectly and all go well!
    All our love!

  15. Kathinka Comment Says:

    Oh, this is wonderful news! It’s 4am in the morning here and two minutes ago I was cranky because the storm woke me up. Now I feel all warm and happy for you and your family. Congratulations!

  16. Allison Comment Says:

    Congratulations! The Spire Blanket looks like just the thing to keep a sweet little mouse warm 🙂

  17. Sandy Comment Says:

    I add to the congratulations! And I like Betsy’s idea of The Mouse and The Minnow book.

  18. Mary Comment Says:

    Congratulations!

  19. Nadine Comment Says:

    Wonderful news! Congratulations! And a lovely blanket to boot!

  20. lizzie Comment Says:

    Congratulations !! Lovely blanket – Ill put it on my list !

  21. Seanna Lea Comment Says:

    Congratulations! I’m glad that the newest will not be neglected for not being first.

  22. Amy Dodd Comment Says:

    What an absolutely delightful way to introduce your new one! I have read your posts for years and this one just tickled me to the point of having to respond. You surly have a way with words, with needles, with a camera, and from the looks of Ada, a way of making precious babies. I look forward to reading about your journey.

  23. balzac Comment Says:

    Congratulations!!! That’s great news.

  24. connie Comment Says:

    Oh, congratulations, Sarah! What wonderful news that Ada will soon have a sibling 🙂

  25. vivian Comment Says:

    Let me just add my voice to the chorus of congratulations here, hooray! I am also due in June, and no, I haven’t knit anything yet, either. Or blogged, but that’s another story, involving technology. I adore the little jumper, I will definitely want to make one should the new arrival prove to be a girl. Stay lovely!