John Imhof, a lawyer, friend, and former resident of our town, sent us the most beautiful and timely gifts imaginable, two hats he knitted that came in the mail, one for me, one for Maria.

I got them minutes ever I was about to turn into an ice cube trying to get the ice off of my car and Maria’s car, which was stuck, out of the ice.

The ice had a field day here; it rained all day Thursday and turned bitter cold Thursday even and snowed for 24 hours. What a formula for disaster.

I got the car running and scraped off. Maria is taking a walk in the woods (with her hat on, I’ll wear it during my quiet hour, maybe give it a name.

We have no complaints about the storm. The snow could have been a lot worse, even though the ice was as bad as ice gets. We were spared the heavy snow. We didn’t lose power; our generator is still waiting for its moment in the sun.

John has been a supporter of the blog and the Army Of Good for several years now; he’s like an onion; the layers keep peeling away. He ran a hotel here, then went to work as a government lawyer at Guantanamo Bay, is now working in the federal service in Texas.

He has been knitting for most of his life, he told us for the first time, and it shows.

Maria, who knows excellent knitting when she sees it, was bowled over by these hats’ knitting, color, and warmth. Her hat has been on her head all afternoon.

Mine has been on my head all afternoon. I might just sleep with it tonight, the sun is out, but she left her warmth behind.

The hats could not have come at a better time or been more beautiful, beautifully knit, and warm  Thanks, John, your hats hit home; they will be on my head every day until Spring, and hopefully, many years beyond. Thanks for your support and generosity.