Tuesday, October 12, 2010

All These Things

This post is going to be a bit fragmented; a perfect counterpart to my mind as of late. I've been having great difficulty concentrating on any one thing the past month. I've tried to focus on what revisions need to be done for my sci-fi novel before NaNo, I wrote 15k of a new idea and dropped it, I've been cleaning and organizing our house like a madwoman, and I've recently picked up an old hobby again: crocheting.

It's interesting, crochet. There's no real documentation of anyone doing it until the 1800's. Can you believe that? As I'm sitting here, winding loop after loop of yarn around my hook, it really makes me wonder who came up with it? Evidently, no one really knows.

I'm not a great crocheter by any means, but I enjoy having something to do with my hands while we watch a movie or an entire disc of whatever TV show we're currently binging...

My one-day-will-be-sister-in-law's birthday is this Friday. She's Japanese, lives in Maryland with my brother-in-law, and I've only met her a few times. Kind of at a loss what to give her, so I decided, "hey, maybe I'll make something."


So I made these fingerless gloves. It was my first non-scarf project, and I'm pretty happy with the result. They took me about 8 hours total, I guess, plus a little extra time sewing them together & adding the buttons. Here's hoping she likes them.

This is the scarf I'm currently making for myself. 



Between all the cleaning and the crocheting and the cooking I've been doing, I'm kinda joking with myself that I'm "nesting" for NaNoWriMo. I can't concentrate on writing unless the house is clean and all the little chores are done, so I guess I'm getting a headstart on that.


I've been meaning to upload these pictures for a while. For those of you who've been following me from the beginning, you'll remember my on-going gardening saga. For those of you who are recently joined, just know that when we moved into this apartment, the garden space looked like this:




But after 6 months of hard labor and a lot of money, this is the garden's look as it's entering the decline:


It's been a lot of hard work, but worth every sweat drop (and trust me, there were enough to fill a lake).


So, am I the only one with Restless Brain Syndrome? And is everyone as excited as I am about finally pulling out my sweaters and boots?? 

14 comments:

Jon Paul said...

This weekend we broke out the long-sleeves for the first time this year--this after a sweltering, no-A.C. Sicilian summer. Suffice to say, it felt good to pad around the house in stocking feet and jeans, sip endless cups of black coffee and cogitate on NaNoWriMo.

Could it be that we write better this time of year? Perhaps. Maybe. Only time will tell!

Nice crocheting too. BTW, I have a backyard that looks 20 times worse than yours. Wanna come over and lend a hand? :D

Jules said...

Okay if she does not like your fingerless gloves I do and I have a birthday this month, LOL

Man what a garden job, I wish my hard work turned out so well. I'm just glad everything lived :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Unknown said...

I too am guilty of restless brain syndrome. I decided that doing things other than writing, when we really should be writing, is part of the process. Some days the words aren't there ("Like today," Andrea said, before slinking to the kitchen for her first cup of coffee). BTW, cool gloves.

Hannah said...

I wish I could be wearing sweaters and boots!! It's like 80 here! BOO!! I want my fall!

I knit as I already told you and I need to get back into it because I have two baby blankets I said I'd make! LOL! I'm a little behind.

I also have to do something with my hands when I'm watching TV or movies. If Sam's around, I just rub his head for hours or massage his hands. It satisfies both our needs. When I'm alone, I'm usually brainstorming, cleaning, or organizing all my writing. I've recently created a folder for NaNo. I'm using my purple TRAPPER KEEPER!! It's sweeeeeeet!!

Saumya said...

Wow, I love those gloves!! I could never do anything like that so major props to you. I am super excited about sweaters and boots :) Happy Fall!

Summer Frey said...

@JonP: Heck yeah! Only if I get a helicopter ride from you, though! You know, aerial view of the garden and all that...

@Saumya: It's not that hard, trust me! Once you learn the basic crochet stich, you just do it a billion times, then sew them together. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm restless, but you know why!
You're quite talented there, Summer.

Old Kitty said...

You crochet, you garden, you make fancy coffee, you write books galore.. is there no end to your talents?!?!?:-)

Oh I used to crochet as a kiddie and wished I'd kept it up!! I'm so so so impressed with your gloves - they are just lovely!! Yay!! Well done you!!!!

Awww your garden is so gorgeous too - wow!!!!!

GOOD LUCK with your nanowrimo!!!! How exciting!! Take care
x

DEZMOND said...

I'm sharing your excitement, I love autumn and winter and warm clothes, which means I just had to buy myself a few new woolen scarves at Benetton this morning, and a few caps, and gloves .... my favourite way of spending money :)

Christine Danek said...

I love sweater weather. Not winter just fall. I love the fingerless gloves. You have many talents. :)
Hope the writing is going good.

Kimberly Franklin said...

Great gloves! And I love the garden pictures!

DL Hammons said...

Your garden is looking so much different. I remember when you posted the first pictures. You can count a green thumb as one of you many talents! :)

I am SOOOOOOO ready for the chill to hit. It keeps teasing us, but no big change yet. :(

Lola Sharp said...

Sorry I'm late to this.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those gloves!!!!

A pair in black please. ;)

Actually, for this time of year, your garden still looks really good. It was a record hot, dry summer here and my gardens are looking a bit beat up, even with in ground sprinklers set on 40 minutes/zone.

TODAY is our first chill autumn feeling day here!

And you are probably white water rafting or zip-lining as I type! I hope you two are having fun. Have Lupie burger for me. (I'm jealous)

Love,
me

Jamie Gibbs said...

Those gloves look awesome! I know a few people who do crotcheting, I'll have to persuade them to do something similar for me, hehe.

I'm similar in that I can't really write in a disorganised environment, so I take too many time making things look tidy and by that time I'm too tired to write!