Just a minute in October

I'm playing along with Jen's just a minute- thanks so much Jen for this great way to recap and think over the month, it's nice not just to let each month pass.

For the first half of the month as you may know i was in the USA and rather recapping everything you can read more about it here and here and here and here.

But summing it up , I had a lovely time, quite frantic and busy, it was more of a family seeing trip then sight seeing. It was lovely to reconnect with people i had not seen in 17 years, and in some cases to meet their husbands and children for the first time.

I did a lot of talking, walking , op shopping and just wandering too, and because we visited 3 states in 10 day alot of flying too. Some of my favourite bits were just walking through the streets gettting to know each place. I guess I loved New York in particular it really is an amazing city.

Some of the highlights included my visit to Imagiknit, the snow in Boulder and my favourite seeing the Original Winnie the Pooh and gang in NY ( pictured above.)

It was also great to see and learn more about my mum, who is originally from there. We had a great time together, are closer from it and we had only one small niggle, pretty amazing considering we were living on top of each other. I feel incredibly lucky that mum and I are so close, but I think the trip particularly brought it to my attension.

For the rest of the month, recovering from a bad case of jetlag, enjoying being home and loving Melbourne all over again. And some other stuff too:

Listening: local artist Major Chords new release The Rabbit Hole. Beautiful folky pop I guess, but with amazing values lyrics and messages in his songs. This guy doesn't shy away from the hard stuff.

Bowerbirds Upper Air, equally lovely man woman duet really easy and beautiful listening.

Score! 20 years of Merge Records- A fantastic complilation featuring to name a few Okkervil River, the Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, Bill Callahan, Broken Social Scene, St VIncent, the National, Lavender Diamond the New Pornographer etc. I cannot recommend this album enough. ( sorry I know I've blogged about this before)

And finally got my hands on Iron and Wine's double release Around the Well. Just beautiful.

Reading: The latest Frankie thanks to a subscription for my bday. And A Lion Called Christian- an amazing book behind the equally amazing youtube lion reunion clip. Very moving and to be honest I thought it would be not as good as it is, perhaps something strung out of something, but it is totally worth reading.

Watching: Funnily enough I didn't watch anything on the plane. But since returning I really enjoyed Friday Night Lights, a series about a highschool football town. I got it because post trip I was needing some trash to keep me awake and distracted, but it surprised me totally because it's not your usual teen drama.

Making: October has been all about crochet and amigurumi, both OS coz it's so transportable, and since returning , I've had all this amazing yarn from the US I'd been dying to use. There's been, three bears and a rabbit so far.

Cleaning: I feel like it never ends- and yet my house is always rather chaotic.

for more of other people minute in October look here.