put the clocks back..

it's still Autumn round here!

My copy of Interweave Crochet, Fall 2008 (from Paviyarns) arrived today, and I loved reading it. Most of the stuff is way beyond me, but there's a hat and scarf that I can tackle (pictured) and a cabled top (also pictured) that I aspire to. ( I'm nothing if not ambitious!)

Inspired by these Autumn colours I decided to clear up some more leaves in the garden. I meant to do it yesterday after lunch but then it rained and the wind was blowing a gale so it seemed like an exercise in futility.

Today has been brighter and calmer and now 5 bags of leaves are on the decking waiting to go the recycling place and I think I can still clear another 3+ bags of leaves. I only have a small garden , but there are a lot of mature trees behind us, so our garden seems to collect all the leaves in the village.

We suspect that some small creature has been burrowing in the compost bin, and D is not sure if it's a rat of a hedgehog. I tried to get our dog Megan to sniff the heap and identify the wee beastie, but she was indifferent. Usually she reacts to animal scents and she gets very excited if she sees a frog, a cat, a squirrel, a rabbit, a horse or a bull. Her indifference suggests that none of these have been burrowing (I might have noticed a bull, but maybe not...).

When she sees mice or birds in the garden she watches their antics but doesn't get excited, so it could be mouse nest. I'm hoping its a hedgepig, but I better be careful when I go out at night with the dog I suppose ... ( not that she'll do anything, not unless it is a bull!).

I was listening to Spinningerin's latest podcast and was amused to find out that spring has sprung in Texas already and that she is planting seeds. Good grief, I had better get a move on and get to winter!

I've also enjoyed listening to The House of the Seven Librarians on Podcastle, a great story for anyone who loves books and libraries. There's a really good serial about Neo-Dolphins called "Temptation" by David Brin on Starshipsofa which I'm enjoying too, I love the mix of poetry, fiction, genre history and science fact on this podcast, it's very well put together and makes the leaf clearing a lot more pleasurable!

Goblin lullaby

I've just listened to the funniest story that I've heard in ages. "Goblin Lullaby" by Jim C Hines on Podcastle ep 17.

The main character is a grumpy old goblin nursery maid, Grell, who hasn't had a good nights sleep for ages because of the ongoing battles between elves and goblins. The goblins' drums and the elves' horns make such a racket and wake up the goblin babes who wail something dreadful. I loved it, it made me laugh out loud.

The stories have included dragons, zombies, a ghost cat, a sparrow magician, a dancing wizard, tattooed pigs and personal yetis. Its a great mix of US , Japanese and Hindi stories. It's great to knit to, although I think most people enjoy it on their daily commute.

I've enjoyed a lot of the Escapepod stories too, but I won't try out the horror stories on clonepod as I find horror stories, well, horrifying.

As a really odd contrast I've had an episode of Craftlit as well today, and the book at the moment is LM Alcott's Little Women.

Podcasts are an interesting development from mp3's and the Internet and at mypodcast.com there are hundreds and hundreds of 'casts produced for all manner of subjects and can be done for free.I'm impressed by the professionalism of many of the podcasts and people's commitment to producing regular casts.

I can imagine that as J1 builds up his sound ability he will want to create his own 'cast about indie music, SF and football.

Well, if he does, I'll certainly listen.