Red Scarf Time

This has been a busy fall with many shows and a lot of travel time.  I realized over the weekend that this lovely season is slipping away, and I haven't had time for many of our traditional activities.


While I try to figure out if I can still squeeze in some apple picking, I do know that I haven't missed out on one of my fall traditions.


The Red Scarf Project.

This project collects scarves for foster children who are no longer part of the foster care system and are on their own in college.  The scarves are distributed in time for Valentine's Day.  Donations are being accepted from now until December 15.  There's still plenty of time if you want to contribute.


It's Monday, and I have a new project in the works.  This week is off to a good start.

Scarves, Mittens And More

The cooler weather has me thinking of scarves, mittens and hats.  No matter how many I churn out it seems that these items are always in short supply.  My plan was to knit a bunch over the summer, but somehow that never happened.  


I do have one scarf under construction, almost finished.  This is the One Row Handspun Scarf.  The yarn is a mystery yarn, the ballband long gone.

This will be a donation for The Red Scarf Project.  If you have time for charity knitting, you might want to consider this cause.  The Orphan Foundation of America, the sponsoring organization, sends Valentine's Day care packages to foster kids who are in college.  A scarf is included in each package.  OFA is accepting scarves now.  See the link for more details.  


Another scarf project I'm planning is a scarf knit by everyone in the household.  I've done this before, and it's a good group project.  I'll cast on for a scarf, start knitting and leave it out for others to pick up and knit a few (or many) rows.  In an effort to get everyone to participate plain garter is best.  And it helps if the yarn is colorful and fun.  Yes, there are variations in gauge making for a thick and thin scarf, but that's half the charm.


I really need some mitts but have put this project on the back burner. I have my old standby pattern, tried and true.  I should cast on and get started, but I got distracted looking at other patterns.  I stopped by SpillyJane (Ravelry link) to browse.  I made her Owlmittens not too long ago, and I love her designs.  As luck would have it, she's having a sale on patterns.  Buy 3, get 1 free. Buy 4, get 2 free.  Buy 5, get 3 free.  I'm sold.  That was the easy part.  The hard part is deciding which patterns to get.


My color inspiration for the week comes from the farmers' market.

Heirloom tomatoes . . . 

. . . with stripes.

Summer Fun

Sometimes my to-do list can be so long it's overwhelming.  Inertia settles in, and I can't make any progress.  Nothing gets crossed off the list.  Instead more things are added to the list.  And I get more and more bogged down.

Eventually something gives me a kick in the pants, and I start making progress on all that needs to be done.  I've found that one of the most effective motivators is a deadline.  With the end of summer fast approaching I'm coming up on deadline to accomplish everything that I had intended to do all summer long.

I've been crossing off items on my to-do list, plotting out my life for the fall and organizing my chaotic house.  While the house still isn't in order, I've always considered that a work in progress.  And then there are the fun things on the list.

Trip to the beach . . . done.

Multnomah was my companion at the beach.  I was able to knit a few rows.  It's an easy, relaxing knit - perfect for sun and sand.

Red Sox game at Fenway . . . done.

Of course I wanted to knit something red.  A red sock would have been ideal, but it wasn't in the cards.  Instead I went with this red scarf.  It will probably be donated to The Red Scarf Project.  

I caught a glimpse of the Canadian Mounties waiting during the first rain delay.

 
The Red Sox were playing Toronto, and the Mounties were on hand for the national anthems.

You can see the rain in this picture.  It was a chilly, almost raw day. After the second rain delay and a dry shirt I was still feeling damp around the edges.  I wrapped the scarf around my neck as I was knitting.  It helped keep out the chill.  With the two delays it was a long afternoon into the early evening.  But well worth it as the Sox won.

It's that time of summer when the peaches are ripe and ready.  We can't seem to get enough of them . . . pie, cobbler, sauce.  Eating them with yogurt or just plain by themselves.  One of our favorites is peach pie with ginger crumb top.

Peach pie . . . done.