Red Knees and Snowflake Knee Socks
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My favorites were always the ones with snowflakes. In my grammar school days when the dress code was understood and obeyed with questing—no pants for girls—tights and knee socks were our cold weather essentials. Knee socks were always some acrylic blend, not very warm, really. Still, I adored those with a Nordic pattern, always in traditional color combinations, white with black, gray or red. Snowflakes added a little much needed fun to getting up in the morning and that's why I loved wearing them.
In those days before down jackets and other forms of lightweight warmth, we piled on layers to stay warm. Parkas were thick affairs. Often I wore a wool coat, beige camel hair. Walking to school, and later when we were give bus service, waiting at the bus stop, I do remember being cold. And I remember my red knees—the cold show directly above my socks, my snow flaked treasures which were better suited for cool fall days. Still, there were times when fashion ruled, and the suffering of legs and other extremities, were a small price to pay for the desired look.
Thursday morning we were hit with our first real winter weather. Snow and wind and cold. I headed out dressed in my best cold busters; polar fleece sweater and leggings, smart wool socks, Gore-Tex wind breaker, hiking boots, handmade merino and mohair hat and mittens. As I trekked down to Hickory Hill Park I saw him, running from one of the cul-de-sacs that feeds into our street. He cut across backyards, seeking the fastest shortcuts. A few minutes later, I caught his sweatshirted flash moving up the hill, still running. No hat. No gloves. And of all the wintry attire impossibilities, he chose shorts. Khakis. Glowing, a sizable distance from his low cut, white athletic socks, I'm sure were red knees.
News and Noteworthy:
Remember the Hereville Contest is on until January 22. Click the share button on the contest post and help spread the word. For your 2012 reading pleasure, when the contest is over, I'll post a pdf with all the favorites.
My new Lion Brand essay, The Sartorialist Mittens, appears iin today's, January 13 newletter, The Weekly Stitch.
If you live in the Iowa City area, I hope you'll join me in and others in clebrating children's books at The Children's Book Festival this weekend. Do stop and enjoy an author reading.
9:00am - Claudia McGehee - Where Do Birds Live?
9:30am - Dori Hillestad Butler - The Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy
10:00am - Wendy Henrichs - I AM TAMA, LUCKY CAT: A Japanese Legend
10:30am - Tess Weaver - Frederick Finch, Loudmouth
11:00am - Kathryn Erskine - Mockingbird
12:00pm - Michelle Edwards - Chicken Man
12:30pm - Jeni Reeves - Pocahontas (Illustrator)
1:00pm - Jill Esbaum - Tom's Tweet
1:30pm - Linda Skeers - Tutus Aren't My Style
2:00pm - Ana Merino - Hagamos Caso Al Tigre
3:00pm - Linda Gerdner - Grandfather's Story Cloth
