Day 283 of Week 41 October 2025

Thinking about blogging over the years, I know many of my bright ideas haven’t shined as far as my initial enthusiasm did. Walking in the woods on a Moonless night, patches of disconnected flashlight glows are before me like dots not connecting. 

Have you ever thought of what kind of brain you have? The paths it prefers to follow? 

Scrolling through Instagram is opening my perspective of where I want my life to go, within the limits of age, income and health. 

Granted, Instagram has thousands that post excellent advice, but putting it to good use isn’t always practical or possible. 

For example, what do you do if the only people in your circle aren’t of a positive nature. Being alone has negatives that can make life worse. Expanding your circle isn’t an option you are able to pursue. 

Think then, of it this way, designate each person as an uncle, aunt or cousin. Once you get that sorted, reflect on the energy you feel knowing  your turkey dressing recipe is the best dish on the table. 

Have a Best of You Weekend!

👍

Play tag with falling leaves

Buy a huge pumpkin

Bake an apple crumble

Watch the sunrise

Tell your coffee a scary story

Browse colorful socks online

Visit a local flea market

Draw galloping horses

Same Old Is Still There

This is the time of year when folks put effort into starting to shop for the December holidays. 

Today I bought coffee sticks, cookies and tub cleaner. On an aisle’s end display, I saw Christmas tree ornaments. I slowly walked by them like they’re a sleeping cat. 

After a long drive to Williston to the UPS Store to return a raincoat to Amazon, I was exhausted. But, I had to stop and shop for bug spray (spiders like to come indoors season) because I saw a wolf spider last night so big you could sadle it and ride out of town. (I forgot to buy bug spray.)

About Amazon returns: The order arrived via the USPS. For Amazon returns, they have a deal with UPS. Note, You Must Have the Code (square scan thing) for the UPS Store to accept the return. 

I reset my Amazon password to get into my email to find the square scan code thing. In less than 5 minutes, I had my drop off receipt and was out the door. 

I Google map before I left in order to figure out where the UPS Store is located. From the old days living in the area, I took the route I know best. There is a shorter route that I did not want to deal with because it normally has heavy traffic and I was aftaid things changed so much, I’d miss the turn I need to take.

On the way back home, I went by the shorter route. 

Overall, the two hours of driving is exhausting dealing with traffic. It is also a boost to my confidence that I got the task done. 

Reflection Monday October 2025

 It’s October!

😳

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. 

Vlog Update

The debut of my YouTube channel moves into October. 

Also, the name has been changed to my old favorite: 

New England Post Road. 

In 2016, my plan was to start a New England focused travel blog. It didn’t happen. The blog never made it out of the Private setting.

During the tremendous amount of time brainstorming my vlog, I realized the name change fit my goals to build a brand with a solid title. I also like the transitional aspect of content being from posting online. 

My vlog isn’t travel focused. It is merely a general content variety vlog YouTube channel. 

Almost October 2025

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.

When Is It Time?

 My first reaction when I received an email about the iphone 17, I felt the here-we-go-again slouch. 

A week later, my iphone is acting weird, page freezes, keyboard glitches or no response to some things I click on. 

Hm? Is it time to trade in for an upgrade? I browse the Internet for the shopping page that helps you decide. To my surprise on an ATT page, the results are for an iphone 16. 

First, I have to know the plan I already have. Second, I need to know my phone service features. Lastly, I have to search online reviews and iphones. 

The best part, IMHO, is that I know where the local ATT phone store is to get help. 

How do you decide when to upgrade?

Afternoon Sky On Friday
September 2025

Day 269 of Week 39 September 2025

The horrors being done to  America as reported in the news can’t be ignored. Fascism builds. 

Speaking up against wrongs can be a risky thing to do. My recent dip into the Instagram waters has been interesting in helping me think about being on YouTube.

The debut of my YouTube channel next week is in a hold because I am not sure I can handle the criticism going public exposes me to. I need time to think, process, and decide if my mental health can handle posting videos.

Have a wonderful weekend

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

Art In Autumn

Middlebury River
Acrylic detail

Last year I posted about the painting process, from a photograph, for the larger painting above, Middlebury River. 

This year I will do the same. Starting next Wednesday, 1 October 2025, I will begin the new series with posting the winning photo sketched. I am searching photo folders for a few images to consider. There are more pictures of fall than the other three seasons combined. 

A canvas is on my easel at the ready.