The fat lady sings

I recognize that if I write the rant about summer that I've been thinking throughout this  hot, humid season, that I would be expressing a very lonely opinion in the blogosphere.   However, I know that we can ALL get around the return of weather where knitting wool feels normal and right.  The garden echoes me.  In the daylily world, this is the equivalent of the fat lady singing:
Her name is Hemerocallis 'Sandra Elizabeth'.  She is renowned in the daylily world for being late out of the gate.  Her bloom starts a month after peak bloom for the other girls.  When she blooms, baby, summer is OVER.

There are other signs in the garden that fall is approaching at breakneck speed.   Right outside my deck is a rampant plant that is pregnant with expectation.  It's Clematis ternifolia, Sweet Autumn clematis.  I'll flash it again when it's in bloom.  Right now, it is all about possibility:

That is what I like best about the fall.  The cool weather brings expectation and renewal of optimism. 

Marla's yarn no longer sticks between my fingers.  I've divided for the neck and am making good progress.  My goal?  Finish by Rhinebeck.  You can no longer recognize me by my crutches (they are gonegonegone). 

Melissa Leapman designed this sweater so that you knit the neckline as you knit the front.  No further finishing is required. 
I've put the Elizabeth bag on hold so I can get to Marla's last sleeve.  Thank you to all who voted "Step away from the bag.  Leave ALL the stripes."  I will continue upward to the handles.

Spinning is happening.  One day several weeks ago, roving just FELL from the sky into my mailbox.  It was labeled, "you are going to have to guess".  She was cagey about it, and almost had me fooled, but then she admitted to the deed.  It's Lisa Souza BFL dyed in perfect Etherknitter colors.  Here is the start, as I jigger with take-up (Scotch tension adjustments in millimeters) and varying amounts of sexy twist:
The nostepinde that I ordered from Grafton Fibers in July finally came.  It's curly maple.   I showed it to the DH in triumph.  He had a look of dismay on his face, until I explained why spinners need this particular tool. 

I've been thinking about Margene's post about motivation yesterday.  I think that deserves some research and a post by itself if I come up with anything interesting in the literature.

Comments

[Carole]

I love the fall and the return to routines that it represents. In my garden, when the Autumn Joy Sedum starts to bloom, I know summer is really over.
I love the neckline on that sweater - it looks great!

[Cara]

So are you saying you will MISS this Summer? You can have what's left of mine if you want! ;-)

Lovely lily. Sadly, I feel like the flowers passed me by this year. It was too hot for me to take pictures.

[SpindleRose]

Ooh. Curly maple. The last daylily. Thoughts of autumn--which is my most favorite season. My husband worried when he saw my first nostepinde, too.

[Liz]

Fall is the most glorious time of year. We've already had a couple chilly mornings and the air just smells different. Bring on September!

[Norma]

Mwahahahaha! Did he ask if it vibrates?

[claudia]

I hope you demonstrated the proper use of that tool.

[Deb]

I can't wait until fall--cool weather, light sweaters and jackets. And, oh! Apples! I can't wait until those crisp, crunchy, juicy apples are ripe and at their peak. Macouns! Honeycrisps! Yum, yum, yum....

[Lynne S of Oz]

Nice nostie! LOL
Autumn approaches for you and spring is well and truly here!
Can I suggest that the crutches might be a great help when you beat all the other ladies off the spinning supplies that you want? Maybe you'll need to get a pair again...

[margene]

I've been watching the mountain peaks for signs of color. It's been a wet year so, unlike the last 7 years, fall colors will come later. I predict the first signs by next week, however.
You will surely find something to say about motivation. At least I hope so, as I love the way you write.

[Laura J]

I think a tree is starting to turn in my yard, a kind of ratty-looking birch. Some of the local sumac and poison ivy, too. The asters Novae-angliae are starting to bloom (saving the life of several near a projected flowerbed). I hated this summer weather and will read your rant and see it and raise it.

[Marcia]

Curly maple is one of my favorite woods, so I definitely approve. And want one! The lily is wonderful...something happened to my Autumn Clematis and it's just disappeared, sadly. We are hoping for a few more weeks of summer here, since we were so late in planting the veggies, just enough to ripen up those tomatoes! Now, while congratulations are in order for the banishment of the crutches, I want to pass along a hint. If your injured limb is as wimply looking as mine, use them for exercise. I do many laps a day around the kitchen island..on the "bad" foot..and am actually seeing some progress in muscle development! Who knew.

[Lee Ann]

I have yet to show my husband my nostepinde. I'm not sure what this says about me...

[Lorette]

It's definitely turning towards fall here. We're back under the down comforters at night, with a low in the 40's. Much nicer for sleeping. And for knitting with wool.
I'm looking forward to your thoughts on motivation, too!

[Sarah]

That sweater is going to be gorgeous! I can't wait for cooler weather, either.

[Jackie]

Love the spinning - what a beautiful color!
So, what was the explanation you used...I may need to use it here! :)

[julia fc]

At least the nostepinde doesn't have an electrical cord like Juno's, uh, vacuum cleaner.
And in my garden, it's the Montauk Daisy that is the last to bloom, named as such I've always assumed, because it's the last stop before the great wide Atlantic of the winter ahead.
This year my clematis ternifolia is intertwined with morning glories. Try it next year: it's a lovely effect.