Mid November Days

Hello Gentle Readers. Rain fell on Monday. The sun shines brightly on Tuesday. The light and changing November skies are beautiful. I love that deep blue-gray-periwinkle color that comes with an overcast day in November. Despite a dry dry early fall we have had some lovely autumn color. A maple tree down the street is a stunning orangey-red. For some reason it has hung onto its leaves longer than others. Fall is my favorite season and I mean to enjoy the remaining days. 

Wednesday, I'll link this post to Kat and the Unravelers. Both the previously mentioned hitchhiker and the Leaflette Scarf/ Shawlette are finished and blocking. There is some kind of knitting irony in finishing one piece with progressively longer rows and the other with progressively smaller rows. 

I cast on a top-down raglan sweater that may or may not get finished. I have this crazy idea to use the gray yarn as a base and fade in handspun yarns in several different colors. I swatched the gray yarn but have no idea if I can wrangle the gauge and colors of all the handspun yarns. I thought it would be fun to try so I threw caution to the wind. By next week, I may have frogged the whole thing. 

I also cast on a pair of holiday socks. I plan to knit the colorwork portion and then knit a vanilla sock the way I usually knit socks. The body of the sock will be a deep red with green accents. I knit a swatch and washed it to make sure the red won't bleed into the white. 

I am still thinking about Held by Anne Michaels. To me, the novel is a meditation on remembering and thinking of loved ones. Since that story began with an injured soldier in 1917, I decided to reread  One of Ours by Willa Cather. Her writing, although different from Michaels', is also beautiful. Just last night I read a lovely passage about falling snow. Cather's Pulitzer Prize winning story is based on a Nebraska-born nephew who served in France during World War One. It always reminds me of my grandfather who was also born on a central Nebraska farm and served in France. It pleases me to be reading an old worn copy from the second printing in 1922. I bought it years ago. 

How about you? What are you enjoying these November days?

Colors of November

Hello Gentle Readers. As I write on Tuesday, the sun shines and a delicate breeze blows. Red maple and golden oak leaves remain on trees. When the wind picks up later today, most leaves will fall from branches that held and nourished them this past season. One side of this oak has leaves with gradations of color while the other side of the tree has yellow leaves. The sun must hit them in different ways. It's curious. 

On Wednesday, I will link this post with Kat and the Unravelers. This past week, I knit a few more rows into this Hitchhiker, my last travel project. I took several close-up shots in natural light hoping to capture the subtle colors in this yarn. The little blips of hot pink and gold are soft speckles while there are a few spots where green and lavender are woven into the yarn. Indie Dyers are talented. 

I listened to a very sweet middle grade children's book this past week, The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. My sister mentioned this book to me quite some time ago but I forgot about it until I saw the title on Libby. This historical fiction is the story of two young children, a brother and a sister with a club foot, who are evacuated from London prior to the Blitz. They meet and are cared for by a reluctant but loving lonely woman. It's a heartwarming story with a happy ending. I enjoyed it. Just now, Goodreads tells me there is a sequel. I plan to read or listen to it soon. 

I'm currently reading Held by Anne Michaels. Many of you have already read and recommended it. The story of four generations is written in a sparse lyrical prose. The stream of consciousness writing style reminds me some of North Woods of even Virginia Woolf. I feel like the author is posing questions about life's mysteries and human relationships that invite the reader to her own ideas.  

I'm off to get my hair cut and then enjoy the last leaves during an afternoon walk. Dusting can wait for another day. May you feel nourished and held as life goes on.

 

 

 

Sunday Evening

Hello Gentle Readers. Thursday I saw the first juncos of the season. The small gray and white sparrows with pale pink beaks have returned to brave the cold and wind of winter. This afternoon when a partly cloudy sky carried the promise of a brighter blue, I made a cup of tea and threaded a needle to finish this little piece. I stitched one more star in the upper left hand corner. 

It's been a hard few days. I am deeply sad over much of the election of last week. If you disagree with me, I hope you keep reading as I continue to read blog posts of those with differing opinions. I'm listening to you with respect. 

Kamala Harris is a thoughtful intelligent gracious leader. She has accomplished much in her life. Although I wouldn't ask her to do more, I have no doubt she will find ways to continue her work. Some of my sadness comes from the loss of possibility. When it comes to the potential of women and persons of color, the loss of possibility is a too often told story. 

