The Only Pumpkin for October

 

October 3, Saturday:  I'm frustrated.  Still feeling poorly.  And it hasn't rained a drop though it was meant to rain for three solid days.  That means I'm losing painting time on two scores.   Fortunately, I feel just ill enough to shrug and say, "Oh well."

I had two bananas left from my grocery purchases on Tuesday.  They were just ripe, not overripe, but I couldn't resist making one of the few treats that include pumpkin that I enjoy each October, Pumpkin Banana Bread.  It's an old Land o Lakes butter box recipe that I found 35 years ago and then lost.  I was able to call the company's 1-800 number and got the Home Ec department who told me they'd look in their files for it and a few weeks later, I had a lovely typewritten copy in the mail.  That's the copy I have still and which I used today.  

I'll post that recipe on my recipe blog and link it HERE.

later:    It rained.  Proper rain.  But did we get a bit of the cold front behind the rain?  No.  We got high humidity and stifling warmth.  Ugh.  Still, it looked like proper Autumn, if you just looked out the window.  Golden and amber colored leaves, golden rod, the autumn grasses, the thinner leaves on the trees.  It was beautifully deceptive.

Sunday, October 4:  Late yesterday evening, my wave of 'feeling better' came along.  About an hour before bedtime.  I went off to bed at my usual time and tried to go to sleep but I couldn't do more than just barely break the surface.  You know how it is.  Your eyes are closed, you're fairly tired, but your mind is looping over this and that and then I suddenly had a profound thought and boom! I was wide awake.  I got up and journaled for a bit, listened to my current weekend marathon show, "Escape to the Chateau DIY" which is currently showing on Amazon Prime.  It's the most ultimate home renovation show ever, lol.  I am totally fascinated by these people who go into these huge old buildings which are very often barely livable, have little to no budget left to work with and instead of hiring a team of people (at least not just at first), begin renovating, learning how to do all sorts of jobs as they go.

Eventually my mind was emptied of thoughts, and I toddled off to bed where I promptly fell asleep.   I woke before the alarm went off this morning.  I can't say I felt as well as I felt yesterday evening, but I got out of bed anyway.   Sam had texted me at 6:25 (he rises very early) to say he'd come help jump the Honda off.  I texted him I was up and had coffee which is not quite the magical elixir I wish it was this week but still helps give me a little oomph.  

Sam is very patient and a good teacher.  I pointed out where I'd tried to ground the negative cable and he said either should have worked but it probably didn't get tight enough a grip.  He told me that since the Honda has so much paint, aluminum, and plastic under the hood that getting a good ground is nigh impossible.  I could place the negative on the negative battery cable or even on the battery holster if it's metal.  My instinct had been to connect the clamp to the holster, but no one would corroborate that it was safe.  I had just enough healthy fear of doing something wrong that I wouldn't try it.

My car jumped right off.  We left it running for a bit while we chatted about his week.  He loves telling me about his students and his theories he's working out for how best to teach.  Honestly, he takes it as a personal failure when a student doesn't pass or is struggling.

After the car had run a bit, I took off trash, took mail into town, drove to the town east of ours and back again, just to ensure the battery got a good charge on it.  I had forgotten that a flat battery means the clock hasn't been running.  I kept looking at it thinking I'd get home just in time to watch the church service on the tv.  I missed the song service and just barely started the sermon.

Katie has been checking on me each day and texted me about then to see how I was doing.  Better, it's true, though still terribly hoarse and not quite 90% but better.

I can't share all the confidences I have at present, but many of you know that my two youngest children have had a few struggles over the past few years.  Katie is struggling at present with mental health issues.  She's being very proactive and has seen both her doctor about adjusting meds and her therapist, but I haven't seen her struggle like this in about 4 years.   I'm personally convinced that along with routine life stress, seasonal affective disorder and pure old grief, she's stumbling.   Please pray for her.

Monday, October 5:  Some Mondays are Monday all. day. long.  I'm having a Monday sort of Monday.

For the past few days, I kept noticing that areas of my kitchen were a bit dingy...and so I determined I'd clean the cabinets and counter tops today very well.  It did not help that sundry things had been finding their way to the countertops where they didn't belong and they weren't kitchen items.  

For months now, my gas range's oven door has not shut properly.  Every man who has looked at it, all helpful family men, said, "Oh well those hinges are bent but if they were just whacked back straight it ought to work just fine."   However not one of them ever 'whacked it'... 

I've used the oven, mind you, though not often for much, but it has been used.  The other day, I took a hammer and whacked at the left hinge and got it more or less straight, but the right hinge work was hindered by the fact that I had no room to swing the hammer.

So naturally while cleaning the stove today, I thought, "Right, I'll just slide it out and see if I can't fix that hinge."  I beat the hinge as straight as I could.  I don't think the door shut a bit better, but I did something instead of just letting it go as it was.  

Only when I went to slide the stove back into place, it absolutely would not go.  And as near as I can tell I'm lacking about 1/16 of an inch having it fit...I've tried and tried.  I've tried wedging something at the one edge thinking it might slide past and go in, however stubborn it might be, but no luck.  After working up great frustration and sweating heavily, I resorted to the only other weapon I have; tears.  Didn't help a bit.

I think they must have installed the kitchen sink counter AFTER they moved the stove into place, and it was pushed up pretty snug to the stove.  I don't know why they didn't leave a little leeway but there you are.  They didn't.  And that 30-inch standard sized stove is not going back into that just shy of 30-inch spot.

