Making the most of autumn

Going out to look at the beautiful foliage is not enough to make the most of the autumn season. Here are some ideas to fill up those chilly days of pumpkins and hot apple cider.

• Foliage tours-Have a few routes to check out for the countryside and city. A tree lined street in fall can be as beautiful as a mountain of golden maple trees. Make a day of it
• Apples-List area pick your own, tours, and festivals on farms as well as orchards for visits each week
• Diners-A local diner can have a warm community vibe that autumn enhances
• Art-Check out a local newspaper event calendar for craft fairs, festivals and season based events
• Photography-Write down places where morning light and the golden hour in the afternoon are the most beautiful. Visit those places to take photos throughout the season
• Homemade Tours-Select an excursion theme like pumpkin buying, best apple crisp, best apple cider donuts, best diner. Then set your route, travel, keep notes, and make a scrapbook of your adventure

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

Day 261 of Week 38 September 2025

 All week has felt like a Saturday to me. Posting the day and week numbers on Thursday instead of the usual Friday, feels right. I hope it doesn’t throw anyone off.

What new things have I learned this week? 

The pumpkin version of Special K is pretty good (based on my limited ability to taste). 

A quarter pound of Genoa salami is an act of denial for me because there is rarely enough left the next day to make the picnic sandwich I bought it for. I know I need a half pound.

I need a book to keep recipes in that has paper thick enough to glue cut outs in. My menu is so bland and predictable, my interest in preparing meals is nearing zero. I need to use recipe files.

I learned that if you don’t like something a person publicly advocates for, then in America, saying you don’t like that person, might get you targeted for hate speech. That is very scary. 😱 

As for information I didn’t know, I remember listening and knowing the tips are new to me, but I forget what the tips are. They are something about hiking safety. 

Oh! One is to not run because that can trigger a bobcat’s chase instinct. Back away slowly, look bigger, do not run. 

What new have you learned this week?

Rainbow Cloud 18 September 2025