For now I'm following the lead of Krista Tippett and looking for what stitches us together. My hope is that we find away around bitter division and the "us vs. them" mentality that dogs both political parties. Maybe, just maybe, this is an opportunity for a shift in thinking. Maybe together, we could find a different way. I have no concrete ideas on how to do this. Still, I choose love, hope, and imagination. I have children and grandchildren and can do no less.

Wednesday I went for a walk on the edge of town and was reminded by a poem I wrote at another time of loss. I put it away for awhile but it is finished enough to share. The work is copyrighted and it is illegal to use it without my permission. 

November on the Prairie

On this day heavy with autumn's hinge,                                                                                                        I need to breathe in the wind, taste the grit                                                                                                    feel tears created by dust in my heart. 

Under yellowy sunlight of an old woman's hair,                                                                                            I wrap brown and gold around my shoulders.                                                                                                Inhale the prairie's wisdom.      

Song of white throated sparrow                                                                                                                     leads me through tall dry stalks,                                                                                                                     then disappears.

Away from the blustering world                                                                                                                     I lean into the upward grade                                                                                                                          each breath a season, each sound                                                                                                                   a lullaby that rocks me home. 

Jane A. Wolfe

copyright, 2024

May you find your way home in this blustery world. 

  

Now it is November

Hello Gentle Readers. The decreasing time of daylight, cloudy skies, and leaves underfoot tell me it is November. Much needed rain fell Sunday and Monday nights. The sound of rumbling thunder was so welcome and almost strange as I hadn't heard it for some time. I'm writing this post early as I won't have time on Wednesday morning. Today, the national, state, and local elections loom large in everyone's mind. Our church is sponsoring a forum this coming Sunday to promote civil discussion and focus on the common good in "the beloved community." 

On Wednesday, I'll link this post with Kat and the Unravelers. I finished the Scrappy Cold Brew socks knit from several partial skeins. Mostly I knit the slip-stitch pattern every ten rows. Since I needed an easy one skein project for travel knitting, I cast on a hitchhiker. I haven't picked it up since I returned home but it will be good knitting for this evening. I've finished the center section of the Leaflette Scarf/Shawl. Last night I knit four rows of the next chart and discovered an error in my stitch count/pattern. Here I was sailing through this project, patting myself on the back that I hadn't had to redo any rows. Pride goes before a fall. I plan to fix the mistake in daylight hours. 

While I was traveling, I read some fluff, The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore. I rarely read romance novels but chose this one because it had literary twist. A book with notes between two young people is discovered in a musty library basement by a struggling young woman. She sets out to find out more about them. It was ok reading after full days with family.  I'm currently rereading The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich because it is this month's selection by my local book group. This 2021 Pulitzer Prize winner stands up well to a second reading. Erdrich's beautiful descriptions of the natural world and very human characters is a joy to read. Several of the main characters are watching out for each other in various ways. The layered themes will make a good discussion.

I see the bright blue gray sky that comes only at this time of year. Here's to taking care of ourselves and others this November.

TGIF 11.1.24

As I post, I'm watching a squirrel carry leaves up the birch to construct a winter shelter. While squirrels are not my favorite critters, signs of seasonal changes comfort me. This past Wednesday was a reentry day and so I'm posting today. 

I am thinking about Jane Hirshfield and her poetry. Lately, I bookend my days with her poems. In the morning I read from a large collection, The Asking and in the evening I read from The Beauty. In an "On Being" interview, Hirshfield stated she continually asks questions of herself and the world. Her way of looking at the world makes me stop and think. After listening again to the interview, I hear her voice in my head. I wish I could hear her read more extensively. The subtle inflections of words spoken by the poet make for a rich experience.

I am grateful for my visit to Connecticut. Both traveling days were uneventful. I spent four glorious, ordinary days with Kate and her family. The weather was gorgeous. Kate and I walked the three younger ones to and from school. The mornings they were in school, my daughter and I walked trails along the Mianus River and Long Island Sound. 

I bought her a coffee, hung out at home, attended Trunk or Treat on Saturday and church on Sunday. Patrick was in charge of the event so he didn't make it into many photos but he was the perfect 1950's Dad in a white shirt with a pocket protector/pens and black pants. The days filled my heart. 

