Another summer and another toe down

[vilakins]

It's been that long since I posted? Over three weeks? I suppose I just haven't had that much to tell people.

There are three official days of summer left* and we've hardly had one. I'd say maybe two weeks of decent summery weather over the last three months? And I chose this year to make a sky scarf; here's far too much grey and white in mine. Oh well at least I'm not limp and sweltering like I was last summer and I can sleep at night. March and April are often very nice though so I'm holding out hopes for that and maybe a few days off.

* [Edit] I think we regard summer as Dec-Feb (and other seasons as three-month blocks) because school holidays force people with kids to take their summer break between Christmas and the end of January. Me, I go for February or March to avoid those people and get better weather.

In other news I whacked my foot against one of the bed's legs on Friday morning and the agony almost floored me. I assumed I'd bashed my broken toe--but actually it's the one next to it. The broken one's bruises have almost faded now but its neighbour is deep purple. I think it's just a sprain though because it only hurt for a day or two.

Why yes, I'm a klutz, but I also have long prehensile toes which are excellent at picking things up but do get in the way sometimes. :-P

Comments

[capri0mni]

I thought your summer ended on the same day our winter ends: March 20th...

Or do you mean official end of the summer holiday-time (Start of school year, etc.)?

[vilakins]

You mean it wouldn't start till 21 December which seems a bit late to me? I know some places go by the equinoxes and solstices but down here we just say Dec-Jan-Feb for summer and divide the other months into sets of three. It's been hotter and finer in November and April than during this summer though.

[Edit] Now I think of it, it's probably because school holidays force people with kids to take their summer break between Christmas and the end of January and it consoles them a bit by making them think it's a good time to go away when in fact it's often very unsettled.

[capri0mni]

Well, in America, at least, we do mark the seasons* thusly:

Winter = Winter Solstice -> Spring Equinox = December 2x -> March 2x
Spring = Spring Equinox -> Summer Solstice = March 2x -> June 2x
Summer = Summer solstice -> Autumnal Equinox = June 2x -> September 2x
Fall = Autumnal Equinox -> Winter Solstice ... and back to start.

*as in what we learn in school, as mentioned by the weather people on TV, etc. ("Remember, Folks, tomorrow is the first day of Spring!" etc.)...

The seasons as socially defined (when commercials change their themes, what we mean when we talk about vacations, etc., are a whole lot fuzzier, and there's nothing really official about them -- exceptSummer, because that's the one "Season" that's bracketed by national holidays each observed by a three-day weekend (Monday off)

For us, "Summer" starts the last Monday in May (our Memorial Day), and ends on the first Monday in September (Labor Day... We do it in September instead of May, because we don't want to be confused with no stinkin' Comunists!... yes, we are adolescent).

Other than that, we have the "Holiday Season," which more or less (mostly less) corresponds to our winter, and runs from Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November) through New Year's day. January, February, and Early March are just sort of amorphous "winter, and blah. "Fall" is, socially, everything else. ... so, yeah, we go by solstices and equinoxes.

Of course, you folks are a lot closer to the equator than we are, so the solstices and equinoxes don't really make much of an impact on your day (so you don't have to pay much attention to them). Where I am (~37 d. North Latitude), we had just 9 hours and 38 minutes of daylight on the first day of winter; we'll have 12 hours on the first day of spring (and fall), and 14 hours, 41 minutes of daylight on the first day of summer. The difference was even greater when I lived up in New York State.

[vilakins]

A friend in England was posting how much the days were changing and ours aren't anywhere near as much. We're opposite Spain rather than England so it makes a fair difference.

[pebblerocker]

The sky scarf is such a great idea! It would be quite a commitment to knit a row every day without missing one (I'd be tempted to cheat at times and just write a note of the weather to catch up later) but what a wonderful record of the changes of a year.

[vilakins]

I do actually do that. I note the sky each day and do rows every week or so. It's a pain otherwise to get the whole thing out every day with 6 balls of wool to untangle.

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

Am sorry to hear about your foot, ouch.

I like the idea of a sky scarf, despite our non-summer. I agree, it's been easier to sleep at night than last year. *twitches*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Well, according to systems used elsewhere we still have till 21 March to go so you never know. :-)

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Ouch! Yes, long toes do get in the way. I know that all too well, myself. Although so far I've at least managed not to break any.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I've broken or sprained a few in the past but the one I hurt three weeks ago was the worst. Strapping it to the next one didn't help at all.

[samantha-vimes.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you jammed the toe-- hitting it straight on enough that the joint got compressed severely and suddenly. That can cause incredible pain, and bruising. Sometimes the toe (or finger) needs to be stretched and wiggled to get it back into proper form, but sounds like it's better already.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It was a swipe rather than a stub which was why I thought I'd got the sore one. I do sometimes strap them to the next one to align them correctly but it looked OK from that POV.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

*Blowing gently on your poor toe* and this was my first idea.
We have the first vague signs of spring but these are beaten very quickly by this very very persistent winter (it is snowing at the moment).
Oh this Sky Scarf! I love the colours! How many times have I asked myself if I am able to settle down and try some knitting? *Smirk*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

My sky Scarf has very similar colours. There just should be more blue in there. It's very easy--just plain/knit/garter stitch all the way but you have to handle 6 or 7 balls of yarn which can be annoying and twist the unused ones up the side.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

A lovely idea, the sky scarf. It revives the ancient tradition of telling stories etc in knots.

Ouch! You've really been treating your feet badly. Mind you stubbing my toes is one reason why I no longer walk around the house barefoot.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'll be interested in other "conceptual knitting" projects she comes up with. Some people in California where the skies are always blue are doing mood scarves instead.

[elmey.livejournal.com]

Oh god, not another toe! What are you doing to yourself? Although I've found that once one toe or finger is injured, I'm bound to knock it against something again ;)

That scarf idea is really nice, I think I may take it up too!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I often walk into that bed-leg if the duvet's not hanging over it because it's right on the corner. I should make sure it's always covered. :-P

You could do a year from any date!

[threeoutside.livejournal.com]

That is a wonderful idea. I'm going to follow the link and find some of the others on Ravelry, too. Of course, if I could turn out more than one sock per year, it would probably be better...

Poor toe! Maybe you have Secret Grabbing Toes, like me. They *look* normal, nyah-ah-ah, but when it's dark...and you've wakened and have to use the bathroom, nyah-ah-ah, and you're groping toward the door...the pinky toe extends to six inches long just as you're passing the foot of the bed, a lightning flash move designed to catch on the bed leg for the maximum pain and surprise when you're least expecting it!

I posit enemy aliens injecting us with the Secret Grabbing Toe elixir while we sleep...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

There's a Ravelry group where people are posting their progress; some are doing different things like wall-hangings. I haven't taken any photos yet; I should.

I have yet to knit my first sock but I do have some very nice yarn waiting for the cooler weather. :-) Apparently handknitted socks are extremely comfortable.

I do stub my toes a lot, and sometimes they get attacked by cats too. I blame their excessive length. :-P