So, I broke down and called the contractor who built the kitchen.  Mind you he's terribly hard to get hold of, doesn't answer calls and sometimes doesn't remember he's responded with a promise to come.  He's a busy man with many projects and I accept this fact.  

In the meantime, my gas stove is sitting in front of a whole row of cabinets I use often enough and has blocked off the convection/toaster/air fryer corner.  I can't move the stove further out because it's connected to a gas line...

Having stewed over that and gotten more and more frustrated, I decided to have a quiet spell and a cool glass of water.  And then I went back and finished cleaning the cabinets and counters.

After lunch I went to do dishes and had a drain clog...

After plunging the sink for a good ten minutes I got things moving once more.  But it did feel like a hard slog through the day at that point, especially since I'd picked up my family worries and was fretting over other things over which I have NO control whatsoever.  You know...just to remind myself I am NOT in charge of the world in any way.

Finally, I decided I'd sew a new curtain for the laundry area.  The one hanging there is a little too short both at top and bottom and was never lined, so it lacked the weight to make it hang nicely.  I'd found another of the sheets I'd originally used to make the curtains in the kitchen and laundry, and it was exactly the right width with plenty of length to work with.  I was trying to take down the curtain rod and discovered that when the workman had painted the area and then rehung my curtain, he'd apparently broken the curtain hook thing and used a screw which he'd bent up so it would hold the rod.   So, there I was with one side of the rod down and one side firmly held into place...

A few more tears and this time a few prayers.  Why I didn't start with prayer is beyond me.  Always go to the highest authority, preferably first.

Never mind, I fought through and just removed the old curtain, used it as a lining to the new curtain that has lovely weight and hangs correctly at the top.  However, I was not keen to take it down a third time today to hem the curtain.  But again, I did something, instead of just sitting here stewing which is all too easy to do.  

I don't expect I'll hear from the contractor today.  I might not hear from him tomorrow.  But eventually I'll either find help or figure it out...In the meantime, cooking my meal has only become slightly sketchy.  

Finally, I texted Katie, speaking in a far more straightforward way than I might have done in the past, because after years of dealing with her issues, I could see a thing or two more rationally and clearly than she can at the moment.  I'd rather risk her being upset with me over speaking frankly, however kindly, than be quiet and watch things happen that might have been cautioned against.

Now it is gone 5:30 and I have to figure out exactly how I'm going to manage my dinner...

Tuesday, October 6:  Aside from a tendency to burst into tears at the drop of a hat, I think I am on the mend with this cold.  I woke this morning to find that finally we had a cooler, breezy, more autumn-like weather.  It's been a beautifully sunny day as well, so I'm hopeful that tomorrow the shed will be dry enough to begin work on once again.  Fingers crossed that I can actually get one coat on all of my shed walls.

But in the meantime, while trying to avoid, visually and mentally, the stove sitting in the middle of the kitchen still and trying to work off my frustration that I've heard nothing at all from the contractor, I went around the house and opened all the windows.  That breezy air coming in was so nice and so very necessary too.  I think fresh air is good for the mental atmosphere as well as improving air quality indoors.

Since I found the stove a bothersome sort of thing, I decided that I would clean the kitchen floors really well today.  That meant removing all the rugs, moving out the free-standing furniture pieces, sweeping twice and then mopping with hot pine scented water.  One thing I've missed with my flooring is that I was told not to use Pine Sol to mop them.   I've used vinegar water with a few drops of dish soap and a few drops of essential oil.  Today I used Pine essential oil.

And since the doggone stove was in the middle of the floor, I might as well mop the space where it typically sits, right?  That's what I thought, too.  

I bought new brooms the other day.  Brooms are expensive, in my opinion and never mind that I use mine daily for two years before I replace it.  There was a broom and long handled dustpan combination that was reasonable compared to the other options, but the broom handles were only as long as the dustpan handle.  They were meant to be used with one hand and not two hands as one would traditionally sweep.  I just screwed the new broom head off the short handle and replaced my worn broom head with the new one on the old longer broom handles.  

And those shorter broom handles will not go to waste.  It is my hope that they will screw into my paint rollers and be the right length for reaching the peaks of the sheds.  Also handy for using when rolling paint on the porch floors.

After mopping and refurnishing the kitchen, I cut up an older fiber filled bed pillow and made an insert for an oddly sized needlepoint pillow cover I have.

I reminded myself, whenever I allowed my thoughts to stray to that silly stove, that for two days I have solved several 'problems' under my own thinking power and I'll figure out how to get around this issue with the stove, as well.  I am just inconvenienced by a temporary state of things, that's all.

later:  I had a plan in mind and called Sam.  Oh, how I hated to make another call to him, but I wanted only his opinion about my plan.  Well...in about a minute, Sam managed to shift the countertop the 1/16th of an inch it had moved when I took out the stove and slipped the stove right into the spot as if it were sliding on melted butter!

Honestly, I nearly cried right then and there.  I didn't.  But golly gee, I was that amazed and that grateful to that son of mine.  

Mind you all, I'd tried to shift the countertop myself, but I guess he's got a bit more muscle to put into such jobs.

