Fall has always seemed to me the time of Ancients………the time to stop and revere all which has passed before, cherish what we have here and now. Celebrate the harvest, gaze at the wondrous Harvest Moon, watch the Fog Faeries dance in the mist one last time, smell the unique fragrance of damp leaves, muddy earth, wood smoke, and, sadly the scent of the last rose. This Indian Summer has really stretched itself out, a true gift of love . The colors, the texture are a feast for my artist's soul. Every leaf, every tree, every drop of water, each sunrise and sunset inspire my mind and hands. Urging me to create, to dream , to make, to love. Of course I keep hoping all of this autumnness will last until Christmas Eve…….. Something so very nice about warm days, very cool nights and no yellow jackets or mosquitoes!

Of course on this ancient wee place there is much to be done before winter's blast. And, as usual, I'm behind in my "closing up" chores. I did get up on the roof and recaulked the chimney, supervised the gutter cleaning, closed up the barn windows, harvested the last of the garden, planted more spring flower bulbs, brought the "house plants" inside, and began closing up under the house. But I find myself taking more time to sit in the garden swing one more afternoon, walk along the creek one more warm evening, rock on the patio just once more in the twilight. Perhaps I'm slowing down, aging, or just so harried in my "job" life that these special moments are even more precious. I seem to be, as Grandpa used to say, "taking stock". Good phrase. And I am reminded of James Whitcomb Riley's words "when the frost is on the pumpkin and the fodder's in the shock"………sadly no one makes shocks anymore. I can recall as a child seeing them in the corn fields all through the winter. Autumn teepees standing guard, shrouded in snow and ice. Their dry leaves still rustling in the winter winds. Offering shelter and food for farm and woodland creatures alike. A safe haven amidst a harsh world.

I have taken these memories and sights to heart. My sketch book is filling quickly with planned projects, excuse me--great works of art! I have began assembling fibers, yarns and fabric. Piles and baskets brim with colors. My companion is having a hard time with all this fiber artist chaos. The engineer in him demands order--his idea of order. Sadly, on this point we shall never agree. Undaunted, I have warps planned and a fantastic felt piece in the works. Those leaves of corn have really inspired me! All of this autumnal art is in addition to the 46 knitting projects scattered about the living room and the Civil War quilt in the frame beside the rug hooking project. My beloved engineer rearranged the living room, putting my spinning wheels and fibers, quilt frame and rug canvas behind the sofa in an attempt at containment---when order is plainly out of the question. The sofa now sits at an angle…strange but it works for him. However I'm having trouble with the "pen"……Did I mention the dyepots in the kitchen? (And speaking of kitchen, it's still underway. I tore out a section of the stairway wall last night. But part of the kitchen is great…..just need to patch and paint the floor, put the tile on the counter tops and figure out where the microwave is going…) A very large fiber studio is becoming a MUST HAVE NOW thing. Winning the lottery would be very nice right now., this instant, today………

Speaking of winning, something wonderful occurred on my September birthday. After the normal waytoomuchfun at work, we joined friends for dinner at one of my favorite places. Came home, changed into jeans and T-shirts, fed and watered bunnies and barn cats. He gave me a bottle of my favorite wine so we opened it, settled in on the sofa (surround by Persians & a Corgi) to watch on old Star Wars movie. After a bit he asked me if I would do him a favor--I thought he wanted a sandwich---he asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him and gave me his great grandmother's ring. I was so stunned I nearly dropped Oliver off my lap!

And we are doing what is probably the absolute worst thing for a fiber artist left to her own devices for nearly a decade…………CLEANING UP and CONDENSING the whole studio (ok, for me the entire 9 rooms, 2 enclosed porches, a 2 1/2 car garage and 2 barns) to make room for my companion's guitars, dulcimers, drums, recording equipment, drawing board and other assorted toys………….Where is the National Guard when a lady really needs them?? I know I shan't be able to locate anything for years to come. Hence, the piles and baskets now! It just kills me to see some of my looms undressed and folded up for now…………..thank heavens a couple of them can't fold!! And there is the new "treasure"--the big OLD 4 H loom in the garage which is taking up the same amount of space as my Escort wagon. Of course, I'm still weaving and spinning and quilting and knitting and dyeing and bunnying right along with all of this life-altering redoing.……….and he is still composing and playing and organizing and smiling……..and we're still laughing and wondering………………and eating lots of simple suppers of wine and cheese………There will probably be film at eleven………….

The lesson here is: Love may be eternal but it's hell to pack up!

For now we'll be staying on the wee farm, but with the engineering/manufacturing market as it is, we're not making any long range plans for here. We are both committed to taking the bunnies, barn cats, silly dog, garden plants---everyone when we do move. It will be to another farm--one which will accommodate more critters. We're thinking of endangered breeds---bunnies, goats, sheep, chickens and who knows what. (The watch word here is committed…)

Happy Fibering!