It's strange outside. It's oddly warm, rainy, and there's gunk all over the ground — gooey leaves and slug bits and things I don't want to get too close to. It's rather like being inside a terrarium, or perhaps a turtle cage that no one's remembered to clean. It kind of smells that way, too, kind of funky, mulchy . . . overripe.
Yesterday I did nothing but eat Swedish pancakes with cinnamon sugar, watch movies (The Lake House, Addicted to Love, and of course On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story), and knit almost a whole sock. Man, I love to knit socks. This one is part of a whole pair I intend to finish for Andy for Christmas. There was a little earthquake last night, too. Just a 2.7, I guess, but the whole room shook, and Andy and I said, simultaneously, "Earthquake!" I don't like earthquakes. I know people take them pretty casually around here, on the West Coast, but they still freak me out.
I like the garden in the fall. It's really frowsy and rank, relaxed. After all the primping and fussing of spring and summer, the staking, the pruning, the mowing, the edging, the raking, the hopefulness and expectation, it seems like a relief to just let it all go for the next few months. Let that girl out of her eyeliner and push-up bra and into her sweatpants. Sigh.
See you at 2 this afternoon! I'm very excited about the postcards, as you know. I'm also slightly nervous because it's my first time putting a Paypal button right here on the blog. I think I've got it figured out, but if it's looking funky, just give me a minute, because you know I'm over here on this end scrambling to fix it.
Love your photos of the garden. Have a good day, and good luck with your paypal button. I'm off to work or I'd be bidding along with the rest of them!
I can't get used to earthquakes, either. My parents grew up here on the west coast, but I spent the better part of my childhood in St. Louis. I think tornado warnings are nothing to shake a stick at, but earthquakes terrify me. I have only felt one since moving here 13 years ago and it scared the pants off of me.
Reminds me of the last Men in Trees and how all the tremors freaked Anne Heche's character out, but everyone kept saying "You'll get used to it."
Sorry, folks, but THE EARTH IS MOVING! Not gonna get used to that!No way, no how.
Se ya at 2(ish)!
I just love your writing... your colorful, descriptive, happy words!
I can almost smell your backyard... the dampness... the mulchy scent.
Thank you for sharing with your many 'groupies'!
I loved The Lake House! I can't quite remember the ending, though, which probably means I didn't like it.
I didn't notice an earthquake here last night, so it must have been a little one. The last time there was one here, I was quite shaken (emotionally :) and felt wobbly for several days afterward.
My first Vancouver earthquake was back in '95 I think. I was doing a rehearsal with my adult choir. I had just stopped everyone from singing and was telling them what to do in the next phrase, when one of the ladies gasped loudly! She's the kind of person who is very connected to nature, and quite instinctive. Anyway, we all stared at her because we didn't know what she was upset about. Then about 5 seconds later the light fixture began to swing and we all felt it.
Good luck with your PP button :)
Kurt and I had the same moment last night, looking at eachother with big eyes, wondering how long it would go on, until there was no denying it - "Earthquake!"
I must admit, though, as unsettling as it was, I found myself wondering (hoping?!)would it happen again? I was sort of disappointed when I went to bed that there wasn't a repeat. I know, I know... I'm crazy. But this earthquake thing is still new to me!
Huggs,
Amy
what!? that's what that was? we were joking that it might be-- we are dorks. i'm going to check for cracks in the basement. (i know, there will be no cracks in the basement.)
wow, an earthquake. I am not sure I could handle that. I have been to the West Coast 4 or 5 times in my life.
Once I was in LA for almost 2 weeks, but I have never encountered an earthquake.
Now being from Oklahoma, I have seen and been in my fair share of tornados.. and quite
frankly, I kind of just shrug my shoulders and go on. Not sure why, maybe I am too
complacent with them as a whole. Which that is strange because in college one came through
Stillwater, OK and proceeded to take out our entire wood fence and deposit it in the OSU
fitness center... neat! (that is when I was running to the middle bathroom yelling curse words-
we had a 6 foot by 12 foot plate glass window in the back of the house that faced the backyard
where the fence was being removed -- stupid girls).
