Monday List

 Things I Love - the October Edition

Birds - This morning I glanced out of our kitchen window and spotted at least five bald eagles standing near the river's edge on the  pebbly shore across the river. I'm pretty sure they were enjoying some of the dead salmon that are washing up after spawning. I often see a heron standing alone on the well lid near the river's edge at this time of year. A heron in flight is a sight to behold.  

October skies are amazing! 

Bone broth - After our (Canadian) thanksgiving meal, the turkey bones became a bone broth which simmered overnight.  I froze the seasoned goodness in smaller containers and stacked them in the freezer. Now, on a moment's notice, I am able to  to make turkey soup for family members who are suffering from colds or flus this season. Sure enough, the sniffles, aches, and fevers have returned. It's something I can do to help my adult kids feel better when they are feeling absolutely miserable.

Fall walks - The other day I took a long walk up our quiet road. It's one of the ways I am able to relax and find my peace when anxieties overwhelm. Sometimes I walk and just take in the beauty of my surroundings. Other times I put in my earbuds, find the RevWell podcast and 'walk the words of Jesus'. 

Reading Bible stories to my grandkids. It's one of my favorite pastimes. They are full of interest at this age.  Their eyes grow wide and they ask, "Is that a true story, Oma?". Yes, it is! I say. "Do all the stories end good?" Well, sometimes really bad things happen, and sometimes it takes a long time for things to change, but God is always with them, but yes, the endings are  happy! Isn't God amazing?

Dehydrating food - I borrowed my daughter in law's dehydrator and started with sliced apples. Dried apple slices are so yummy! I also dried some green onions, and some banana slices. My advice, banana slices don't dry very well... eat them fresh or freeze them for banana bread or smoothies! 

Cleaning up the garden beds. This fall, I've been learning about lasagna gardening, layering all sorts of mulch materials on the garden bed. I'm hoping for improved soil next spring! 

Harvesting seeds from some of our garden veggies. For some reason, I find harvesting radish seeds very relaxing and enjoyable! It's almost a meditative activity, except when the grands decide to help out! But how could I say no? ;)   Radishes aren't a favorite vegetable, I know, but they're fun to plant because they grow so quickly. Kids love that! 

Color change. I never tire of admiring the trees showing off  their autumn splendour. 

What's one favorite thing you love about October? 

~Praise~

I missed Friday's Five Minute Freewrite, so here are a few photos to celebrate Fall instead. I praise God for the autumn season. 

 all photos property of  anetac

Good for the Soul

What better way to spend an hour or two on a beautiful Sunday afternoon than out in nature? 

To leave the city, even if it's only for an hour or two. 

To feel the crunch of the leaves and twigs as I hike up the winding path up to the top. 

To reach the top of Gibraltar Rock, getting a bird's eye view of this beautiful lake and surrounding hills.

To be reminded of the gift of life -- to feel my heart pumping and hear my heavy breathing. 

 To stop and watch for signs of life. 

To be alone -- no other humans around except for me and the one I love.  

To watch my little dog romp about and be such a trooper, even though his little legs have to work double time to climb this winding path. 

To say thanks, God, for the beauty you have created for us to enjoy and for the healing touch of your creation. 

It's a Knitterly Kind of Day

 I think Enzo feels the same way. It's the kind of day to stay snug, dry, warm and hunkered down. (In full view of one's person, if at all possible.)

Although I did get out for a quick lunch with a friend (to maintain one's sanity), I have mostly been indoors (working), looking out. It's wet, cool, and grey. Didn't even take The Prince for a walk today.

 I'm looking forward to finishing up these socks, hopefully tonight. I've suffered greatly from SSS with this project.. Second Sock Syndrome is a real thing, you know! And as I picked up this project last week again after a very.long.time (a year?), I remembered why I had dropped it from my to do list. I had made a mistake in the pattern at some point, leaving it one stitch short,  and promptly ignored the socks out of frustration. As well, I realized there was a very good chance I would run out of yarn before the final toe was completed. And I still think that might happen. BUT, this brain has a plan. You'll have to wait and see what that plan is. You see, I don't have any more yarn to add to these socks and I have lost the label and forgotten the name of the yarn. Oh dear, you organized knitters out there must be tsking and shaking your heads collectively right about now. Confession: I am not as organized as I used to be. But, all is not lost. I am determined to complete these socks.
And since today is a knitterly kind of day... I hope to work on that tonight.

Settling into a new routine

Now that I'm back home after a job-related road trip, I really AM focused on settling into a new routine... Summer is winding down and Fall is certainly in the air, isn't it?

The air is chilly in the evening. The days may be warm, but certainly not HOT recently, and mornings are... brrrr! How did that happen so fast? Mind you, I am thankful for cool nights. Sleeping is so much more comfortable now!

And, believe it or not, I pulled on my wool socks today! Good bye flip flops, hello closed toed footwear.. hopefully a few more days of summer heat to come, though.

Thoughts move towards a morning routine. I want to make the most of the hours BEFORE noon. This means I have to begin getting up earlier. Last year (or was that the year before?) I was an early riser for quite some time and felt so organized and productive. Then, last year in the dead of winter  I found it harder to drag my body out of bed in the early hours. Dark room, cold floor, furnace barely on. Warm blankets enticed me to stay in bed longer. It's going to be tough to break my habit of 'just a few more minutes of shut eye'. But I know what it's like to be up early when the neighborhood is still mostly quiet and asleep. It's a good feeling. Time for quiet moments to start the day off right and not feeling like I am behind the eight ball when my feet touch the floor.

Are you ready for Fall?

Look at this lovely plant my daughter bought me. If those aren't colors to invite the Autumn season in, I don't know what is. Beautiful!!

ornamental mini pepper plant

Holding onto Fall

Autumn is certainly in full swing, but today winter was threatening to move in. At least it sure felt that way. The wind didn't tickle, it sliced! Not nice.  My girlfriend who lives an hour and a half away told me she saw snowflakes swirling in the air. No.. !! Say it isn't so!! 

I have enjoyed our autumn weather so much, and I think I was in denial that our beautiful Fall weather would actually end. So, in honor of the dwindling autumn season... 

I managed to work through most of this bin. A few pies made, bags of apple slices frozen for later, and containers of homemade applesauce. These apples were so sweet, I didn't even have to add sugar!

Our huge lodgepole pine dropped its nasty needles a few weeks ago. Not a fun job to rake those up. 

picking a pail of painful pinecones

 (step on one of these with bare feet and you'll know what I mean!)

I stepped out to check for mail later in the day and was greeted by a pile of lost, lonely leaves pushing pathetically against the door. I was sure they were begging to be let in, 

away from the cold wind! 

 View from my desk, which I was chained to for most of the day. The sun tempted me to go out, but I could hear the wind's warning whistle.  Wimp that I am, I chose to stay indoors.  I think it's time to bundle up a bit more before heading out! 

Not sure if you noticed or not, but I have been using alliteration in this post.

Couldn't help myself. 

Poetry on the brain, what with planning for this week's lesson. 

I spent an hour writing a 'found poem'. I figured that if I asked my students to write one, I should probably write one, too. It was rather fun, I have to admit. Although it took longer than I expected. Creativity is hard work!