Sandi gathering grapevine for basket frames
Winter Rhythms
When winter arrives and most people start to hibernate, I go into high gear basket making! I create my own rhythms for winter which is unlike any other season. My time is split between the different steps for basket making, and outdoor fun with my two Siberian huskies.
During spring, summer and fall there is a different rhythm. I gather and process different kinds of bark, cut and dry local plant life, harvest plants from my gardens, make yards and yards of different kinds cordage, and patiently wait for winter to begin. I love winter.
Once winter begins and the leaves are off, vines are easier to pull out of the trees and I don’t have to spend time removing the leaves. When the frost hits the dogwood and willow, their leaves also fall off, and the colour of the willow does not change after being cut. Dogwood likes the frost and becomes a brighter red making its location easy to find. The temperature drops and my huskies get frisky. It’s time to think about balancing assembling baskets and dogsledding. I love winter!
