red shoes

Last Sunday I took a header on the wet, leaf covered patio stones.  It was a vicious fall which involved one foot turned back and mashed under my butt, one palm savagely crushed into the pea gravel and the finale - the back of my head smacking the flagstone (which was the last sound that I heard).  It happened so quickly that I couldn't reverse the chain of events, but I do remember thinking (as I was slipping into oblivion)- oh crappers, I've broken my ankle!  When I regained consciousness I found Harley sitting beside me, panting.  Or no, that was ME doing the panting!  How did this happen?  I was chasing the dog as he was chasing a chipmunk as the rodent was heading for the road.  And I was running in flip flops.  In the rain.  With the leaves.  And the wet stones.


The flip flops were of the inferior kind that you pick up at the nail salon when you've forgotten to bring pedicure sandals.  They are made in Taiwan and thinner than a slice of deli cheese.  You know the kind.  If you step on a pebble while wearing them, the pain can take you to your knees.  People, throw these suckers out.  Immediately.  And then get on line and buy these:

Crocs.  Rubber shoes with traction.  If you find yourself feeling a bit antiquated wearing these, or worse - (obsolete, timeworn, old hoary fossil) remind yourself of days gone by - your twenties and thirties and early forties when you could freaking RUN in heels!  It'll be alright.  (How about those bug bites?  Mosquitos cannot resist my ankles and feet)


In keeping with red things - first crop in before the storms.

Some of my plum tomato plants toppled over and the fruit was grazing the soil so I harvested them, although I dislike picking vegetables prematurely.  They'll ripen on the sill and be perfectly eatable.

The green tomatoes will lend themselves to salsa - my cilantro is almost ready to pick!  The last few days we have been experiencing violent summer bursts of lightning, and of course thunder, and driving rain - not so good for the vegetables.  But the castor bean seems to think that it is starring in a Jack in the Beanstalk series -  one could almost climb into its limbs!  It's well over seven feet tall now!

I wandered out after the rain to survey the damage, as there had been talk of hail.  The mimosa was soggy, but tropically gorgeous.  It always amazes me to see it's delicate fronds in this northeast setting when I imagine it in the caribbean with its palmy sisters and brothers - sand and salt and sea.

I talked about the Cascade Epiphany last week and my plans to knit the Hanson Leaving cardigan.  I was quite a way into it before I realized that the lovely bloom of the cashmere/alpaca blend was obliterating Anne's clever design work.  What is the point of knitting something so exquisite when one cannot make out the details?  So, I need some help.  Truly - I need suggestions.  I want to make a sweater - I have at least 2500 yds of this yarn, maybe more.  I am considering Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier.  It looks delightful, but I worry that it might emphasize my less than svelte mid section!  All comments gratefully accepted and considered!