Frost on the Pumpkin

I'm enjoying a cup of cinnamon coffee (ran out of pumpkin spice) while I look out at the first frost of the season. I am going to have to do some research, but it's the latest first frost in my memory, at least since I have had any kind of a garden. Feels like a full month late to me.

I still have gorgeous roses, geranium, and marigold outside, and I didn't cover them. I thought about the geranium, because I've never grown one so beautiful, but honestly, it's time to move on to the next season. It's almost snow time in these parts, and while I think we're in for a mild winter, there's a little voice in my head that says it's past time to get the yard cleaned up and ready for a foot of snow. 

We had some rain and wind earlier in the week that took down the majority of the  leaves in our yard, but the drive to work is still unbelievably gorgeous. When I come off Cty Hwy B and drive past Pattison Park, the view of the water and the trees is breathtaking, then around the bend and I'm at the top of the hill, and can see everything, all the way to Duluth. It is an explosion of color, that boggles the mind! I took a different route to town yesterday, and the view coming down the hill on Cty A was something to behold. It's a little more open than the narrow view on CtyB so it was an explosion of color as far as the eye could see, in all directions. If I hadn't been on a time crunch I would have pulled over and just breathed it in for a few minutes. 

I asked for a fire bowl for my birthday, more for use in the winter time, because we can't always access the bigger bonfire area down in the valley by the creek. We'll set it up for the winter on the south side of the house, where the views aren't as spectacular, but it's protected from the North East winds we get around here. Right now through, it's perfect in the west facing back yard, I'm loving watching the fall sunsets with a little fire!  In the summer we can not really see the sun set here. Too many thick, lush, greens in the way. 

In the summer I also can't see what Loki is up to when he runs off after a squirrel, or a scent that he's picked up, and the teacher of Littles within me can't have that! Now I'm able to see him, and hear where he is in the crunchy leaves!  

There's a crisp to the air now, that we've been lacking, and I have been missing. Fall has finally arrived!

Gales of Life

Today I turn 52! It's going to be a fabulous year, because I choose that it will be. You can do that, you know, choose happiness. The gales of life blow hard sometimes, and I've learned to adjust my sails accordingly. 

A dear Mom from the neighborhood I grew up in sent me a birthday greeting telling me how much she loved my Facebook posts, and that I should write a book. It reminded me that I did write, all of the time, right here! It seems like I only remember to do so on big days, or my birthday now. However I found the ap and am directly connected by my phone, so that might be just the thing to get me motivated. 

The world we live in is so different from where it was when I first started writing this blog, but it is still a beautiful place, and there is so much to be grateful for. I truly embrace getting older with open arms. I'm settling firmly into who I am, and I love it! 

Now to see if I can connect this to post on fb without the teenagers directing me...... which is really the only time I feel old.

😉 

Sister Mary Gregory and Covid 19

(Signing in today to write something else I found this little gem that I didn't publish. Enjoy, wear your mask, and practice social distancing. )

First of all, I hope this finds you all well. 

This rant started out as a Facebook post, then I realized, "Hey, I have a better platform for rants! There is a blog out there in the interwebs that could use some dusting off.

A phrase that I've been hearing one version or another of lately is,"I'm not afraid, God will protect me." This is usually stated by someone not wearing a mask, or practicing social distancing. Sister Mary Gregory (Better known as my Mother. Yes, my Mother.... No, she had been out of the convent for quite awhile...) would have had a field day with you.

First, let me stare at you like you've lost your mind and find my best Ruthie tone. If I come click clacking across a hard wood floor in my high heels, that will set the scene perfectly. 

(Fill in your first and middle name here) have you heard that the Lord helps those who help themselves? Put on your mask and follow the guidelines. Say your prayers, quit whining about staying home, and offer it up for the poor souls in purgatory. You ARE your brother's keeper.

I think that about covers it. 

She may also have asked why you thought you were more important/special to God than the thousands of people who have died. 

Or maybe that's my question, but i think my Mom is there too. She, in her own way, which was much more polite than mine,(if you weren't family) did not suffer fools lightly. In that respect, I am my Mother's daughter. 

A Few Of My Favorite Things! (That are 50)

The year 1969 was a pretty big deal.  The USA put a man on the moon!  I have no personal memory of this, as I wasn't around yet, but I've watched it on news programs quite a few times over the years. Thinking back to the lack of technology in the 70's, I can't even imagine the awe one would feel watching a man walk on the moon. There was also a small gathering called Woodstock, but again, I wasn't born, so I have only second hand knowledge.

The things I do know, and love, that turn 50 this year:

First and foremost, Sesame Street!  I grew up on Sesame, then it continued to be on in the house for my younger siblings. In my teens I watched it while I babysat, then during my first full time job as a nanny, and sometimes during my earlier childcare teaching years.  This past summer, while working as a PCA for my niece Cece I got to enjoy it all over again!  Although now it isn't on PBS, it's on HBO, and that's sad.  Every child should have the opportunity to grow up with this wonderful, educational program!

