Fall hits Maine, HARD

Remember that woodpile? Well, it's changed a bit now.

Temperatures are dropping as they always do after Labor Day. Frost warnings for tonight. We have a small wood stove
that begins to get hungry at this time of year and an equally small
beagle who loves to cuddle up next to it. So the woodpile is
diminishing. It's almost a shame to see parts of it go. I was so proud
of my success in piling it and I love the way it looks,
coziness on the hoof.

Wildlife sightings are increasing. The ubiquitous
turkeys pay us nearly daily visits and now it's hard to tell the chicks
from the hens. They graze walking through the meadow with their
ungainly gait, stirring up crickets which they apparently find tasty.

A group of "teen age" deer, four of them, one with budding antlers, drop
by our meadow frequently. They love the new grass since the last cut
and the apples on our wild trees. They arrive usually at dawn or dusk
and I have my camera ready and, when there's enough light, I'll grab
some images to share with you. Their hide is darkening almost to black,
so their white tail twitches are especially jaunty. My dh goes out to
tell them to help themselves to the apples and they do, as do several
other species judging by the scat below the trees.

I'm almost afraid to mention it, but the deer have politely left my garden produce to the human inhabitants of Mollyockett Meadow. My neighbors have fences, sometimes electric ones, around their
gardens, often festooned with aluminum pie plates and other shiny things. They say that the deer, turkeys and rabbits will ruin their gardens if they don't fence them.


Every year I test the theory of an Extension
Service teacher from many years ago, who instructed my class in
gardening to plant marigolds around a garden. He claimed that their
strong scent would keep the above would-be garden samplers away. Can't
argue with him. I always do it and it works. Also makes the garden look so
beautiful, don't you think? Certainly here, it helps to have other
fodder handy.


Fibrously, I've been spinning some awesome Cotsworth, about which more later, and plying it with novelty yarns for fun scarves. See above for a sample.

I sold the yellow yarn my niece
was thinking about for a shawl. And not to her! Not to worry, I've dyed
another, larger batch which should be up soon. Thinking of carding a
little recycled sari silk into some of it.

Off to work on a custom bag I'm knitting. It's going to be a winner!

Happy fall!