harvest

On Sunday, my professor went out to the garden to do some therapeutic digging. (this time of the semester, anything other than work is therapeutic. Sleeping and eating are popular hobbies, too...)

He came back in grinning. His bucket was full to brimming with Jerusalem Artichokes. These are also called sunchokes--they're a root vegetable. They are a kind of sunflower and we're treated to enormous towering plants with little flowers up top in the fall. The glory is in the roots--roasted with potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips and carrots, they're a great addition to the fall and winter supper table. I make soup from them too. We've grown them for years.

They're very healthy because of the inulin, a source of fructose that diabetics can tolerate. Alas, it appears that for some reason, my body isn't tolerating them so well this fall! I will try eating them again and see if it was a one off, or whether I always get stomach cramps and other unpleasant stinky side effects... This little digestion issue, of course, coincides with the one year when we've got the best harvest of these roots that we've ever had! It figures. 20 lbs of a root veggie I can't eat?!

We're settling in for a few days of togetherness around here. To my surprise, for the first time this winter (after 3 full years together), my dogs Harry and Sally are not just sharing the couch, but edging closer and closer to sitting next to each other. This leaves more room for the humans on the couch--and the dog toys. :) I'm hoping that in future years, they will cuddle up so that there's actually room for the rest of us on the furniture!


I've been spending a lot of time knitting--it's amazing how some projects become both addictive and comforting...it's a good way to wile away the hours while I'm waiting to hear more about my new nephew in the hospital. I read with interest about all the colors that attract you to your knitting. Natural shades, blues, greens and purples...these all sounded like logical and tempting hues. They are, in fact, colors I've knit with often. I never would have thought that this saffron shade would get me so excited. In fact, if I'd been choosing colors for me to wear, or anything other than a sample for a book (which needs to be bright to photograph well, and contrast with the other colors in the book) I wouldn't likely have chosen this shade. However, I'm in love! I think it's a testament to how important exploration is in our knitting (and in life). We won't know what tickles us pink-hah- until we actually try it out for ourselves. Better yet, it looks just like butternut squash soup, pumpkin pie, and fall leaves. No wonder why I like it so much this time of year!

I'm not sure if I'll squeeze in another post before Thursday--or if you'll have time to read it--so if you're celebrating Thanksgiving this week, have a happy one! Enjoy! Partake of some orange food and think of knitting! Wishing you all good things... :) Joanne