Day 275 Week 40 October 2026

Decisions. When a season changes, there’s a crop of changes to consider that feels to me comes with a race against clutter. The more I look around for a place to start, the deeper the stuff gets. Who did this!?  That’s the vibe I feel. 

So here it goes. 

It does not matter where I start. 

Doing is the key. 

Allergies are kicking back up. Craving beef stew and dumplings is back. Thoughts of apples bounce around my brain all day. Wanting comfortable slippers is on my radar.

And here’s a weird one, how did it happen that I need jeans? I save size groups. Losing weight is going so well, I’m at the slid between the bureau and the wall size. Thankfully the thrift store has a good selection. 

Have a Season Vibing Weekend

Draw woods in autumn

Bake stuffed shells

Read about root crops

Sing to a leaf rake

Browse your high school yearbook

Walk with friends

Shop slippers online

Make sweet tea

Hello October

Welcome to October 2026

Vermont USA

Day 274 Week 40 October 2026

All photos were taken in 

Addison County Vermont

Lincoln, Bristol, New Haven, 

Addison & Vergennes

Mount Abraham, Lincoln Vermont

West River Road, Bristol, Vermont

Vergennes, Vermont

Addison, Vermont

Lincoln, Vermont

Ya gotta love a meatball sub

As a kid, a meatball sub (aka hero, hoagie, grinder), was a major treat for me as well as a struggle to keep a meatball from popping out.

I haven’t made meatballs in years. They are too much trouble to cook.  Instead, I make meatloaf sandwiches. 

My Meatloaf Recipe (one person size)

1 lb.  hamburg,  beef or turkey

1/2    medium onion diced

1/2    cup chopped curly parsley

1       shredded carrot

2      eggs

1/2   teaspoon garlic powder

1/2   teaspoon dry oregano

Mix ingredients well

Bake in a loaf pan at 350°F for 45 minutes

to internal temperature of 160°F

Last 19 minutes cover with tomato sauce

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

So, how’s my smooth rest of 2026 going? Not as placid as I hoped. Experiencing unpleasant people is a shock to one’s system. 

Nobody should have to get therapy to cope with nasty people. But, it is a good idea to have support. Please, if you find yourself in such a situation, then reach out, find a therapist that you can work with, set your goals and be good to yourself. 

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Fall is already in peak foliage in the upper elevations in Vermont and New England. New Hampshire may be a destination this year for a short day trip. My photograph folders need more pictures. A photography excursion for a full day is not on my agenda this year. 

The idea of moving to southern Vermont or New Hampshire in the next 2-3 years is back in my thoughts. Being closer to family in my older years feels like a good thing to consider. I would be fine staying where I am though. 

What am I looking for? 

Number one is a good hospital system nearby for general health as well as elderly care.

An active arts community

Easy shopping

Quaint downtown

A good library

No flood zones

A nice senior center

The more I think about it, the closer I am to not moving very far. 

Character Creation, Letting Go & Recipe Sources

You know those times at the store when you see somebody you haven’t seen in months, and you thought they had moved away. You’re asked who told you that. A feeling of dread washes over you as you remember you do not want to say who. A web starts spinning right before your eyes. 

Use that puzzled look on your face to your advantage with a reply that you aren’t sure who it was. Then change the subject. 

Characters I create have such conversations. It is always a struggle for me to paint with words a negative profile. But, without that texture in the story, the narrative is too smooth, bland, unrealistic. We learn from people what characters can and should be.

What could possibly cause me to blog about that writing dilemma?

Well, I’m not sure.

It could be that today’s biggest task for me is to load up objects that facilitate downsizing my wardrobe. I really do dread thinning out my clothes.

Maybe baking the squash will lift my spirits.

Butternut Squash

This season I am keen on putting good effort into building a collection of recipes. Each week, I want to shop for and make a meal using a new to me recipe. 

To make it more fun as well as interesting, I’ll add different cuisines from around the World. I know American, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and that’s it. A good source to start with is the Wikipedia page, List of Cuisines. 

Asters

There are years when purple asters are hardly seen. This year here in this Vermont lower elevation, I’ve seen big clusters of asters. So, I had to stop and take photos of them outside the thrift store.