Autumn Love

Loving the cool temperatures, the bluest skies, the slant of the sunlight, and the windows open all the time now. The shift in clothing is underway, and I'm pulling out the throws I like to keep on the couch to curl up under, the long pajamas instead of the shorties, and I'm able to wear a shawl or two now.

I had dinner with my youngest daughter the other night and she snapped this photo of me:

Interestingly enough, I'm knitting with almost the same color of yarn as the shawl I'm wearing, and both were gifted to me by my oldest daughter! I can't remember where I picked up the shawl pin; maybe Lion Brand Studio this summer? That sounds right.

Steve is off grocery shopping for a birthday dinner we are making tomorrow night for his oldest daughter. I'm in charge of baking a chocolate cake, and instead of using a box mix, I pulled out my old recipe box and found the card for Chocolate Syrup Fudgetown Cake. I bet I haven't made that cake in twenty-five years, but I remember exactly what it tastes like. It's the type of cake where you poke holes in it while it's warm and pour the warm frosting over it, so it soaks it up and leaves some on the top. Rich and sweet.

I read somewhere years ago that spring cleaning should really be done in the fall, before we close all the windows and snuggle in, and ever since then, that's been the way I've done it. It made such perfect sense to me, to make it all homey before it gets cold and wintery; don't you agree?

I think Gracie thinks so too. Can you see her sweet little paw? She has taken to sitting behind my head on the love seat now. She's still not a lap kitty, but she loves to curl her tail around the back of my neck and over my shoulder. Such a quirky little thing she is.

I hope you get to enjoy this lovely autumn weekend!

 

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Sublime September

Oh, how I love the light this time of year. Because I've been working so very much, I made it a point to leave school as soon as the kids did this past Wednesday, so I could get in some beach time. The light made it all worth while.

 

I knit.

I took a walk. Actually, it was more of a stroll.

I had all the essentials: my camera, a book, knitting, and a Mason jar of iced coffee.

Autumn is almost here, as evidenced by this fallen leaf.

 

The wind was whipping the water into white caps, and there were plenty of sailboats taking advantage of the day. Something about sailboats always makes me wish I was on the water.

 

Enjoy this brief and beautiful season.

 

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September Sun

The weather was absolutely gorgeous this weekend, and I was lucky enough to be on the beach most of today. I worked on my appropriately named Tidal sweater.

Not too terribly far along, but with school still taking a lot of my time, I haven't been able to work on it very much. I am hoping to have it finished in time for Rhinebeck, because I am going again this year! Even more exciting is the fact that I'm going with both of my daughters! Melissa and I are taking the train to New York on a Friday, and driving up to the fairgrounds on Saturday. It's such a beautiful drive, seeing all the leaves along the Hudson River.

 

Steve and I went thrifting yesterday, and I found this lovely end table. I need to have glass cut to fit, but meanwhile, we are using it as is.

It's a whimsical piece, isn't it?

Oh and not only was the beach beautiful, but I got to see a wedding with bagpipe music, and a woman flying a kite!

 

Have a happy week!

 

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Weekend Fun

We went to Richmond Saturday to pick up Stephanie, and then drove to Randolph-Macon College to watch a football game. A friend of Steve's has a son who plays football for Johns Hopkins, and so we decided to make the drive up. It was a great day for college football, and also for knitting.

 

And tailgating. Homemade ham biscuits, made late Friday night.

 

Here are the Hopkins players at the tailgate party after their win over RMC. Happy, hungry boys.

After the game, we took Stephanie out for her birthday. Happy dad. Happy girl.

I had a fried green tomato sandwich and homemade ketchup with my fries. I think the ketchup was the best thing on the plate. Not that the sandwich was bad, but the ketchup was amazing.

We got home really late, so today was spent sleeping late, then sitting on the beach with friends.

Saw this cute dog in a life jacket, riding a mini surfboard. Adorable.

 

 

Pretty much a perfect weekend. How about you?

 

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Bad Blogger

No, I'm not going to discuss my posting history; I just want to apologize for not thanking those of you who continue to leave kind comments. I have been quite remiss about responding and I barely comment on anyone else's blog these days, which is pretty rude behavior on my part. Please accept my apology and my promise to do better.

School started this past Tuesday and I'm teaching English 10 this year, which means I have quite a few former students. At the end of last year, the Freshman Transition teachers asked permission to loop up with our kids this year, and the administration agreed. The students in this cohort are a group who were identified as at-risk for dropping out, and we felt that maintaining a connection with them would be in their best interest. I looped once before in middle school, but it's more unusual to do it at the high school level, and although it's early days, I think it is going to work out well.

Knitting has certainly slowed down over the past two weeks. I knit a few wash cloths while sitting on the beach, finished a cowl, and started a sweater. Pretty sure the sweater will be slow going for awhile, until I get back in the rhythm of the school year.

And now, some photos:

Tidal, in Malabrigo silky merino, barely begun.

Labor Day at the beach, knitting on the sand. That's me in the water, almost impossible to see, thank goodness.

Gracie, on the couch, napping near me every evening, after I get home. The sheet is cat hair protection.

 

The Atomic cowl, in MadelineTosh Vintage, warm denim.

And my classroom, before the kids showed up. I'm so lucky to have windows!

Hope to be back here again soon!

 

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Double Fun

Babies are sweet, therefore twin babies are twice as sweet. These two are the twin sons of a young friend of mine and the recipients of the blankets I knit this summer. Garrett and Holden; adorable, aren't they?

And here they are, wrapped up in their new blankets, and being held by their uncle and mom.

Time for me to visit again. I need some more sweetness.

 

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Time For School

I go back to work on Monday and therefore, my head has been chock full of ideas. I'm looking forward to meeting my students, hoping to inspire and stretch them to do their very best, hoping I can do my very best to make good things happen for us all. I have been writing down as many of the ideas I can think of so I don't forget them, searching the Internet for ways to incorporate cell phones into my lessons, reading up on new and old strategies to teach writing, and thinking about how I want to set up my physical space. So much to do and despite having enjoyed my summer immensely, I'm really excited about getting the new year started!

I think this is the reason I'm having trouble with knitting anything that requires attention to detail. I've started three different cowls, only to lose track of simple stitch patterns. I finally changed yarn and tried a fourth new-to-me pattern and I think I'm doing okay with it. I'm using some madelinetosh vintage in Warm Denim from the stash and a pattern called Atomic that is reversible. It will probably go in the gift pile and I hope to start a second one to work on while I sit in all the meetings next week. Still haven't cast on for the sweater, but decided on Tidal, as the suggested yarn is very similar to the Malabrigo Silk that I have on hand.

I did some hand knit washing yesterday, including blocking the Zuzu's Petals cowl I finished. I need to go back and finish the hat for Steve I put down a week or two after messing up the cable, but I'm not sure now is the time. He's asked me about it pretty regularly, so I should get on it, although the cool weather is still a ways off.

I used Classic Elite's Liberty Wool for this and I loved the way it striped.

Here's a picture of Gracie enjoying her scratcher. Although she doesn't show affection much, she is very attached to us. She likes hanging out with us, whether she is sitting beside me on the couch or curled up in her basket. It's so cute the way she will follow me from room to room.

I'm so glad I adopted this sweet, beautiful cat.

 

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