Our Two Trees

 Friday, October 24, 2025

Squash

 Tuesday, October 21, 2025

I've bought more real pumpkins and squash for decorating this year than any other year. 

Decorating with Books

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Books look great on a shelf but I also think they look very nice stacked. They can help reflect themes and interests, like in this case, Halloween. I also think they add warmth and personality to a space or even a whole room. 

The Porch and Turning On the Heat

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

October is the month the porch goes from very useable to less usable. At the beginning of the month Dale and I would still have morning coffee our there. Now it's getting to be quite a bit cooler in the mornings and evenings so it's not pleasant to be out there. At least it's mostly more useable during the daytime hours although you sometimes need a jacket or blanket. Yesterday was rainy and raw so I didn't use it at all. Soon enough it'll be so cold that it's only use will be as an entryway from the front of the house. 

Speaking of cold, today was the first day we turned on the heat. Dale needs to be pushed a little to agree to it since he likes waiting a little longer than I do to do it. When it comes to this I never want to assume he's ready so I asked him this morning if he was amenable to the idea. He was although he said he probably would've waited a little further into the month. He recalled a time years ago when he was on a trip up north and I called begging to have him let me turn it on. It's not so much that I fear his wrath for doing it as much as just knowing how much he likes to be here for the event of hearing the heat kicking in for the first time of the season. 

Speaking of the porch I moved the pumpkins out there. They were on the dining room table but that was starting to get a little crowded due to how many I've picked up over time. 

They look especially nice by the window. 

Decorating for Fall So Far

 Sunday, October 12, 2025

And we're not even halfway through the month. 

Plus I got a new pumpkin at Lunds. Hard to tell the scale of it in this picture but I'd say it's about 8 inches across. 

Enjoying Fall While Not Working

Thursday, October 9, 2025

I've been telling Dale ad nauseam how much I love not working and how nice it is being home during autumn. I'm enjoying having time to get things done around the house and working in the yard. Also, I'm enjoying just sitting out in the back yard. 

I'm also loving just being in the yard with my cigars. This morning I had a Romeo y Julieta with my coffee.

This afternoon I smoked a Camacho while Dale went on a nice long walk. 

When Dale got back Ada from next door came over to show us her new haircut. I asked her if she did it herself and if she got permission. She said she did and her dad, Josh, did the cut. One whole side of her head was shaved. Josh appeared and we asked him about it. He said he only took off a little bit at a time and that Ada kept asking for it to be shorter. Dale pointed out to her that his whole head is always like that. She also gave us some beans that they're growing in her yard. I think they're rather pretty with their purple specks. I asked her if they're edible and she said they were although she didn't know the name of them. I'll ask her mom, Breanna about them. We told Ada we'd plant them so we could grow some too. 

Sam and Becky are in town so Mom, Dale, and I went to lunch with them at the Galleria. It was so nice to see them and we talked for 3 hours. It's so nice to have the flexibility of doing things in the daytime. Have I mentioned I love NOT working?

Collecting: Black Cats

 Monday, October 6, 2025

The black cats are now out. I pulled them from storage in the basement coal room this morning. 

Black cats were represented in some of the decorations we had for Halloween as kids so there's nostalgia involved in my collecting them.

However, I also just love cats.

Having pets makes life better in my opinion. 

Every cat or dog I've ever had has been such an amazing creature so every reminder of them brings me a lot of joy.