Back to the Future costumes

I am inspired by Kamala Harris and her campaign. However this election turns out, she has made a difference in our world and inspired a new generation of women. Once a long time ago, I listened to a keynote address by a nationally known early childhood educator. I can't remember her name but I do remember one of her remarks. "Somewhere a future president of the US attends preschool and she could be sitting in your classroom tomorrow." 

As for fun, nothing beats an October day playing in the leaves with kids. Norah and I made some leaf rubbings with crayons. I helped Micah and Norah gather leaves into a pile. They wore shorts, I had on long pants and a sweatshirt.  Go figure. In their joy, I see hope.

Making Progress

Hello Gentle Readers, I'm writing this post a day early while looking out at sun shining on brilliant yellow leaves. Monday's raindrops shimmer on the rusty orange leaves of the little serviceberry tree. The moisture won't last much longer but for now it is a glorious sight. Yesterday a little rain fell during afternoon and then late in the evening a thunderstorm came through. The official report is .25 of an inch and it is very welcome. Although a Cooper's Hawk is creating a ruckus in the backyards, this morning is gorgeous. 

Tomorrow I'm flying out to Connecticut for a short visit with my daughter's family. My husband will hold down the home front. We're going together for a longer visit later this fall. I'll catch up with you when I return. 

Wednesday a.m. I may or may not have time to link this post with Kat and the Unravelers but I'll be there in spirit. This week's knitting is about making progress. I completed the increase section on the leafy scarf/shawl. I put in a lifeline as I want to weigh my yarn at the midpoint. If I don't have enough yarn, I will know how far to rip back in order to make adjustments. Hopefully that doesn't happen but better to be prepared. I'm knitting the gusset of the second Cold Brew sock. I am itching to cast on a sweater but I best finish the leafy scarf/shawl first. 

The Noro mittens are finished. I like their mismatched rustic look. They may go in the gift bag as I have plenty of mittens. Projects are showing progress. 

This week I listened to The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. I found this to be a so/so novel of historical fiction. The story is about the friendship between Mary McLeod Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt. I enjoyed learning about the remarkable Dr. Bethune as well as the projects that these two women worked on together. As an aside, I hope to read a recently published biography about Bethune. In my opinion, some of the audio narrative, especially Eleanor's voice, was overly dramatic. Having read nonfiction about Eleanor Roosevelt, I also wondered at the way she was portrayed in this novel. At times I thought the story was a little too much of our time and place rather than a reflection of the time in which the women lived. If anyone else has read the novel, I'd be interested in your opinions.  

So this is more than enough from me today. Norah called me last night to tell me "It's time for you to pack your suitcase!" She also reminded me to bring pj's and underwear. That girl is on top of it. I'm off to do just that. 

May the remaining October days bring you love and light. 

 

October Moments

Hello Gentle Readers. Here we are in the middle of October. This past Sunday autumn blew in with cooler temperatures and by Monday I pulled on a pair of wool socks. Birch leaves drift from the tree as a red bellied woodpecker hops up a big limb. Early today the official temperature dropped to 29 degrees. I am so happy to have crisp October days. Maple leaves turn red and shine against a brilliant blue sky. No rain has fallen and none is predicted. The area is dangerously dry.

Wednesday is the day to link with Kat and the Unravelers. These days I am working on three knitting projects. Some evenings I knit on the Leaflette shawl/scarf. I enjoy it but progress is slow so it looks much like it did last time I posted here. In between, I'm having fun knitting the World's Simplest Mittens in a bright Noro Silk Garden yarn. I bought this yarn last year with a birthday gift certificate from my son and daughter-in-law. The colors and texture of the yarn do the work. 

I'm also working on these scrappy socks. I'm knitting intermittent rows with slip stitches, adapting the design feature to suit the yarns I'm using.  

These last two weeks, I read There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. This novel is beautifully written. Layered themes of water, rivers, oppression, poverty, and opportunity flow seamlessly through the story. I enjoyed learning about the rich culture of the Yazidi people. Shafak's characters grow and change in human believable ways as the story progresses. Somewhere that Shafak stated, she "writes for the silenced." She does so with grace, dignity, humor, and wisdom. 

I wish you lovely autumn days as we hold onto hope.  

Patterns: World's Simplest Mittens - Tin Can Knits

                Cold Brew Socks - Lofty Loops