Another Gramma Date and October

Saturday, September 26:  I did not feel well today.  This time it's a tooth, a tender-ish tooth, that appeared to be threatening to become infected.  However, I had made a promise to Millie that we'd absolutely have our Gramma Date today and I had no intention of letting her down.  Tylenol, swish with an antiseptic, employ a natural remedy, pull up the Gramma pants and GO.  And that's what I did.  

Millie laughed and chatted all the way over to Warner Robins.  She'd asked to go to Wendy's and yes, she knew just what she wanted to eat: Chicken Nuggets and fries in a kid's meal with a Dr. Pepper, and a cheeseburger and a Frosty.  Since the kid's meal had only four chicken nuggets, and Millie has grown by at least 3 inches in the past 3 months, I thought it likely she might eat the cheeseburger, or at least part of it.  And she did eat part of it.  She also dipped her fries in her chocolate Mr. Frosty, "Because I've seen people do it on YouTube..."  I don't think she much liked it, but she tried it.  "Why do they do that?"  I told her, "Perhaps because of the contrasts.  You know, salty/sweet, hot/cold?"  She didn't say much about it after that, but she had the satisfaction of saying she'd tried it.

We went over to Katie's afterwards.  As with Isaac, I'd donated money to Millie's bookfair and so I didn't feel inclined to take her shopping.  Bella was visiting and she and Millie get along beautifully.  Caleb was over the moon to have both his cousin and stepsister to play with and treated them admirably.  He has a bit of his Grampa's liking for females and the desire to be a little courtly with them.

They played outdoors in the heat.  Children can get sticky and red-faced and still be perfectly happy to be outdoors.  I wish I still had that capacity.  All I want to do is stay inside in the AC.  

I think Millie had a good day.  On the way home, she sang "I'm a Hap-py, Happy dog, I'm a happy, happy dog!"  She sings very well, but unlike Isaac is not prone to singing.  Since the song was consistently sung on the way home, I'd say she was a Happy, happy Girl!

Katie came over this evening.  Her purpose was two-fold, or perhaps three-fold.  She wanted one on one Mama time.  She needed to sit on the porch and absorb the country peace and quiet.  And she brought me the pie safe my middle brother built in high school shop class.  Mama had tucked it into a closet and left it when she moved out of her house in town.  Katie had retrieved and used it in her home for years.  And now it's come to live here.

Well, I gave Katie the one-on-one time she wanted and watched a little of the stress of life melt off her shoulders, and let her cry a little too, because as Granny said, "Crying releases steam..."  I also sent her home with two or three ready prepared meals that hopefully will help alleviate some of the working mom pressure to have a meal ready at the end of the day.   That and listening were my best gifts.

After she left, I moved the pie safe into its new space in my home.  I thought about my brother making it in high school shop. He built several pieces of furniture for Mama in shop, and I wondered if he'd be surprised to know this piece is in use now, 50 years after he'd made it.  It's not fancy, but a little rustic, sturdy, just like old fashioned pie safes used to be.  Chuck has been dead nearly 30 years.  

Sunday, September 27:  It was in the 50's last night.  I went out onto the porch this morning when I got up and sat there in the sunshine and fresh air and had my coffee.  I played hooky from church which I'd sort of planned to do.  I'd anticipated having another day of my tooth bothering me, but it was better.  However, I'd apparently spent the night clenching my jaw and my head and face ached and my teeth felt sore overall but on the other side of my mouth.  I'll confess, I felt off in other ways, but I was darned if I could determine exactly what ailed me.   

I was not sorry to miss church, though I felt I ought to be.  What better church to sit in than a sunny porch on an autumn morning, listening to the birds and the puzzling racket and rustle in the woods just across the yard?

That rustling and racket was a squirrel building a nest.  And there was nothing harmonious about it.  That squirrel fussed and scolded and chittered at the world all the morning long, at least while the windows were open to air the house and for all I know he kept it up long after the windows were shut.  I don't know if they build nests alone or to share, never having bothered to be interested enough to study their habits but I should most certainly say that I hope they find being warm and snug this winter far nicer than the building of the nest!

Sam came over and had a long visit with me this morning.  He and I had a bit of catching up to do.  

I mentioned my sore teeth.  He winced and mentioned our former dentist.  We both laughed over the little old woman hygienist who used to clean our teeth.  To be honest, she was one of the reasons, I dropped routine dental cleanings.  She was a tiny little thing but my word she had the strength of Hercules, and she was absolutely convinced that plaque was her personal mountain to flatten and she worked at it hard as she could.  She left me sore and aching many a time for days following a cleaning and Sam admitted today that she'd made him feel the same.  At any rate, it wasn't the dentist we dreaded, it was his hygienist.  Why we didn't go to the other dentist in town is beyond me...

Eventually Sam headed home and I puttered around doing light housework, then I went back to the study and worked on my September memory journal.  I have a page or three done, have pictures printed for more pages, but after a few hours, I was just ready to quit and go sit outdoors again.

Sassy is loving having company outdoors and I'm happy to pay attention to her now that the gnats are fewer and there's a somewhat steady breeze to cool down the afternoons.  I'm so happy the cooler weather has finally come to Georgia, though it is to be in the 90s most of this week, but the nights and mornings are really cooler and I reckon I can deal with a little Indian Summer before we head back down to the cooler temperatures at the end of the week.

