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.

   

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?

Impending Fall: Decorative Pumpkins

Sunday, September 22, 2024

It's not uncommon for decorative pumpkins to start appearing in the house the last part of September especially when the month starts to feel a bit more like fall than summer. 

We've been unseasonably warm this September and we're just now beginning to see hints of fall like earlier sunsets, cooler temps, and leaves starting to subtly turn shades other than green. Pumpkins, Halloween candy, and Halloween themed items are appearing in the grocery store. 

October - Chili/Chilly

Sunday, October 2, 2022

We're at that time of year where sundown has become so much noticeably earlier and it cools off quickly. The days can feel a little bit like summer but the late afternoon and evening feels like fall. Dale made chili for dinner and it was the perfect day for it. 

Regina had a birthday recently and so did Dale. Julie and I took them out for their birthday at Parkway Pizza. Julie and Regina brought a ginormous bundt cake which we had for dessert. There was so much left over that we all took so home. Dale and I had the extra tonight. It was lemon flavored and it was divine. We had quite the Sunday dinner today with cocktails, snacks, dinner, and dessert. How awesome is that?

Sylvester was ready to wind down as the evening progressed. 

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. 

20 Years!

20 years ago this weekend we moved in!

This shot taken about a month after we moved in. Was too distracted to take of photo on moving day.

Happy Halloween 2016

November Light

Halloween 2013

The Dream House in October 2012

Happy Halloween 2011

The pumpkin sitting on the front steps.