Here would be nice . . .

Or here . . .  The lake in Minnesota just keeps calling.  Sigh . . .

But it's a great day when we get to watch one of these:  The Last Knit video.  All I can say is friends, don't let this happen to you and friends, don't let friends knit with their own hair! =)  Enjoy.  (And send your thanks for the laugh to the Red Scarf Project blog and to Saralyn of Seattle.)

If fall feels like a new beginning then, of course, it is time for a new project.  Logical, que no?  Which brings me to thinking about that saying, "I need xxx like I need a hole in the head."  I wouldn't quite insert "new knitting project" into that phrase because, well, it sounds so violent.  No, it would be more accurate to say, I need a new knitting project like I need a new TV or a new car or *gasp* like I need more yarn!  Okay, forget that!  Let's go back to the old saying.  I need a new knitting project like I need a hole in my head but I STARTED ONE ANYWAY!!!

Right now, it just looks like a tube of stockinette but it is actually the beginning of an Elizabeth Zimmerman seamless sweater with saddle shoulders.  I was completely inspired by BrooklynTweed and I have been wanting a basic weekend, lay around, keep warm sweater.  I also have always wanted to try one of the EZ "knitting recipes."  What better time than now?  Especially with Zimmermania starting tomorrow.  

Notice the difference in the color in each photo?  It's really a cross between the two. Not as blue as the first photo but darker than the second.  Those photos are a result of it being so overcast here that the flash went off!  You must understand this is highly unusual in my world!  In Albuquerque, it is almost ALWAYS sunny!  My nine year old son is a BMX racer and I about froze my ass off at Friday night racing -- cold, wind, and at the end it began to rain!  I am a BMX mother, I am tired.

It's fall in New Mexico!

This is the fruit market up the road from my house where they roast chile every year.  These are red chile ristras that are usually hung outside (homes, businesses, etc.) for decoration.  These are not roasted.  They are freshly picked and dry over time and they are the most brilliant red with a sheen something like that on tencel yarn.

Fall is my favorite time of year here and while it comes at the end of the year, it has a feeling of a new beginning to me.  Perhaps this is so because, in the desert, there is a sense that one survives the heat of summer and comes out the other side into the glorious cooling that is autumn.  This must be how northerners feel about their winters finally ending and moving into spring.  When the temperatures cool here, I feel a sense of anticipation for fall and winter, perhaps also because our winters are mild and just don't require the fortitude that Minnesota, east coast or Canada winters demand.  Instead, the relief from the heat is a godsend and the smells of autumn, like roasting chile and pinon, are a welcome change.  Hope you enjoy autumn wherever you are.

My friend, Idella, besides being one of the most talented and interesting knitters I know, also is one of the most generous.  For two years in a row she and her husband, Mark, one of the loveliest men I know, have had my little family to their cabin at the lake in Minnesota for five days just because . . .  Their cabin on Lake Vermilion is an idyllic setting rich with the sounds of the loons and the lap of the water.  Each year we were blessed with splendid weather (for the most part, at least) which consisted of warm sunny days and cool night and the water was great for swimming - a little on the cool side for desert rats but nothing like the September lake temperatures that had me swimming in another Minnesota lake in a wet suit (but that's another story for another day -- just remind me to tell the story about the Vickie Square workshop when the lake was so cold I had to take my earrings out to swim -- they were so cold from the water they hurt my ears.)

On the boat on nearly our last afternoon with her, Idella observed, "You and your children are clearly water people.  What are you doing out there in the desert?"

She has something of a point there, except for the fact that we love the desert and mountains, too.

Perhaps I need to knit a water bag to go with this desert bag I designed and knitted in 2002 (with inspiration and some color charts from Susan Sari of Sisu Designs in Ely, Minnesota).

My only regret about this bag was having it lined by a seamstress who used a machine rather than sewing it in by hand myself.  I was intimidated by the "regular sewing" back then.  Making the bag for the KSKS swap helped a lot with that as you hopefully will soon see when it makes its way out of the country again and hopefully to where it is supposed to end up!  Goddess willing and the U.S. Post Office doesn't tazer me with bad mail karma again!  Here are a couple closer shots of the bag.

It was knit with many yarns -- some now discontinued.  One of my favorites was the Brown Sheep Handpaint for the mountains.  Here's that lining.  Looks intimidating wouldn't you say?  Well, it scared ME!

And I'll bid you farewell with one last shot of a sunset at the lake.

Here's to a great week.

After its very long journey, my KSKS package from Norway has arrived!  And it's a gem!  First, we present an overall view.

Anne of Strikkegal was my swap partner and she created the most ingenius bag!  Take a look at this.

  Any idea what it is? 

Guessed yet?  Oh, I can't wait.  It's a sock!  Yes, a sock!  See?

Click here and scroll down to the entry entitled, "KSK-Kit" to see its origins and its unfelted state.

And there is another bag -- a needle case that Anne made in bright colored fabric.  I love it!

As you saw above there was also yarn -- a lovely red, blue and green variegated colorway.

There were also a set of double point needles, tiny scissors, stitch markers and point protectors or, as they call them in Germany, "stitch stoppers."  I especially like the german translation:  "maschen-stopper."  I like the sound of that "maschen" word.  No mashing around here!   All stitches are under control!  Finally, there was Norwegian chocolate and yes, I confess, it's not all in the photo because one bar has been consumed -- the milk chocolate.

Oh alright!  I admit it, the dark chocolate bar has been opened.  Ok, ok, yes, some has been eaten!  And it is wonderful and it's mine, not yours! 

Finally, finally, Anne sent her own pattern for lace socks customized to my foot measurements.  Instead of knitting it in the dark yarn she sent, I am going to knit it up in a solid, light colored yarn so I can see (and enjoy) the lace pattern.  The pattern is toe up which will be a new sock journey for me and one I've been wanting to embark on for some time now.

Thank you Anne for such a lovely and thoughtful package all the way from Norway.  I really love the idea that probably no one will have the same bag as me!  Thanks again.

P.S. My swap partner has not received her package because, get this!  it came back in the mail. for. no. apparent. reason.  When you think of all those postal employees who start shooting do you ever wonder where all the disgruntled post office customers are who were sent over the edge by the line at the post office or the customer service unlike any other?  Have you wondered where thos customers' guns are?  Don't worry, the knitter in the desert remains calm and will not be deterred.  I went to Santa Fe and had my chakra adjusted so that I can handle the postal stress.  And I'm resending the package!  I have not posted photos of it because I want my partner to have the privilege of the world premier! How big of me.

Dear Blog:

Can you forgive me? I know I have neglected you. I’ve been knitting too much to blog, and working and taking care of my kids on summer break and going on vacation and – What’s that? You don’t care for my lame excuses? Well, I can understand, but this process of posting photos and incorporating them into a blog entry also can be very time consuming – You don’t care? Well, you’re pretty damn demanding for a blog, aren’t you? What? What’s so demanding about wanting some regular posting? Every few days or even just once a week? Well, it’s hard! Knitting is hard, you say, and I do that all the time? Well, that’s different. If I cared enough I would give up a little knitting time for you? No, if I had more time I could give up a little for you. Dear Blog, you’re glaring. It does not look very appealing on you. My mother would say you better watch out, your face could freeze that way. You don’t care, you’re a blog? But you’re a blog that’s talking as though you are human. Am I suggesting that you are less important, less relevant and that your feelings are less real because you are a blog? Well, kind of . . . But c’mon blog, we’ve been at this for awhile now. Couldn’t you forgive me? Just this once?