October

I really do love October. Not only are there some sad events (anniversary of my leaving MI, my late husband's birthday), there are plenty of happy ones, too. All kinds of festivals in our neck-of-the-woods, my daughter's birthday, etc, etc. Although sometimes I slide into depression this time of year, this year I am NOT! Since I've been taking vitamin D3, I don't seem to have that problem anymore (well, occasionally on a rainey day, but who doesn't?). I have finished several projects, too, and have been doing some charity (machine) quilting. I tried to add a photo this morning to this writing, but unfortunately, blogger would not comply. Maybe later. The photo was of the Granny Stripe afghan I finished, inspired by Attic 24 blog, and I used scrap yarn. I will try again later. One festival I would have liked to have gone to over this weekend is the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, NC (way up in the Blue Ridge Mtns.). I just love woolly worms, and try to avoid running over them in the car. It seems the ones on the right side of the road want to go to the left side and vice-versa. It's a wonder I haven't been stopped by the Police, for swerving so much!! I do hope that everyone is enjoying this cooler weather. Get outside, breathe the air! (unless you are allergic to falling leaves, or goldenrod!)

Fall Photo

Fifty years ago this week, I left my beloved home in Michigan. I was eleven years old and had no say in the matter, but I remember well the golden maple leaves and cool temperatures as we loaded the old Dodge to carry us to South Florida. I have only been back to Port Huron twice since then. Once when my father died. Once when my mother died. But my heart is still there and always will be. (Photo borrowed from Weather Underground.)

Lucky Dog

Remember the other day when I posted the poem (below) Little Black Dog? Well, it turned out to be somewhat prophetic. Last Friday, my daughter adopted a rescue dog and named her Lucky. She seems to be a black "lab", and the Vet says about 6 months old. Kathleen is having a grand time adjusting to this new dog, and has made many adjustments to her life. She has had two break-in's at her home, and we are hoping that the dog will make a difference. (Even though she has an alarm system, they seem to know when she is at work and come then.) We are hoping that this new addition to her household will be beneficial to both her, the situation, and Lucky. As for her two kitty friends, the jury is still out on that one. As of now, they are not too pleased, and are on "watch & wait". Time will tell, I guess. By the way, photos sent to me by Kathleen and won't "click to enlarge".

Prayers & Squares Meeting

This morning I went to a Prayers & Squares meeting at the Richmond Hill Baptist Church outside of Boonville, NC. It's been about a year since I'd attended a meeting. Although I think of the group often, and say a prayer or two for their ministry, the road to the church scares me and I don't attend often. I happened to have some fabric to donate to them, so I made the effort to attend this morning. I asked if I could take some photos of their work and they agreed. The first photo is a quilt ready for hemming. The second photo is quilts ready for members to tie knots in and pray over. The third photo is just a side view of a quilt backing, ready to be layered for pinning together, and the last photo is a stack of quilts ready for the ties. I had a good time spending some time with these ladies again, and I hope to attend a meeting again before the weather gets bad. By the way, they send their love and prayers to the "sister group" of Prayers & Squares in Nikko, Japan, the leader being my friend, Tanya. The weather is clear and crisp now and the leaves are almost ready to change colors. What a glorious time of year to be alive!!

The Spinner's Cat

Earl Grey has fallen in love with my wool. It is black Shetland that I bought from a lady in Pilot Mountain, NC, and he just can't wait for me to open the plastic box in the evenings and begin spinning!! He "slithers" into the box and rolls over and over, then he holds a bat up to his face to "sniff" the wool (sometimes he actually chews on it!). He does this every time I sit down to spin. He has not done this previously, so guess he just likes the smell or whatever of this wool. We usually have to go get the flashlight (another favorite game of his) to distract him to get him out of the box as he will bite and scratch to stay in it otherwise. Ah! A cooler and rainey day today. Perfect for working on projects...which is what I usually do anyway! Have a blessed Sunday.

A good poem

THE LITTLE BLACK DOG
by Elizabeth Gardner Reynolds

I wonder if Christ had a little black dog,
All curly and wooly like mine:
With two long silky ears and a nose, round and wet,
And two eyes, brown and tender, that shine.
I am sure, if He had, that that little black dog
Knew, right from the first, He was God;
That he needed no proof that Christ was divine,
And just worshipped the ground where he trod.
I'm afraid that He hadn't, because I have read
How he prayed in the garden, alone;
For all of His friends and disciples had fled
Even Peter, the one called a stone.
And, oh, I am sure that the little black dog,
With a heart so tender and warm,
Would never have left him to suffer alone,
But, creeping right under his arm,
Would have licked the dear fingers, in agony clasped,
And, counting all favors but loss,
When they took him away, would have trotted behind
And Followed Him quite to the Cross.

Heerrre's Gracie

I found Gracie Girl hiding amongst a couple of other photos of Ricky! She is such a beautiful cat, and loves to have her picture taken!

A Great Day to Spin in Public!

Yesterday was Worldwide Spinning in Public Day at Leslie Shelor's Greenberry House in Meadows of Dan, VA. My daughter Kathleen and I attended and had a great time. Several passerby's stopped and asked questions, and seemed more interested in Kathleen's Tri-loom than spinning! That's more than okay, the message is "do something creative!!". We stopped at a veggie stand/craft shop after leaving and enjoyed looking at the local crafts, too. Kathleen bought several unusual veggies to take home. All in all, I would say that we had a wonderful time, and want to say "Thanks Leslie". Hope to see you again soon!!

Photo #1 is of Kathleen working on her Tri-loom. She is making a shawl. Photo #2 is of Leslie and I spinning. Leslie is working on a beautifully dyed peach-colored wool roving and I am spinning black Shetland wool. Photo #3 is of Kathleen's cat Ricky. Ricky and Earl Grey and brothers, but are a year and half apart (same MomCat). Grace, her other kitty, seemed to be missing from the photos. Hmmmm. I'll have to double check the photos taken this weekend. Hope you are having a nice weekend...........