...and everything smoky-smelling and the sky orange and ash gray at twilight, it seems Halloween will never come in a fall of broomsticks and a soft flap of bedsheets around corners.
- Ray Bradbury :: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Last autumn is a blur ~ my favorite time of year came and went unnoticed and uncelebrated. I'm making an effort this season to take in the things around me that I love so much. The damp earthy smell of the air, the crunchy kaleidoscope foliage underfoot, seasonal baking with local produce - my favorite apple cake can be found here (best right out of the oven with a cool spoon of homemade whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon), weekends filled with snuggling under a blanket and watching football and the World Series, listening to the blustery winds and the spate of daily rain showers that are part of October and November in the northwest. I spent an hour today gathering fallen leaves in the hopes of following Ginny's lead ~ I'm finally going to wax and string a garland for our house after bookmarking this post four years ago. I didn't plan ahead well enough so I don't have beeswax ~ I'm hoping paraffin will work just as well. I'll let you know.
I'm just finishing a perfect book for this time of year, Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, a favorite from childhood. I'm also skimming through a new Martha Stewart magazine ~ I was taken in by the cover at the market and it somehow ended up in my basket. I haven't bought one of her magazines in years but her October and November issues were always my favorites.
And I've been knitting. Alot. I'm so behind on getting things up on Ravelry - so not like me - but I'll get everything posted one of these days. I've got three new finished projects:
and the Shale Baby Blanket (link here) that I finished last weekend while at retreat (posted here) .
I'm getting really close to finishing up the Hemlock Ring Blanket (link here) that I'm making for our second Goddaughter who will be here in just another month or so. And I'm just casting on the second of my By the Seine River Socks (link here) that are my October set for Liesl's monthly sock challenge over at Buckaloo View (link here) .
I'm so glad to be joining Ginny and everyone again for Yarn Along (link). It's been awhile! Looking forward to seeing what you all are up to since the last time I visited!
~ Melissa
(ack..sorry about all the links - I should have put them all at the end but I'm too lazy to go back and fix it all now! my post is a bit of a mess!)
I hope you have a chance to enjoy every minute of this autumn Melissa, it sounds like you are well on your way! Love all the knitting and apple cake? Oh yes, Maya has some great recipes .
ReplyDeleteI was trying to remember where I found the link for the recipe and now I'm wondering if it was on your blog, Tracey ~ haha!
DeleteI can only come up with WOW! Aside from the yummy autumn leaves, your projects are breathtaking. Lovely, lovely display. Can't wait to see more of your finished WIP's. :)
ReplyDeleteHey, P3! We've both been away it seems...thanks for the nice words as always :)
DeleteHow is your streusel coming along?
Hey Sheldon... I've only been working on hats. Thought I would get a lot done while on our drive to CO, but hardly knitted. Dave's cousin's wife gave me a TON of yarn, and I decided the hats will go to Tooele, UT, where they live, but I'm in no hurry. My hand is a mess and I'm going to have surgery on it again after the holidays. Grrrr
Deletebummed to hear about your hand ~ I thought all that was behind you...
Deleteand yet you knit away :)
Streusel on hold for awhile?
I adore the Streusel. I started another hat, but maybe I'll do something I LOVE for a while. Carolyn is almost finished with hers and wants to start another. Yea, my hand is a real problem. Poo
DeleteI'll wait to do a final post til we get the two of you finished up ~ I want to do a collage of everyone's since all the colors were so different and wonderful!
DeleteI'm with Penny, WOW!! The beautiful fall colors AND all of your beautiful knits!! I am glad you are able to savor this fall season, Melissa... A season of life when you cannot really makes it even more special when you can. blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteYour blog is full of fall colors right now, Tanna ~ I'd never guess you love this time of year as well :)
DeleteI am glad you will be making that garland, a beautiful idea. Lovely knits and so happy to see you on yarn along :)
ReplyDeletethanks, Karen ~ I'm excited to see if I can do the garland...hopefully I don't lose steam before it's done
DeleteAloha,
ReplyDeleteLuv your sock blockers. Do you have a link for them?
Mahalo.
Aloha to you as well...here's the link (they're from Loopy Ewe and often out of stock)
Deletehttps://www.theloopyewe.com/shop/g/knit-crochet/accessories/the-loopy-ewe-sock-blocker/plastic-sock-blocker/
Your knitting is absolutely beautiful. Enjoy fall: the colors, the smells, and the knitting! (And I love Ray Bradbury. Dandelion Wine is my favorite of his books - also one of those favorites from when I was in middle school that just stuck with me.)
ReplyDeleteYou're not the first person that's mentioned Dandelion Wine...I'll have to add that to my list since I have yet to read it
DeleteThanks, Brandy!
What beautiful hand knits! Good for you for enjoying this season. I sadly did not enjoy it this year due to circumstances beyond my control but next year I will be making it a point to enjoy it all. Thank you for the reminder. Happy knitting!
ReplyDeleteHi, Donna ~ I'm taking time to make time this year since otherwise it will be another lost season. I hope you can find a few minutes to enjoy it just a little :)
DeleteLove the waxed leaves project and idea, my mom has done that. Wonderful knits and post...keep inhaling ~
ReplyDeleteleaves are waxed! ~ it was so much fun I think I'll have to gather a few more (especially since I had to toss more than half the ones I picked up since after laying on the table for three days they got a little crunchy and dried out)
Deletei'm just going to insert a poignant *sigh* right here and bookmark this post so i can come back time and again. you describe everything i love about fall, and your pictures and knitting are always so beautiful. wax a leaf for me, would you? :) xo mimi
ReplyDeleteI picked the prettiest of the pretties and waxed it just for you Mimi :)
DeleteLovely photos, wonderful quote (I love Ray Bradbury) and lots of inspiration for autumn projects. Your Streusel is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHi, Julie! Thanks about the Streusel ~ I'm glad to finally have it blocked so I can wear it. There are still a few stragglers so I'll wait to do a collage photo with everyone's finished shawls til a few more are completed!
DeleteI'm glad you joined us ~ hope you come back again!
Love those socks! I must make them my next project.
ReplyDeletePenny
x
if you love feather and fan, you'll love these Penny! it's an easy pattern to memorize :)
DeleteThe leaves! The knitting! The books! Does this season get any better? Maybe, with a bite of apple pie...LOL, enjoy every second. Love from Minnesota, Kelly Lightbeam
ReplyDeleteapple pie sounds delicious ~ must make one :)
Deletewell, after the caramel apple cake is gone (store bought but still pretty darn yummy!!)
throwing the love right back at ya, Kelly in Minnesota (give lil Miss a squeeze from me!)
Will do, it's her birthday today, so she's living life large ;)
Deletethose socks are just gorgeous!!! I'm trying to decide on a pattern for my November pair right now, this might make the cut to my top 5 haha.
ReplyDeleteAlso, wow gorgeous wipe you have going on, your revelry project page is just dreamy :)