Leaves and doors

One type of deciduous tree that changes color in the fall - maybe maple? - has leaves of a brilliant yellow. When we lived in Minnesota, we had one of those trees outside the front bedroom and when it was in full yellow bloom, it really looked as though a light was on in that room. There are a couple of those trees around this house and, while they're not as close to the house, it always reminds me of checking that room several times during the yellow leaf season to turn off the light. I've always been a light patroller - hate having lights left on uselessly when there's no one in the room. Have been teased for that for years.

Most days I go to Bruegger's to get my cup of coffee. It's so interesting to follow people in or out of the double doors at the coffee shop and how they behave in holding the door for someone else or not. Followed an older man the other day and he had clearly looked in my direction across the parking lot as we were both walking towards the coffee shop. He flung the door open for himself and just walked through, not looking around or holding it for me. I don't expect it but it is always interesting to see whether people are so self-involved that they don't look to see if someone might be in close proximity going in or out and then how they handle the situation if there is someone there.

I've seen heavily tattooed and be-ringed teens/young adults hold the door for several people and I've seen normal looking adults of every age just clump on through without any thought of anyone else in the world. You see all kinds and while I don't know exactly what it says about their personalities, it does say something. It would be interesting to follow one of those people for a few hours while they're driving, working, interacting with people to see how they treat others, whether strangers, friends or family. I suspect there would be some correlation with rude or preemptive driving behavior and possibly lack of respect for themselves, loved ones and strangers.

And then there are people for whom you open the door, who prance/stalk/simper/clomp on through without acknowledging at all that you have held the door for them. As though it's a given that you are the designated door opener of the world and they are entitled to proceed without a word. Instantly makes me angry and a "you're welcome" is liable to come out of my mouth before I can stifle it. Certainly makes me (and Johnnie too) shake my head. Well, Johnnie shakes his own head.

So this is October??

It's October 14th and we're expecting an 80 degree day. Wow. That is unheard of in these here parts. Typically the first frost/snow comes in just a couple days. Certainly not complaining that the windows are open, the sky is blue and the trees are rustling with a moderate breeze. But there'll be rain tonight and the temps will slip lower although it's supposed to stay relatively seasonal (mid-50s/60s) for the next few days. Just fine with me.

We took the deck furniture down yesterday and got essential winter vehicles - the snowblower - in position and put away the pressure washer. I pressure washed the canopy to the screen house and got drenched as usual in the process. No surprise there. But it was in the mid-70s so it didn't really matter. When I say "we" took the furniture down, it was 99% Johnnie and a little bit me. Love that royal we.

Started working on cutting the Elsa costume last evening and misread the cutting directions for the cape so I bought two more yards of materials today to finish the cutting process. Anxious to get started on the sewing parts. While the time is fast slipping towards Halloween, I don't feel pressured, just looking forward to sewing the costume.

Can't wait to see the girls' faces when they get their costumes. Went with Erin yesterday to get the material for the Anna costume. Sure glad she's making that one - way more fussy than the one I'm doing although I'm sure I'll be regretting it when I have to work on some of the organza that slips around like crazy. Still fun.

Just a day

It's a short work week in some ways for Johnnie - upcoming Columbus Day four-day weekend. But he's doing a home inspection tomorrow so that will preoccupy him for the majority of the weekend. He's really been in a rush of school bus driving/training and home inspections for the last 10 days or so. And he's completely exhausted. He had had one inspection scheduled for this coming Saturday as well but it fell through and we're both just as glad. He also hasn't completely shaken the cold he had more than a week ago and I'm sure the lack of solid rest isn't helping him recover.

Whiile it's a short work week for him, it isn't for me although I've not been all that busy which is really driving me cray cray. I billed a total of $167 for September. Although the B3 phase 3 payment will come through too which isn't figured in there. Now I'm starting to work on the Frozen (Elsa? I looked them up to be sure) Halloween costume for Lucy/Emily and I volunteered to make a sign for Erin's craft sales and print business cards up for her.

