Things have been in as much of a whirl as the fallen leaves heavily scattered across the yard. We had another scare over the threat of severe weather, but most of it went to the south of us. Still, we had several days of heavy rain as the front dawdled in our area before finally pushing through. The cold fronts are bringing increasingly chilly weather, alternating with rainy spring-like weather when a warm front counterattacks with more warmth and moisture. We've had the first light frost brush the area, and the cold snaps are taking on a definite wintry feel.

I chopped away more of the unwanted shrubs, so that job is nearly done. There are a few more things that should come out, but it is down to the ones that I can identify even though the leaves are falling in earnest now. There are a few more greens waiting to be picked and more tomatoes ripening on heavy plants slowly pulling over their stakes. It looks a bit disreputable in the tomato patch, but I can still pick the fruit and that is what counts.

I did have a gardening tragedy occur yesterday. I had emptied Baby's load of compost in the garden the night before and I was spinning in more fresh paper and scraps. Suddenly, the plastic at the side bolts tore loose and Baby's drum collapsed onto the stand. I called the company and they are sending out replacement parts since it is under a five year warranty. I'll get to clean out, disassemble, and reassemble Baby when they come.

So far Rapunzel is still doing fine and has another load of compost about ready to be put onto the garden. Even though the composting is slowing down, there is still a little more time before the tumblers turn into outdoor refrigerators for the scraps. I'm thinking about what might be done to extend their season without sending my family into further gales of laughter. Steve is still snickering occasionally about compost constipation.

Diva night at the pottery studio appears to be off the agenda permanently, replaced by other classes. Mom volunteered to teach the women's group some beaded Christmas ornament classes, and during a conversation about that class she volunteered me to teach a knitting class. At least that class won't be started until January, so I have some time to check on interesting projects and put together some handouts tailored to the group's interests.

I made a test project called the Ocean and Bronze Eyelash Scarf and posted a preliminary page on my web site. A guest at another member's computer class had been interested in making a fancy knitted scarf with bright eyelash yarn, which makes a furry fabric when knitted. The patterns I found on the Internet were a bit too difficult for beginners, so I created a pattern which was easy enough for them to do while using eyelash and glittery yarns to duplicate the glamour. The ones who saw the scarf at the last regular meeting liked it, so it will be our first project.

I actually had more trouble trying to take an artistic picture of the scarf than I did in knitting it. I wandered about the house trying to drape it sensuously across various places, only to discover that we don't have a particularly sensuous house. That scarf has to be the most glamorous thing I have now. I finally tried draping it over the couch. That was pretty good, but perhaps the embroidered rabbit pillow would make the picture more interesting. No, the rabbit glowered suspiciously at the sparkly new addition to his little clump of flowers. So, I finally went with the picture with the scarf cascading down the side of the couch.

The cats are as interested in the knitting as in the quilting. Mischief has been pouncing on the yarn and grabbing at the knitting needles with considerable glee. I did manage to finish knitting the Guidepost Sweater Project sweater despite his help and now have to sew it together. The quilt got set aside to get the eyelash scarf done, and will likely have to wait while I get the rest of the class materials prepared. That clash of projects is what delayed writing another entry for this blog. As usual, I got too much on my plate and some things fell off the side. I even got a new box of fabric from fabric.com along with some patterns and a piece of marbled blue, gold, and lavender fabric on sale at a local fabric store to make some new tops and it is having to wait in line to get done!

I still have to finish my holiday shopping. Mom and Steve are going to look today for presents to mail to our relatives that live out of town. The Christmas displays are up and flourishing even though Steve hasn't even yet found the Thanksgiving iceberg, our name for his huge bargain turkey brought home with considerable fanfare and gloating about how much turkey the cats will get to eat.

This sends the cats into a frenzy of anticipation for days, peaking when the turkey is in the oven roasting and they are cruising in front of its door like furry land sharks hunting their prey for hours. Given Steve's ability to find frozen turkeys weighing over twenty pounds, it is a very good thing that those cats never tire of leftover roast turkey no matter how many weeks it takes for them to finish the bird after it loses its charm for their humans. He's in sticker shock at the price of eggnog this year, though, and I'll have to get him over that before Mom throws snits over being deprived of a favorite holiday treat.