Bring on Fall

It would seem Samuel Adams Brewery and I are on the same time schedule. Thursday when I went shopping and wanted to grab my usual 6 pack of Sam Adams Summer Ale, the store had in Oktoberfest. I asked the guy stocking where the Summer Ale was and he said they are shipping fall beers now. I said, "Go outside and tell me if it feels like summer or fall?" It was mid 80's and rising. I came home with S.A. Boston Lager. And of course on Saturday, while I was diligently working on my fall to early winter jacket, the temps were hitting the highest they have been all year. We stopped at 96 up here at 4100' + elevation but the valley got their first taste of triple digits. It was hot. The sky at dawn was clear blue and the moon was stunning.



The Panasonic camera got some amazing detail on this shot. If the mood strikes, biggify it. But I bet you want to see that finished jacket? ;)

Here you go. Outside.









And inside.





The lining is generous as it should be. Nothing worse than having a tight lining that rips after one season due to stress. This one is cotton with a hint of Lycra for give. It feels smooth and light and stabilizes the loose weave of the jacket shell nicely.

I was going to enter this in Pattern Reviews Lined Jacket Contest just because I thought it was a nice example of what you can do with Simplicity 2153 and of course, the lining that was added to this unlined pattern. It was not to be though, the rules clearly state the jacket had to be cut out on or after the start date of 8/1/12. I cut this baby out in July. Life goes on and contest or not, I am looking forward to those crisp fall days when I can slip this on and get some miles out of it. It's hanging happily on a nice wood hanger at petting and admiring level in the wardrobe, waiting patiently for it's season.

Since it was so dang hot, things dropped down a notch, to slug speed. Dogs, cats, horses, donkeys and people where all just trying to stay cool. I was going to get Nick out for a ride, not knowing if it would be a little rodeo or just a ride. The minute I headed up to the paddock I knew it wasn't the day for it. Neither one of us would enjoy it and while it might have taken any spunk out of him to ride in this heat, it would to me too. I'd rather us have a spirited fun ride instead of a slow miserable one.

I did get my rodeo moment though. I took pity on the donkeys being bothered by flies and decided to give them all a little squirt with the fly spray. OH MY! There was a lot of protest on the end of that lead rope. I can see baths are going to challenging at best. Dandy may seem good by comparison!

Yesterday I noticed (finally I guess), a big wasp/yellow jacket nest growing on the corner of my barn under the eaves. This morning, in the almost dark after feeding and armed with a long shooting can of hornet and wasp spray, I took care of that nasty business. Thankfully it is outside the barn not inside near the hay. It was located hanging high directly over one of the tie areas for the horses. Those wasps just get crazy around late August/early September. I'll be adding some yellow jacket traps around the property this year too as it seems a banner year for them. Don't bugs feel the heat? Seems the hotter it gets the more active they get.

Parting shot: Stella, cool, calm and photogenic as always.