I cut out the pattern pieces last evening and got them ironed so I'm ready to lay them out and start cutting. I am so glad I'm working on the Elsa costume and not the Anna one. The Elsa pattern has 11 pieces and the Anna costume has upwards of 20. But it's the type of sewing work that Erin likes so hopefully it will be fun for her.

For one thing, we haven't put anything away outside yet and now it's getting to be time to pack up and switch seasons before it gets really chilly outside. Or rainy. Or both.

Otherwise, today is just another day - sunny outside, mid-50s temperature wise and a bit breezy. But the sky is robin's egg blue and really just delightful outside.

I've gone to Henrietta on 490/590/390 twice this week in the morning and both times there were a gaggle (?) of wild turkeys along the side of the highway pecking away at the verge finding food. They are not at all concerned about the cars racing by 20 feet away at 60+ miles an hour. Makes me smile every time. Must be their home turf and have decent eats for them.

Bridgie is in Alabama/Georgia visiting Aggie before she goes to Korea. So glad she was able to go. Hope they're having a super great time. I don't know what I'd do if I had such distance restrictions on seeing both girls like that. It's tough enough only seeing Mike and Holly once a year.

Clouds

It's already been a strange weather day. I was out driving this morning and went from sunshine with white puppy clouds to steel gray sky, no sunshine and then pouring rain. The clouds along the way were beautiful - I didn't have an opportunity to take pictures of them unfortunately. The procession of stark white clouds against the darkening blue-gray sky was striking. Now it's sunny again with a sky crowded with white cotton ball clouds scudding along against a bright blue background. Quite lovely and very changeable.

Weather is getting cooler and we won't get above about 60 degrees today. No matter - the sun is shining and the trees are bending in the wind, giving up their loosest leaves in torrents of color.

Big!

My overriding thought in the past week or so has been that I want to do something BIG. I don't know what, that's pretty vague, but I sure hope I can come up with something BIG that equals the compulsion I'm feeling pretty soon. Is it volunteering? Is it some sort of selfless project? Rescuing a cute puppy from an evil puppy mill? Playing piano with my feet at FAO Schwarz? Nah - I just don't know. But I do know that it will become more evident in the next while. So I'll try not to obsess while the vagueness and mists disappear.

Ordered patterns online for Frozen costumes (Elsa and the other chick - dunno her name or just can't remember it). Erin and I are going to each make a costume for Em and Lucy. I get to do the pretty blue one! I had thought Erin would want to do that and I'd be relegated to the Dutch girl costume. So excited. Bought fabrics at Jo-Ann this noontime and now I want to get cutting. But I won't because we decided she should measure the girls beforehand so we know how close to the proper size the pattern is. The pattern size only goes up to an 8 and the girls are both just about out of 8s and into 10s.

Anyway, I'm excited and now I have a Project to work on. That's not BIG but it's something to take my attention for the next couple weeks. Can't wait to see the girls' faces when they see the costumes! Squeeeeeeee!

The start of something

Well, really a restart I guess. I have a strong urge to write stuff, mostly for my own edification but putting it on paper just isn't going to do it. So here I am resurrecting the ole blog to create a journal of my writing. I don't care if anyone else ever reads what I write here; it's mostly a record for me.

I really and truly dislike wintertime once we get past the first "oh it's so pretty" snowfall and Christmas has come and gone. The bitter winds, getting snow down my neck, tromping through slush in parking lots, keeping track of gloves and hats and scarves, wearing coats -- they are all a pain in the butt and I don't like it. Here in Western New York, we put up with a LOT of winter, starting in October and continuing until well into April some years.

See?

Anyway, I am on a campaign to improve my attitude and find ways to cope with winter and all its fun this year. In past years, I have vowed not to say the words "winter" and "snow" for the entire season. Successfully. These are private vows - a challenge between myself and me so I don't share them with anyone. It's just a one woman tussle with the inevitable season change.

If someone stumbles onto this blog and finds it amusing, gross, vacuous or whatever, it's their thing, not mind. I need to work on my attitude in a tangible way and this is what I'm going to do.

So with any luck, this will be the last post that contains negative or grouchy talk about the upcoming season of yuck. From now on, my outlook will contain only happy, positive, constructive perspectives and comments about the days and months of winter. Here it goes!