A little re-arranging

 Husband started showing me desks a few days ago.  We had discussed it a few months back, but had concerns about where to put it (Husband is not dainty and requires rather large furniture).   He's been making due with his lap and the dining room table. Then he points out that the rest of his classes are going online in November.  Bugger.  Now a dedicated space is decidedly required.

Logically, the only space that would work decently is the craft room.  The craft room that is crammed with my Hoarde, plus other peoples wood and leather working supplies.

This is the majority of what had to be moved, (mainly because wool is lighter than books):

Halloween stuff got pulled out to be put up at the same time.

What it really means is that most of the Yarn Hoarde is now on display at the front of the house.

Not sure how I feel about it really.  While it can be seen from the front windows, it's not like we have a lot of visitors right now.  Who knows? Maybe it will give me incentive to knit from stash more? 

The real upside?  It muffles any noise from the front room. :-)

In my defense, clothing is important for many reasons

 The agitation is back with a vengeance, complete with "all laundry must be done at all times" side effect that even I find a bit odd (and my family kindly puts up with).

So I once again took up the seemingly endless quest to Get My Wardrobe Sorted Out.

Could I find something practical, possibly historical yet (slightly) more elegant than my much loved cargo pants?  Lo, and behold, there is a 1910 Cycling Skirt pattern, that will have added pockets, in the Hoarde (it is an all encompassing type sort).

  I have a v-neck henley, bought months ago, that I finally put on and promptly proclaimed it perfect.  Why couldn't I draft a pattern from it to make shirts in colors I actually like?  Ditto with sports bras.  (Haven't worn a proper underwire since....April?)

Shapes picked, my brain moves on to colors and textures, nothing too sleek or shiny.  Sales pages are combed through; a wool blend here, a cotton in Tim Burton-eque black and grey stripe will be ridiculous and practical.  Black stretch linen?  On sale? Please and thank you!  (Not all the fabric is here yet.)

Close to three months of pondering pieces, collecting materials...mustn't forget bra hooks...and I  almost have things pulled together.

And these are just the sewing projects.

With Fall making itself felt, hinting at the bite of the Winter to come; I started daydreaming about (at least) knee high, hand knit boot socks.  Visions of cabled cardigans and coordinated winter sets ( hat, cowl, and mitts [Moonlit magic and Raven Queen]) dance across my minds eye: one Haunted Mansion themed, all purples and acid green; the other gothic/celestial in black and cream with pops of a bright cornflower blue.

The patterns, all acquired on one whim or another, do not all match, (the hat for the Haunted Mansion set is a recipe by me cobbled together using charts from the cowl). They do harmonize, either through the theme of the pattern itself, or the colors chosen to work the piece.  

The real thread that connects of all these bits and bobs?  I like them. They they make me genuinely happy.  And if I am busy working on all these projects...I  am probably not doing laundry.

Blast. It's October already, isn't it?

 Bugger.  

Two of my favorite people on the planet have their birthdays the first week of October...and for some reason, it always sneaks up on me.

The first week of October happens every year.  Not like it's a surprise. /sighs

My house still looks like it usually does, despite Halloween looming.  By this point, the inside of the house typically looks like a glowing orange, green and purple, be-spider webbed, witch cottage.

The sunflower Summer decor is still up.  Getting out the Halloween decorations has been on my to-do list for a solid two weeks.

I knit Daughter a sweater for her birthday.  It's a magpie colored Chuck by Andi Satterlund, decidedly modified as Daughter does not like tight sweaters.  It still needs the ends woven in, and a wash.

I have also gotten a new Gir hat on the needles, with a second soon to follow.  I had knit a bunch of these for holiday gifts a, literal, decade ago.  A friend's husband decided it was his favorite hat, and has been wearing it pretty much non-stop (including at least one local television appearance) for the the last ten years.  Friend recently asked if I could knit him a couple more so maybe she could wash them more often?  

I found replacement yarn, but the gauge was not quite right.  I re-worked the numbers, making endless comparisons to the one I had knit for Husband at the same time, oh those many years ago, and finally got something almost identical.

So having re-re-re-cast the hat, I should now be able to get through them fairly quickly.

I have been slightly slowed by the cooler weather.  My cat demands a lap to warm her hips most days now.  How could I refuse this face?

Time to Work from the Hoarde

 I started keeping a notebook a short time ago in an effort to keep track of available potential knitting projects.   It's not fancy,  nor horribly well organized.  What it does do is help remind me what yarn was bought for what project as well as the wide selection already at hand.

There are 17 pages like the ones below.  This incomplete catalog has 144 different potential projects.

In fact, I recently did some (exceptionally) rough math to figure out how long it would take me to get through the project kits (that I put together myself) currently residing in the craft room.   Averaging fifteen completed projects a year (typically my average is about 20), not counting multiples I may make of a single pattern, there is a solid ten years of knitting.  Ten years y'all!  Not including most sock stuff or random fiber goodness just hanging out waiting to be useful, ( most from early knitting endeavors that didn't quite work.)  I used to make jokes that I was stashing yarn for a "retirement fund".   I think I'm good for a fair bit.

