November Yarn Along

 

We've finally had some sweater weather.  I’ve now had several chances to wear the sweater I finished knitting in June.  I knit it during the shutdown; finishing it up just before the election work ramped up. 

 And that last week before the election was a doozy!  There were calls and text messages reminding voters to follow through with their vote, a couple of socially distanced rallies, and a campaign finance report due to the state.  Then there was granddaughter number 4’s fifth birthday.  She so sweetly asked me to sew a blouse and a dress for her birthday presents that I just couldn’t refuse.  We also had a fantastic Halloween party for the cousins who distance learn, complete with a Covid 19 virus piñata and a Baby Ruth. 

 For so long I looked forward to November 3^rd; imaging what the days would be like once the election was over.  Even though we were warned about how long the results would take I don’t think I ever considered the amount of anxiety it would cause.  On Friday night after the election, we had a long-promised cousin sleepover at my daughter’s house.  That next morning we finally learned the results.  And even once the results were announced I think it took another 24 hours for it all to sink in.

Now those days I dreamt about are here.  Over the weekend I finally got to some fall gardening, putting flower beds right, planting bulbs and planting in the greenhouse.  My oldest granddaughter, (she’s 12) actually volunteered to come and help me.  And to my surprise, she was a huge help.

 I have officially started the Christmas knitting, so I can’t write much about the knitting projects.  Currently I am reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, because of that 12 year-old granddaughter.  She is currently reading the 5th book and a definite Harry Potter super fan.  I am also listening to The Witch Elm, by Tana French.  And my number finally came up on the wait list at the library for Ina Garten’s new cookbook, Modern Comfort Food.  Perfect timing!!

Recognizing Gifts and October Yarn Along

 

I received a wonderful gift this weekend.  Instead of politics, campaigns, and endless emails, and because it was our daughter and son-in-law’s anniversary, we had a sleepover.  Until then, I didn’t realize just how much I needed one.

Instead of the news, I watched Casper the Friendly Ghost, and Peter Rabbit.  I played board games.  I took long walks to visit the neighbors, no matter their politics. I collected leaves, flowers, and found sticks to serve as magic brooms. 

I played Ghost Busters, when each falling leaf was an encroaching ghost and we even needed to defend our headquarters and stop a ghost invasion.  I read Halloween books when I kid you not, hand to God, a fox trotted across the yard just a few feet in front of where we were sitting outside the playhouse/headquarters; showing up one page earlier then in the story we were reading!

At a time when we, as a county party, are busy replacing Biden and Bollier signs because the first ones have been either stolen, vandalized, or even wrongly removed by the state’s department of transportation, it was wonderful to live in the world of children again. Just today I pulled the Biden and Bollier yard signs from our own yard to replace the two highway signs stolen on Friday night.  Until social media and working as the county party chair, I had no idea what division and nastiness resided in this county.   

I’m looking forward to November when after the election Paul and I will be stepping down as chairs of the party.  And no matter who wins, I intend to go into seclusion.  In life before Covid 19, I would have wrapped myself in the warmth and comfort of family.  It breaks my heart that we have not been able to be together as a whole family group since it began.  I suppose we will see what the fall and winter will bring.  But in my heart of hearts I know it won’t be possible.

But I will find other things to bring me joy, and possibly frustration.  This fall we installed a greenhouse.  I am sure I will spend many hours learning through trial and error.  There will be time again for drawing and painting.  While I did start knitting a sweater in August I’ve really not made any progress on it.  So I’ve settled for knitting leaves; because unless I’m knitting while sitting on the sofa, I’m sleeping on the sofa.

I am making time for books.  I just started Elizabeth is Missing, by Emma Healey, to prepare for the upcoming Masterpiece series.  I read the kids The Widow’s Broom, by Chris Van Allsburg.  I’d forgotten how wonderful it was.  And we were reading The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales, by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, when the fox trotted by; both of them leftover from when our kids were young.

So, as Rowen said to Jools yesterday, "Is there room on the broom for a girl like me?"

 

Next Generation

Finally, this summer we were able to work on a long-promised project. 

This playhouse was originally built for our four children 28 years ago.  After they grew it evolved into part pool house, part shed.  Once we had grandchildren we often talked about cleaning it up and returning it to a playhouse again.  And then a couple of summers ago we actually got around to putting in new windows and paneling.  However, somehow we never finished it, until this summer.  But of course, this summer was different.

 And now, here we are!  I can’t tell you how happy it makes me seeing children running in and out of it again.

 I let the two older granddaughters, 9 and 12, help me paint.  So there’s a half gallon, (at least) of paint that needs to be sanded off the floor.  And maybe we'll build a new porch, or possibly a loft.  But that’s a project for next spring!

 

Stepping out of my box

It's been nearly a year since I've posted here.  Maybe there's too much to be said, too private, just too much.  Retirement and where we live makes the virus a bit easier to navigate.  

With this newfound time, I've found several free courses to take on the internet.  I started this one yesterday.  This morning I posted my poem from yesterday's lesson in the class community room.  Much to my surprise, it was well-received.  The lesson, finding awe in everyday moments.

the first glimpse is dark

the scoop, like sand

the smell familiar

memories triggered

the anticipation

it’s our choice not to hurry it

but sleep is not so far gone

it threatens to return

and yet, it’s so much better to wait

when allowed to percolate

the weight of the cup

the softening of the milk

the warmth of the swallow

the fog begins to lift and

sleep retreats

If you're interested you can find the course here.