At August's End

Hello Gentle Readers. At this end of August, the weather gives us a little hint of Autumn. I celebrated cooler days with decaf coffee in a Fall mug. The evening light shines from a different angle as I walk around the block. By mid-Autumn, I'll miss these short strolls. Gold finches sport bright yellow feathers as they enjoy the cone flower seeds. Before long, they will molt and grow khaki coats that provide camouflage in the winter landscape. The blackberry lilies have dropped their flowers as the pods begin to dry. The season begins to turn.

Today I link with Kat and the Unravelers with posts about making and reading. I finished the socks pictured above and tucked them away as one of two knitted Christmas gifts. I also finished another baby hat that will be gifted shortly. 

I added the second color to this scarf/shawl. I can't quite see how the mini skeins will play out to make more than a scarf, if that. As the length grows, the color blocks will grow shorter and shorter. I do have some leftover sock yarn if needed. It's an experiment. The yarns in the mini skein kit are subtle tonal shades so I'm enjoying garter stitch as I watch slight colors variations emerge in the knitted fabric.  

I have also been working on a one skein scarf. Last year, I bought this yarn to support Lofty Loops, a very local to me dyer. The yarn is a merino without nylon and very soft. This is easy knitting as I can count garter ridges between the simple lace detail at the edge. The bind off to make the points reminds me of the hitchhiker. The pattern is free on Ravelry. 

For variety, I cast on some mitts with a skein from deep stash. Now I am hoping to win a game of yarn chicken. These will likely go in the gift bag for some unknown recipient. 

This week I read My Name is Emilia Del Valle by Isabel Allende, translated by Frances Riddle. The story begins in 1866 in San Francisco when Emilia del Valle's mother, an Irish nun is abandoned by Emilia's birth father, a Chilean aristocrat. Allende spins quite an adventure and love story about the main character, Emilia. A spirited young woman, raised by her mother and a loving step-father, Emilia eventually becomes a journalist for a San Francisco newspaper. As a young woman, she ends up in Chile writing for the newspaper about a brutal civil war.  A few horrific war scenes make for difficult reading but what a story. War is not glorified in any way. This novel is driven by plot. At times the story seems unrealistic and I wished for more about the characters. Still Allende is a quite a storyteller and I enjoyed learning more about Chile.

I'll leave you with a late afternoon photo from my kitchen counter. Some clutter is visible in the background but then that is real life. I thought the light and shadows were lovely. On to September.  

Ravelry Links

Garden Sprinkle Socks

Wild Atlantic Shawl

Soft Pink Scarf 

Cash Mitts