Almost

Soon, the buds are telling me, soon. This morning I noticed that the maple branches are beginning to turn red at the tips, and I had to wait for a flock of turkeys to cross Noyac Road. Before long, yellow daffodils will burst open, brown will be replaced by green, and the turkeys will be leading their poults.

Soon.

I hope you have a lovely weekend — eat lots of chocolate, and hug your families!

Whatever it wants

There are tiny sprouts of mint leaves in the garden, and I saw an osprey on its nest. Spring must be here somewhere. But today's sky at Long Beach was heavy and dull, as if it is still winter. Even the wind gave up — on my way past the first time, the water was choppy, with little whitecaps hurrying across the surface. Fifteen minutes later, I stopped to see this: calm water, so calm that I could see the bottom yards and yards out.

Back home in the warm house, it's been a good day for quiet. Rosemary is sleeping, and I'm finishing some knitting. There's tea, and Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell are here to sing to me. It can snow if it wants, or rain, or whatever. This is the place to be!

Better knitting

Us.

Up.

Close.

When was Rhinebeck — weeks ago? It all went by in a blur. I spent a lot of Saturday "helping" Clara Parkes at her book signing. It was something to see: a line of knitters, all waiting to tell her how much her books mean to them, how they love Knitter's Review, how they learned this or that from her, how much they love that she shares her morning coffee with us via Twitter and Facebook. Knitters are mostly lovely people, and I got to see mostly loveliness that day. Clara signed all the copies of the book that there were, and there weren't nearly enough!

The book is, of course, The Knitter's Book of Socks. Clara asked me to design a pattern, so I did. It came to me on a wintry Sunday morning in Kris' living room, over a cup of coffee in this cup:

Herend 2010.

The pattern is Hickory, in Sundara Sock Yarn. I'm delighted with how they turned out, and with the way the pattern looks and fits into in this incredible book. We are learning so much from Clara Parkes and her books, and she's helping us become better knitters — intuitive, knowledgeable knitters. It's beautiful to see, and that's one reason why standing with her at that table at Rhinebeck, with the line of better-knitters stretching down the aisle, was such an honor.

On Sunday, Judy and the Remarkable R's and I made the rounds at Rhinebeck. It was different because they couldn't be there for both days, but it was still wonderful. I just love our Rhinebeck Tradition. I don't need yarn, of course, but I brought home a little bit of Guanaco and a pair of glass circular needles to add to my small selection.

I've knit a lot since I got home — more hats and some mitts, and a bigger project that's not ready to show yet. I've been working on a design that is about to become a pattern that will eventually become something I hope you might want to knit. Don't tell anyone, okay?

Man Hats I.

 

Man Hats II, and Foxgloves on the needles.

Just like today

Errands, Long Beach, housekeeping, knitting.

Just a typical day off, nothing special. Ho-hum.

I'd like all my days off to be days like today, please!

Random things that are rattling around in my head:

• Rhinebeck is just over three weeks away! Road trip with the girls!
• I have started doing some Christmas knitting and shopping, which is not at all like me.
• Yesterday's Ten on Tuesday was a wake-up call. What is sour milk doing taking up space in my fridge? And more important, why did I tell the world about it?
• There's a little house that I pass on my way to Sag Harbor that I have dreamed about living in since I moved here in 1993. It's tucked under the trees, right on Noyac Road. Why doesn't anyone live there? What is its story? Today I went as far as deciding that a few trees would need to come down so there would be more light inside. Edited to add: This is the house on Google Street View. Isn't it darling?
• Days off should last longer than 24 hours, especially if they are days like today.

Embracing opportunity

Summer's last flower

Time is flying! Summer ended this week, and I realized that I'm ready for a new start, a new season, new, new, new. Summer exhausts me, but Autumn energizes me. Time flies, but it is ripe for change, and (in my head, at least) I'm ready to embrace new things.