The weather is the same here in Oklahoma. Very earthy and humid, much like you described it...
a terrarium. It is going to be 78 here tomorrow and in the 80's on Wednesday. Most people will
say that is odd, but I was brought home by adoptive parents on November 7, 1969 and my father had
to strip me down because I was in this scratchy pink dress and sweating. It has almost always
been warm on November 7th as long as I can remember, at least here in Oklahoma.
I sure hope everything goes well this afternoon! Knitting socks sounds like fun, but I just
cannot get myself into knitting. I am way too used to crochet and my comfortableness with it, like an old
friend.
Oh yeah, and you know I love the Lake House... enough said on that point.
Yeah, this weather is weird and warm and wet...
I love knitting socks too...what a wonderful day to sit around and knit...*sigh*
Sounds like you had an enjoyable day. I love Sweedish pancakes...mmmm...brings back memories of my childhood. I watched the Lakehouse, too, recently. It's a good snuggle up rainy day love story.
:) lucy
Man, I need to learn to knit socks!
I need to learn to knit first!!
:o)
First time visitor. So happy I've found you! Do you sell the Robin Carlisle paintings? Or can you direct me to someone who does. Can't wait to come to POrtland again.
I only wished that Josh and I had experienced the earthquake in a simultaneous moment as you and Andy did. My cat and I jumped and I immediately called it out "Earthquake!" Josh says, "That wasn't an earthquake, the house just shuddered... they do that sometimes". This coming from a native Oregonian. So, after we finished watching the episode of 'Lost' I immediately found channel 8 with their live report. Hah! Why is it so important sometimes to prove someone wrong? :) I love him anyway... and now he knows what our house does in an earthquake. Small as they may be.
On that note, I hope we never have to experience the earth move so much that it hurts people or damages our lives beyond repair. I feel blessed so far.
Amen for sweats and tank tops without underwire or push up support! It's a good day to knit!
it's unusual to have earthquakes here in nyc, but when scott and i were first married we woke up to the hatpins i collect rattling around in their containers. we thought it was a tremor, but weren't going to say anything because we were newlyweds - know what i mean? then, we turned on the news,and saw it was real.
love your pictures.
I love that you compare your garden to a girl.
What are Swedish pancakes like? I don't think I ever tasted them, though I've lived almost my entire life in Sweden :)
The earthquake freaked me out last night too. I even kept shoes and socks by the door last night (I'm from the East Coast and aren't use to them). Can't wait for this weather to turn, the Pearl is becoming a swamp, yuck! Love your postcards!
Oh an earthquake! As an easterner I've never felt one and I was so afraid there would be an earthquae when I was in SF this summer. Though if it had trapped me there I would have been glad, my trip was too short.
I think you West coasters are sending your warm wet weather our way. You described that smell PERFECTLY, the one of decaying leaves and damp ground that I've been smelling everywhere I walk or along the roadside by bicycle. There is a strange, funky sweetness (not good sweet, though) to it. Soon everything will freeze here in Montana for the winter and it will go away.
Hi! I have been enjoying reading your writing and beautiful things you make.
I cant recall exactly which websites led me to you but it started at tinyhappy. LOL!
I wanted to say that I live in the Pacific Northwest also.
I recycle upholstery fabrics from the furniture store into handbags, teapot cozies and little girls dresses.
this crafters community you wrote about in some old posts here sounds so great to be among...I wish I were closer to you all. I could surely use the encouragement.
Cant wait to read more and get to know you!
Lori
Lissilulu.com
so that is why it was hot.. the earthquake..
if you think you are freaky.. you should see us..in here.. after the last earthquake in Aug 1999.. we became all phobic.. and we are waiting for a 7. something.. God Bless us..and spare us..
but the colours look great..
enjoy the view..
yeah. our pancakes here in sweden are just the best. I really recommend you to come over here and taste the real thing, and the best of all is that there's garantied no earthquakes here.
Autumn here in Kentucky is a starnge time too, weird weather every other day. Cold, and rainy today. Yesterday was sunny and warm. Ah, oh well. Time for a nap. Lovely pics.