random, autumn style

It's been a while since I've written on this site. I've been over on the other blog (you've been over there, haven't you?) but I really miss it here. I love the colors and the sheep. I hate the problems it gives me though. I do have MY PEOPLE working on switching over the other site to the Sandysknitting.com address. I guess that will be good.
So, shall we do some random?
~it is wonderfully chilly today. I put on a turtleneck and pulled out a wool sweater. It's the kind of day that gets warmer outside than in. That means the heating season is not far off
~I bought a couple of my favorite candles today, making me super ready for fall. Yankee Pumpkin Spice votive. It has been my fav for years and nothing has changed there.
~I also bought a butternut squash at the farmer's market. Does anything say autumn like butternut squash??
~the weeds, they are out of control. I vowed that I would pull them this weekend. I hope they are quaking in their roots.
~Overheard at the butcher shop today:
Butcher boy: We will start to bring in roasts and whole chickens now that the weather is cooler
woman: are they your own chickens?
Butcher boy: no, but they are all natural and organic
woman: Oh, good. They will be hormonal free?
heh.
~Speaking of hormones. And we were. Today a little yellow butterfly flew into my car windshield on my errand run, squashing the little guy. The weird thing? I couldn't stop crying. Sobbing for a little yellow butterfly. Cripes all mighty. When my wonderful father in law died last October, I could barely squeak a tear out. What the hell?
~And speaking of Andy's family. My Mother in Law fell last Sunday, breaking her hip. She has had surgery and is now in rehab. All I can feel about it is exhaustion.
And yet that butterfly? Sobbing.
~I am cooking some dried red kidney beans right now, grown locally for a big pot of chili tonight. I cannot wait.
WARNING:
If your name is Faith and you are reading this, please do not read any further. I am warning you. I will go over there and smack you one. I'm serious. Click the x.
~Is she gone?
Good.
I am knitting.

Goes right along with the autumn theme with the wonderful colors. If I were to name that color it would be "AUTUMN BURST". I love it. The pattern is Relm by Jared Flood. The yarn is Magallanes by Arucania. Faith picked out this yarn on July 4th weekend and I am knitting it up as a Christmas gift for her.
RELM HAT ON RAVELRY
~~~~
Mad for Knit Carol is running a half marathon for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. I hope you will consider pledging some money to her. She is having a great prize giveaway.
Read about it here
See the prizes here
Donate to Carol's half marathon here (WE can get her to that $1500 goal, can't we? A wee bit at a time?
~~~
Do you have anything random to talk about?

Are you still here?

You are reading me over at the "new" blog, right? Soon (Well, maybe not SOON but SOMEDAY certainly) I will integrate the 2 and use the Sandysknitting domain for the wordpress blog. For now? Come on over. Don't be shy!
See you there!
Sandy's knitting II

Come on over to the new blog. This one is broken and annoying me.

I have been having some big problems on this blog so for now, it's closed. Come on over to My Substitute Sandy's Knitting Blog.
Don't miss a minute of the fun (and catch up on the last few days entries~!)
~~~
You did not think I abandoned you, did you??

19. warm heart and a Christmas song

I don't know how I got lucky enough to get involved with the likes of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your outpouring of compassion regarding Fig. I miss him dearly, the house seems quiet and a bit empty even with all us humans here. No one greeted me quite like Fig. I miss that. All day long I have been having unconscious thoughts about where he is or what he is doing. I even had to eat a whole yogurt by myself with no one on my lap begging me for a smidge or two. (Fig loved his yogurt)
I have to say that the tears have stopped. My uncontrollable crying was for the last 2 days. The decision up to putting him to sleep. That was one of the hardest I ever had to make. That phone call broke my heart into pieces. I am surprised the wonderful receptionist at our vets could understand a word I was saying with all the sobbing going on. It was the right decision though and I am left feeling peaceful today because Fig is not suffering anymore. It's hard to see one you love suffer so much. I wish we could do the same for our humans that are suffering.
I cleaned up his bowls and put them away, same with the litter box and did one final sweep of his messy eating habits around his bowls. That cat loved to throw his hard food around a bit. I washed his blankets and did a final vacuum. My heart was a bit heavy but it had to be done.
Fig's final resting spot is near the Dogwood Tree in the yard. I think he'd like that. We had quite a touching "service" that turned a bit irreverent with me laughing about something so silly. But he looked so cute and he was quite stiff by that time and comments were made about stuffed animals. In fact, I'm sure he would have liked all that laughing too.
The neighbors must be certain that we are certifiable by now!
Tonight I will sit with a glass of wine (Or two) and my knitting while watching It's a Wonderful Life, because it is (wonderful)
~~~
Back to the Christmas carols today, okay? Finding the Joy in the season is most important when things happen to hurt the heart. ("JOY" is your foreshadowing clue for something in tomorrow's post!!)
This one I can't embed but I hope you will click through to see it. It's a good one.
CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL, full of meaning.

20. Rest in peace, my little friend

Figaro Hurley

"Fig"

1992-2008

"Heartbreak is life educating us." ~George Bernard Shaw

21. wishing for snow

Andy is man enough to know that if David Cassidy comes knocking at the door, I will have to go with him. How could I resist to go off into the sunset with my childhood love? I mean, KEITH PARTRIDGE! I could not be blamed. Could I?
I thought not.
~~~

22. finding the joy

Still finding the joy in this season. My yearly reading of A Christmas Carol is enhanced by finding a beautiful version illustrated by PJ Lynch. and the knitting. Always with the knitting. I am hoping to get the left side done today and start a sleeve tomorrow. There will have to be a break at some point so that I can get a couple of gifts done. But for now, I knit, read, listen to carols and worry about a furry one.

(you tube will be undergoing some maintence later tonight so if you don't see this video come back in a while to see it. It is one of my favorites. But then again, I say that about all the songs)
Go ahead and share your joyful thing with me. I can use it.