i’m not one to complain about the weather when it’s beautiful, sunny and 68 degrees outside. i just keep forgetting that it’s NOVEMBER! i remember when november meant snow, sleet, and general annoyance at all things weather related but not anymore. seems that we don’t get the freezing cold, bone-chilling weather around here until february, not that i’m complaining. doesn’t it freak you out, though? i read a great opinion/article on salon last week written by al gore on how we’ve completely fracked up the environment and he’s dead-on right. a few of the points he makes are:

• japan set an all-time record for typhoons last year: 10. the previous record was seven.
• this summer, more than 200 cities in the united states broke all-time heat records. reno, nev., set a new record with 10 consecutive days above 100 degrees. tucson, ariz., tied its all-time record of 39 consecutive days above 100 degrees. new orleans — and the surrounding waters of the gulf — also hit an all-time high.

these facts are hard to ignore but the prez does a really good job of sweeping it all under the oval office rug (i wonder what else is under there?) anyway, there it is.

i spent some time enjoying the effects of global warming in prospect park on saturday. my parents came in to brooklyn and we walked all over the park, looked at the families, dogs, and war monuments. the colors in the park were gorgeous! it’s amazing to think that there are still leaves on the trees and there are even some trees with green leaves left! (it’s NOVEMBER people!)

all the leaves are brown.. and orange… and green

the audobon center was looking nice. i think that they powerwashed it recently.

and on our walk home we saw these great pumpkins all decorated using at least $80 worth of produce.

love the eggplant nose and onion eyes

i had to run into manhattan yesterday to meet up with my fellow producers to talk about the next play and the madair website redesign (see? i’m linking to it even though it needs a redesign BAD!) but when i got home i got some major progress done on my knits. i’m done with the heel on mom’s second sock and am now working along the foot towards the toe. i realized that i fracked up my second mitered square something fierce, ripped it back and started it again. i also started my cashmere shawl finally!

aminami shawl in progress

i wasn’t really into the cozy pattern for this yarn because it’s so textured though sarah’s version looks like it’s coming along nicely. when i was at school products, they had this yarn sampled up in an open and airy lace and i thought it worked really well especially since once you wash this yarn it gets all soft and fluffy. so i opened my big book of stitch patterns and found a stitch called “lace net to the left”. it seems to be working nicely!

i’ve called this pattern i’m developing “aminami”… “ami” means net and “nami” means wave in japanese.. because the net waves off to the side. eventually i’ll make the pattern available once i’m done. i’m really looking forward to this all finished. the cashmere’s going to be really warm even in this light pattern.

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