We’ve been waking up to jewel covered grass which the sun slowly dries after it clears the horizon these freezing mornings. The woodstove has been burning through wood like it’s deep winter but it’s still officially autumn for another three weeks. This is a good time for looking back at the restful, renewing weekend the end of September.
The Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends held a woman’s retreat at Twin Rocks Camp starting on Thursday evening. I’m usually not a big fan of large gatherings and retreats but sorely felt the need to get away from home/business. After packing up and mailing the last order for the day I drove for two hours heading west and north across Willamette Valley and along the windy road cutting up across the coast range. The narrow road following the small winding creek didn’t have much traffic; just lots of beauty. Arriving at the camp shortly before dinner I checked in and was told that my cabin mates weren’t arriving until the next day. A whole cabin to myself: time alone!
The rain during the night had left tattered early morning clouds. A double rainbow arched across the path on the way to breakfast Friday morning. 
Being served three meals a day without a thought of grocery shopping, menu planning, cleanup is pure luxury. Top that with delicious, wholesome food prepared by a gourmet chef, mmm. That alone made the weekend special.
The meetings were heart-stirring and soul renewing. We had some amazing prayer times and each day an hour was scheduled for silent solitude with participants encouraged to spend the time climbing the mountain east of the camp, or beach walking.
Twin Rocks at Rockaway, Oregon
By the time I turned back a storm was brewing, slowly moving in bringing drenching rains and howling winds that evening.
Last Friday a neighbor friend had surgery so I’ve been knitting a prayer shawl for her. This is the first shawl I’ve knit, and it’s my first experience with lace – other than a nine stitch lace pattern I used on my silk fingerless gloves last year. Now I know why people get into lace knitting. The patterns and rhythm have a way of getting into the brain. Though I have to pay strict attention, I find that it is also conducive to praying. The past two weeks I’ve been rather absent from the internet for the most part, but the time spent knitting and in prayer has been very good.
Spring Lace Shawl
(I can hardly wait to dive into one of Knitspot‘s shawls, now that I’m not so terrified of lace knitting.)
I have started another prayer shawl; this one a simple wrap made with hairpin lace for a friend in need of lots of prayer and comfort.
The violin has been taken out of its summer hiatus and is preparing for a Four Violin gig for the Silverton Zenith women’s Christmas gathering on Dec 13th with pieces by Telemann and Vivaldi, followed by the Friends’ community Acoustic Christmas gathering on the 15th comprising of over 50 different Christmas songs of all types.
