Today...

Thinking about....

Ann's posts about loving fathers (here and here). October 24th, 2001 was the day my father died, and I miss him.

A father's love and presence is a powerful thing, and its absence can leave a gaping hole. I have found God's unbelievable love to be the only thing that can fill that hole. But it fills it beautifully.

Listening to

Songs for fall, recommended on David Kern's blog.

And the sound of extra-large acorns crashing down on the roof. They are loud enough to wake me in the night, and that is no easy task.

Knitting

A warm and comforting shawl for my dear mother. Nature's Choice Organic Cotton in pecan...it's soft, it's beautiful, and the pattern is joyously simple.

I'm also getting prepared to knit socks. I have a terrible time trying new, difficult things, and knitting socks is a mystery to me. But I have a pattern (thanks to Blogless Lynn), I have enough yarn to keep an army warm for the winter, and my knitting mentor is coming home for Thanksgiving; what excuse do I have? None.At.All. Better get started.

Worrying (trying not to, but honesty requires I call it what it is)

About my mother's appointment with the ear/nose/throat doctor. Her hearing loss has been almost complete since this last hospitalization, and she is discouraged to her core. I feel helpless to cheer her, with little ability to communicate with the ease we have always enjoyed. She is alone in her house, alone with her thoughts, unable to hear the world around her. No sound of grandchildren saying good morning, no sound of the cat asking for food, no phone calls or visitors. The sunshine yellow walls of her flat are closing in on her.

We both anticipate that reversing the hearing loss will not be possible. What we wonder is if there is any option to amplify what hearing is left.

Mom is so frail right now, in body and in spirit. I am praying that today's appointment will not be her undoing.

Reading

Margaret Maron mystery stories. Unlike in life, the mysteries all get solved in the end. What a comfort.

Searching for

My camera battery charger. I feel bereft without a camera for these beautiful fall days.

Autumn Gratitude

Five favorite faces around the fire.
Two guitars played by two favorite men.

Flickering flames giving warmth and beauty.
One bright moon playing peek-a-boo with the pine boughs.
Quiet moments when all there is to do is enjoy the company and let the peace settle in.

Indoor beauty not to be forgotten...

A cat, resting in the warm windowsill sunshine.
New yarn: butter yellow, nutty brown, cream and perriwinkle.
Candles flickering.

And all of this doesn't even begin to list the gratitude for meals provided, cards written, visits and the general wonderfulness of family and friends. Amidst the stress, life is so good. Amazingly good. I'm grateful.



Once again not posted on Monday...but once again very, very grateful.

A New Knitting Book

Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting: Celebrating the Gift of Knitting with Twenty-Four Beautiful Patterns

A lovely book by a woman from my community. Great patterns, interesting stories.

From Amazon.com:

Lorna knits virtually everywhere she goes—but it isn’t about using her time productively. Knitting gives her something far more precious than anything she can make with yarn and needles: a way to express her faith and love for others, and the blessings that have come from the priceless connections she’s made with people. Each person has been at the right place at the right time, for a reason—and Lorna has been there, knitting, with a story to tell or an ear to lend, also for a reason. In this book Lorna shares twenty-four of her most memorable stories,each inspiring a beautiful knitting project.

There is a sock pattern that is inspiring me to finally give footwear a try. I better get started before my knitting master leaves for college.

Recent inspiration

Something to cook , from Tonia.

A story that moves me on many levels. (Caring for street people. My own masks. The truth that gets spoken in the most surprising places.) Thank you, Ann.

Something to knit, again from Tonia.

(Tonia inspires many at my house. Many. Often. Thanks, dear friend.)

The comment section at Donna's almost always inspires. I really, really enjoy that little stop on the internet. It is sort of the Cheers, where everybody knows your name, place for me.

This quote, posted last week, was the impetus for some EXCELLENT comments:

Very few people possess true artistic ability. It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you have a burning, restless urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass.

~Fran Lebowitz

You can read the comments here.

I do not agree with Ms. Lebowitz. At all. But, that's okay.

A quote that resonates a bit more for me:

"Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."

~Kurt Vonnegut

Again and again, Donna, THANKS.

Completed

Gusto 10 lavender yarn from Plymouth Yarn Company.
I got the pattern free with my yarn purchase at our local knitting shop.
This pattern is EASY. If you can knit and K2tog, you can make this hat.

*special thanks to the burgundy mug for modeling the hat.