One thing I'm doing has until now been out of my comfort zone. At the gentle urging of one of my customers, I went to the monthly meeting of a new group — The Coalition for Women's Cancers at Southampton Hospital. It's a big name for a small but growing group of women who have or had or care about any cancers that affect women, not just breast cancer. I'm looking forward to being a part of this new community.

The CWC is having its first fundraiser this Thursday, and I've spent part of the weekend putting together some knitted things to donate to the raffle. A pair of Hedgerow socks, my Busy Bee and  Baktus scarves, and something I whipped up yesterday:

They're a pair of Maine Morning Mitts in some vintage Sundara Worsted (Briar Rose, picked up at the KR Retreat Stash Lounge a couple of years ago — thanks, Rosi!). Mitts always look so silly when they aren't filled with hands, don't they? Sort of like pantyhose without legs.

My monumental achievement for the weekend, though, was the finishing, washing, and blocking of my Arabian Nights sweater. To accomplish this I had to do two things that those who know my house and housekeeping "skills" will laugh at: wash all the dishes that were marinating in the sink so I could soak the sweater, and clear off my counter so I could arrange it there to dry. It's almost dry (I'm waiting on the sleeves) and then I can wear it and get somebody to take a picture and everything!

Summer's last waves

P. S. Our customer M, who I wrote about in February, died on September 10th. His wife told us that one of the last things he did was go to the beach, just a couple of days before he died. He'd been in the store many times during the summer, still reading, still exploring. I'll always remember our small, quiet conversations which helped me get through my own treatment, and I'm grateful to have shared a little of his journey with him. Rest well, Mike, and thank you.

Bouquet

I found more than fresh vegetables at the farm stand today.

My Wednesday was beautiful, fragrant, and restorative. I hope yours was, too!

Waving

It's been a typical summer day. Blue sky, waves of heat, cicadas singing. It rained a little bit, and there was a thunderstorm somewhere, but most of the day has been just like this. I was on my way to the farm stand on the back road to get some blueberries, and the fields of corn were so beautiful that I had to stop. Though there wasn't any place to take a photo from a higher vantage point, I can tell you that I think there's something perfectly wonderful about a corn field, spreading out across acres, tassels waving in the breeze.

In another part of my world, today has not been typical. Barry Fraser, a blog friend and a wonderful writer, died yesterday. Reya has written a beautiful post (thank you, Sister), and others have as well, so I'll let their words speak for me. I'm deeply grateful to have encountered Barry when I was on my own cancer journey, and I'm also grateful to be one of the fortunate ones. I'll be here to wave him into the next world. I  just hope that my life and the way I live it honors him in some small way.

Ten on Tuesday: Where I Live

Ten things I like about where I live:


 1. My little home.

2. The beach at the ocean.

3. The beach on the bay.

4. Small-town-ness.

5. Friends nearby.

6. Local berries.

7. Big sky.

8. Beautiful light.

9. Inspiration.

10. All the seasons.

Hot

They say the heat is going to break a little tonight. Right now, it's just hot.

Long Beach was still, hazy, and — well — hot. A little breeze teased my hair as I sat there, but it wasn't something I could call cool. I've spent most of my day off indoors, where I can be cool, and where I can knit on that Baktus while sipping some icy limeade and tea. Honestly, it's the only thing to do!

Wings

The sky was simply amazing today, and so was the weather. The heat and humidity were chased away, perhaps by this sky angel. At least that's what I see there — how about you? 

I finished my Beaded Turquoise Baktus, and washed it this morning. I love how it turned out, and I'm trying not to start another one right away (I know the end of this story, don't you?).  It's all dry and ready to be modeled by my porch finial mannequin.

 She's served me faithfully for more than ten years now, so I think she deserves a close-up.

 Please don't tell her that her head's a little on the small side.

Warm, calm

That damselfly (or its cousin) just seems to like hanging around. Fine with me! And if it's waiting on those berries, I think it will be a while.

