My niece and her husband and three boys are visiting next weekend.  I decided to treat myself to some new bathroom towels an while I was at it, some new bedsheets, pillow cases and pillows. And I threw in a bath sheet for Sydney and made sure it was a color that would help me differentiate her sheet from the rest of us - a reddish nutmeg. Why does Sydney need a bath sheet? She doesn't sleep in either of her beds so I've resorted to bath towels which she enjoys especially since she loves chewing the ends. She's already destroyed the sippers on her dogie beds so now we have resorted to extra large towels since I really don't like her sleeping on cold tile floors.

 

Anyway, back to the sheets, pillows, pillow cases and towels. I've been using linens that have been in the house for years so was somewhat in shock when i started ordering new linens.  I must have spent hundreds of dollars just for some basics!  Talk about sticker shock!  Good thing I didn't order silk sheets or monogrammed towels. I'd be passed out on the floor.

 

Last night was the "harvest" moon and what a moon it was. My bedroom and the dining room both face northeast and when the dining room lights are on I can see the reflection of light when I'm lying in bed.  It was so bright out that I had to actually get up and check that what I was seeing in the dark wasn't a reflection from the lights. And of course, with the full moon came some cooler crisp weather. I think our Indian summer is finished and now the cooler weather is setting in. I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet but we had a delightful autumn so I can't complain.

 

I think I mentioned that my mature orchids have spent the summer outdoors.  One of them started flowering in August and when I brought them back in, pretty much finished its blooming a week or two after coming in.  Three of my phals are blooming quite nicely. And one of my denobriums has a really nice flower head which should be a lovely bloom in several weeks or months.  You never know.  Other than that, lots of nice growth but no new blooms on many of them. So we keep feeding and hope that some decide to bloom in the winter.

 

So tonight we expect some rain. I'm hoping youngest brother gets home in time to clean out some  of the storm drains and gutters so the rain doesn't overflow down the side of the house. With the wind and showers the past few days, the gutters have filled up with leaves and should be removed. Always something to do in the country!  Anyway good friends, be well.  Bittersweet

 

My niece and her husband and three boys are visiting next weekend.  I decided to treat myself to some new bathroom towels an while I was at it, some new bedsheets, pillow cases and pillows. And I threw in a bath sheet for Sydney and made sure it was a color that would help me differentiate her sheet from the rest of us - a reddish nutmeg. Why does Sydney need a bath sheet? She doesn't sleep in either of her beds so I've resorted to bath towels which she enjoys especially since she loves chewing the ends. She's already destroyed the sippers on her dogie beds so now we have resorted to extra large towels since I really don't like her sleeping on cold tile floors.

 

Anyway, back to the sheets, pillows, pillow cases and towels. I've been using linens that have been in the house for years so was somewhat in shock when i started ordering new linens.  I must have spent hundreds of dollars just for some basics!  Talk about sticker shock!  Good thing I didn't order silk sheets or monogrammed towels. I'd be passed out on the floor.

 

Last night was the "harvest" moon and what a moon it was. My bedroom and the dining room both face northeast and when the dining room lights are on I can see the reflection of light when I'm lying in bed.  It was so bright out that I had to actually get up and check that what I was seeing in the dark wasn't a reflection from the lights. And of course, with the full moon came some cooler crisp weather. I think our Indian summer is finished and now the cooler weather is setting in. I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet but we had a delightful autumn so I can't complain.

 

I think I mentioned that my mature orchids have spent the summer outdoors.  One of them started flowering in August and when I brought them back in, pretty much finished its blooming a week or two after coming in.  Three of my phals are blooming quite nicely. And one of my denobriums has a really nice flower head which should be a lovely bloom in several weeks or months.  You never know.  Other than that, lots of nice growth but no new blooms on many of them. So we keep feeding and hope that some decide to bloom in the winter.

 

So tonight we expect some rain. I'm hoping youngest brother gets home in time to clean out some  of the storm drains and gutters so the rain doesn't overflow down the side of the house. With the wind and showers the past few days, the gutters have filled up with leaves and should be removed. Always something to do in the country!  Anyway good friends, be well.  Bittersweet

 

We are experiencing some incredibly delightful weather. The next few days will be sunny and in the low 70's - which isn't hard to take.  The down-side to all of this is that we could use some rain. They're now talking about some heavy rains overnight with the possibility of a tornado which is unusual for the northeast. We get nor'easters and the aftermaths of hurricanes but rarely a tornado.

 

First, I have to say how delighted I was that Gore was the recipient of the Nobel Prize.  Anything to draw more attention to the plight of global warming and pollution. We could do so much more to protect this earth as well as becoming more self-sufficient in terms of using less of the resources that do remain.  I was reading about the benefits of wave energy.  I still have this notion in the back of my mind that I'd love to design and build an energy efficient cottage/bungalow. I think "we" as a nation need to think about down-sizing in most areas of our lives. If I were to build a home, I have only four requirements; a big kitchen, an open living/dining area with lots of wall space for bookshelves, a porch and fireplace. Lots of solar windows and solar panels. I don't need big nor do I want big.

 

I jst started a new book entitled, 'better,'  A Surgeon's Notes on Performance by Atul Gawande. It is frightening when you read about MRSA or other super-resistant bacteria that exists.  What I am enjoying reading is the caring characteristics of what makes a good doctor.  I've just started but it is one of those books you sit down with, with a nice cup of tea.  Which leads me to my next read, 'Tea Bliss,' bt Theresa Cheung.  There is a ritual to making tea and the beauty is in the calming effect that takes place when to prepare for and make a cup of tea. I love adding just a dab of honey and lemon to my tea. I know there are purests out there that are shaking their heads but isn't that the beauty of it all.  We can all live in harmony.

 

I shall take on the world by tending to my little corner of the world. Little Sydney is well; not particularly attentive or well behaved.  The other day she managed to grab from the running board of his truck a box of staples for a staple gun, managed to open it and started chewing on one of those lengths of staples that break down when you put pressure on it. I guess she enjoyed the crunch of those staples!  Fortunately my brother managed to reach into his mouth and grab everything he could put his fingers on. We shutter at the thought of all this.

 

Anyway, be well my friends.   Bittersweet

 

I was just looking at the date of my last entry and can't believe it was September 6th!  How did I manage to loose a whole month? I can't even say I went on a trip although my computer has been less than stellar. It takes me about 15 minutes to get connected.  These wireless routers can be more trouble than they are worth. 

 

Anyway, our weather has been really quite pleasant. We're about 10 to 15 degrees above normal and I expect afternoon temps to hit 84. How bad can that be?  I'll take every moment.  In fact, my orchids are still outdoors although I expect any day now they will be coming indoors.  I really don't like it when the night temps hit below the low 50's.

 

Little Sydney gets spayed next week.  She is still as energetic as ever but I'm hoping she slows down after the surgery.  She is 6 months old and has that uncanny ability to break loose when you least expect it.  She has already figured out that there are deer in the hollow and that they seem like great creatures to play with. Of course they are gone in a flash and she doesn't have a chance. That's all the more reason to keep the fields bush-hogged so that they have the advantage of seeing her coming and get to the stream.  We generally keep her tied up or in her 10 x 10 foot cage or walk her about 8 times a day.  Does she ever have the life.

 

This afternoon the iris bed gets worked over for the last time.  I need to thin out a bit, cut back the old leaves and replant 50 or 100 of them. They've gotten a bit thick and irises don't stay healthy when crowded.  So my afternoon is in the garden.

 

Have a good Columbus Day weekend.   Bittersweet