APPLE PICKING TIME (ALMOST)
Well, my Fuji apples are almost ready to be harvested. This is the fourth year and we finally have a decent crop. The real trick is to let them ripen on the tree and pick them before the racoons get to them. We have had the unfortunate experience of having every single apple disappear from the tree overnight -- not a core or seed to be found -- as if they were abducted by aliens!

Russian sage -- one of my most favorite garden plants -- is in full bloom.

I have been hard at work putting together a sock yarn order which will wing its way to The Yarn Tree in Brooklyn, New York, this coming Monday. So all of you sock knitters who frequent The Yarn Tree (and who read my blog) should pop into Linda's store next weekend. Here's a sampling of some of what I've been working on drying on the rack.

And when I need a break from several hours of dyeing in my studio -- referred to affectionately by me as "the sweat shop" -- here's where I cool off. A nice little swim sure clears the head and makes life a little easier. And . . . yes . . . I know . . . I'm lucky.

I continue to knit and weave and spin, getting ready for the Artistic License Fair in Costa Mesa, October 24th and 25th. Here's a scarf knit from my handspun yarn. I spun two rovings I handpainted first and then plied together -- one is baby camel and silk and the other is merino and cashmere. I just love knitting with varigated handspun because the journey of color is different each time.

Here's a lacey scarf I just started, using the Old Shale pattern. This scarf is knit stranding two yarns from Habu Textiles which I handpainted. One is a silk boucle and the other is a silk/kid mohair laceweight yarn.

And here are some handspun yarns I've been working on.

After taking spinning with Judith MacKenzie McCuin at Golden Gate Fiber Institute this summer, I stepped out of my spinning box, so to speak, and tried my hand at some chunkier yarns. And, guess what! I like what I've done and it's fun.

Speaking of the Golden Gate Fiber Institute, I just sent in my registration form this week for the Winter Intensives (Jan. 5th through 11th). I had so much fun at the Summer Intensives, I couldn't wait to sign up again. This time I'm taking knitting with Kathryn Alexander, who is so full of energy and color, color, color is her forte. And I am also taking garment design with Jeane deCoster, who is a delight and full of creativity and ideas. Six days of classes, mornings and afternoons. Food prepared by a Culinary Institute chef. Gourmet coffee in the morning. Spinning in the evenings. It just can't be passed up. For information on GGFI, go to: http://www.goldengatefiberinstitute.org/

TAOS WOOL FESTIVAL This year, I am foregoing my annual trip to Rhinebeck -- the New York Sheep and Wool Festival -- in favor of a trip to the Taos Wool Festival in Northern New Mexico. My husband and I wanted an adventure, so this sounded great. We're taking a train to Albuquerque and we can get on board right here in San Juan Capistrano and change trains at Union Station in L.A. We'll have a night in a B&B near Santa Fe at a glass art school, two nights in Chimayo at a B&B called Casa Escondidas, and four nights at the Taos Guest House B&B. We've never been to the wool festival at Taos so it should be a new and fun excursion. And we'll have days to explore all of the fiber and weaving and historical spots in the area. I might even come back with another fleece or some Texas mohair.

All for now -- down to the beach -- watch the sunset while wolfing down a fish taco!!