Friday, August 19, 2011

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!









8 comments:

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

So are you OK? Anything broken? I'm aching just thinking about what you felt like the morning after.

JelliDonut said...

OMG! Are you OK? Good grief! Send up a smoke signal or something!

Diana LaMarre said...

I love your red crocs! I recently bought black and navy Crocs (played it safe), but those red ones look like much more fun!

Paulina said...

Reading you entries is like talking to you. How i wish I was there t cook your garden. Make a nice big tomato pie! a Tomato terrine with the different color tomatoes. Yum!! If you have the fresh herbs, then these offerings will be the best you you can taste.
I know that kind of fall. We regain composure though and find our way back to movement and our art. Nothing keeps us down for long. I have been off my feet for so long... I look forward to being back to the self. But we always get there, don't we.

So much love!

Anonymous said...

How about Eileen? http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/eileen-cardigan

Or this one:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/inca-marl-ruffled-coat

Both recommend yarns with alpaca.

Anonymous said...

Cant help with the knitting, as you know! but I do love the photos of the plants!!!!

Delisa said...

Hi Jody, I'm so sorry about your fall! I hope that you are feeling better and didn't have too many bruises or aches and pains afterwards. I have a pair of red crocs just like yours sitting by my back door! Everyone in the family has their own pair ready to slip on of different colors.

I took a similar fall about ten years ago and it changed my life forever. I ran outside without paying attention to what I was doing and twisted my ankle on a magnolia cone. I fell hard on the concrete and sprained my knee badly and was given a leg brace to wear that went from my thigh down to my calf. The knee sprain was just minor but I developed three serious blood clots where the brace put pressure. I can't even describe how painful it was. I was in the hospital for over a month and I permanently damaged the circulation of my leg.

I am only 48 years old but I now have to walk with a cane and some times a walker because the circulation issues.

All because of a fall in the yard. So I really appreciate your warning about taking our footwear seriously. It is something we all need to be reminded of. So many painful accidents can be avoided if we slow down just a little and be mindful of the present moment.

Your tomatoes look wonderful! What a bountiful harvest. I hope you are having a lovely sunday evening and a good week ahead! Delisa :)

Bea said...

I have orange crocs like yours!