I have tired of drifting through weeks, watching too much television, and reading far too much...I by no means want to return to my previous habit of never having time to read, but I do not want to waste these mild, sunny days when I might accomplish something of the much-needed work outdoors.  Nor do I want to run myself in the ground by working too hard.   I hope to find a medium place where I get something done and I have time to read each day as well.  Predictions are for a rainy autumn/winter.  I have painting I should do outdoors prior to another winter.  Of course, that means I also need to go buy paint and supplies which means I need to go to a store to get those things because so far, wishing hasn't made them appear.  Sigh.  It's not really the work I dread.  It's all the stuff that is necessary that finally leads to the work being done.  

But my point isn't that I need to shop but that I must FOCUS and determine what I need to do the jobs on my list and which are truly important (painting IS) and which are not (digging out flower beds just now) and then doing what is necessary to begin doing.

I have decided that each day must begin with opening the house windows and allowing fresh air in every day.  And I need to sit outdoors, once in the morning, once in the afternoon/evening.  No phone in the morning prior to drinking my first cup of coffee.  That should be quiet time, with Bible reading hopefully, though I've stopped being so darn rigid about morning Bible reading and just make it a point to pick it up at any point in the day and trying to read at least a portion of a chapter each day.  So far, so good on that score.  

My week will be bookended by Monday and Friday which are my two main housekeeping days.  I have three days in between which may be devoted to project work, and that frees my focus Monday and Friday to be solely upon the house, meals, etc.  I think that ought to work admirably well.  I'm leaving my weekends completely free.  That's time for the family and rest and play.

And so I hope in that way to stop drifting aimlessly about, aware of too many things that need doing and never getting to any of them.

Monday, September 28:  I must be in a season.  I have a tooth bothering me on the other side of my mouth this morning.  Sigh.  I have an impending dentist appointment in the weeks ahead but I'd very much like to avoid an emergency visit anywhere.  Fortunately, I have a good idea of how to deal with the mild irritation I'm experiencing. Fingers crossed, prayers said, it will right itself this week.

It was quite cool this morning, which made me recall that Sam asked if I'd turned on my heating yet.  I was a bit aghast at him to be honest.  I mean, turn on the heat in September?  John used to argue against the heat coming on before November 1!  I myself am not a stoic sort but no mere 55F morning is going to get me to turn on the heat now.   Mind you all, it has yet to be much less than 68 indoors and since that is where I generally have my thermostat for winter, I'm not going to be turning it on just yet.

However, I was mindful this morning that it won't be long before I shall want my heavier quilt on the bed and a blanket as well.  It did feel rather luxurious to snuggle under the covers in a warm nest while I waited for the alarm to ring.  It was too cool to just get out of bed right away simply because I woke, which is my summer months way of rising.

I finished the book Wives and Daughters this morning during my coffee time.  I wasn't aware that the author had never written the last chapter, dying before she'd completed the series of publications that made up the book.  However, her editor added the 'facts' readers most wanted to know: did the heroine get the man she loved? He assured readers that was indeed Mrs. Gaskell's plan all along.  

It was quite a long read, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.  Now I shall choose another book from the stack I placed by my chair at the end of August.  I do believe I have enough time to complete one more!  

I've been busy all morning.  Menu plans, checking in with the bank to see what has gone through, setting up the page for October bills, tidying, finishing off projects started over the weekend...The day has gone by rather quickly, but I feel productive and happy with all that I've done.

Tuesday, September 29:  I was so upset yesterday when I received a notice of my current balance on a credit card.  Not their fault but mine.  I'd used it and used it and that balance went up and up.  I decided then and there my new rule was NOT to spend money I hadn't already set aside.  And then I went over my budget sheet, and I HAD set aside money to cover nearly all of those things!  Hooray for me!   No need to worry about how I'll cover that balance, it's fairly done.

Looking and listening to all the weather forecasts it occurred to me that of all the outdoor tasks I have, the most important ones involve painting while it's dry outdoors.  That spurred me to change my project plan of cleaning off the patio (can wait for any day no matter how briefly dry) and get to work on the sheds or porches.  I'd become daunted by (a) the size of the jobs and (b) the supplies required.  No small thing, since paint is so high as well as the cost of supplies.  

I had planned a trip to Lowe's with the intent of getting paint and supplies today, even if only enough to do one shed.  Well...I nearly backed out of the whole thing because I felt so rotten.  And no it's not my teeth any longer.  I just plain don't feel good but can't put a ready finger on WHY.  Never mind.  Looking at the weather spurred me on.  It's meant to rain this weekend and all the first of next week.  And the odds of rain are very high indeed.  However, the next three days are meant to be dry and it's just the window I need to get started.

So, I went off to Lowe's and chose paint.    I was ready to make a change. They will be a dark farmhouse blue-grey with white trim.   I wandered around gathering brushes, rollers, etc. while the paint was being mixed.  And then I found two one-gallon cans of mis-tinted greys for $15 each.  They are two different colors.  

You might think I was tempted to change my mind and go for grey.  No.  I still went with blue-grey for the sheds.  But those two cans of paint can be mixed to paint porch floors and saved me about $45 per gallon.  I'm glad I spied them.

After the shock of my total (2 gallons of blue, 1 gallon of white for trim, two gallons of grey and sundry brushes, rollers, etc.) I decided it was as well not to even think of looking at mums that I might well not have time to plant any time to plant at the moment.  

