October

 The past month has seen a bumper crop of pears. Preserving pears, cooking with pears, and now my second year of making pear wine has kept me busy. Now that job is done and it is time to think of family, friends and neighbors for the holidays.  The daughter of a dear friend is expecting her first child, so I've been pondering a quilt design for her baby boy. It would be easy to purchase a kit and make it quick, but I always feel compelled to make up my own design or adaptation of a traditional quilt. I am thinking about a playful animal theme with a monkey, a giraffe and a zebra. It's ambitious, and the baby may be 2 years old when I'm finished, but, it will be something that I've put my whole creativity into.