Happy October

 

Happy October, everyone.  How can you look at these little guys and not be happy?

It's been the nicest week, with each day nicer than the one before.

Except that Cade's Cove and Sugarlands in the Smokies are shut down, so there's that.  

And the Reds lost their first playoff game, but they made it to the playoffs and that's a win in itself.

Thanks to hints from Joanne, I made an eggplant parmesan today and it smells glorious.  It's pretty labor intensive, so not something I'll make often, but it was on my list of things to try.

This day has spun away, and not just because sunset is right now, at 7:18 pm.

That Big Block

 

The Moda blockhead block at the top is 27", and it's finished.    Now that the big block is done, I can make some progress on the other so-far-unfinished blocks.  Maybe i can even catch up with those quilters who faithfully do their blocks every week.

All the completed blocks are laying on the floor, in no prticular order.  The suggested arrangement will come at the end.  I'm guessing that the big block will be in the center.

I ran out of white fabric and wasn't sure which Bella Solid white it was.  Lucky for me, I found a piece of the sane white shade in my stash that's big enough to last until I make it to the quilt store.  And fingers crossed that they have the right shade of white. 

This morning I got my Covid booster, so that's done.  Next week I start a pulmonary rehab series, and the thought of several people exercising in a small-ish space motivated me.  I'm still respectful of that virus.

No Motivation

 

It is the change of season that's making me lazy?  Well, not lazy, exactly, I've done ALL my exercises today (and there are a lot), walked 2 1/5 miles, tidied up the house.  Made an appointment for a Covid vaccine.  Made out a grocery order, caught up with emails and messages.

I'm lighting a fall scented candle in the mornings.  I love the seasonal scents, lot the little bit of light and hope from a morning candle.  We've had rain every day this week, no watering necessary.

There was the best visit with a long time friend who was passing through town, and, finally, that minestrone soup I've been wanting to make.

So maybe lazy isn't the right word, but it's something.  I'm not sewing, not doing committee minutes from two weeks ago,  not going outside between rain showers, not unloading the Diet Cokes in the car from the grocery order a week ago, not doing the reading for a Sunday meeting.  Today I didn't do the morning journaling and didn't make out a goal list.

I'm not depressed, that's not it.  And I know how to fix this.  Make a goal to work on those minutes for 15 minutes, sew for 30, read just one page, put a few things in the washer. Once i get started I'll be on my way

Health wise, there's nothing wrong.  I got a wonderful report from the corneal surgeon on Monday.  I just don't want to commit to getting started, moving forward.

Maybe tomorrow.

New Name

 

As churches do these days, my church is changing its name.  This coming Sunday will be the last service as Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship.  

This banner was made about twenty years ago by a lovely woman named Amy, with help from the congregation's children.  She was more brave than I am and helped the children use bleach to "paint" the designs.

Those children are adults now, and Amy lives in a different city, but it seemed fitting that their banner by hung for the service.  

After Sunday, the church will be known as City Peace Church.  There will be an outdoor service  on October 5, with the first in-church service under the new name on October 12.  Maybe I can make a new banner by then, maybe not, we'll see.  I'm hopeful that there will be at least something simple.

Oh, and about the name, there will be a formal subtitle, making it City Peace Church:  A Congregation of Mennonite Church USA

Unplanned Errand

No picture today.

 I had a nice unplanned evening errand tonight, involving meeting my lovely grown-up granddaughter at her off campus housing.

We completed our errand, then picked up sandwiches at my now favorite sandwich place, which just happens to be on the way home from my church.

We admired the cotton candy sky and the pink sunset, and I admired her ease at driving around the city and her knowledge of local current affairs.  

This is not the girl who started college two years ago, unsure about so many things   This lovely young woman has a poise and confidence, a sense of belonging, that warms my heart.  

And because I am a grandmother, I was happy to have a bag of cookies to grab on my way out my door for the four young women who share a house.  

And happy to have an evening seeing young people out and about on an urban campus, so different from my quiet life at home.

September Garden

 

I'm loving this pretty geranium.  It was one of the bargain plants I bought in the spring - a bargain because the blooms had fallen off so the color was a mystery.  And it's gorgeous.

The garden is in September mode.  Some of the plants are starting to die away, and others are blooming their hearts out.  The deer are leaving things alone, except for a low hanging sweet potato vine.  Every morning the plant has fewer leaves.

My daughter tells me that the time for Monarch caterpillars is over and I can stop looking hopefully at the milkweed plant every day.  I thought maybe I spotted some eggs, but after looking at my picture she told me they were aphids.  Oops!

I can't remember other Septembers being this dry, but I don't keep track of those things, so who knows. I guess real gardeners keep a log.  I don't.

Two More

 

Two more blocks.  Maybe I'm getting caught up more quickly than I thought I would.  I hope so, I want to mix in other projects.

In my grocery order this morning I got paper clips, staples, and matches.  I really wouldn't even know where to look for matches.  Or, maybe by the candles?

Since the beginning of the pandemic I've been picking up grocery orders.  If someone will shop throughout the store for my items and someone else will put them in my car, I'm happy with that.  Some people say, "But, the produce!" but I've rarely been unhappy with what's picked out.

My town will soon get a second Kroger, this morning I saw the start of the outside renovation.  Years ago, the building was a grocery store, then a building supply store.  

Two big grocery stores seems like a lot, but many of the shoppers at the original store come from downtown Cincinnati.  The new store isn't on the interstate so it will probably have more local shoppers.

And maybe with the new store there will be enough parkng, plus less crowding at the gas pumps.