Friday Faves / Fall 2024
Hellooo!
It's been a dizzying fall, as I find myself the proud yet confused parent of a high school senior. If you happen to bump into me in person, you will no doubt note the deer-in-the-headlights expression with which I have been permanently stricken since late August. Shoutout to all of the other parents of seniors out there who like me feel like they missed some critical memo that was supposed to dictate your every waking hour this school year. It's completely overwhelming, and also where is the support group. Every week seems to bring some fresh hell deadline: college applications, AP test registration, cap and gown order, senior photo spread for the yearbook. Whenever someone asks me how I'm doing, my answer is usually "well, Elliot's a senior this year so...[and then I trail off]." Am I really supposed to throw a big party at the end of all this? Because I'd rather find a cave and take a week-long nap.
I do love fall and the beauty of this changing season, which seems to echo all of the changes I'm feeling, especially this year. We had our annual "Up North" trip last weekend with friends and the fall colors were amazing. I took the kiddos for cider and donuts. We're getting ready for Halloween and my teenagers are currently wrestling with the difficult question of "how old is too old to go trick-or-treating?" Meanwhile I'm wondering -- but trying not to say out loud -- "is this the last time we'll do this, with all of us?" with all of these annual traditions. Some things are new: Elliot ran cross country for the first year as a senior this fall, and sadly, he won't finish the season now out due to an injury, but I really enjoyed going to the XC meets and cheering him on -- it's such a great sport for fall! But also: my brother-in-law's sweet mother died suddenly, tragically, a couple of weeks ago, and so we drove to West Michigan to be at the visitation, and it was really sad. It's been a bittersweet time, to be sure.
Here’s what else I’ve been into and up to these past couple months:
sewing: Clementine and Elliot both went to homecoming this year and E found the cutest blue suit to wear for homecoming and for his senior photos (see pic above). I sewed him a couple of bow ties to match (below). He had a pink vest that he wore under the jacket, and he picked the pink one.
I also made a couple new tops for me: a checkerboard sweatshirt made of french terry and sherpa scraps left over from other projects, and an Ikat cotton top with ruffled sleeves and a gathered skirt. I used Beatrix as a jumping off point. Not sure if it’s a tutorial or a new pattern or…? Still, it’s just fun to play around sometimes.
listening: on the drive home from a college visit we relistened to The Good Circle. Such an interesting episode of Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History about how to make college tuition free (and not just at the community college level, as Michigan has done, yeah, Whitmer!!).
changing: up the color scheme in my living room with a new red rug and pillow cover (here, here).
reading: Real Americans by Rachel Khong is such a fascinating intergenerational tale. Also loved Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (I’m always a sucker for plots that involve time travel and libraries). Sandwich by Catherine Newman is my most recent read, and perhaps for that reason, the most dear to me of these three, as she really captured the paradox of motherhood in a way I’ve never encountered before. I can’t even really describe it. Highly recommend all three!!
learning: how to throw a pot at my friend Emily’s pottery studio. Technically “re-learning” but the last time was eighth grade, so I’m not sure that counts. It was fun and I failed and I learned a lot and I have nothing to show for it but that’s OK! I’ll do it again. It’s great to be a beginner.
donating: like never before to Kamala and Tim’s campaign. Donate here!!!
knitting: Hurrah I finished my bright blue Plant People sweater (see previous FF edition for WIP pic), and I love it…full blog post soon. Also picked up a sock project I’d abandoned earlier this year (listen, Second Sock Syndrome is REAL), and am well on my way to completing the pair.
watching: Only Murders in the Building, Season 4. No spoilers please — I haven’t watched this weeks’ episode yet! Also devoured Fargo Seasons 1 and 2 and have just started Season 3. It’s really good but (like the original Cohen bros movie) is not for the faint of heart.
Mr Rae and I are going to a Michigan home game this weekend, so you can be sure I’ll be bundling up with long underwear and lots of hand-knit things. Brrrr! Good thing it’s not supposed to rain.
Next weekend I’m headed to Santa Fe NM for a fun little crafting weekend with a dear friend. Plan is to take in some galleries, eat some good food, soak in some hot springs, and knit some things. Hopefully it will be just what we need right before the election craziness really gets going. UGH.
Wishing you all joy and hope and peace this weekend. In other words, early Christmas vibes.
happy fall, y’all!!
xo
Rae
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PPS. A few shots of Michigan in the fall, 2024 edition:
