Day 297 of Week 43 October 2025

 

Hello to the last weekend of October 2025. Can you believe we are already at the door of November? It is wild! I'm happier about November than I was about October.

The first couple of weeks of the 10th month, I was not feeling well. News, Allergies and digestive issues put me in a slump of blahs. I kept going as tasks piled up, stuff went undone, missed opportunities blurred like a bird in the corner of my eye flying by the window. That was only a week ago, but it feels like a year ago.

Age is not the issue. Young people can have slumps of blahs as well. 

For all ages, I believe, that eating right and exercise are the keys to the city of better health. 

I do calisthenics along with a few other exercises, (when I remember to do them). This morning, I discovered the reason I have lower back strain so often is that I hold too long/tighten muscles before the release. Duh on me. 

In winter, being smart, lotion is my friend. Dry elbows bug me. They have to be smooth and well cared for. If I was on a blind date and saw a crackly old ashy elbow, then I would have to make an excuse to leave. It wouldn't really be a lie because gagging would be an issue. 

🐦🐻🍁

Last week I put out a small amount of bird seed. My deck is a bird's food source. As soon as the temperatures drop, the birds are there looking around. I wait until a hard frost or few just in case there are bears roaming around.

Have a Smooth Weekend!

Bake a pumpkin

Make homemade soup

Browse colorful scarves online

Tell a maple leaf a funny story

Draw a forest with a full Moon

Shop for a new house plant

Sing to your front door

City Leaf Peeping

  Views from the Vergennes Green 

Rainy Autumn Thoughts

The early hours out my window here in Vermont have been mostly dark with rain clouds. A few minutes ago, I saw blue sky. Now, I need to put a lamp on. Outside it is windy and raining again. Once the blustery episode passes, blue skies will return. 

The mood of the daylight darkness stirs thoughts of Edgar Allen Poe, a cozy corner on the sofa, hot chocolate, and a good book (or film). Escaping into the creative literary world is the umbrella we hold over our souls to keep our feelings from washing away from lack of attention. Care for me, whispers to us as the chill, we know is out there, makes us shiver.

I hear thunder. The moody atmosphere builds. I take another gulp of hot chocolate and glance out the window. Most of the trees are at peak while a tall maple shows only the first tinges of gold. I will miss the gray sky when the blue returns.

More thunder. The sky is clearing, lighter, less gray. Branches wiggle instead of sweep through in the air. There is a steady drip sound on the patio. The weather radar says, Hold on there just a minute. 

Day 276 of Week 40 October 2025

Well, there’s no going back, leaf peeper season is here in northern New England, Upstate New York and other part of the lower 48.

🍂 🍂🍁🍁 🍁🍁🍁🍂🍂

The time was right to upgrade my iPhone because the promotion ends in a few days. On order is my spiffy new iPhone 17. Taking my old iPhone 13 out of the case, I was surprised that it looks brand new. 

Talking in person to an ATT rep is 100% the best customer service experience. I tell him what I want from my phone. We chat. Done. I have zero anything to figure out. 

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Autumn in Vermont 2024

The painting series is delayed another day due to an eye exam. If I do paint today, it will be a surprise to even me. 

Autumn Photograph: The Leaves

 

More Paint From a Photo Considerations

Adirondack Mountains 
a Vermont view

Update 28 September 2025: I just realized that the above mountains may actually be the Green Mountains up in Lincoln, Vermont and not the Adirondack Mountains. A photo posted on the 24th are the same location. I will check my folders for time and dates.

Below Snake Mountain

The Green Mountains
Addison Vermont View

The search continues for a photograph to paint for a blog series this year. Painting them all is a thought. Asking myself what am I looking for, my answer is clearly that I will know when I see it. 

In this selection, my heart goes wide viewing the first picture. The chicory tucked in the maple leaves has a cute kitten vibe. 

The last photo feels to me like taking in a big breath of crisp autumn air on a frosty morning.

As a painting, out of all the images posted thus far, The Green Mountains, is my favorite.

Possible Photographs to Paint From

Paint from photos I'm 

Thinking about for composition

Digitial photographs under Copyright

Adirondack Mountains 
Sorry, I think they are the Green Mountains. 

New Haven River
2024 runner up

Ripton Vermont
Robert Frost Interpretative Trail

New Haven River
Lincoln Vermont

Milkweed
Addison Vermont

The Seasonal Transition

Hello to Autumn! 

Each year when the ambient temperatures cool and frost appears, there is a sense of prepare for winter.

The little shovel and scrapers go into the vehicle. Deicer spray in the closet. A mat is put down for wet boots. Gloves are moved up to the small drawer by the door. 

Soup weather brain lights brighten. Hot chocolate mugs are lined up. The crockpot silently sits on the counter.

There may be hot weather before the trees are all bare, but pumpkin hunting and hot soup season is here.