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. 

Search Frustration for Health Care

 Many may have read in the news that Medicare* supplemental health insurance search windows are open in Vermont. 

In the news, two Medicare supplemental health insurance providers are pulling out of Vermont as of 2026, Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Healthcare. Easy to find and read information.

That is not the case finding the answer to the question of what carriers are still available for Vermonters. 

Every search result I clicked on requires information such as zip code, full name, and some, birth date and phone number*. None just  list the carriers available in Vermont. The Medicare website requires having an account. 

Get a Quote and Talk To An Agent, mean to me, phone calls I don’t want and weeks or months of emails. 

I only want the name of the carrier, read about their policy online, search reviews online, and that’s it. No calls. No emails. No texts. When I decide on a carrier, then I will apply, talk to an agent so they get the credit.

 

* The Medicare 2026 booklet that comes in the mail, has carrier information.

* Note, in less than a half hour, I’ve received 2 medical robo-calls. Duh on me for entering my phone number when I first began searching online. 

Autumn Afternoon Sunshine

Autumn Photograph: Rain clouds

 The prettiest skies are in the fall when trees are full of color against a dark gray sky.

Making the Most of October

Making the most of a season requires taking in all the parts that make you happy, inspire, and/or thrill you. Create rituals like going to a special location in the woods or a favorite diner or both. 

October Suggestions:

• Embrace pumpkins ~ Hunt for the best ones, make pumpkin pie or cheesecake, cook roast pumpkin soup, wear a pumpkin tee shirt, paint a field of pumpkins, carve a pumpkin, decorate with pumpkins, attend a pumpkin chuckin’ event
• Watch Scary Movies ~ Both Hocus Pocus films are #1 because they are fun without much gross stuff. 
• Read Scary Books ~ Stephen King reigns here as Salem’s Lot, is the scariest book I’ve ever read. I have yet to watch the entire movie without leaving the room. 
• Nature ~ Be outdoors as much as possible being a leaf peeper hiker walker person. Bring along a thermos of hit mocha. Have picnics outdoors. Plein air paint.

Seasonal Issues

There are days when my thinking slides into reality like slipping on black ice. Listing the positive and negatives of life for review is a good thing to do. It forces me to yank out good things that I’d rather brush off as a fluke, not really meant to be.

But they are. 

We are all meant to experience good. 

Dwelling on the bad times is not good. 

Feeling that life has too much negativity is normal. 

Having it be the truth is a problem. 

What to do about it varies. I'm sure talking to a trusted love one, friend or therapist is positive start. Then comes the work we have to put into ourselves.

Presently, this time of the year putting away summer and bringing out winter things can be a mess of indecision, clutter rising, and let's go outside to look at the leaves instead of box up this crap. Everywhere I look there are small areas of stuff needing attention. The pressure to get it all done makes me want to go out to buy potato chips. 

Anyway, I won't buy them. I'll buy a candy bar* instead.

😎

* Bought a Nestle’s Chunky 😎

Day 290 if Week 42 October 2025

What a week of chilly this has been. Leaf peeper season is on the down side of peak for some areas in the lower elevations.

The no kings refers to America’s freedom to  not be ruled by a monarch. It is a protest of the authoritarian rule taking over American’s government. The brazen erosion of democracy in America must be addressed. 

The No Kings protest is Americans exercising their US Constitutional rights as stated in the First Amendment.  

No Kings Protest is Americans lawfully and peacefully being Americans. 

Have a No Kings Weekend!

God Bless America

Brrr Season

 Cold weather is here!

After I wear a jacket two days in a row, it is officially winter to me. That is my signal to put a shovel and my collection of ice scrapers in the vehicle trunk. With deicer and gloves by the front door, and boots where I can find them, I feel blizzard ready. 

What about the negative attitude towards winter? Where does that go to help me through the season? 

Turn those not good feelings into thinking of winter as the season of I love soup, hot toddies, hot chocolate and Oh! How pretty !

Remember this stuff?

Creating Habits To Delight

Green Mountains Vermont
 Eastward view from Addison Vermont

Last spring, for no particular reason, stopping at WAGS (West Addison General Store) to buy a small bag of potato chips and a soda, became a to do thing on my way over to Upstate New York. 

Now, if I don’t stop and buy them, then it is like having phantom where-are-they pain like after a tooth is pulled. Habits, big or small, I feel, are fascinating. 

Thinking now. What habit would be fun to create? 

In the early days, blogging was a habit. I had to post or else it would nag me all day. Nowadays, posting is a blended well part of what I do.

Habit Suggestions:

• Put glasses in the same 3 places 
• Keep shoe horn hanging near the coat closet or from the door handle
• Stretch while water is boiling any time water is boiling
• Set a fun alarm sound for afternoon tea 
• Each Friday, designate an hour for whining about everything. Set a timer.
• Have a weekly No Buy Day
• Have a weekly dance afternoon
• Write down a new idea every day

Autumn Photograph: Cattle

Cattle in Autumn

 

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

For Peace of Mind

Lake Champlain & Adirondack Mountains
Upstate New York
at Fort Saint Frederic
Crown Point

The View Looking East from
Addison Vermont 4 Corners

Along Route 17 West
Addison Vermont

Chilly at 53°F with a steady breeze, sunshine and puffy clouds today. I needed a Nature moment. 

Driving was rough because I wanted to turn around and go home. Pushing on, I had no major anxiety surge until I decided to stop at the grocery store. Turning around in the parking lot was as far as I got with that plan before going home. 

I wore my favorite flannel shirt (front now covered with potato dust). A small bag of chips, a homemade brownie and 1 liter of ice tea was $8.01 US dollars. Ugh. 

How is your day?