"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Are you an ant or grasshopper?

Do you know the Aesop's fable called The Ant and the Grasshopper?

aesop fables ideas

IN a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.  1
  “Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”  2
  “I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”  3
  “Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food, and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:
        “IT IS BEST TO PREPARE FOR THE DAYS OF NECESSITY.”
  4
Æsop. (Sixth century B.C.)  Fables.
The Harvard Classics.  1909–14.



I am being the ant. It summer and warm sunshine is in the sky. Most might have their thoughts turned to being outside and play but I am preparing for the coming autumn and winter chills. I had some yarn in my stash waiting for this project. I am making a shell stripe afghan. I will simply continue until I have used all the yarn that I had in my stash with these colors. I wanted to create something delicate by using the shell stitch yet rustic at the same time which works with the cream, light grey, beige and dark grey combination.

Are you an ant or a grasshopper? *wink*



If you have the time, this 1930s version of the fable created by Disney is great fun to watch...

11 comments:

onlymehere said...

I've always been an ant. By July I have the main Christmas gift figured out for my kids with a "sort of idea" for the grandkids and then I set to work making it. I love having a handcrafted Christmas. I do buy a few things too that they want but I want them to know that much thought and love goes into their presents. I have food storage and I plan for and worry about many things that never come to pass! Maybe I'm too much of an ant!

Jenny said...

I love your afghan Heidi! The shell stitch is very special to me because it is the first pattern stitch that my Grandmother taught me. I usually use it to some degree in anything that I crochet...grins...Oh yes, I am definitely the ant!

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful! I love it and the colors! I have always been the ant. I cannot help it because that is the way I was taught. I remember this video from years ago. Self-discipline...

Unknown said...

I can't afford to do any storing up right now. I'm using a lot of what I have stored up before. I'm busy making what I have stretch, so I'm not sure if that makes me an ant, maybe. But you have inspired me to think about what I could do. I hope my container garden produces something this year that I can put in the freezer.

Nancy said...

Guess I am an ant. I already used up scrap yarn and made an afghan, queen size and two ponchos for Great Grands and then a lap blanket for my sister when she was sick.
Your afghan is coming along really well, It is really pretty. I am watching you most days as you work on it and we chat on skype. I work on my Indian at the same time.
Love you, Mom

GardenOfDaisies said...

I'm a little bit of both. I like to get the work taken care of and then I love to relax.

Ginny said...

How about being a want-to-be ant? I try, but my life is so complicated, and with the fatigue that is my constant companion, I often think about preparing, but fall short. BUT I did get some scraps of cross stitch fabric at the store today to use for ornaments to give away. Does that count? And I try to be a month ahead in my menu planning. We do have a vegetable garden (waiting to be planted, it's been raining), and will freeze or can whatever we don't use fresh.

Your afghan is beautiful. I love the colors and the delicacy of the stitch. I'm sure it will keep you very warm this winter.

Susan in SC said...

I am an ant sometimes and sometimes a cat. I know a cat is not an option but what am I to do since I do tend to be a cat?!! I love the colors in your afghan. So pretty!! I want to start an afghan for a Christmas present this summer.

Annie said...

More Ant that grasshopper ! But I can't knit wool when the weather is too hot...

Rowan said...

I'm an ant I think:) I've almost finished a nice warm cardigan for my elder granddaughter ready for her visit to the UK from South Africa in December this year. Soon I shall start one for her little sister too.
Your afghan is really pretty, if I made one it would have to be knitted as I've never learned how to crochet.

Anonymous said...

I love the colors and designs of your afghan. I would consider myself part ant and part grasshopper. I do like to get things done in the morning, gardening, canning, freezing, etc. and then relax in the evening.
Dot