Fall Back!!

It's that time again.  Turn your clocks back an hour and enjoy that extra sleep!  Saturday evening when  you get home from your Halloween festivities, don't forget!

And have a Happy, Safe Halloween!

OOH! It's Summer Again!

After a couple cool, dark, wet days, today has been sunny and about 80.  We turned the heat off and opened the windows.  Everyone is happy.  I know it won't last, but it's nice while it's here.

Golfer had a follow-up appointment with the neurologist.  All is well, go back in a year.  So that's good.

I did some cleaning and laundry this morning.  And I did a little clean-up outside.  However, you can not tell that I did.  The breeze is moving the falling leaves around pretty well and the deck and patio are now covered again, as is the front.  Sigh.

I had a pile of "desk stuff" to do and also needed to pay bills.  That all got done.

And then I started reading a new book, The Solomon Curse.  It's very good.  Golfer recently read it and he also liked it.  I was going to start it a few days ago, but needed to catch up on the magazine pile.  :)   I'd still be reading right now, but it's time to fix supper.  All in all, it's been a good day.

Stay safe!

Remembering Fall in Ohio

I grew up in Navarre, a small town in Ohio.  In my memories, Fall was always sunny, cool and crisp, with the wonderful colors and smell of the changing and drying leaves.  We’d sort through them and pick the prettiest and then have a project of dipping them in melted wax to preserve them.  Granma would send Granpa out to hunt for branches of bittersweet with its lovely little orange berries so she could decorate the house.  This was back when you could drive along a country road, see something you wanted to pick and carefully just do it.  People weren’t so fussy in our area about trespassers.  I guess since it was a small rural area, everyone pretty much knew everyone else and it was okay.  That was how Granpa used to go pick blackberries for Granma to make jam, too.

Don't get me wrong, there were some properties that everyone knew you shouldn't go onto, as the owner might be really particular about his yard or his fields.  So everyone  respected that and stayed off.

When the prettiness of the leaves wore off and they were on the ground, they’d be raked to the curb and any kids around could jump in them and play with the pile.  Then we’d help rake them back together and we’d have a big fire to burn them.  I’m sure I inhaled more smoke than I should have.  I’m also sure it wasn’t good for the environment.  But is filling large plastic bags and loading up the dump sites that good for the environment now?

I remember festivals of various sorts.  The church ladies always had a Fall bazaar and luncheon on election day.  And there would be the big Swiss Festival in Sugarcreek.  That was fun – fresh, crisp apples, wonderful large chunks of fresh cheese, home grown vegetables and fruits, music, and crafts.   And always fresh apple cider and powdered doughnuts!

Halloween was big deal back then.  Navarre always had a Halloween parade through town that ended up in the school gym.  There would be costume judging and refreshments (apple cider and doughnuts!)  My Mom always loved Halloween and would make us costumes.  One year I was Robin Hood and she was Maid Marian.  Another year she was Granny and I was Little Red Riding Hood.  My favorite was the year she was Aunt Jemima and I was the pancake.  I know, I know, that is politically incorrect now.  But back then we were just simply a very popular syrup commercial couple!

On Trick or Treat night the kids were free to walk all over town.  Back then we could do that without fearing for our lives.  We’d get apples, homemade cookies and popcorn balls, and even sometimes a nickel!  And also candy!  This was before you had to worry that some deranged awful person put something into the candy or treats.  The only way you got sick from your treats is if you ate too many at once.

I’m not sure why we did the dried corn throwing.  But as we’d walk around from house to house the corn got tossed. It made a great noise! I’m sure the birds and squirrels and other critters were happy about it.  The next day some of us would help sweep it up.

I never understood the whole soaping windows thing back then either.  I never did that, but I did get asked to help scrub Granma’s windows if someone messed them up. She had a good attitude and said it just made her windows cleaner.  Mom and I lived in a second floor apartment, so we didn't have to worry about that.

