After a cool morning it is warming up fast today. On my walk this morning my mind was working on the tie up system for the Herald loom. There were no books with this loom and I had never seen one before so the tie up system was something of a mystery. Yesterday I spent the afternoon cutting wire and trying different things. A terrible mess was all I succeeded in creating. This morning the solution was right there for my mind to stumble across on the walk. It is amazing how that works. So I came home and tried it and wove a few rows just to be sure it would work. Now I am ready to get started.

Also on the walk there was an amazing smell of chili and mesquite. I asked around and found out that there will be a chili cookoff today at our local event center.

Chili and weaving, what could be better for a beautiful fall day?

Gold is such a great color for fall. On my smaller 4 harness loom I have a warp for two shawls in browns and golds. Last night I finished the weaving on the first shawl and today will begin the second. Yesterday I measured a warp for the Herald loom, my first weaving project on it. This is also my first 8 harness project. The first thing I discovered is that I don't have enough tie-ups for the treadles and will have to make more today. So a trip to the hardware store is in the plans.

Very cool last night for here. Soon I will have to actually turn on the heater at night, for now just an extra blanket.

A windy morning here. A cold front moved in last night and the temperature dropped along with the east wind getting up. It is quiet here this morning. Yesterday I took my husband to the airport so that he could return to his job. The dog met me at the door with his sock in her mouth as if she wanted to know where he was.

The current project on the loom is a warp for two shawls. I began the first one last evening and will work on it today. Lots of golds and creams in these two shawls, they should be good for fall.

Solitude wraps itself around my shoulders like a soft familiar blanket,

and sings the song of my soul.

This morning an early walk with my husband and dog. This is a rare thing because he works in the middle east and is rarely home. We walk at dawn and the sunrise was incredible. I think walking and weaving are similar in that they align the mind to a state where there is less confusion. Both are soothing to the soul and keep one grounded in daily existence.

Began working on my website this week and hope to have it to share soon. It will feature mainly scarves and shawls that I weave and sell through my business.

Today would have been my mother's 67th birthday. Although not a weaver she had great love of fiber and yarn. When she died we found a great stash of yarn that she had clearly intended to turn into useful and beautiful things. Perhaps because of her the yarn section is always my first stop in any store that carries it. Her idea of entertainment on a Friday night was to peruse the yarn section of Walmart after eating at Furrs with my dad. She did not live to see Hobby Lobby with its large selection and I doubt she ever made it to a knitting/yarn store like the ones popping up all over now. I often wonder what she would think of all this. I like to think she would be proud of my own stash of yarns for weaving even though they are on cones instead of skeins as she was used to. So today as I weave I will think of her and thank her for my early love of fiber and color. If your mother is still with you be sure to give her a hug for me.

Today is pretty exciting. A new loom arrived from Phoenix last night and we set it up first thing this morning. This is an eight harness loom from a company called Herald Loom. It is 50" wide and made of oak. This thing is heavy. My husband drove all night from our home in NM to Phx which is 10.5 hours each way to pick up and bring this loom to me. Now that is love for you! My other loom is a Harrisville 4-harness, 36" wide loom. It is great but I wanted something heavier and wider with more harnesses to work with. Murphy the loom-cat has thoroughly checked out the new loom and it seemed to pass inspection. We have two cats, Murphy and George. George can't be bothered with things like looms but Murphy is always right there anytime I get the thread out and start measuring a warp.

It is raining here this morning and kind of cool. Our low last night was 49.

Today is the Autumn Equinox and a time when the world hangs in balance between the length of day and night. A magical time when anything seems possible. Fall has come early here on the plains of New Mexico. The grasses along the trails are heavy with seeds and the birds are very busy. It is cooler this year earlier than the past few according to my journal. On the walk this morning the air was crisp and dry and my favorite friend Frisbee (dog) bounced from one exciting scent to the next.

This picture is of a scarf I just finished this past week. It is a spice color chenille with some fancy threads woven in at the ends and randomly throughout. I love the color as it reminds me of the season and the promise of wearing cozy sweaters soon.