Since I was in the area and payday is only two days away, I went on to the grocery.  I had a free dozen eggs coupon at Kroger I wanted to use before the end of this month.  I had my grocery list with me.  Not the "what's on sale list" (nothing on my list!) but the list of things I am out of or nearly out of entirely and have not seen a single sale on in ages.  I spent about $148 for just plain food, and it was all food I truly needed, not frivolous spending.  Every bit of it is meant for October, and restocking the pantry, too.  Not for the last two days of September.  I was careful not to over purchase fresh produce, which is my greatest temptation.  I focused on adding frozen and canned vegetables to the pantry and freezer.  All in all, I think it was a good day of spending and being thoughtful about what I was purchasing.  But please allow me to say a quiet "Ow," just the same.

I'm looking forward to starting on the shed project.  I'm not planning to slay myself, but I think once started I should be able to accomplish a good bit before it gets too hot to work each day.  I also have the advantage of having shade to work in part of each morning which will be a help, too.  I'm excited to have what's needed to start working on projects.  Now if I'll just have the same feeling of excitement tomorrow morning when I wake, lol.

Wednesday, September 30:  I've been undecided if I have allergies or a cold.  I still don't know.  It began as just not feeling well, but with two different teeth troubling me as well, I thought perhaps I was fighting off an infection, and it was just my body reacting to that.  Then I woke Tuesday morning with a chesty sort of cough and a little head congestion.  My chest does not have the burning sensation I typically have when I'm deep in a chest cold, so I blew it off and went out shopping for paint supplies sand groceries.  

I will share that though I was dressed for warmer weather I nearly melted.  I so longed to pull off the kimono I put on over my tank top but the tank gaps right under the arms and I was reluctant to have my bra showing.  I was so glad to get home t and pull off that kimono and tank top and put on something else.

This morning, I felt decidedly worse.  I was so excited by the idea of painting the shed that I got up anyway.  Well, it was foggy as could be.  No painting until the fog burned off.  I had a leisurely coffee, did my Bible reading, had breakfast, gathered my supplies and then decided to start a crock pot meal for my supper tonight.  I made a bit jug of water to go wtih me outdoors.  I had a lunch plan and ready food for when I walked back indoors.  

With one thing and another and supplies not quite where I thought they were, I ended up not getting outdoors until 12:30.  And it was really warm.  I had been sweating up a storm indoors. I pushed myself to go outdoors and work anyway though I admit I was feeling more and more awful by the minute.

I started on my shed. I got one side done (except for the cutting in) with two coats of paint and one coat on half of the backside before I called it quits.  I really like the color, but it's far greyer than I'd realized.  It's called Bungalow Blue but it's more like a deep slate blue.  I like it.  I really do.  And I was pleased that what I got done went far more quickly than I'd anticipated.

I came indoors and it was 1:15, but I knew that was it for me.  I cooled off, showered, ate lunch and then lay down in the bed and took a long hard nap of three hours.  The sort of deep sleep that you have to fight your way back to the surface from.  It was that which convinced me that darn it, I'm sick.  I'm beyond just not feeling well.  And I'm ready to kick the whole blamed world over it.  I had so much I wanted to get done before the rainy weekend ahead!

Then Katie texted me that she's struggling with the same chesty sort of cough and congestion and felt really awful...Dang.

I discovered the Honda has a dead (nearly) battery.  Apparently, the seat belt didn't retract and caught on the door jamb.  I didn't realize that it had and it kept the door from fully shutting.  I'm determined I'm going to TRY to take care of this by myself before I call Sam.  At least I can try!  There's a world of videos and tutorials on such basic car care as this.  I figure my greatest challenge is trying to release the hood latch, something I've never done successfully yet.  

But I'm not trying today.  No, indeed I am not.  I've had my lovely Braised Beef Shank for supper with lots of lovely broth.  I'm going to put away the leftovers and no kidding, I'm going to get ready to go back to bed even though it's just past sunset, because that is what I feel most like doing.  Cars, paint, sheds...it will all be there tomorrow!

Friday, October 2:  This is not the way I planned to greet October...

Yesterday I was determined, despite how I felt to get outdoors and work on the shed again.  However, foggy start to the day led me to work on doing laundry, baking bread, cleaning up a little indoors.  And by the time the bread had baked, and I could freely go outdoors, I felt so ill and irritable and pitiful that I crawled into my chair and went right to sleep and slept for about 3 hours again.  The sort of deep sleep you swim up from the bottom to the surface and try to break through to awaken, only to sink all over again back into deep sleep.

I assured myself later that I could go out in the evening and work on the shed, but no.  I did NOT feel at all up to that and so I just puttered around indoors for a few minutes and then crept back to my chair exhausted and ready for bed.  

I woke feeling a bit better today though I still have a chesty cough.  I did not think I wanted to tackle painting.  Instead, I stripped the bed and bath and changed out my warm weather bedding for cooler weather stuff.  I puttered around indoors doing various Friday cleaning tasks, slowly, but without too many rest breaks.

I did try to jump off the Honda without any luck.  I followed an online tutorial, and I tried two different grounding points, but my battery is really truly dead, or the alternator is shot.  I resorted to exactly what I didn't want to do and texted Sam for help.  I've looked up information on the car, and I can't find that we've had a new battery in that car in ages, so perhaps I need a new one.   

I really wanted to do this myself, but I'd like a second opinion on the battery before I proceed. But hey, I tried and I didn't blow up either car, so there's something.

