november...(and knitting, and quilting!)

November has sped along quickly, as time seems to do much these days. I'm not actually a big fan - it seems the crisp, bright fall days of September and October are over to quickly and overtaken by rain, wind, and more rain and the world is enveloped by a heavy blanket of grey. But in a way I kind of like it too - I love the howling southeasters that blow through one after the other. And I also enjoy days like this one.

The fog covered us all day, and the air was thick with moisture, but there was no real rain, and a stillness pervaded. We went for a walk along the river and eyed the Chum salmon in their last efforts (and smelled those that were already returning to the earth). This one was still swimming, despite missing most of his tail and pectoral fins. Incredible animals, those ones.

We also checked out Elk Falls, pumping more water than I've ever seen there, a thundering freight train plummeting onto the rocks below, and heavy mist rising to the trees above. A long walk, but so peaceful in the forest, the right combination of exercise and laziness.

I failed miserably at Socktober. I had big plans for at least a couple of pairs, and yet somehow didn't even finish one before the month was out. These are Charades, my second go. I do love this pattern, but it was once again the case of once I have some sort of deadline, I find it is the last thing I want to work on. My dad's birthday was at the end of the month, but I squeaked by as I didn't get a chance to see him until a week and a half later, and I finished the socks that morning.

This quilt went a bit more quickly on the weekends, with five day breaks in between the work as I don't like to sew in the dark evenings after work. I was looking for something for the couch, and some of the fabrics are leftovers from some pillows I made, with a few new fabrics thrown in. I love the combination of grey-blues, brown and beige-cream. The backside is blue fleece for the best kind of coziness.

I'm working on a shawl in soothing garter stitch - I was worried it would bore me, but instead I find it addictive. Hopefully something to show soon.