My Favorite Season

Fall is here! I love the parade of blue skies contrasted against the vibrant colors of the changing leaves, and the crunch of the leaves underfoot. I love the cooler days and nights when I can snuggle into my favorite sweater and feel cozy.

Blustery days are great with the sounds of the leaves rustling more and scritching across streets and sidewalks. The smell of burning leaves and wood bring on childhood memories aglow with screaming laughter and quiet fun.

I love the anticipation of the first frost, Halloween and ghost stories ripe in the darkening evenings, the first snowfall and hot drinks next to a pretty fire. Thanksgiving is nearer with all the wonderful comfort foods of childhood and more.

Welcome autumn! Welcome.

More valuable than gold?

I would never have thought I would be debating the perceived monetary value of gold, oxygen and computer ink jet ink. But I did just that last evening for five minutes with my curious spouse.

Our conclusions...

1.) Oxygen was voted to be more expensive per ounce (when purchased) than gold and ink jet ink.

2.) Ink jet ink was decidedly more expensive than gold per ounce.

Very odd.

Maintenance Plan

It's official. I have a bunion. That's like what "old ladies" get. I AM NOT AN OLD LADY! I am told it's not the worst they've seen--nor the best. Now that I know what is involved, I can understand why so many wait until they are elderly to get it fixed.

Apparently, my limited options are: 1.) Suffer with the pain 2:)Pain management (medicate, support, ignore, repeat) or 3:) Surgery.

Joy. Can you feel the joy? It gets more joyous.

It's been explained to me that surgery involves major cutting and repositioning of two toe bones, adjusting ligaments and tendons to length and permanent wires in my foot. (Goodbye metal detectors at security!) I understand I would not be walking except to visit the loo and grab more nourishment for a week. At week 2, I would be starting physical therapy and walking up to 15 minutes and standing less than an hour a day. At three weeks double that activity. At 4 weeks I would be walking a mile. Did I mention crutches? Crutches (singular and plural) were mentioned for up to six weeks.

I can't believe all this also means 4 weeks not being allowed to drive a car. Hokey smokes! Imagine that--one month!

I think this process would/will kill me. Yes, I'm whining. Wouldn't you? Okay maybe not. I always knew I made a horrible invalid. I, who define my life as constantly on the go would be forced to be waited on nearly hand and foot for almost a month. It's INCONCEIVABLE!

On the non-sarcastic side of joyous...I have been told that I would not be able to do laundry, cook family meals, clean house or generally maintenance anything that requires a lot of standing, bending and awkward reaching by myself for a few weeks. (I have been told that I could tell others what to do to accomplish said tasks.) LOL. I see management in my future. (Wait. I already do that. Maybe with the invalid card I would see better results. Pause. Again, I laugh.)

This could be problematic and a basic retraining of all involved. I'm not against the surgery. Actually, I think it would be nice not to have the painful reminders of a deviant foot joint, and to be able to find shoes that fit without having to climb over a mountain of them before finding the jewel. But anyone who knows me, my family and my house can probably figure out how much planning this will take to pull off.

Thank g-d it is an "elective" surgery. Based on pain and how much I can stand to put it off...it's nice that I can choose when to have my foot repaired.

That sounds a bit like taking a car in for a rotate and balance of the tires. "Okay, Ma'am this time we're changing the oil, changing the air filter and checking the fluids. Would you like the free car wash and air freshener with that ?"

Maybe it's not all that different as we start to get older. Older models do require regular maintenance checks.

Wow!

I am thrilled to be a part of a master gardener committee that helps to feed the hungry in our local area! I was especially proud of this group of people after receiving an update on the volume of our donation contributions thus far for the year. Read the tally and see what you think.

From June 20th to September 4th, you have helped to harvest and I have delivered:

Broccoli 76 pounds

Cauliflower 38 pounds

Cabbage 121 pounds

Kohlrabi 78 pounds

Banana peppers 9 pounds (plus more that were included in "Peppers")

Peppers 87 pounds

Eggplant 58 pounds

Tomatoes 647 pounds

Grape tomatoes 88 pounds

hot peppers 7 pounds (plus more included under Peppers)

Cucumbers 6 pounds

Green Beans 40 pounds

Golden Zucchini 156 pounds

Patty Pan Squash 36 pounds

Total 1,450 + pounds!!!!!!!

It's incredible, but there is still more to harvest this month. I'd say it has been a very good year!

Good Things!

The weekend brought me a lot of good things!

I enjoyed time at a farmer's market (where I came away with several delectable goodies), an antique shop, and a coffee shop (yum). I loved my time out at an old movie theater seeing an 80's classic film with my girls and husband! I indulged my taste buds with a cone of "peanut butter cookie dough" frozen custard.

I have a muddy yard full of new grass seed and fertilizer, trying to germinate and grow. (Grow grass, grow!)

My husband and I are the proud new owners of 16 new jars of homemade pickles made with our four hands. I am happily, short one bottle of wine (Sadly, the last of last fall's vacation bounty.) and some Gueyre cheese. I have new memories of laughter sharing new tales of adventure and old daring childhood adventures. (It's a wonder others and I lived!)

I realized (yet, again) that despite life's challenges, I am truly blessed.