There was never any of this scheduling of Trick or Treat times either.  Now it can be on different days, or in the afternoon.  Back then, when it got dark on Halloween night, the kids came out. It did not matter if it was really cold, or raining, or snowing.  You could go around until you wore yourself out, your neighbors ran out of treats, or your Mom called you in. 

But, things have changed.  I used to really enjoy Halloween and would decorate and carve a pumpkin, and get lots of candy to pass out.  But, politeness and consideration has gone out of the holiday now.  A couple years ago, the local paper printed a list of where the best neighborhoods were for trick or treating.  Our neighborhood was at the top of the list.  Since then, every year there are cars and vans full of kids being dropped off at the entrance to the community.  Large kids who are over the age limit, and kids who aren’t even in costume.  Kids who don’t know how to say please or thank you.  Kids who stomp on your landscaping.  The reporter should never have written that article, but I blame the parents.  The lack of manners and driving them in is their fault.  So I no longer participate.  The new tradition is dinner out after seeing our grandchildren in costume.  And we always get the grand-kids a little something as a treat.  So, however you celebrate, whether you do or not, have a good evening.  I will be enjoying happy memories of what used to be.

Stay safe!

Life Is Moving Along

Our days are filled with all the usual daily chores and duties, and we seem to keep busy. There are trips to the "Y" and Golfer gets some rounds in.   As for me, the "Fall" cleaning is under control and pretty much done.  It won't be too long before another extra good cleaning before Christmas decorations come out!  Time seems to move too fast sometimes.

Our yard work has been at a minimum lately since we've been waiting for seeds to sprout and grow.  And since there has been more watering because of that, the ground has been too squishy to really walk around out there too much.  I did do a little clean-up on the weekend.  There were a couple weeds shouting at me every time I looked out the window and they had to go!  The long awaited drainage repair and landscaping in the back corner of the yard is scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday and I will be glad when it is over and done.  I'm hoping that that work does not mess up the new grass in other areas.

Bikini is in Las Vegas for a work conference.  She says it's a good time since there's a bull riders convention going on now also.  :)

Nurse J went to her work conference in Atlantic City recently, but missed most of it due to a trip to the ER for kidney stones.  She is better.

I've been working on Christmas shopping and such.  While I was out doing errands recently I was in Lowes.  If Golfer and I were into the big blow-up decorations for the yard, I found the one we would have to get - - - -  R2D2 and C3P0 in Christmas hats with a pretty tree!  I find it very unsettling to go into stores and have Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas items all on display together.

I just finished reading John Scalzi's The End of All Things.  It is the latest in the Old Man's War series and was very good.  Now I'm catching up on magazines.  And then I'll start Clive Cussler's  Solomon's Curse.

We've been having our typical Virginia Fall weather - a few days warm and then a few cold and back and forth.  Today is cool, dark, and cloudy and there is supposed to rain later.  The furry kids have gone into cold weather mode and frequently burrow under the quilts, or hunker down in a warm chair.  Here is Finnigan, our little fur ball!  He had everything all tucked in!

It's time for me to go check on the golf hats I am washing.  More later!  Stay safe!

Just Sharing Some Smiles

I mentioned in a previous post about going along for Cutie Girl's picture session.  Here's how it went:

She had been all seated and arranged but that did not last long.  

Then there was some rearranging to do.

And here she is looking windblown in Fall breezes and the kitty wearing the hat!

Everyone had fun and it was a good morning!

Stay safe and have a fun Halloween!

And Another Beautiful Fall Day

It was in the 40's here this morning.  We have not turned the heat on yet.  All that insulation we had done a few years ago is still doing its thing up in the attic and the house has stayed comfortable so far.  But we may have to turn the heat on this weekend as it is supposed to get even cooler.  It stayed in the 60's today and sunny, with a breeze.

Golfer and I just returned from a movie.  We saw "The Martian" and it was really good.  I think it's one for my wish list!

As we were getting tickets, our friends L & G came in, too.  They were seeing a different movie but we got to visit a bit before we went into our movies.  They are still very stressed with their repair work and some upgrades in the kitchen going on.  Said there were no workers there today, so they left the house for a movie.

I think we're going to try one of the new places in Tech Center for dinner.  Will have to see how crowded it is.

Has anyone else heard about the pumpkin shortage nation-wide?  Since this is our year to go to Bikini's for Thanksgiving, I won't need any.  But the news reports around here are saying to get your canned pumpkin now if you want any.

I hope everyone is well and happy.  Stay safe!

Another Beautiful Day!

The windows are open, the sun is shining, life is good!

The new yard guys called yesterday about noon to say they would be here today.  Golfer cut the grass low as instructed yesterday afternoon and marked all the sprinkler heads.  The guys - four of them - showed up a little before 10:00 this morning.  They are done and gone now.  They did a more extensive aeration that we ever had with the old company.  And they left a sheet of instructions and a large bag of grass seed for any problem areas.  They will return in a few weeks for the next treatment.

Golfer and I went and got our flu shots yesterday afternoon.  Have you gotten yours yet????

I've done some cleaning this morning and will do a load of laundry when Golfer returns from the "Y" and driving range.

Angus is happy.  One of my chores today was cleaning out under the stove, the refrigerator, washer and dryer.  He loves shoving his favorite toys under those places and then sits there all sad in front of them because he can't get his toys.  I found six this morning.  One is already under the linen closet door!

I need to take inventory of our Christmas shopping and see what else I need to look for.  The gifts for Bikini's family need to be ready for our Thanksgiving trip, in case you're wondering why so early.  But I do like to get things ready early so I don't have to rush around in the crowds closer to Christmas.

Stay safe!

Smile!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I went with Nurse J to have Cutie Girl's pictures taken.  She did not get them yet, but this is a copy of one posted on the photographer's website, Purple Owl Photography.

What a sweetie!

Fall!

The last couple days have finally felt like Fall is here.  It was in the low 50's last night.  Today it's about 70 and sunny.  The windows are open.  We still have our Encore azaleas blooming and our potted geraniums, too.  Very pretty!

I don't have any potted plants inside because of the furry kids.  And I really enjoy the tropical flower arrangement I made, so I just put the Fall decorations around it.  The Halloween pumpkins on the mantle will get swapped out with the Thanksgiving figures after Halloween.  The ceramic pumpkins will stay there through Thanksgiving.

And these two are always good for a smile!  That's Finnigan on top and Angus on the shelf.  There was some "tag, you're it" going on.  :)

Life is good!  Stay safe!

Gray, Windy, and Rainy, Again

Hey, all!

I was supposed to be going to yard sales with Nurse J this morning.  But as I have mentioned, it is gray and raining again.  Kiln Creek has Community yard sales twice a year.  Fall one was supposed to have been last Saturday and was postponed to today because of the weather last week.  Some folks are still out there with their things set up, but it is not a very comfortable day for yard sale shopping.  Nurse J and I are not going.

We are going to get Cutie Girl's Halloween pictures done later today!

Golfer is watching a  movie since he doesn't like to play golf in the rain any more than I like to shop in it!  His movie watching got off to a slow start due to the DVD player not having a signal.  He pulled the TV stand out and checked all the wires and cables.  Didn't find anything wrong anywhere, but it worked just fine when he put everything back and tried again.  I suspect that it might have had something to do with me wrestling Cecil out from behind there yesterday to do his grooming.

Cecil was very good about it, just hates the whole idea of one of us picking him up.  So after I chase him from his usual hiding places, he likes to go behind the entertainment center.  Not very convenient, but not impossible.  Like I've said before, he's a very sweet cat and it is very fortunate that we adopted him years ago.  After I got his grooming all done and we both hugged on him a while, I did the other three without any major issues.    So that's done for another couple weeks.  Whew!

I have been busy sorting things out from my Christmas shopping.  That is going well and the next shopping trip will not take as long.  I'm looking forward to next weekend and Hallmark's BOGO sale!

