Persimmons on the Brain

Hi Knitters,

Do you know about Persimmons? What got me thinking about persimmons and what they are started with my knitting. I was knitting with Julia and when I went to write down the color I thought it would say Pumpkin on the label. Instead it said Persimmon. I realized that I didn't exactly know what a persimmon is, I mean I know it is a fruit but I've never eaten any. This was about a month ago.  Then I received my Country Living, October 2008 issue and saw the feature article on the persimmon. I thought that was perfect and fitting.

Here is a little information about persimmons. They are a bright orange fruit with dark glossy green leaves and they grow on trees that look similar to an apple tree of sorts. Apparently the trees are easy to grow, not fussy and have few requirements as far as trees go. The fruit is delicious and sweet and can be dried for decorating purposes. When ripe the fruit should feel like a ripe tomato. There are two types of persimmons, American (native to the United States) and Asian.

Maybe you know all of this but I sure didn't. The reason I haven't heard much about persimmons is because they are very uncommon in American gardens. I am just not familiar with this fruit but I love the color. Anyway, thought you might find that as interesting as I did. You know about my thing for all things orange. I started gathering up my favorite orange yarns in my studio this morning and you know, I have quite a collection going. Here are some of my favorite orange yarns.
This pile of goodness makes me think about sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes (yes, they are back at Starbucks). I have a quick, funny story that involves pumpkins in a "round" about way. 

When I was pregnant with my first baby I just couldn't believe how round I got, everywhere, not only my tummy. I literally looked like a pumpkin with little pumpkin legs. Well, my husband and I went out for frozen yogurt one night, it was fall and they had fall themed flavors. I, of course being a pumpkin lover, ordered a pumpkin shake. Right after I said it I knew. I looked at my husband and we just burst out laughing and we couldn't stop. I was a pumpkin ordering a pumpkin. I have no shame. We still laugh about that one. It just struck us funny.
All of my pumpkin love was fanned by the arrival of this beauty in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Dani dyed up some gorgeous pumpkin yarn that I had to have. Isn't that the best pumpkin yarn ever? The hues of golds, deep and light oranges and rusts all swirled together. Yum, yum. I think I will make something other than socks with it. I need to see that color out front. It will probably become a scarf of some sort or maybe a hat or gloves or mitts.
It's delish with whip cream. You should get some.
I had to share a pumpkin sweater for my parting shot. I made this sweater many years ago in Rowan Cork from a Rowan pattern booklet. They no longer make Cork, which is a shame. It is a super light-weight chunky yarn, kind of like a chain. I loved this corrugated pattern with the leather ties at the neck. It still looks and feels pretty good and I think I will leave it on for awhile this morning. It's in the 40's now but getting up to 77 this aft, best weather ever.

See, I still look a little like a pumpkin only a slightly smaller one now.

Okay, happy Friday, Knitters.

best, susie

p.s. Thank you Kay Martin for the beautiful note and the hand-painted book mark by Lorraine Ortner -Blake. Your thoughtfulness touched me. Here is the quote Lorraine wrote in calligraphy on my book mark:

-if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. Henry David Thoreau.

I love it. Even a pumpkin can dream....