IN Carmel

                                            A mandala crafted using quill pieces with color. Made by Susan A wonderful slow in so many ways to start the morning.  Nothing more than eating a healthy breakfast, fetching the paper and sitting for a spell.  And soon after we were on our way to church.   But before I go farther let me add that when feeling like I need something, music is the filler.  It's usually a great vocal group singing something that has good words. I was asked the question soon after we left the choir we had sung with for more than 55 years...what do you miss?  My answer was the words.  The words we sang were more important than I had thought. So, a few days ago I heard the Concordia Choir sing Day by Day.  I played it over and over again.  The words made the music stay with me.  I had both....

                                                         Seasonal change is evident.  Here's the proof.                                     Looking like late fall with green grass now moving fast to dormancy.                                                   We heard thunder far to the south with the promise of rain coming almost daily next week.                                                      ...

The morning started after a great night of sleep.  And there was no rush to the starting gate.  But eventually the garden cart came out, the trimmers and rake joined the crew of one and there was a trip to the shady north side of the house.                                                        Leading to my  cart becoming full and running over.   I went to Hosta country and it would seemed the deer found a dish they really liked.  So, the elimination work continued with the trimmers and rake taking down what was left plus other low lying ground cover.  The cart was filled with green stuff that found a home in Gina's composting container.  Woo, it was full when I left her house. Lucky for me the trimmer battery told me it was time to take a break.  So, I did.  One batter...

  It was back to a full-blown workday.  It's strange how they keep coming. It helps with that got to keep moving thing that pops up in my mind.  I don't need a buzzard coming after me.                                          Still a lot of color to be enjoyed by butterflies and us humans. Maybe I'm forgetting what a garden has in mind when it comes to fall at my house.  Yes, some folks let everything stand until spring providing hiding places for bugs and stuff.  I think why let that happen giving a gardener two seasons of work in the spring.  So, I split the jobs to fall and spring.  Bugs can hide somewhere else.  All the want to be butterflies next spring at my house will be protected in my garage.                      This caterpillar attached himself to a...

 The usual stuff started the day.  I managed to get rid of the last pile of garbage stuff.  Later in the morning Doug took care of one of the hibiscus bushes.                                         A hiding place was discovered.   I'll get them one of these days. I missed a big clump of Susans.  Humm.  More work for another day. I cleared off the patio, cut new flowers for the kitchen and some for drying. The patio pot was missing the geranium I pulled out last week. A Kale filled the spot after finding a walnut the squirrel had hidden in that same spot. Soon after that our Michigan friends, the Shard's, Bill and Penny arrived. They are a part of what I call our extended family and Kimmy's parents.                              Nice shinny b...

 So, what was today like.  It started with the same you know what stuff that most folks start with.  Then it was a trip to you know where...the garden.                            Doug was taking the picture.  This is a Grant Wood, American Gothic my style.                                     Well, I do look a little happier come to think of it. And I hope not so old, wearing my work cloths                                                            It's not exactly  my Sunday best as in the Wood version. So, the morning started with me heading to the garage to get out the garden wagon along with a f...

 It started with a good grief feeling.  Doug woke me up after 9 o'clock.  Now what was that all about.  Could it be that the last time I looked at my watch it was 1 am.  Probably.  But 9 am.  The morning was half over, and I missed it.   Still the same old, same old with breakfast and all the other morning stuff.  I did some paperwork that will be needed for the Live Strong program for people with cancer held at the Y.  That program starts next Monday.  I need a doctor's signature to make me legal.  I'll get that on the 30th. The program starts on the 22nd of this month.  They are letting me in anyways. Yep...Rules are made to be broken, grandsons!  Maybe I should think of hiding from their parents. I'm just exceptional!!!Perhaps. 😂 Then it was time to get that walk around the block with Stella before the heat was upon us again.  I met Cory, also walking and stopped for a while to have a great visit.  ...