Day 289 Week 42 October 2026

In autumn, a rainy day with wind is the epitome of what an autumn vibe embodies. Along with the sadness to see the foliage colors blowing in the air, exposing bare tree branches, the heart melting coziness of fall stirs the heart.

Scrolling through Instagram videos, the ads showing up are things I like. No gross photos advertising medications is nice. There is also a good range of prices. An interesting aspect is that I’m better at identifying the styles I prefer.

Have a stylish weekend

Make squash soup

Bake up herb croutons

 Browse craft kits online

Sketch a brick building

Listen to a podcast

Set up a bird feeder

Buy a pair of spiffy socks

Listen to a symphony

A Windy Rain Storm Day

After or mid peak foliage, it is not unusual for the weather to have a windy rain storm that washes away a lot of leaves. Today is such a day.

No matter for me because I need to rest my pulled side muscle (internal oblique muscle) that’s between a first and second degree strain given the pain and discomfort. I did so much yesterday, resting and ibuprofen are a must today. If no improvement tomorrow, then I’ll have it looked at. 

There are standing tasks in moderation that I can do without causing discomfort. There’s also reading to catch up on.

In that regard, I’m pleased that after years of thinking about it, I’ve moved furniture to clear space for a comfortable reading chair by the patio window. South facing, in the winter, the sun lights up the room. It is also a pleasant place to watch the snow fall. On blustery cold days, I can put my laptop on a side table in front of me, and watch a video of a fireplace to create a warm cabin vibe.

Do you have a reading nook? A comfy place by a window?  

Geraniums still going strong in October

The day of a cluster of clumsy

You know how it goes, one little oops after another. Catching on something, dropping something, spilling something, wrong number, leave the store without what you went there for.

On days like that, the best thing to do is slow down and be cautious. That is what I did.

And as I slowly turned, while fixing an unfortunate oops situation, I pulled a muscle in my side, felt it pop. Adding another oops to my total for the day, it surprises me is how sore such a simple thing can be. 

Aging wears down in the ability to recover as fast as when we were young. I believe daily stretching can help prevent injury (like pulled muscles). 

For me, establishing an exercise routine isn’t easy. 

It must be done because the benefits are immense. Learning anatomy by Googling sore muscles makes me laugh just thinking about it. 

Any day is good to start a daily stretching session. I can make a cup of tea, and stretch as it cools enough to drink. Tea & Stretch time. 

Do you have a daily exercise routine? Go to a gym? Do Yoga?

Sunlight reaches into the woods

Champlain Valley at peak foliage

The second autumn at New England’s lower elevations in this part of Vermont is stunning. The reds and oranges are very vibrant, good deep color. 

There aren’t the many expanses of trees in the Champlain Valley like in the forested Green Mountains. A tree or groups of trees are spectacular anyway,

I stopped at a small parking area to take a few pictures after my physical therapy session. The broken wrist hand is still stiff, but pain is rare unless I bang it or get it caught bending it too far.

Beautiful sky

Elements of Autumn

Foliage colors changing

In some areas, the trees are still mostly green. In the mountains after peak foliage has gone by, the lower elevation valley can be full of color, a sort of second autumn.

Today there is a lot of rain passing through. The ambient temperatures being lower adds to the feeling this fall is unlikely to have a second summer (warm weather spell). 

This time of year spices are a strong element as folks joke about pumpkin spice lattes. The aroma of cinnamon scents the brain with thoughts of baked apples and visiting quaint country stores. 

Picking apples and pumpkin hunting are nice excursions separate on their own from the trips out to leaf peeping.

An additional element to fall can be found at YouTube channels dedicated to tours of New England towns, woods and popular peak foliage locations. The walking tour videos with no voice narrations can be very relaxing. The videos are also handy for traveling, to get a feel for the area. 

Happy Autumn!