I'm considering it a bonus that today I've had no nap, and I feel okay without one.  I'm not lively but I'm not feeling as weak and worn out as I did. That's progress.  

I don't have plans for the weekend, beyond the car battery.  I'm not sure I'll be going to church again this week.  I'd rather see how this cough is going before I expose folks.  My church group is very huggy and hand shaky, which is nice, but they tend to swoop in suddenly on you and don't give you a chance to throw up a back off sign, lol.  I would hate to expose anyone to this mess.  And here's hoping that this is my last illness for this year.  Phooey on all this sick stuff.  I'm ready to get busy!

Goldenrod Has Bloomed!

 

Saturday, September 19:  Today was my Gramma date with Isaac.  I knew it would be a good day with him when he came out to the car smiling shyly at me.  Isaac prefers to look stern and hide his emotions, but he couldn't help looking pleased and happy.  He brought along his tablet and pretty much kept his nose stuck to the screen the whole ride over to McDonald's (his choice for lunch), but he did answer the questions I asked and tell me a thing or two voluntarily that had nothing to do with questions asked.

He left the tablet in the car when we went in to eat our lunch and boy was it like turning on a faucet and not knowing how to stop the flow at that point.  That boy talked and laughed and talked and talked.  He told me jokes, of things that went on at school or home.  At one point he made a comment and used a word that I didn't quite catch.  It was unusual, not bad, but he quickly apologized and said, "Oh that word means..." and he told me what it was then added, "I forgot you were old."  Despite myself I chuckled and he quickly apologized.  

Issac is blunt and direct.  He never means to hurt, and it's only been in the past year he himself can hear how what he says may sound.  I confess that this was a point he and John often got hung up on, because John would get his feelings hurt and sulk and then Isaac would be upset that he'd hurt John and he'd sulk, too, which made them both a bit snippy with one another.    There was nothing I could do about it but hope they'd work their own way around to an understanding and towards the end, they had begun to do just that.

Well, Isaac has learned to explain himself and today he said after his apology, "Would it have been better to say you were elderly or that you were a Gramma?"  "Gramma would have been a little nicer," I assured him and congratulated him on thinking about how what he says sounds to the hearer.  

When we got back to the car, he never did turn his computer back on.  He just continued to talk.  I taught him that ancient song, "Found a Peanut" after I found an escaped peanut from my ice cream cup. He asked me to sing the song two or three times more and then he made up a game that involved passing cars that lasted until we got back to our hometown.  

We took many country highways home, and I was so happy to see that, at last, just two days shy of Autumn, the goldenrod has finally begun to bloom!  It gladdened my heart to see it.  It might not get cool, but still the blooming goldenrod is a sure sign that autumn is on its way.

When we arrived at Isaac's house, Sam came to ask if I still had a tv antenna he'd given us years ago.  As it happened, at some point last month while I was in the shed, I'd stacked it near the door with sundry other items to be donated.  I never went back to load them into the car.  I stopped on my way up the driveway and pulled it from the stack.  Then I loaded as much of all the other donations as I could into the car.  Might as well while I was right there even if it was stinking hot outdoors.

A big boom of thunder made me scamper to shut the trunk and the shed door and pull the car around to the carport, so I could hurry inside.  It thundered for the next four hours with no more than six drops of rain to go with all the fuss.

Honestly, it was a lovely Saturday.

Sunday, September 20:  I am hungry...I wasn't hungry when I came home from church and I settled into my chair to read blogs.  But now, I find I am genuinely hungry.  This lackadaisical sort of approach to mealtimes is both freeing and a little risky.  If I eat lunch now, at 3pm when will I eat supper?  Or do I skip supper and then find myself very hungry indeed and looking for something lighter to snack on around 9pm?  I much prefer to stick to an eating window that runs 10 am -7 pm but my body does not always cooperate with me on that!

I was well pleased with my outfit when I left for church this morning.  I have a nice and very comfortable pair of navy trousers, my new brown Skechers, a thin off-white blouse that I put on over a white tank and just because I know it tends to get chilly in church, my new brown cardigan which is super soft and lightweight.  Nothing fancy but I felt nice.  Until I got to the car and looked down and realized I was wearing navy pant with brown shoes...and John absolutely thought that navy and brown were absolutely NOT meant to be paired together and he was quite adamant about it.  Mind you this is the same man who preferred nothing but black shirts and blue jeans, so why I suddenly thought his sense of fashion should shake my conviction of how I looked is beyond me.

Lovely morning at church.  I arrived early enough I was able to speak with several folks I knew before service as well as after.  I'd told Sam I'd come home early so he could visit today.  Then Katie contacted me as I was leaving to say she was home from taking Taylor to meet her dad and to come over.  I bowed out of that, came home and here I've sat since I arrived, with no company.  I know Sam will likely come over after supper tonight if he didn't come after lunch. 

(He didn't...and I admit I was a bit hurt because I'd so looked forward to having a visit with him.)  We haven't had time to catch up in nearly two weeks, so I'd like to see him.  But I do admit, if I'd known he wouldn't be coming until later, I would have gone by Katie's before I headed home as I feel I've barely seen that family at all this month.  

Oh well.  I'm off to see what I can gather and make a very late lunch out of...

