Here's a good reason to post more often...

I get hung up.  I don't know about anyone else who may be reading this - maybe I'm not the only one.  But when it comes to writing, I somehow feel that I always need something really important and meaningful to say, and I have to say it right - and then if I don't write, I feel like there are so many things to write about that, if I'm going to write, I need to cover them all - and then (as you might imagine), that's so overwhelming that I just don't start.  This became very clear to me this morning when I sat down to journal.  I always intend to write regularly in my journal; I even carry it everywhere I go.  But then I get stuck in that same ridiculous loop and never start writing.  Earlier this fall, I began to write three pages every morning (some of you may recognize this from The Artist's Way) - three pages, even if all I have to write is, "I don't really know what to write".  After a couple of weeks, it was amazing how much it freed up my mind to really write about what I care about.  And then I fell off the wagon, for a lot of reasons having to do with the various bits of chaos that have been hitting me this year.  And I found myself not writing at all, because there was too much to even start.  So this morning, I committed to my three pages again.  And I think that the blog is like that, too, somehow.  Every day, I frame something in my head the way I would want to write it on the blog, and then I get hung up (I don't have a picture, it's not enough about knitting, whatever whatever whatever), and don't write.

Wanda has been writing every day this month, and I have so enjoyed reading each of her posts.  I think I need to give myself permission to write as often as I want, even if it feels "small" somehow.  One thing that worries me (because who would I be if I didn't find something to worry about) is that many of the things that I mull over and would like to write about aren't specifically knitting-related (not even close); and many of the photos I've been taking lately (thanks to the inspiration of my beloved sister-in-law, who has started her own photography business just recently - I'll see if I can get a url to share) similarly have nothing to do with knitting.  I'd love some input: would any of you be interested in reading other things?  Like those short stories I posted a while ago?  Or my vaguely political musings/indignant contemplations?  I'm curious.

In the spirit of posting in spite of having very little knitting content, here we go.  I did finish a pair of socks for Rick, and he has been wearing them - photos will come.  We drove up to Sacramento last week for Thanksgiving at my parents' house.  And Tess came out from college to join us - you can imagine how glad it made me to see her.  My dear friend also flew up to be with us, which made the short trip even more fun.  On the way home, we took my friend to the airport on our way out of town, which meant squeezing five of us and our luggage - to say nothing of the dog - into the car. 

We managed (and look!  knitting content!  I'm wearing my new hat). 

On the way home, we stopped in Lodi at our favorite winery, Bokisch.  We did this last year, too, and it's a nice treat.  We get to visit with the folks who work there, and take a walk in the vineyards, letting Tilly run in the falling leaves before we really hit the road.  This time, we wandered down to the picnic tables under a big oak tree, and I just had to - absolutely had to - be up in that tree.  A quick boost from Rick, and I was clambering up.

I'd forgotten how very much I love climbing trees.  There really is nothing better than just hanging out in a tree.  For one thing, the views are marvellous.

The tracery of branches against the sky always fills me with delight.

Tilly, however, was less delighted to be left earthbound.

So eventually I came down.  I think I need to find more opportunities to climb trees.

I honestly would appreciate any thoughts you have about blog content - please feel free to share in the comments.