Speaking of Sesame, PBS itself was created in 1969.  Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (my other childhood favorite), and Masterpiece Theatre were two of the first programs.  Masterpiece is still going strong today!  Love me some Downton Abbey. 

The Brady Bunch turns 50 this year, and although by the time I was old enough to watch the show it was in re-runs, I enjoyed watching them over and over.  Peter was such a hottie!  Scooby Doo is another childhood favorite, and they were also created in 1969. 

Nutter Butters, one of my favorite cookies to dunk, and treat to share with Cece, turn 50 this year, so do FunYuns, and Fla-Vor-Ice.  They are two of my childhood favorites, and there are usually Fla-Vor-Ice (freezies) in my freezer for the kids, or the kids at heart who live here.  Blue or pink are my personal favorites. 

I love reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to the kids in my care, and I had no idea it was written in 1969.  I guess I assumed it was newer, because I hadn't read it during my childhood, and we had a pretty big library in our house.  I've been reading it to preschool/toddler classes since 1989.

One of my favorite sing-a-long songs was written in 1969.  "Sweet Caroline" (BA-BA-BA) by Neil Diamond.  If you didn't sing the BA-BA-BA part, we can't be friends.

Some of my favorite people were born in 1969, and I have spent my entire life growing up with many of them.  There's a core group that has gone all the way from K-12, and I am blessed to say that we are still friends to this day. Facebook helps a lot with that.

 I spent the day yesterday at my childhood home (Thank you to my brother Jerry and his wife Jenny!) having a family birthday party, that had the exact format, menu and music that my parents would have thrown for each of our birthdays in the 70's.  I miss my folks all the time, but especially right now, as I, myself, turn 50.  It's the only thing that snags me up a little bit about hitting this decade.The people who are not here with me.  Otherwise, I intend to rock it!

To me growing older means gaining wisdom, and a sense of understanding about life, and I'm all about that. I've made enough mistakes to make smarter choices, so here's hoping I will continue to do so. (You never can tell......) 

So here's to 50!  Life is what you make it, and I intend to continue to fill mine with friends, family, love, and laughter!

"Baby" Mo

THE magnificent Mo has turned two!  The kids that I taught in Preschool always refer to him as "baby" Mo, so a lot of the time that's what I call him, although he is a huge sixteen pound cat!  What can I say?  He likes his treats, and you best just hand them over when he wants them if you know what's good for you.  I'm trying to just give him two when he asks, because he asks a lot.

Mo is two! He is a gorgeous cat.

I'm not really a cat person, but I've raised four now, and this little bugger is the worst thing on four feet.  He will take pictures right off of the wall, and he pulls the curtains down about once every two weeks. I can't put any kind of decorating that is breakable out, because it WILL be destroyed.  He opens cupboards and rummages around in them, and he can open drawers too.  I have to keep my end table drawers taped shut or he will empty them out.  That wasn't such a big deal until we got a puppy who would eat things.  One of Mo's favorite things to do is toss our stuff down to Loki.  At least now that Loki is older he doesn't eat random things, but he will for sure hide it somewhere, and possibly chew it up, depending on what it is

Hmm...what's this?

If I have to correct Mo's behavior I always get the squirt bottle.  If I try to remove him from the kitchen table, or the island, or my desk, I'm going to get scratched or bit.  If I swat at him I'm going to get clawed for sure.  When The Brown Eyed Man yells at him to get down, Mo does right away, but he walks away sassing, and it is hilarious! Otherwise, he is a quiet kitty.

Time to clean Mom's desk

Mo Mo isn't a lovey kitty.  You run the risk of a swipe even reaching to pet him.  It's best to do that on his terms when he comes to you, and even then there's no guarantee.  He sleeps with me most nights, and at least finally stopped attacking my feet while I slept.  There was a period of about three months, right before Loki came home, where Mo was evicted from the bedroom.  The only time he is really lovey is in the middle of the night.  He wakes me up for pets sometimes, but even then he will claw me if I'm not doing it right, or falling back to sleep. 

Squirt bottle time!

 Milkie and Mo still spar from time to time, but not like when he was little.  Jake and Mo were tight pals, and he taught Mo how to be a good dog.  When Loki arrived that changed.  Jake and Mo don't seem to have much to do with each other anymore.  Loki and Mo are pals, and they play, but as Loki gets older that has settled down.  Mo can hold his own in a battle with the 84 pound pup for sure, but Milkie (who is front declawed) can still kick Mo's butt.

Make me get down and I'll knock over the stool....again.

I think that as time goes by he will improve.............. oh well. We love him anyway, little jerk.