September Color

Hello Gentle Readers. This week the days are cooler, the sun sets earlier, and neighborhood flowers send out the last blooms of summer. In our yard, I tend zinnias, mostly pink this year, cosmos, black-eyed susans, and sweet pea blossoms. Most days I walk by a big patch of sunflowers and a few bright magenta morning glory blooms trailing over a fence. I am soaking up all the bright colors of September. Come next February, I'll crave all of this summer color. I don't know about you but just before summer gives way to autumn or winter to spring, I feel restless. Is it the end of a season, the uncertainty of what's to come, a desire for change, the sense of time passing or some other combination that creates this feeling? It's hard to know but by now the feeling is familiar.  

No matter, this is Wednesday and the day to post about knitting and reading. Norah's sweater, with all the ends woven in, is drying on the blocking mats. It's a good thing I don't mind weaving in ends. When it is dry, I'll pick up stitches and knit the buttonbands. I'm keeping up with the HusKAL hosted by a local yarn shop, Knit Paper Scissors. This week's section was only twelve rows but added in the third and fourth colors. It is fun to see them together. So far, so good. Because the next pattern section won't drop until Friday and I'm a little tired of my current sock, I cast on a hat from stash yarn. I can't remember when I last knit with Aran weight yarn. I like the colors and texture of the yarn but I can't knit on it very long before my right arm and shoulder tell me to stop. So a few rows at a time. Last night I looked around for another project, including a shawl WIP, but haven't landed on anything.

I listened to The Other Einstein, a work of historical fiction by Marie Benedict. The story of Albert Einstein's first wife, is an an old infuriating story of a woman not recognized for her intellect and contributions. The story was interesting and the writing average. Otherwise, I've had a hard time settling into a book. I gave up on Pieces of the Plains and realize why I didn't finish it the first time. The essays are disjointed and several have to do with geology, not my favorite reading topic. I'm going to donate that book and several others. A library hold, a new biography of Phillis Wheatley, came in yesterday and a copy of Foster is in transit. Once the second book arrives at my branch library, I'll pick them up.  

Monday I began weeding and cleaning up my garden beds. It's a process. I leave a lot of foliage as winter cover and food for birds but the weeds need to be pulled. This summer's heat took a toll on some perennials while the weeds and ground cover thrived. This is a job to be done over several weeks and it is nice to be outdoors in warm but not searing temperatures. 

I wish you well and happy September moments. 

Ravelry links

HusKAL Wrap

Noro Swirl Hat