Monday, September 21:  In just three hours we will officially be 24 hours from entering into Autumn.  Apparently, our weather received notice...It is meant to be considerably cooler from the first day.  By considerably I do not mean crispy or even what others might say feels cool.  It will be very mild, not in the 96-100F range at all and honestly when you've been greeted with real heat daily, 80-85F is practically Chili weather!

Now if only the weather report will prove anywhere near reliable.  I'm afraid the forecasters, are, as John once said, "False prophets, every one of them!"  So, I shall reserve my real excitement for when I actually SEE that the temperatures have dropped.

However, a more reliable sign of a season approaching arrived today: the propane gas man came by to check my tank.  For the first time in years, I needed no fill-up at this time (and no wonder when it's so hot!).  But I do expect that I will receive a bit in November.   

I had a crud night for sleep.  No clue why.  I slept two hours, woke, couldn't go back to sleep, got up and had a cup of coffee and read several chapters in both of my books.  Since sleep still remained elusive and it was now gone past 5:30 and I was hungry, I made myself breakfast.  For some reason, once having eaten warm food, my body decided that it could after all be sleepy and tired and I toddled off to bed and slept for a good three more hours which is enough to manage on.

When I woke, I threw open the windows to air the house, fed Sassy and spoke to Stranger cat, who almost ran up to the porch this morning.   Then I came indoors and contemplated the day.  

I did NOT have another cup of coffee nor a second breakfast.  I was ready to go to work.  That's how I know I had enough sleep.  

I cleaned my bathroom really well, including cleaning the window and decluttering three of the baskets on my closet shelves.  I felt very satisfied when I left that room this morning.  It sparkled and shone and smelled clean and the closet shelves looked tidy and neat.  I also had a fresh list of things I want to do, need to buy, or recalled seeing in my shed and thought could serve a purpose in this room. Honestly, I think only one item, perhaps two, are to be purchased and one of those is a stick vacuum.  I find that the dirt/dust in our bathroom is powdery fine and I think a stick vacuum would pick up that dirt off the floor better than my broom does.  But then again, perhaps a broom and a damp mop would work as well.

From there I made my way into my bedroom.  The work there was less intensive, but I determined that today was the day to remove the donations from my room.  I have loaded my car trunk with donations from my shed, and these may as well go over in the same trip.

Then it was Money Monday and Menu Monday time.  I like to check in and make sure I've accounted for my spending from the past week, check to see which bills are due, etc.  And then I looked at the week ahead, what I have in the fridge that I need to use, check the freezer, etc. and plan meals, often all three meals for each day.  Then I made out a grocery list.  I try to keep a running list on the fridge that I add to (or strike off) items as the week goes on.  

And by the time I'd done that, I decided I was really hungry once again (it was now 12:45).  I made myself a tuna salad plate and my gracious that really was delicious, as were the saltines.  Hunger does indeed make a great appetizer.  

From this point in the day, I puttered. I washed the olive-green blouse once again, having discovered one area that didn't quite give up the oily stain.  I watered plants, refreshed flowers, did dishes, put things away, read emails, etc.  Just little things that in and of themselves aren't heavy duty or hard but all put together fill an afternoon.  

Wednesday, September 23:  Autumn is finally here.  I looked at the calendar and was surprised to see that officially Autumn didn't start until 8:09pm on September 22.  I was amazed.  I think at every point in the past, I would have believed it began in the morning of the day but no, it occurs after sundown.  And if you all knew that, then please ignore my ignorance!

It was also the six-month mark of John's death.  I am happy to say that I handled the day pretty well overall.  I remembered his last day of life and things that he said or wrote, who was with me and how dear they all are though I've not seen anyone except my own children since.  But these people are the sort who will ALWAYS be a friend to me and I to them.  That's the sort of friends they are.

I spent the day yesterday playing in the kitchen.  I had some cooked ground venison in the fridge and determined that I should use the eggroll wrappers I also had to make Southwestern Egg Rolls.  I tell you sincerely, there is no recipe.  Basically, you add red/orange/yellow bell peppers, a jalapeno, onions, and garlic and taco spice to the meat, along with black beans and corn.  Then you place some cheese (I used Pepper Jack because I am a spicy girl) and a scoop of the meat mixture and rolled in the wrappers.  

They turned out very good.  I baked them instead of frying, thinking I'd have a less oily product.  Not true.  I overdid it with my spray oil.  However, they still tasted terrific.  I blotted excess oil with paper towels and froze 10 of them for the future which I will reheat in the air fryer.

I also noted that two of the apples from North Georgia I'd picked up at the farm shed, had a bad spot.  I trimmed off the bad spot and shredded the apples and made a lovely muffin that I used sour cream in (about to expire and trying to use up).  I have no recipe to share.  I went by baking instinct alone, but it worked out beautifully.  The muffins are tender and delicate and delicious.  I made a caramel drizzle to go over the top to 'dress them up'.  

I was very happy with the results in my kitchen this week.  I think I've finally got my cooking mojo back!

This morning I decided to take a half dozen muffins with me to my friend's house where I was meeting her for a girls' day out.  It felt so nice to have something to take to give someone.  

I confess I was a bit disappointed in the weather. First day of autumn, and it was cooler.  Also, so humid that just walking to the car left me wet with perspiration.  I kept looking for signs of autumn all the way over to Susan's home.  I drive along country backroads to her place.  Aside from golden rod there wasn't a thing.  

