And Then Your Gutter Bracket Breaks

We used to live next door to a 94-year-old woman named Josie. She had been widowed for decades and didn't drive, so the little things in life that I took for granted were much bigger issues for her. One day I was looking out the window and saw that her gutter had broken and was on the ground. I walked over to take a look and figured out that it was just a broken bracket. When I told her that John and I would fix it as soon as we could, she started to cry. It seemed to be a combination of frustration at things falling apart and gratitude. Josie said, "You think your life is going along fine, and then boom, your gutter bracket breaks." John and I still say this when something happens that may not be major, but sure feels like it at the time. Yesterday morning it felt like my gutter bracket broke. 

(Photo: Colorado Department of Transportation)

I got a call from Ryan at 7:00 am, which meant it was 5:00 am for him in Colorado. Right away I knew that something was wrong. It turns out he had had an accident but assured me that he was fine. He had just taken an Uber home from the hospital and wanted to reiterate that he was fine. Sunday night he picked up a friend from the Denver airport and drove her to her apartment in Laramie when her flight got canceled due to high winds. On his way back to Fort Collins it was snowing, he lost traction, ran into the bank and flipped his car onto the driver's side. He's okay but has bruises and stitches and his car may be totaled. So I might be visiting Fort Collins again soon to help him out and shop for a car. 

I'm writing this several hours and several texts with Ryan later so I have had time to calm down and feel less shaky. I'm mainly feeling some sort of maternal guilt that I'm not there to make him grilled cheese and tomato soup and that I'm not there when my son is hurt. I've had a lovely offer of help from a kind Fort Collins knitter. Ryan says he doesn't need help, but "I'll most likely muddle through" is not 100% reassuring to me. I am so incredibly grateful that Ryan is basically okay and the accident wasn't much worse. I'm thankful that my metaphorical gutter bracket will be fine. 

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We don't have a specific Read With Us post today, but this is just a reminder that we are reading Just Mercy and will start discussing the book on Tuesday, November 5th. I know that several of you are waiting for the book from the library, but hopefully, you'll be able to read the first third of the book and join the first discussion on Kym's blog. 

Weekending in the Woods

I spent a good part of the weekend tramping around the woods, checking Justin's trail cameras, and enjoying some gorgeous fall weather. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

I hope you have some glorious fall weather in your neck of the woods and you get to spend some time enjoying it!

Thinking of My Father

I came across this in my jewelry box, and it was a sweet and timely reminder. 

My father on the far left, with his brothers

Tomorrow would have been my father's 87th birthday. He's been gone for a little over a year and a half, but of course, I still miss him. I'm glad that I can think of him and remember the silly little dad jokes without recalling the years of sickness and sadness first. And the silly little dad jokes do make me smile. :-)

Three on Thursday

I'm joining Carole and friends for Three on Thursday, today with three other things I did in Colorado (besides shop at The Loopy Ewe). 

Baked Ryan's birthday cake

I had looked forward to doing this, but Ryan also likes to bake. He rarely gets to do it because he lives by himself, so I let him enjoy making his own cake. He used my MiL's chocolate cake recipe, one we both recall with love and happy memories.
(Yes, he also collects blue bottles, so far only on his kitchen counter.)

Had a delightful birthday dinner at The Welsh Rabbit (our favorite charcuterie)

So many heavenly meats and cheeses! (Also note the original John Deere Hitchhiker.)

Cherry cider casts a beautiful reflection. 

Hiked at Reservoir Ridge

We went out for a hike at one of Fort Collins' parks on this beautiful 78-degree day, the day before it dropped 60 degrees and snowed. Quite a contrast! It's a nice, steady uphill hike, and if we keep our eyes peeled we can even find lead balls buried in the trail. 

Be sure to visit Carole for more Three on Thursday thoughts!

Unraveled Wednesday

Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday, with some new yarn just waiting to be raveled. I'm still working on the last green ---> yellow Wollmeise sock blank Hitchhiker, but instead of boring you with another photo that looks much the same, I'll share some new yarn purchased at The Loopy Ewe.

Ryan, yarn chooser extraordinaire, was almost as anxious to visit The Loopy Ewe as I was, so after making his birthday cake last Monday we made the five-minute trip. He spied the shop sample for the Rikke Hat as soon as we walked in the door and decided he would like one. He chose a nice grey and red Cascade 220 Wave that I'll be casting on in the next couple of days. 

The only other yarn I bought was this stunning Uschtita Merino Sock. I don't know what it will become, but for now I'm content to have it sitting nearby so I can admire it. When Ryan picked it out he said it reminded him of a sunset and I'm anxious to see how it looks when I knit it. I know I say this every time I shop at The Loopy Ewe, but I think this may be my favorite yarn ever.

While I was enjoying myself in Colorado, books I had put on hold were piling up at the library. I'm finishing up our book club pick, Just Mercy, but have also started A Circle of Quiet by Madeline L'Engle, Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter, and The Body by Bill Bryson. So many interesting and enjoyable books all at once! With beautiful yarn and good books, I am as happy as the proverbial pig in poop (and hope you're feeling much the same today).  

What are you making and reading this week?

Sometimes Monday ...

... is a day to catch up. 

I'm back, and busy with laundry, mail, bills, emails, appointments, work, and the other pesky details of my life that I put aside for five days. It was a lovely trip, and I was especially glad that this time there were no pulmonary embolisms. I was a little nervous, but anticoagulation, graduated compression socks, staying hydrated, an aisle seat in the exit row with plenty of legroom, and walking the aisle in the plane as often as possible all worked well. 

I got to experience Colorado's record temperature drop, with 78 degrees and sunny last Wednesday to 18 degrees and snow on Thursday morning. I do miss Ryan and being there, but it is nice to be back to a more moderate fall. I hope your fall Monday is off to a good start!

Weekending

My weekending included a bit more than I had originally planned.

I flew to Colorado. I had intended to visit Ryan sometime this month for his birthday but hadn't even looked at flights. I find it confusing (carry-on allowed or not, seat choice or not, good base price but too many add-ons, taxes, and fees) and frustrating, but I finally sat down on Thursday night to see what my options might be. I found a good fare, left on Sunday morning, and now I'm here with Ryan. Today is his actual birthday so I even get to bake his birthday cake for the first time in many years!

We don't have any big plans, but I might even get to Knit Night at The Loopy Ewe. I'm sure I'll also eat and drink well, and enjoy spending time with my now 29-year-old son.

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Be sure to visit Kym tomorrow for the next entry in our Read With Us book club. I hope you'll read Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption along with us and join the discussion next month!