IN Carmel

 Sunday started early with the alarm clock.  Church time was no later than 8 am.  We left the house around 7:10 knowing that the choir expected a coffee break between services, which meant Doug needed to get in on the action.  He's the go-to guy for any coffee job.  Rehearsal started at 8 and church at 8:30.  Then the break between services and back at it at 11.  Great music Great sermon all with the hope that the finance drive is successful.  In the afternoon the church's annual Trunk or Treat happened rain or shine.  The rain version happened inviting the children to T and T inside.                                          Eric, Noah, Kat and Andrew with a Where's Waldo theme.                                   ...

                                                              Beautiful Blue Jay.   There are always two. Another morning with all the usual stuff.  And then off to church for a long morning rehearsal for tomorrow's service.    The music will be good, not difficult and a joy to sing.                                                One of two arrangements at the altar for tomorrow's service.   We stopped at the drugstore for Halloween candy.  I was happy to have Doug along.  He did the choosing so I know he bought what he likes.to eat  Great candy place.  Two for the price of one!  He can take care of the ...

 The night was a bit longer with a wake-up around 6:30.  That happens about twice a year.  An oatmeal breakfast started the day.  Eggs have no taste. I hear that happens to old people.  Maybe I have arrived.  But then again maybe not.                                                                                       A Friday surprise.   The walk through the garden reminded me to pick up all the piles of stuff that were created yesterday, A donation was made to big blue.  That didn't take very long.                                              ...

 The morning started a little slow with a what's going to happen today question.  So I watched TV for a while and noticed on my bird watch that there had been a white frost in places.  It's the first one that I've noticed this fall on our hill.  Humm...closer to cold weather.                                                     A nip in the air.  Eat up birds.  Calories are needed. Every fall I make sure that the windows are locked down for the winter.  It makes their seal the best and today was the day for that to happen upstairs.  It's happened already in the living room. I usually wash windows before locking down.   I decided not to wash but when the truth was seen, I washed windows and locked them down.  Another fall job is finished upstairs.      ...

Lots of rain this morning but when the break came I walked the garden noticing the beautiful leaves that now have designed a new carpet.  So many colors and shapes.  They are beautiful.   The dogwood leaves are painted many colors.  Tiny white buds are waiting for warmer days to explode into beautiful flowers.   I took another look through the recipe book that was put together by women in my childhood church.  The names are still familiar although many have moved on to their eternal home.  Today was another Alta recipe this time Banana Bread.  My pans are a bit smaller than Alta suggested so I poured two loaves instead of one.  Andrew and Noah took care of one of the loves.  Another Wed. surprise for them.  The last neighbor awaiting apple dumplings got a delivery.  It was a busy baking morning.  The rain that started last night continued until almost noon..  I could hear a sigh of relief coming from the gar...

 Play day...not an ironing day.  Who irons anymore?   Gone but never forgotten.  In fact there are dead ones on the kitchen table.  I'll keep them for a while. The temperatures certainly say that something new is in the air.  No humidity for one thing.  So after October comes Nov. and Dec. colder temperatures.  Then comes APRIL.  Spring.  Today the play theme was planning for April with something different.  It was a morning of moving plants to better places.  Over the years they grow and crowd each other to the point there is no room for anyone.  In other places what was interesting now is boring. So it's playing in the dirt time.  There are so many kinds of daisies.  But I think Becky is the best.  Tall sturdy stems with flowers that last forever..  They grow with very little help.   One Becky Daisy group got moved to where the hostas were and they were moved to another bed.  Now t...

 That was the case at our house.  Tues. Ironing Wed. Get ready for Thurs.  Thurs. Peddling eggs, chickens, and veg. to first-generation Serbian immigrants, and more who had employment in the steel factories of Canton, Ohio.  Fri. Baking and Saturday house cleaning and a bath.  Lots of gardening, canning, and freezing in between.   Monday for me was thinking about what and where spring planting would happen.  That meant finding room for zinnias.  Many black-eyed ladies took a walk to the garbage can.  There's more room for other stuff.  B.Eyed Susans multiply like-wise like rabbits. Last night neighbor Rodi brought over two huge bags of pine needles.  Since some beds were pretty well thinned out and ready for April, I spread the two huge bags and then brought the third one home   Got to love those needles. I mulched the path.  Looks like Robert. Frost might have walked by. Three flower beds were also mulched....

This morning's surprise blessing was the early morning sun lighting the tree at the end of the yard.  It was stunning.  Just one of many dramatic pictures seen almost every morning during walks through the garden.  No crossword for today and a successful Wordle happened in the afternoon.  My job for the morning was to make Apple Dumplings for Sarah Ellen with the apples she brought to B and B.  It would appear that the Saturday folks like red apples instead of green Granny Smiths.  But instead of two dumplings, I made four.  Two for you know who.  Then it was off to church for the 11 o'clock service. The handbells played so that meant that Noah and Andrew were at church early for the first service as well as the second playing with the bells.  It's a pleasure to be their grandma.  Their grandparents and mother are retired handbell players. The tradition continues. Noah with high bells              ...

 As you might suspect the morning started, as usual, this time with 5 AM on the clock.  All the in-house stuff got finished in good time.  I made a morning walk and decided there were enough minutes to dig out zinnia roots.  There were more than I thought.  A few Black Eyed ladies got scrapped out of their comfort zone.  Gone for good.                                 This tree is just down the street from us. It's a beautiful reminder that this fall                                      season has been long with many no-coat days.   We've been promised another week of the same.  Then it was off to the soup kitchen for a morning of work.  We had great help.  At one point my comment was there is so much to do to get ready fo...

 Morning stuff done a little later than usual.  Woo...more sleeping than usual.  Lovin it'.  Then of course it was outside stuff.  I guess I'm just an outdoor person.        Cosmos from Jared and Kimmy's garden. Such a pure white with no bug holes.  Beautiful!  The path!  I started on the path and got rid of all the green stuff that was blocking the path.  There is still work to do with all the root removal, some above the ground and some not.  I chose to ignore that part of the job for today.  It's one of those standing-on-your-head jobs I just didn't want to do.             The sort of yellow-leafed plant is a volunteer Tulip tree planted by birds in the wrong place!                                                  ...