Signs of Spring

 Tuesday, March 10, 2026

March is an interesting month. You really start to see signs of the changing seasons from winter to spring. 

                                    

A couple of day ago, Sunday, the temperature got up to 60 degrees. An anomoly for this time of year for sure but it's a sign of things to come. I actually sat outside with a cigar the whole time it took to smoke it for the first time this calendar year. 

The Yard Is a Another Room of the House

Sunday, November 2, 2025

I can't believe it's November already and I can't state enough how much I've enjoyed not working. What's surprised me is how much I've loved using my extra time to be outside and really experience the changing of the seasons. 

I'm about two and a half months into what would've been the school year if I had been working. I've loved experiencing how the temperature and scenery have changed over the course of the month of October. At the beginning of the month Dale and I were sitting on the porch in the morning and I was wearing sleeveless shirts outside. 

I spent more time than I ever have during the months of September and October being outside walking, working in the yard, and just sitting and smoking cigars. I've been more in the moment than usual and I believe it's due to the things I've just mentioned not having to be squeezed in and feeling like they are things I have to do.  

                   

Recently the yard has felt more to me like another room in the house that I've enjoyed this summer and fall. As the weather begins to cool off even more, we're now entering the time of year we spend much more time in the house. I'm looking forward to the time inside and spending that time creating a warm and inviting space just as I've recently spent time trying to do the same for the outside. 

But we're getting to the time of year where the chill will require spending more time in the house.  I'm looking forward to enjoying the warmth and coziness of hearth and home and being part of creating that feeling.

   

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?

Enjoying the Back Yard

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Halfway through September. Enjoying a cigar in the backyard to celebrate a beautiful summer day. 

Lit up in the garage this afternoon.

Sat out in the yard and enjoyed the view. 

Mike was over recently. We sat out back after dark and smoked cigars. He told me he loves sitting in my back yard and I told him I love sitting in my backyard too. We sat facing north looking into Josh and Breanna's yard and beyond the other side of the street. With all the lights it really did look rather magical. We looked at the stars too and found the Big Dipper. At this time of year the Big Dipper is easily seen if you look up just past the north of our roof line. 

                     

The weather today was warm and a little humid but there was a nice breeze. Sitting in the shade was really very pleasant.

I listened to Babs and also I listened to Marcia, the annoying cockapoo next door.

She's cute but she barks too much. 

Anyway, I'm ever appreciative of having this backyard space for many reasons, not the least of which is to smoke cigars. (Today's was an Oliva. Always a good choice for me.  Dale drove me to Anthony's Cigars after brunch at the Lowbrow.)

25 Years!!

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Dale and I moved into this house 25 years ago over MEA weekend. You can see Dale over to the right bagging leaves. 

October - Cigar Time

Sunday, October 3, 2022

Perfect afternoon for a cigar in the backyard. Dale took a bike ride and I lit up. 

I smoked a Romeo y Julieta.

The backyard is my smoking room and I try to take advantage when the weather is most pleasant. The cold (mid to upper 30s) hasn't stopped me from lighting up outside but it's the best possible experience when the temperature is perfect. Sub-freezing weather will be here soon enough. 

A little gin...

A little Ella...

All made for a relaxing afternoon.

October - Enjoying the Back Yard

Sunday, October 2, 2022

It's beginning to look like October. A beautiful autumn day. Low humidity. The light is looking golden. Notice in the picture above how many pine needles our pine tree is dropping. They're hard to get up as they get caught in the tines of the rakes and have to be pulled out. Our hope is to get them up before the leaves fall. However, that's our hope every year. It's easier said than done when busy. 

We've been quite dry lately and need a really good rain. This combined with my being busy with school and not watering like I should has caused our plants to look rather mangy. I gave them all a good soak this afternoon. We'll see if the flowers bounce back. I sure hope they do.

I'm gonna get back on track and keep watering even if the plants continue to get mangy. It can't hurt and they'll appreciate it in the spring.

Dale has heard our pine tree called an Austrian pine and a red pine. 

Cigar In the Backyard Fall 2016

Up On the Roof

I climbed up on the roof to get the whirly-birds off of it. We think they may be responsible for some leaking we’ve experienced recently. Water builds up under them and then doesn’t drain off the roof but seeps inside. I swept them down to Dale and he helped collect them in a bucket (most pictures don’t show the whirly-bird seeds except in picture #4 you can see where they built up to prevent drainage). I think Dale was a bit surprised how much I liked being on the roof. The best part of all of this though is that we did it together. What a team.