Random thoughts...

November
I may be one of the few who likes the grey and windy days of November. Many people comment about the bleakness, or how dreary the shortened hours of daylight are at this time of year, but I rather enjoy this time of year. The invigorating briskness of the wind, the last few remaining leaves rattling in warning before being torn from their perch atop a maple tree, the stark and beautiful contrast of a ray of sunshine against a dark threatening snow cloud; it's all part of the passage into winter. It's a delineation between the neutral grey of fall, and the bright stark white of winter.

Okay, my appreciation of November isn't all about waxing poetic about the weather... it's also a great time to appreciate fibre arts. After all, this time of year is ideal for wearing those handknits as well as creating more luxurious items!

For some reason (age? wisdom?), I'm now discovering the benefits of a little something draped around my neck as a great way of keeping warm. That may sound strange coming from a knitter, however scarves were not high on my "must wear" list until the past few years. Before that, I'd throw a turtleneck on under a sweater, or pull my coat collar up around my neck, but the added layer of a scarf was as welcome as that first time you have to pack away your Birkenstocks and actually wear socks!

So, on my knitting list for the next few months -- scarves and cowls. I have some highly textured bulky yarn that will make for some quick knit cowls, and a few of my scarf plans (although the patterns do refer to them as shawls), will use some of the fingering weight yarns that seem to have multiplied while left unattended in my yarn stash. There are a few laceweight yarns that are inching their way forward in order to get noticed, and that may signal a shift in boundaries to wearing a scarf indoors as an accessory vs. just for warmth.

Giving Thanks
In recent years, I've taken the time to knit special items as Christmas gifts. Yes, I'm selective about who receives these items (for I believe my knit-worthy friends will appreciate and care for these things!). But this year, I'm not knitting for friends. I'm going to be selfish and knit for me. And there will be no guilt because I'm a firm believer in gifting throughout the year, and certainly have done so (and will continue to do so).

Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving a month earlier than our American counterparts, and with the international representation within a well-known knitting social community, the topic of "giving thanks" or "being thankful" has had a lot of play these past few weeks. Here was what my contribution said:

I am thankful for the incredible, loving foundation from my family -- the life lessons and empowerment from my Dad, and the knowledge and encouragement from my Mom.

I am thankful for the ongoing support -- silent as well as spoken -- from my two brothers (who are the best brothers in the world!!)

I am thankful for the 19 years I had with the love of my life, my husband Ken, and his lessons of strength and determination as he lived with cancer before leaving us in 2009.

I am thankful for my friends -- all over the world -- virtual and “real” -- and the richness of life experiences they have contributed to, making my life that much better.

I am thankful for my health, being able to give to those who are less fortunate, and my optimism in seeing the positive in life….

I challenge each and every one of you to think about what you are thankful for, and to pay it forward....  not just toward the traditional time of Holiday giving, but 365 days a year...