The knitting pattern library is even more extensive as it includes every tiny toy, freebie, book and magazine pattern compilation I have collected over the last almost twenty years.  Honestly, most aren't that great, frequently painfully dated or something I had plans to modify heavily until something closer to what I wanted came along.  Will I knit all of them?  Goodness no!  I have spent years curating, collecting, and buying yarn for the pieces that appeal to my personal aesthetic (i.e. member of the Addams family who has run off to live in the forest).  Are they all timeless, classic pieces?  Decidedly not.  Where would be the fun in that?  Are there more plant, raven and Halloween themed motifs than a fairly conventional closet?  Well, of course!

The best clothing is the stuff that makes you happy when you wear it.

Things that take the edge off...sort of...at least temporarily

 Unsurprisingly, I knit another sweater.  Another Felix pullover, it's my third.  This one in some Lion Brand Fishermen's wool I had in the Yarn Hoarde.

I started another Chuck sweater, this one for Daughter's birthday.  Also in yarn from the Hoarde; Northampton in the nebula colorway, edged in black Deerfield.  I realized yesterday as I was casting on that it's magpie colors.  When I mentioned that to Daughter, she squealed and grinned from ear to ear; Magpie is one of her Critters.

I've been drinking even more tea than usual, non-caffeinated by 5pm.  Usually a combination of Tension Tamer and Rose mint; by the quart.  Alcohol consumption has pretty much stopped.  Husband and I would split a bottle of wine or have a beer once, maybe twice a week (if it was a feeling fancy week).  Honestly, I drink mostly in social situations because it's an excuse for me being odd or weird...and people tend to stress me out.  It's not a great solution, but it is a socially acceptable one.  Knitting works almost the same way, though then a lot of people get the impression I am not paying attention. *sighs*  I'm not being rude, I am just not poisoning myself on your behalf and managing to make a sock at the same time while holding a conversation.  

The other thing, that has worked as long as I can remember, is reading.  Burying my nose in a novel grants (decidedly) temporary reprieve from my clenched stomach and agitated state.  I started the Magical Midlife series by K.F. Breene a couple of days ago.  Is it great literature?  No.  Is it nice to read about someone who is not in the same age range as my kids have exciting paranormal adventures and a magical house?  Yes!  (The main character is a 40 year old woman from California, who also happens to be an Aries with hazel eyes, making her much more relatable for me personally).  Sadly, there are only two books out and I am 65% through the second one already, in three days.  I did stop to read a Halloween novella in between them, just to try and stretch things out.  The third won't be out till November. *sighs*  Do I have more books to read?  Of course!  I just dislike waiting.

I'm tryin' y'all

 

My stress levels are through the roof the last few days.  Today, for some reason unbeknownst to me, is exceptionally bad.

Spent the morning shaking like a cold, agitated Chihuahua without a sweater.  Stomach clenched for three days straight.

My house is getting highly ordered and clean.  And my Halloween wine holder arrived today!

The Cassandra thing is loud and unnerving right now, shouting that the week won't end well, worse than previous ones apparently.  Other people are involved though, so it could just be me being ridiculous and a little too highly strung.  Here's hoping!  Take care of yourselves everyone!

It started innocently enough...

 I found a pattern that I thought was amusing.  Showed pattern to Husband, he thought it amusing as well, while making mention his Mom totally needed one.  Saying I am fond of my mother in law is an understatement, so I bought the crochet pattern.  ( I may have used it as an excuse to purchase Deerly Departed and Mr. Wednesday as well).

While perusing yarn for said crochet project (as well as a couple of others, a friend is apparently desperately in need of hats), we came to the realization that many people would likely appreciate said fiber endeavor.  Guess what all y'all are getting for the holidays? (In case you were wondering why I may not have linked the pattern.)  Hopefully it remains a good choice as the yarn has already been ordered.

I finished my Salal, complete with buttons!  It does need a final blocking after I picked up the button and neck band.

It makes me look like a very fancy She-Hulk.  This pleases me greatly.

I picked my lone pumpkin.  It looked done, as I did plant the small or pie sized variety, it wasn't supposed to get very big.  And as I have decided it is Halloween already, it is a lovely addition to the decor, until we get around to roasting it.

When I realized that our kitchen was in need of new spatulas, I may have perused the holiday section at JoAnn's, they may have been having a sale....and I may have gone a wee bit overboard.  It truly is Halloween everyday in this house.

It should be evident; I am well and truly done with the first half of this year.  It's not that I think the second half will be better (quite the opposite really), but at least it will be partially done in the comforting colors of fall and all the trappings that go with the season.

Which is why I got mini cookie cutters too.

On a Friday in Late August

 California is on fire, again.  Lightning storms started the fires this time.  I sit and worry as I read about friends losing their homes, fretting over their safety.  Quietly mourning my beloved redwoods, so many of them now just kindling and ash.

