The Last Days of September

 

For better or worse, they're here.

We are on the precipice of what is, for many of us, our favorite time of year (even though loathing what follows).

Others (no names mentioned) would more likely prefer to burn the book above.

The days here have been temperate and mild; the nights cool and moonlit.

I don't want to betray October, but Septembers like this just might win my affections.

The skies are that September kind of blue that other months can't quite mimic.

...and there is a different sound to them as well.

The full harvest moon promises light in the dark nights to come...

...as well as a hint of the mystery and magic of the season ahead.

{I don't think the time stamp will show in the photo, but this photo was taken at 1:26 a.m. (don't ask) with no filters, editing, or other alteration.}

The gardens, while tired from the summer's labors, are still lush and enticing in the moonlight's forgiving light.

The last days of September have been busy here and will continue to be full for the next several weeks.

While I've neither hooked nor stitched much (any?) of late, I thought, my wayward mojo might be located at one of Cathy's (Red Barn Rugs) workshops and wrangled home.

Despite the amazingly talented hookers there and inspiring projects, I can't say that my mojo was anywhere to be found, but the hunt will continue.

So as not to leave my hooker friends out there completely disappointed, here a few photos. (Sorry, I wasn't good at actually taking photos of the rugs being worked on. I guess I was too busy scouring nooks and crannies for my mojo.)

{Cathy's living room}

{Hallway in the upstairs studio}

{One of the rugs in the upstairs hallway of Cathy's studio}

{Cathy's rug/design}

{Cathy's design/rug}

{Rug hooked by Lisa P}

{Cathy's rug/design}

{Maria B's rug}

{Cathy's design/rug}

{Rug being worked on by Lisa P}

{Maria B started this rug at the workshop and made amazing progress.  The design is by Robin Leuschen. Pay no attention to that horse in the background LOL}

The week ahead is a busy one with many appointments and, at its end, I will be heading to the lake for a few short days of hooking with Cathy and a few friends.

And, no, I don't expect to find my mojo up there either. 

I've already checked.

Enjoy your last days of September.

The Truth....

 

The truth is I never really want Halloween to come.

I just want it to always be October.

Yes, I love Halloween madly...but just imagine if it was always October and you could always be looking forward to it and anticipating it!

And when it's Halloween, we start all over again.

{View from my laundry room window.}

Just a thought....

Anway....

Fall came upon us fast and furious.  Like many of you going through droughts, I didn't know what we'd have for color - everything just looked brown and dead.

But it came - and was gone just as quickly it seems.

The harvest full moon was spectacular, although I'm disappointed I didn't catch the comet.

Due to the wedding, the work involved in the aftermath of the lightning strike, and a mess of doctor appointments and procedures, my Halloween decorating was significantly minimized this year.

Even if it weren't, you've mostly seen it all before in other years' posts so it's just me missing it.  😉

I do have a few new treasures. (So much for that promise....)

A little racoon paw holding a bouquet:

Definitely not everyone's cup of tea but, if you don't know it by now, neither am I.

And this little guy is "Comfy in the Crypt," by the very talented Cyn Tennant.

He's carved from clay and makes his crypt in an antique mold form.

It was difficult to get a great photo, but the detail is amazing.

I also finally finished up two cross stitch pieces.  The first is "October 31st 1693" by The Blackberry Rabbit.

This piece almost was given the Marly treatment (i.e., meeting its end by fire.)

It is stitched on a 32-count pre-printed linen by Fabric Flair.

First, I am NOT a fan of 32-count.

Used to be, but not anymore as it most usually (and did in this case) requires two strands of floss...which, in turn, requires railroading each stitch (if you're a stitcher, you know...if not, just know it makes stitching more time consuming).  I much prefer stitching on 36-count or, better yet, 40-count.

In addition, I struggled with judging the actual borders of the linen due to weird selvedge edges and misjudged.  I had the witch 3/4ths completed when I realized she was too high and if stitched as charted, I would cover the "October 31st 1693" header.

There was too much to rip out without seriously damaging the linen or my by-then fragile state of mind, so I ordered a new piece of linen and started over.

Then, to exacerbate my frustrations, the "newspaper print" on both pieces of linen was VERY light. 

I decided to distress it after it was stitched using a fine paintbrush and walnut stain.

I wish I hadn't distressed it, but I am NOT stitching this a third time!

And this is "Trick or Treat Cat" by M Designs.

Not necessarily my typical fare but it appealed to my love of vintage Halloween.

This was a kit (I think?) which was started by another stitcher who decided she didn't care to finish it so she offered it as a giveaway and I was the lucky winner.

I confess I undid quite a bit of what was stitched and really changed up the floss colors.  The "as charted" were just too neon for me.

I also removed a smiling Jack-o-Lantern in the lower left corner and added another bat instead.  

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Seven days and counting....

Hats Off to Uncle Sam...Yeah, I'm Late Like That....

I apologize for being so very long gone.  I do have a very good reason.  Trust me.  And not because I am a lawyer.  Life has just veered off course again...but this one I somewhat saw coming. I just did not want to acknowledge it in the ways I needed to.

Anywhat.

I am, as you have, by now, figured out, "back."  I had submitted my issue about my "disappeared" reading list to Blogger/Google Help...and, after several days weeks, they actually responded and informed me they had resolved the problem.  A rare, but so much appreciated, "Woo Hoo" moment. The "Whoops" problem, however, still persists.  My request to make the error message less irritable apparently, too, was ignored.

I have done little and accomplished even less recently that would hold your attention most likely.  I did finish up a Blackbird Design design I had been wanting to do for some time.  Now, well, like many other things these days, I am not sure why.  

{"Hats Off to Uncle Sam" by Blackbird Designs}

I also finished up (stitching anyways) "Oceanarium," a design by The Primitive Hare.

Kind of cheesy sayings I know, but I stitched it as a companion piece to "The Mermaid of Salem Bay," also by The Primitive Hare.  

I'm over my mermaid "thing" now.  Really. Truly.

The Buttercup (Ranunculus) has spent its beauty...

And the Bittersweet is coming into its colors:

Short-lived, however, as a hard freeze is expected by the end of the week.

I will leave you with a photo of my beloved moon.  I missed the "full" harvest moon as it was raining buckets here, but this was last night, so close enough....

Even when you can't see her, she is magical.