Elemental

The wind – Le Vent.

If you are a fan of the movie Chocolat, or was one of the people who do such things in the correct order, read the novel Chocolat by Joanne Harris, fell in love with the novel – then saw the movie – you’ll appreciate the sequel, Girl Without a Shadow.  Vianne Rocher is now in Paris with daughters Anouk and Rosette – but still running from/with le vent.  She is trying desperately to establish a new life, hiding who she was from herself and the world at large.  A common theme for women who have been burned by public misconceptions whenever they do not conform or behave by societies rules of wear this, don’t speak your mind, hide your true feelings….it’s a long list.  I recommend buying or borrowing both novels for pleasurable and thought provoking reading.

Chris and I are leaving the farm Monday and flying to NYC for a week’s vacation.  We both have bits of mixed emotions about leaving – the farm is at its most beautiful right now with leaves changing color, trees becoming barer and opening up spectacular views, and animals preparing for winter.  I love this time of year – anywhere but especially on the farm.  But New York will be lovely as well and we’ve got a folder full of places we want to go, things we want to see.

The night before Halloween we’ll go to Kris Waldherr’s gallery for tarot night and I’ll see friends from the days when I wrote for The Beltane Papers magazine.  Then on All Hallow’s Eve we’ll be in Greenwich Village enjoying the costumes that a funky and fun neighborhood has to offer.

My daughter Hillarey and her partner Lance will be spending Halloween in New Orleans this year.  I’m sure we’ll meet for a Halloween and costume comparison when everyone’s back home.

This week I spent several days in the studio dyeing yarn.  Playing in color, watching clear water change to subtle or rich colors.  I let mood inspire my choices and a most satisfying time was had.  Pale silk was transformed to cranberry and vibrant purple, very fine lace merino becomes a pool of warm pea soup for winter,  organic fingering-weight merino now resembles whipped pumpkin and autumn sumac.  Each skein was rinsed in lavender water, long regarded for its moth repelling properties as well as its fragrance.  At our final two fall shows we’ll add a small offering of Lost City Knits yarn to the lavender stand and test the waters of this new venture.

Some of you may know that Chris and I do not have a TV in our new house.  Or actually we have an old TV upstairs for Netflix movies but no station reception.  We like it that way.  One of the glories of fall and winter for us is watching the fire in the wood stove.  Hours can pass and the beauty of the colors behind the glass front wood stove will warm our bodies and calm our spirits.  Reading a good book,  or knitting a simple project in front of the fire are joys that we never take for granted.

One of the new yarns that I dyed this week was for me, fine lace yarn the color of raw sugar to match beads purchased at The Bead Merchant that resemble little bits of warm molasses (those on the right only).  The pattern is Shipwreck, a circular shawl with lace motifs in the center then a large border of simple knit-one yarn-over.  Miles of mindless border stitching.  Perfect for travel knitting as well as sitting in front of the fire.