à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Commitment
Knitting Ain’t for Sissies…or Bullies
I just finished a keyhole scarf I started knitting a few months ago. I’m exhausted, not exhilarated. After several frustrating beginnings, described here, I hit a groove. Or so I thought. More than halfway through the project, I surveyed my work and discovered many glaring mistakes. Not only that, the design I modified to accommodate … Continue reading
Ponderings: Passover in Two Places
I spent Passover’s first half in Israel. The day of the Seder, I traveled by bus to Jerusalem’s Malcha Mall with my oldest niece. She was meeting a friend, and I was on the hunt for comfortable shoes. At the entrance we went our separate ways. While I failed to find footwear, I wandered around, … Continue reading
If Patience Were a Vitamin, I’d Take the Whole Bottle
My aunt, who until recently was Queen of Crochet, with many large and intricate projects under her hook, read about my return to knitting. She had this to say: “It’s like anything else…it needs time and patience.” She made it sound so simple. If my body has a deficiency, it’s that it seemingly lacks receptors … Continue reading
What Will You Say “No” To In 2013?
In our culture, no is sometimes considered a dirty word, synonymous with negativity, rudeness or abruptness, especially if it’s not followed by a disclaimer, plausible excuse or explanation uttered in a dulcet tone. Yes is often considered positive, supportive, agreeable, embracing. On the level of soul, however, no might be the most affirmative word a … Continue reading
Endings as Beginnings
I´m nearing the end of my walk; in less than two days, I´ll arrive at Finisterre (the end of the earth). In some ways, it is much like the beginning. Then, I started up a mountain in the midst of the Basque country, a region straddling France and Spain that, thanks to its remote location, … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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