Seasonal shockings

"The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf
shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many."-   Oliver Wendell Holmes

Once school starts I automatically go into “fall” mode.  I start harvesting everything there is to harvest.  I look forward to the cooler temperatures and foggy mornings. 

Well Wednesday and Thursday, the weather took little notice of the leaves changing to yellow or red and collecting along the sides of the roads, the squirrels and chipmunks running around collecting the hickory nuts, 

the multitude of spider webs covered in dew 

 or the dwindling harvest as it rained down some totally unfall-like weather.  I love 60-75 but 90’s I feel like Frosty going into the hot house full of poinsettia’s.

Having already taken out the AC I was ill prepared for the heat and humidity which belonged back in July and August…not my September!  I gave up all thoughts of canning under such inhospitable  circumstances and sat miserably in the corner whining for more ice!  The only good part of the day was the evening thunder storms which brought some relief.

But today dawned cool and refreshing and all was well in my world.  I quickly got to work on the green beans, processing several pints and then came the tomatoes.  After getting them on the stove cooking I sat down for a break.

Along came a commercial which had me completely gobsmacked.  Now I realize I am rushing the autumn season by a couple of weeks by associating it with the start of school.  And I realize I like autumn  for the cooler temperatures but this commercial was for Christmas!!!!!...a whole lot colder than I want it for a little while longer.  Kmart is telling everyone not to wait until the last minute and use their lay away.  I am all for buying gifts early and if I see something for someone I may buy it in February and put it away, and as a knitter/crocheter I realize that one must start work on some gifts while the sweat is dripping from your brow….but advertising for it even before Halloween …preposterous!  (for some reason I feel that should be said with a British accent and by a man with a monocle!) We are not even to the 100 day count down and the fall tv shows haven’t even started! 

And now still shaking my head, I am going back to my tomatoes.  Sanity still reigns there.  But before I leave I have to show you my bag.  A local fiber fest had a contest.  This year it was a bag, knit, crocheted, felted or woven.  I thought about entering and while going through a folder with patterns I had printed out long ago and never got to (please tell me I am not the only one that has one of those) I found the pattern for the Cluck clutch.  I have a chicken themed kitchen and had thought of making this just to stuff and stick on a shelf but figured I would kill two birds with one stone.  So I got out a hook and crocheted the thing up and sent if off to the festival with Cyndy.  I never saw it at the festival and I don’t know how many entered but I won a ribbon….it is only a participation ribbon for best presentation because I stuffed her with tissue paper to look like a regular chicken.  

 It wasn’t a serious project so I didn’t even expect to win what I did, but it is my first time so I am happy.

And while my purchases at the festival were small I had a great time.   

two bumps of jacob roving  

moon and stars clay buttons