Farewell September

 September 30th

Happy last day of September!

• At work I started training someone in Problem Solve.  It was very busy, so I don't think I was able to give them as much attention as I would have liked.  They have a good sense of humor though, so it was fun.
• For some unknown reason, I've been remiss about taking pictures of the foliage this year.  Even with the moderate drought conditions, there are still some lovely colors. 

• The morning glories are almost to where I imagine they will want to climb.  It is still too soon for budding, and that will be weather dependent.  I'm still happy they are trying to grow. 

• A week or so ago I got an inexpensive wood carving kit.  I decided to use one of the provided patterns and wood to refresh my memory on how to do this.  Step one, draw the pattern on the wood, is done. 

• Tomorrow Inktober begins.

☮

Continued listening to: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, by Laurie Gilmore

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

Michaelmas

 September 29th

Happy Michaelmas!  I had a little bit of goose for the occasion.  

Here are my happy things from today:

• This morning I had a dental cleaning.  This is not something that I enjoy.  What I do love is how clean my teeth feel after.  
• Keziah drove with me so we could go out for breakfast after.  We had a lovely breakfast at a place called The Purple Finch.  We followed that with a trip to Trader Joe's for a "few" groceries.  We got a lot.  I'll have food for after work this week and she got breakfast for her family and more.  There are some yummy looking autumn specialties there.  We got some pumpkin ice cream too 
• In the afternoon I went for a nice walk with Amy.  I noticed something on my walking app that I hadn't seen before.  There was something called Brigit's Garden in part of the park that we don't walk in.  We decided to detour over to it during one of our loops.  There are some lovely flowers.  I hope to remember this next spring to see what it is like then.  

Most likely a cutleaf coneflower.  
It was much taller than me.

Google Lens says this is a buttercup.  This one in Brigit's Garden is a little larger than I usually see in the wild.

Stream heading to Dorr's Pond. 

Dorr's Pond 

• While we were walking, a message to our family group came from Gideon.  He was starting to walk home from school and he would be okay walking a bit if whoever was getting him wanted to wait some.  I told him it wouldn't be me.  A little later he said he was okay to walk home.  Amy and I finished our walk (about another mile) and I headed home.  Traffic was starting so I skipped the shopping I was going to do.  Almost home, I saw Gideon and asked if he wanted a ride, he didn't.  He made the two mile walk home by himself.  🥰
• Keziah gave me some awesome earrings!

Ms Frizzle

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Continued listening to: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, by Laurie Gilmore

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

Maine

 September 28th* (more was added)

Here are some happy things from today:

• Every month or so the paternal side of my family gathers somewhere for lunch or brunch.  Today they gathered in Portland, ME.  I got to see some cousins as well as one of my brothers (today is his birthday) and part of his family.  The restaurant was REALLY loud.  After we ate we stepped outside and could actually talk with each other for a while.  It was good to see family. 

My oldest brother and I.  My short hair definitely makes me look more like him!  😂

Three generations. 

• After, my brother and I met up briefly so I could give him the fishing rods that had been our Dad's.  Originally I was going to set one aside for myself, but I changed my mind and didn't keep one.

• From there I went to Back Cove Trail for a walk.  I learned about this trail many years ago when my job at the time had me travel to the nearby Hannaford to work.  This was the first time I have had the time to walk the entire trail.  It was a lovely day to be outside.  At one point a stranger coming towards me complemented my shirt (Free Mom hugs) and then asked if they could hug me.  We hugged, wished each other a great day and moved on.  They did tell me that it was something they really needed right now.  I hope this small gesture of a hug was able to help them in some way.

Beach rose

Chicory?

Egret?

The trail goes along that bridge.

The bridge.

Eiders?

• The moon!

☮

Started listening to: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, by Laurie Gilmore

Finished listening to: The Pumpkin Spice Café, by Laurie Gilmore.

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

* I fell asleep before posting as well as bird and plant identification.  The birds were far enough away that Google Lens couldn't be as accurate as I'd like.  

The one on the right might be a European herring gull.