Until I turned a corner on Susan's road and then I saw her.  It was a smaller tree, tucked up amongst pine and cedar and oak.  This was a small tree that stood no more than 8 or 9 feet tall amongst her neighboring trees.  But this girl was dressed in the loveliest new copper-colored leaves.  I smiled.  "Someone came ready for the Autumn party!" I said, as I slowed to get a better view of her.  I was so proud to see her all decked out that when we left Susan's, I insisted on driving back past her just so Susan could see the glory of her as well.

We had a nice day.  We never lack for things to say and while we typically shop in thrift and antique stores, today went a little differently.  We visited Hobby Lobb fabric department and then sort of wandered through the autumn stuff which was crammed right up against the Christmas things which we didn't look at as much.  I told Susan I was very aware that if I want to have a new color theme this year, I need to be checking right now for the ornaments I need to complete that theme, but on principle, I cannot look for Christmas decorations in September, I just can't.    But I did purchase one of the first Christmas gifts today.  That I can do without any qualms at all.

We ran an errand for me, into a Goodwill where we walked out empty handed because Susan kept finding things she'd donated, lol.  We left there empty handed.  We had lunch and then went into BJs to pick up a few items we needed in the grocery department.  Then we leisurely drove along country roads looking for more autumn.  One small sighting, far across a field, of a small group of trees sporting golden lime-colored leaves.  That was all.

Tonight, I noted the sun set was lovely...and occurring at 7:11pm!  This was John's least favorite part of autumn each year, the early fall of darkness.  I confess, I've been watching the time the sun sets move steadily earlier each evening and I'm not for it, either!

Friday, September 25:  Yesterday, I missed out on the perfect opportunity to clean the patio.  It was cool and cloudy outdoors.  Unfortunately, I felt plum ill.  My head ached, my tummy felt queasy and no amount of stern talking to or coaxing made me want to go outdoors to work.  Instead, I sat in my chair, with open curtains and windows and enjoyed the cooler breezes, all the while wishing I felt better.  I finished the last of Winter in Thrush Green and many more chapters of Wives and Daughters, and watched a load of tv, dozed and ate and somewhere along about 7pm realized I actually felt better.  I went to bed about 9:30 and slept like a log.

This morning it was truly chilly out, but alas, I have a Friday housekeeping routine, and I wanted to stick to it because honestly, I really enjoy my routine days, as much as I enjoy the days I mark for spontaneous things.

This weekend, I have Millie's day with Gramma to look forward to.  And a visit to Katie's, and church and maybe just maybe Sam will be by for a visit, but we'll see.  

In the meantime, I can't help but note that we now have less than a week of September left...October will be here next Thursday.  John always called October his favorite month of the year and he used to literally plan his vacation days so he could take the whole month of October off to simply enjoy it.  I would like to make the most of October too, in memory of him, I think.  

Mid-September: Loss and Gain

Saturday, September 12:   Grandparents' Day is this weekend.  I vaguely recall it becoming a thing back when my children were young, though we celebrated it by sending the grandparents cards or inviting them to a Sunday dinner.

No such luck for me being celebrated, lol!  Nope, it's all about the grandchildren now and one must go see them at school and admire handiwork while sitting in miniature chairs and listening to wailing children as you decline with a polite 'Thank you, but no', when the teacher assures that it's quite all right to check them out early and then fighting massive traffic blocks in the school yard trying to get out while buses come in.

Thinking, Cooking, Doing

 

Sunday, September 6:  I did not go to church today.  I was thinking of the week ahead and the extra gasoline I'll need to use.  So, I watched church online.  Well, no, I shall admit I listened to church online.  I kept busy tackling the mess on the dining table, starting laundry and making myself a really good lunch.  And thoroughly enjoyed my day while I was at it.  

But when church came on, I just turned up the volume, so I didn't miss any of the sermon, and I'm glad I didn't because it was quite a good sermon, the sort that gives you a perspective you mightn't have had before and made a passage of scripture come alive in a way it never had.  So, I appreciated it.  But it wasn't the same as going to church and being more fully attentive.

Am I Back? Maybe...

 

Sunday, August 30, 2026:   Well hello!  I'd said I'd rest through the first week or two of September, but today I felt strongly that I wanted to write and so here I am.  I've written all of the posts I plan to publish for September on the Fresh Season blog.  They are scheduled ahead and will come out each Monday of this month.  We'll call it 'writing lite'.  

But as we come to this week marking the last two days of August and the start of a new month, I do feel ready to 'talk' a bit, which is how I always see what I write here.  It's just a chat between friends and neighbors over a cup of coffee as we stop to rest between chores and appointments and living.  

Foolishness and Rest

 

Saturday, August 1:  Golly...A brand new month.  Admittedly I feel decidedly less than well at the moment.  I don't know what it is that's going on with me.  I just don't seem able to rest at night and then I drag about all day long feeling blah and blech.  I don't care for this at all!

Sam was here mowing this afternoon and racing to get it done.  Alas, I knew when I heard the first thunder rumble that he likely wouldn't finish the yard, not even as hard as he was going at it.  In the end, one section had one swatch about two mows wide left, and an upper level had a smaller rectangle about three mower widths wide.  When lightning began, he came right indoors but he got soaked to the bone before he got off the mower.  I grabbed towels for him and insist he make himself a warming cup of coffee.  He stripped down to his least wet layer, wrapped up and came to the living room to wait out the rain.