Speaking of Hallmark - - - I am a little annoyed with them about their ornaments.  Golfer and I collect the Star Trek ornaments.  I think they need to re-issue all the old ones and have them battery powered like the newer ornaments.  We had to get the special adapters a few years ago so we could connect the older ornaments to the newer lights on the tree. And even with those, some of them don't work.  And adjust their prices!  I know inflation, production costs, etc. etc. but come on!  $30 - $40 for a little ornament??  That used to be $10 or $12??

I hope everyone is well and content.  Stay safe!

Busy, Busy!

Hey, everyone!

We've been busy around here.  The weather is great and things are drying out.  The golf courses are open for business again and the guys have been out to play.   It's in the mid-70's and sunny today, the windows are open, life is good!

I started on the yard clean-up yesterday.  Lots and lots of small branches, limbs, twigs, leaves, pine cones, Ginkgo balls, etc.  I got quite a bit done.  Golfer finished it up today before he mowed the grass.  The new guys come next week to aerate and do their yard applications.  I think it's fertilizer and seed.  Golfer will have to mow again really short, and then mark all the sprinkler heads.

I did all the usual everyday stuff around here and then went Christmas shopping!  I made quite a dent in the list.  I've been having some issues with Amazon though.  Our family keeps Amazon wish lists and Amazon is not keeping the lists all up to date.  Depending on where you are viewing the lists and who has signed in, different things are showing up.  And purchased items are not being removed from the lists.  So there is some confusion.  But I think I have things sorted out.  I was going to go back to the PX anyway, so I will just be returning two items that were already purchased.

All the years I was working, I always liked to go Christmas shopping on Columbus Day.  Now I can pretty much shop whenever I want.  But honestly, I rather like shopping online!  No crowds or people!  But I had a large gift card to use, so I geared up and went out today.

Golfer is watching golf on TV right now.  Dinner is in the oven.  I am off to round up the furry kids and clip some nails.

Stay safe!

Where Are My Sunglasses???

Hooray!  Today is beautiful!  The sky is blue with a few white fluffy clouds.  The sun is shining brightly.  The temperature is in the 60's and the windows are open!  The furry kids are happy!  Things are looking up.  As I mentioned, the forecast for the projected rainfall was up to twelve inches.  We got about four inches right around us, but other areas got more.

We have friends in South Carolina who have had it much worse.  One couple in Murrels Inlet said they had about seventeen inches the last we heard from them.  They were "marooned" in their house for a while.  Their neighborhood has small ponds and lakes like we have here and they just could not hold all the water.  It ran out into the streets and up into yards.  She sent us this picture of their street.

Another couple in Summerville had about eighteen inches at last count.  They hadn't had flooding in their immediate neighborhood, but he said that the rain was driving the snakes out of hiding and several people had been bitten by copperheads.  ICK.

So, all in all, we're very lucky.  Probably by tomorrow our yard will be dry enough for us to walk on and we can start some clean-up.  Large bags and my long-handled grabbers will be in use!  We have to get it cleaned up so Golfer can mow.  The new yard company wants to come next week and aerate. We heard from the landscaper and he wants to start work next week on the drainage problem and repairs in the back yard.  And put down some new cedar mulch!

I have finished up most of my "storm projects".  Things are under control.  BeyB got her braces off!  Her teeth are beautiful, but she says they "feel funny".

Life is good.  Stay safe!

Day Whatever. Still Raining. Still Windy.

We're still here.  It is still raining, still windy and still gray.  The rain varies from light to heavy.  I have not been able to find a total count on the rainfall so far.  I suspect the weather forecasters have given up and gone into hiding at this point.  Although there are quite a few of them being shown on TV updates standing out in flood water.  They're saying profound things like, "It's really wet out here, folks!".  I'm sorry, if you don't already know that, you're pretty un-smart.  (I try not to call anyone dumb or stupid.  That gets really, really hard sometimes.)  :)

The winds are heavy today and up to 40 mph.  There will be some major yard clean-up going on around here when the rain is finished and things dry out enough for us to actually walk out in the yard.  It's going to be a big bags and long-handled grabbers kind of project.