Even here, there is a smoke haze in the air that burns eyes and makes the light glaring, harsh.  Late in the day the sun is blood orange.  It gets dark earlier than it should.

My hair is green again.  Emerald at the roots, changing to something closer to moss or seaweed at the ends.  Despite the dramatic color shift, it is as comfortable as my usual copper shade, though even more conspicuous when we venture out, which continues to be almost not at all.

Mostly, I do housework and tend the garden.  I've also started collecting seeds from a few of the plants.  And I continue to knit.  Of course.

Scents and Another Felix

 Most of my make up has been untouched these last few months, didn't even put on mascara the last time we did the grocery shopping. Occasionally, I'll swipe on a bit of lipstick if the mood strikes.  I haven't hennaed my hair since...late March?  Early April?  The green dye I used on my roots has mostly washed out, leaving a rather pale, almost mossy tint to the grown out hair.  It looks, oddly suitable.

The one collection that has expanded, (aside from the Yarn Hoarde) is the fragrance collection.  Most of what I own is amber and/or rose scented.  They are my go to favorites.  But...wearing the same smell everyday is boring.  Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab to the rescue!  BPAL has been a consistent favorite of mine over the years, (I recently had to replace my Mme. Moriarty as I actually ran out).  While not the cheapest, a bottle lasts a good long while, the smells are unique, and it's a company I enjoy supporting when I can.

These are my personal favorites:

The other smell I have been wearing a lot was bought on a whim while putting in an Ulta order.

It's described as "driving through the mountains with the windows down."  I have to say, well done Pacifica! 

Having decided that I apparently need to smell like "outside" or "foresty", I snagged a bar of Shiso from Harry's soaps (Son is quite fond of the Redwood scent).

It is a nice soap that smells, well, like green herbs, doesn't make me itchy nor does it compete with my perfumes.  Definitely a win.

I continue to knit on my Sarah Connor hat.  Admittedly, I was a bit worried about doing dropped stitches, but it looks to be turning out well.

I cast on another Felix pullover out of some fisherman's wool I had in the Hoarde.

Not overly exciting or fancy, but I wear my other one almost constantly when it gets cold, as well as the cardigan version that I have also knit.

A pair of socks for Husband were also pulled out to be worked on.  The yarn is a discontinued Opal colorway.  The pattern is Time Traveler Socks.

He wears a US size 13 shoe and likes a tall leg so they fit in his boots.  They are not a quick to complete project, especially when you set them aside for two or three years.  Ooops.

Not too long ago I plunked an avocado pit into a small pot of dirt to see if I could get it to grow.  It was taking a good while, so I plopped in a few seeds from a store bought lemon into the pot figuring one of them might sprout eventually.

And now I have tiny lemon and avocado trees in my yarn room.

Neutral Headspace and a Pumpkin

 First, my backyard has hit threat level pumpkin, (a bit earlier than it should have, oddly appropriate, but I planted super early.  I'm hoping more blooms will set fruit now the worst of the heat seems to have passed.)

I've never grown pumpkins before.  Definitely a novel experience.

There are also lovely sweet peppers, (that likely won't be sweet as the plants got mixed in with hot peppers. Yay for cross-pollination.)

And it was actually hot enough, long enough for my Hatch chiles to set fruit!

One of the things I've started doing this season is seed collection.  Coriander off the cilantro plants that bolted.  Nasturtium, snapdragon and dianthus flower seeds.  Beans, peas, lettuce, chard, tomatoes and cucumbers.  Carefully dried and tucked away with the rest of the Seed Hoard, which is almost exclusively heirloom varieties.  I have proper Kitchen Garden goals.

As for maintaining a neutral headspace, which is all one can really hope for at this current point in time, the plants help.  They require pretty much daily tending.  Seed collection is time consuming and fussy.  I can, so I do not waste the opportunity to do so.  I am hoping it will enable me to spread more of the plant love later.

No, I am not optimistic that the current administration of uncompassionate, self-serving politicians will pull their heads out of their collective backside to maybe manage a functional bandage slapped on ever growing problems in the next month or less.

But that offers the opportunity for dramatic change for the better for the majority of the actual populace. 

Current practices (and whatever weirdness they potentially escalate into) are not sustainable.  That is what gives me hope.  Things have to change.  Things must change to improve things, for everyone.

Happy August?

Tonight there is cassoulet  ( I used chicken instead of duck, easier to come by around here and left in the slow cooker all day) for dinner.  Exceptionally yummy!  There is Irish Soda Bread to go with it, also quite tasty.

While the bread was baking, I went out and picked tomatoes.  They were absolutely delicious!

I finished my first Trescao sweater, four more to go.  Made out of Berocco Remix, they are simple, comfy tee shirt type items.

I also finished my OmgWtf2020 hat.

Next on the needles is my Sarah Connor hat:

The hats are decidedly thematic and have been quite enjoyable to make so far.

Knitting away, waiting to see what August will bring us, really hoping for more tomatoes.  Most likely steadily adding to the camping gear as we are able and continuing to avoid most humans.