Hello November

Hello Gentle Readers. November begins with glorious autumn days and sunshine. These days, even with occasional gusty winds, are beautiful. This last week we experienced the first frost so the dragon wing begonia is now inside in front of a sunny basement window. The contents of other pots of summer flowers are in the compost. The hoses are drained and put away for the winter. My husband did the heavy lifting as my low back has kicked up its familiar ruckus. Aging happens but there are times when it isn't much fun. A competent PA prescribed physical therapy. I hope to get in soon.  

On a happier note, I am linking with Kat and the Unravelers today. I finished this autumn pair of socks. I rarely knit with brown colored yarns but I really enjoyed the chocolate brown in the mini skein. The color has me thinking about mocha or coffee colored yarn for a pair of socks. I made some progress on the blue cardigan. Next time I pick it up, I'll section the sleeves from the body. I plan to knit an inch or so and then block it and try it on for fit. 

I cast on a pair of mitts using stash yarn and a tried and true pattern. Earlier in the year, I tried another mitt pattern with this yarn that didn't work for me. This is the seventh time I've knit the Green Thumb pattern. With a leaf as the thumb gusset, the mitts make a nice gift.    

This week I read Ma and Me by Putsata Reang as it is the November selection for my local book group. In 1975, when Reang was eleven months old, her family left Cambodia because of the war and violence of the Khmer Rouge Communists. This memoir is both the story of Reang's mother, a woman born into a society with rigid expectations and few opportunities for women, as well as the author's journey to acceptance of herself as a gay woman. The bond between the two woman is heavy with love, cultural expectations, guilt, and duty. In my opinion, the book could have been better edited. At times the narrative felt repetitious. Still I learned a little about Khmer culture. Reang's story illustrates inherited trauma in the lives of real people, as well as effects of repression of sexual orientation. She is a courageous woman. This is not an easy read but I imagine it will make for a good discussion. 

Sunday I picked up leaves on my walk and left them on the kitchen counter. Why, I don't know. When they dry I toss them out into the yard. It's not like I can keep that beauty in physical form for very long. Soon this too will come to an end. But on I go, making, reading, and finding my way into November. May you too find your way on these rich November days.