Even though Joaquin is out over the ocean, he's causing many problems.   The aforementioned wind, high waves and surf.  All causing tidal flooding and beach erosion.  Since the ground is saturated, there is nowhere for the water to go and other waterways are flooding.  The "count" for that is at least as high as with "Sandy" a few years ago.

I've been productive today.  All the usual "stuff" was done and I got all the laundry done, too.  Also  cleaned the floors.  Golfer had three pairs of slacks that needed hemming and I got those marked and done.  Cleaned up the kitchen a couple times.  It's almost time to mess it up again fixing supper.

The Sunday paper was totally soggy and worthless this morning.  They were supposed to deliver another one, but nothing yet.  I just checked their automated system and that said it will come tomorrow morning.  We'll see how that works out.  It's supposed to still be raining.

So that's how it is.  Thank goodness there are some new shows on tonight!

Stay safe!

Another Update

It's raining and windy, sometimes more than others.  But I recently looked out and it seemed like it was raining sideways.

I had to venture out for a doctor's appointment this morning.  It took longer than I expected due to lab work and everyone and everything being slow, traffic included.  However, the Rheumatology doctor took plenty of time to discuss all my concerns; the lab was backed up.

As you could expect with all this rain, there were huge puddles everywhere, all the ponds and lakes that I passed were full to their tops.  There was standing water on the roads in places.  In spite of a raincoat, rain hat, and umbrella, the wind and rain made me wet!

I got there and back home safe and sound.  Golfer and I have been catching up on some of our recorded shows.  We decided not to go back out into the weather.  As far as our immediate area, we are okay.  There are small lakes near us, but I don't think we are in any danger of flood water at this time.

Southside is a different matter.  Anywhere close to the water is having problems.  There is beach erosion threatening many areas.

I got this picture from an online news report.
Deepwater Drive, Chesapeake, VA
photo by Susan Cullifer Hooper

Stay safe!

Weather Update

This picture sums it up!  This is from the Weather Kitty app on my phone.  This is from yesterday afternoon.  This morning it is raining more seriously.

Joaquin is now predicted to stay out over the ocean, unless there are drastic changes.  But the coastal storm is dumping lots of rain and bringing wind.  There have been some closings, and there is already some flooding in some areas.  Beach erosion is a concern.  The ground is saturated and the water has nowhere to go.

Golfer and I are doing well.

Stay safe!

Welcome to October! And Weather!

I spent yesterday doing some storm prep chores.  I got groceries, even though I didn't need anything immediately and was planning to go this weekend.  I filled up the gas tank.  I went to the ATM and got some cash.  Also got more of the special food our furry kids eat.

In case you have not been watching the weather lately, Hurricane Joaquin is out there over the Atlantic and strengthening.  The path maps are all over the place and it is too soon to tell exactly where he will hit.  It is good to be prepared.  To complicate this forecast, there is a front from the West that is currently bringing of a LOT of rain to our area.  This means that with all the current rain, when the wind increases with Joaquin no matter where he is, trees will start falling.  That leads to power lines going down.

And that is why I filled the tank and hit the ATM.  If the power goes out, the pumps and ATMs do not work!  A lot of folks don't consider that.

We have our whole house generator and are getting ready to "hunker down".  Nurse J says they are fine at their house.  They know they can come over here if they have a problem with power outage.  That's providing they can get out.  :)  During one storm years ago when our street flooded, IT Guy waded in through waist high water to check on us!

Golfer has gone to the "Y".  He is feeling better and the itchy rash is gone. We never did figure out what caused it.  The meds are working on his sore knee, too, so he's good.  Obviously there will be no golf for a while around here.

I have been busy doing all the usual things to keep the house in good shape.  We have not moved our outside things for storm prep yet.  We still have some time since Joaquin is not supposed to get around us until Sunday and Monday.  I'm hoping for a small break in the rain to do all that.

Whatever happens, we have each other, our furry kids, we have a full fridge, good books to read and a lot of new shows on the DVR!  For now it is just drizzly rain, but there is plenty more to come.

It is wet.  :)  But please note the pretty azalea blooming by the owl!  This was taken this morning.

Stay safe, people!