By 10 am yesterday morning my lines had fried, no phone.  Moisture, corrosion, more of the same.  An endless saga,  I’m the end of the road, so to speak.  The phone guys came in record time and got me up and running again, now at a whopping and very acceptable dial up speed of 50.6 Kbps.  Even they were surprised.  And, of course, a usable phone.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed. 

Dyeing… I love the lace wt. merino / silk.  Dyeing it is a pleasure, knitting even more so.  I find that I have to pay close attention, hardly taking my eyes off the needles so as not to miss the second little stitch on a k2tog or ssk.  I’m used to a slightly heavier yarn for my lace work.  The Swallowtail shawl is nearly up to the change in pattern, the first Lily of the Valley border.  Just another 12 rows …..

In between I walk down to the barn and dye new colors.  The cooler weather is perfect for leaning over the dye pot and the beginnings of the fall colors an inspiration. 

Pokeberry

Gourd

Sliprock

Late Summer Greens

Atlantic

Mixed Berries

 

Can you see it?

That picture was last Friday morning.  The hill stands between my house and the Merlin Tree.  I was on my way over for a bobbin tune-up with Dave. I didn’t want to believe it.  Signs are everywhere.  The colors are nearly three weeks ahead of most years.  What does that mean.  The hummers have been leaving.  I have some females now, but the males have left for the season.  I can’t believe that its over, the summer that wasn’t for us in this corner of the world. 
From the Merlin Tree, I went into town. The General Store had phone to say my 10lbs of frozen pork livers (for the cats) were waiting.  What I saw was this…

  yes indeed..

I followed the sign.. you would have too, admit it.

In small towns like these, street names are usually named for and by the people who live on them.  My road has only two homes, myself and the farm below me.  Its named for the farm.  Keeps it simple. 

I had wanted to go into the new facility since last fall.  Honestly, I didn’t find a thing that I wanted.  Certainly nothing I needed.  There were a couple women happily buying, but nothing was singing to me.  I like my stuff better. Guess that was a good thing, anyway that’s me.  There wasn’t much time, the livers were waiting… remember??  Couldn’t have them melting away in the car.  Back in town, in the basement of another store, is Handpaint Heaven.  They are sort of the Cherry Tree Outlet.  Very small.   They DO have some sock yarn I’ve been thinking about.  At $22.00 a skein, I’ve held off.  It’s only a matter of time.

Plants are another matter.  I need more plants about as much as I need more yarn.  I bought these to plant against the old barn.  Now, they SING to me!