 It's pretty warm today, and it's supposed to be warmer tomorrow. I went to Long Beach and sat on a rock, which I highly recommend. Even on a windy day, it's a peaceful place. Even though the water is so full of energy, I grow calm. And even in the bright mid-day sun, I smile.

Knitting continues on a Revised Baktus. I decided to measure out half the yardage so there won't be a surprise at the end (as in "Surprise! Not enough yarn!"). Then I decided to start over on 3mm needles, up from 2.75mm. That extra .25mm means more scarf, faster.

If anyone is looking for me for the rest of the day, I'll be on the couch, feet up, cool seltzer by my side, and Baktus in my hands.

Right in my own back yard

I forgot to bring my "real" camera with me when I went out in the world today. It was a spectacular day. Bright, warm, breezy, and full of life. I took some iPhone photos of stuff in the back yard, though. There's a pot of pretty chrysanthemums at the turn of my little walkway.

 And this is a sort of scraggly peony bush, but the petals are still rich and velvety.

The little irises are starting to bloom. They get a lot of sun, really they do.

 

My primary mission today was to take these packages to the post office and send them on their way. My secondary mission was to stock up on provisions. The Summer People will be arriving for the holiday weekend, and I need to be prepared to go from home to work and back home with as little extra interaction with them as possible. That includes standing in line at the market as they order five pounds of lobster salad while speaking to the nanny on the cell phone, when all I want is a piece of chicken or a quart of milk.

I'm being too harsh. Actually, I look forward to the excitement, and the favorite customers I haven't seen since last year, and the boost that we all get from the presence of so many people. I'll grumble about rudeness, disrespect, and lack of basic manners when the weekend is over and my rose-colored glasses are all scratched and wonky!

Sur-prizes

It's tulip magnolia time...

Even on a hazy day, they're opening...

Today their branches were the perfect place to pose some of the prizes for my Gynecologic Cancer Foundation fundraiser and giveaway...

First are two skeins of Sundara Yarns DK Silky Cashmere (160 yds each, 55% silk & 45% cashmere) in "Spring Fresh," a color Sundara chose for me. This is one of her newer yarns, and it's just beautiful. It would make a soft and warm cowl or scarf.

Next is a skein of Sundara Yarns Fingering Silky Merino (500 yds, 50% silk & 50% merino) in "Marina over Icicles," a yarn that Sundara sent as a little extra prize (Thank you, Sundara!). I'm knitting Anne Hanson's Boxleaf Triangle shawl with FSM, and I have a "collection" in my stash -- I think it's my favorite (after Sock, of course).

And last, though not posed in a tree, is Beyond the Dunes by Jake Rajs. I want to share this book because it captures the beauty of the many landscapes and the extraordinary light that surround and inspire me. To the rest of the world this place is known as "The Hamptons," but to those who live here it's just home, on the East End of Long Island.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on my April 4 post by 7:00pm EDT on Wednesday, April 28 (my birthday!). I'll draw three names at random and contact the winners by email.

I hope you'll add yours to the (yay!) 64 responses so far, and that you'll pass the word. With every new comment, I'm revising my idea of what I will be able to give -- upward. I've never been a "cause" person, but this one, of course, means the world to me. 

Dr. Pearl, Nurse Sylvia, my friends & family, and all of you, aren't charitable foundations, so one way to spread my gratitude around is to make the biggest donation I can to an organization that does so much for me and for all women. I hope you'll join in my fun!

::-::-::

In the not-work part of my life, I've been spinning like a crazy fool ever since I received some very special fiber from Jen at Spirit Trail Fiberworks. It's Bluefaced Leicester blended with silk, cashmere, and merino. There will be pictures eventually, but at the moment I'm in too deep to want to stop to take one. For now, take a look at the fifth picture down in this blog post. Now you see what I mean, don't you? And excuse me as I publish this and get back to spinning while the light is still good!