october is my favorite walking month. the light is distracting. the air is still gentle in it's crisp chill. edgar and i have beautiful walks along the water. and at times while i'm in my workroom sewing, i wish i was out walking with edgar. this morning is damp {not quite raining, but probably will soon} but we will still have a little tour. we are lucky to live on the lake and have the lake's simple drama as part of our daily routine. we walk on the grounds of a hospital that has been around for 150 years or more. the old buildings interact with the new. and the walkway along the water is full of trees and rocky ledges and pebbly beaches. i am sad to say goodbye to october. i feel like i lose a friend every time this month rolls past.

i love the quiet of my sunny little room lined with bolts of fabric. the bare pine plank floors are warm on my feet, even now with the dramatic temperature drop. the tables are full of fabric squares and spools of thread. the window looks onto the street, with overgrown garden plants framing my view. my fabrics tell me little stories. all the patterns and colors. gathering them in a garden of patches and calling it a quilt is like writing a novel for me. i watch the story grow stronger and the characters develop. that is where i find my serenity. so on sunday, october 18th, from 12 - 6, i am inviting you all to the grand opening of chasing lightning bugs studio. i hope you will taste a little of the serenity in the items i make. feel a little of the story. and just enjoy an october afternoon by the lake, in a flurry of autumn brilliance.

we went to the market on the weekend. we are fortunate to have a thriving, bustling farmer's market in the heart of our little city. it sits safely in the square behind our city hall and operates 4 days a week. the cast of characters varies, and yet also stays the same. three seasons the tables are stacked high and colorful. in winter, it's sparse, but always open. tom was making turkey for dinner. we found fresh peas. mixed greens. leeks and tomatoes. eggs. radishes. baguette and honey. and a pie. it was perfect little shopping trip, strolling through the streets, planning our dinner. all of it locally grown or baked. when we were making our list, on our way, we both wanted peas, but didn't expect there would be any in october. the man from napanee had peas. $3 a pint, still sweet and tender. we bought two pints and had enough for 5 servings.....as well as the dozens we ate while shucking. our six year old neighbor sat on a stool in the kitchen with us, guessing how many peas would be in each pod and eating most of the ones she shucked. and did i mention the radishes? my favorite addition to a salad.

it was a perfect shopping trip to the market, an energy filled afternoon in the kitchen and a lovely dinner and evening with friends.