Clean Out

 September 27th

Here are some happy things from today:

• One of the things that I have had on my to do list is done.  I've sprayed the attic area off my bedroom with peppermint to help deter rodents.  The base of the house was built in the 1700's so there is no way to avoid them completely, but I want to try.  I can check that off my list!
• This afternoon I spent time with my friend Amy and some other friends.  Our objective was to empty out Amy's trailer and find homes for as much of its contents as possible.  I think we managed that.  I came home with a lantern and a few other camping things.  I'm glad I was able to help her sort through some things. 

I'm not exactly certain what these are supposed to be used for, but these cool little creatures are some of the things we found in the trailer.

• When I got home I realized that I didn't have my step count.  I ended up putting on my light-up vest and going for a walk.  I now have a 35 day streak of reaching at least 10,000 steps a day.  A call to TF in Texas helped keep me awake while I walked.

☮

Continued listening to: The Pumpkin Spice Café, by Laurie Gilmore.

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

Busyness

 September 26th

Just after sunrise.

It was a day with a couple of, “Maybe I shouldn't do this.”  Here are some happy things:

• A friend made some monkey bread that didn't come out the way they wanted.  I thought it was delicious, but I like doughy things. 
• After weeding more and adding some top soil I planted Johnny Jump-up seeds in part of the triangle portion of the driveway.  Supposedly they can be planted this time of year and return next year. 🤞
• Bel fixed the weedwacker and I went after a bunch of grass and things out by where we used to throw weapons.  It is a start.  I stopped when I noticed the bees.  That is when I decided that cutting down so much pollinating golden rod could wait.  

At this point, I had cleared a pathway between the targets.

Most of what I cleared was behind and around the targets.  

A catbird in an autumn olive tree.

• At Craft Night I worked on the Viking apron dress. The only thing I have left to do is to make the straps.  I have finished everything else I think.  If I get creative, I might embellish it with some embroidery later.

• After bringing out my loom and attempting to tablet weave, I realized the error of my ways.  I ended up taking out a couple of rows instead before putting it away again.  I'm glad I tried, but my back started hurting right away.  I'll need to find a more comfortable position next time.  

☮

Continued listening to: The Pumpkin Spice Café, by Laurie Gilmore.

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

Knots

 September 25th

Here are some happy things from today:

• Another work week has ended for me.  Part of me knows that I should be trying to work more hours, the other part is tired.  I'm so happy I have the next few days off from work.
• Instead of falling asleep I went down some rabbit holes.  It started with researching who Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera were (artists) and then moved on to Viking art.  From there I watched some video tutorials on drawing Celtic Knots.  I tried to rest for a bit, but eventually tried drawing some knots.  More practice is needed.  

Not quite done and mistakes were made.

☮

Continued listening to: The Pumpkin Spice Café, by Laurie Gilmore.

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

Short Hatted Gnome

 September 24th

Here are some happy things from today:

• Tuesday night training a new employee involved a lot of sitting.  Last night it didn't.  Instead of just over 5000 steps after work on Tuesday, I had over 19,000 steps today.  Yay! Movement!
• The rest of the family had other responsibilities so I got to get Gideon after school today.  He stays later some days so I didn't have to pick him up until 4:30 PM.  That is normally my wind down time to get to sleep.  I decided to go early and sit in the school parking lot and do some research and drawing.  If I don't draw more often, I'll never get better.  It doesn't really matter, it is kind of fun, and that is what counts for me.  

• Asters!

☮

Continued listening to: The Pumpkin Spice Café, by Laurie Gilmore.

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

A Walk After Work

 September 23rd

Here are some happy things from today:

• It isn't very often that I don't reach my 10,000 steps a day count at work.  Right as I walked into work I was greeted with the Learning Trainer asking me if I wanted to train some day-one employees.  There were supposed to be six new-hires, only one showed up.  It was a good learning experience for me and hopefully for the new-hire.  I'm thankful that the Learning Trainer remained and guided me most of the way.
• After dishes, lunch/dinner, and a short cat nap I went for a walk.  It felt better than I expected after working ten hours.  A little over two miles and I was back home with my 10,000 steps.
• Here are some pictures from the walk:

The water here is lower than last year. 

Water lily.

Panorama 

There is a frog near the center.

Very little is growing under this tree.
The trail goes from narrow, to this tree, back to narrow.

The top of the tree in the previous picture. 

☮

Continued listening to: The Pumpkin Spice Café, by Laurie Gilmore.

Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!