Leaves

Thanks all for your ideas and words of encouragement yesterday. Not sure where the answer is, but I'm going to work at figuring it out. Soon.

Maria Zannini asked a couple days ago: Are you planning on migrating this blog to WordPress or is this for a new blog?

Neither, actually. Well, sort of. I want to try my hand at building a website with it. It'll include blog posts, I imagine, but it'll have static pages, too. It's one of the things I'm toying with to see if life will be made easier by using it. Of course, first life will be harder because of the learning curve, but hopefully (if Word Press -- which my phone autocorrected to read Weird Pods -- works the way I hope it will) in the long run it will ease my work load.

Lexie is getting braver. She's actually making it all the way up to the second floor now. She's still concerned about the dog and still runs for the basement if there's a noise she doesn't like, but she's coming out of her shell a bit more.

Took some pictures yesterday of the leaves FINALLY changing out here. Because it hasn't been cold, they aren't changing like usual. Sadly, I think it's going to be a toss up whether they finish changing or just fall off.




Dakota wants to know why we're just standing still and NOT WALKING:


Have a good day all.

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You Are Apple Upside Down Cake

You are a dynamic and interesting person. You are constantly changing, growing, and improving. You've had some ups and downs over the years, but you've learned to hang in there. You are one tough cookie. You are content with your life. You work hard, and you make sure to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You are bold and even brazen. You approach life with complete fearlessness.

What Apple Treat Are You?

Hmmmm.... maybe 50/50

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Mother Nature Flipped a Switch

It's COLD here!

Wednesday was almost uncomfortably warm and then POOF! Last night a cold front blew in and it's shivery cold. I had to close my windows last night for the first time in months.

Darn.

I actually really enjoy fall. The temps are pleasant, my outdoor chores are mostly done -- no more gardening at least, though there is wood to split and stack (especially since DH took down more trees out back). September and October in particular are lovely months and I think I would enjoy them more if I didn't know that winter came next.

This year, though, I'm determined to enjoy fall. Long walks with the dog without sweating up a storm! No more feeling guilty because I'm not outside weeding! I'll have my "outdoor refrigerator" again -- especially handy for making dog food and thawing turkeys.

And I'll be able to wave at my down the street neighbor again and she can see me do it, because the leaves will be down by end of October.

Still, I could really get into having three seasons (like we did in California): Spring, Summer, Winter .... lather, rinse, repeat!

In cat news, Lexie is still "basement cat". She'll come upstairs sometimes at night but she never sticks around long. I leave the door open all day long and she never peeks her head out. The slightest (and I mean slightest) noise will freak her out if she's upstairs and she flies back down to her "house".

I've also found that she's a plastic eater (cardboard, too, but that worries me less since it's pretty well digestible). I had another cat who ate plastic and it's a real pain. I can't leave the garbage down in the basement -- she chews on the bag. I have potatoes in the basement as well .... and she chews on the bag. Hopefully it's just a nervous habit and she'll out grow it, though my other cat never did.

Otherwise she's a sweet, affectionate kitty who really loves living in the mushroom patch.

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You Are an Imaginative Thinker

You are a nonlinear thinker, and you're even surprised by the places your mind takes you. You love to get lost in a story, whether it's your own or not. You love fantasy. You are a positive and uplifting person. You inspire others to be better. You are full of wonder and curiosity. You feel a strong connection to the world.

The Library Test

About 75% right ...

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Join Me For a Walk?

October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter. ~Nova Bair

I try to walk every day. We live in a fairly quiet rural neighborhood, with lots of streets winding around. I can take a different route every day if I want. I really enjoy looking at the sights. Join me? I pulled out the cell phone yesterday and took some pictures.

Signs of fall are everywhere. I really enjoy the scenery on my daily walks. On our street, we have this really amazing oak tree that boggles my mind. It's big, it's sturdy, it's leaning:



It's been like that forever, and at the base you can see where it's grown a wider "foot" to help it keep its balance.

Acorns are scattered everywhere as well. Folklore holds that when the squirrels don't collect all the acorns, it's going to be a mild winter. If that's the truth, it's going to be swimsuit weather in December. I mean .. really. Check it out:



I love the little hints of color that have begun. Soon, the leaves will be in their full glory (and carloads of tourists will be on the road):







There are still some gorgeous wildflowers growing because we haven't had our first frost yet (it's LATE this year). It's nice that we still have pretties to look at when we walk:




On one of the streets we take, the homeowners have this gorgeous bush .... I don't know what it is, but I LOVE the little berry-shaped "flowers" on it. If I knew, I'd probably get myself one:



Thanks for joining me on my walk. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

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You Are Modest

You live a pretty quiet and traditional life. You don't need much to be happy. You find contentment where others find angst. You are grateful for all that's right in your life. Your happiest times are spent with those you love. You don't have to be doing anything special, being with them is special enough. You aren't really searching in life. You've figured out who you are, and you accept yourself completely.

The Gourd Test

That's about right.

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Happy Autumn!

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

There's going to be one unhappy chipmunk this winter. Apparently one little rodent buried a cherry tomato as part of his winter store. Sadly for him, this is one bit of food that won't be around for him come December. Instead, I have this:




Yes folks, there are tomato plants growing near my front steps and in my creeping phlox. LOL..... I only wish they'd have time to produce something before our first frost, but that's not going to happen.

I expect the first frost to happen soon. It's been getting down into the 30s at night and the leaves outside are beginning to change. It always makes me a little sad, especially when I lose all my annuals to the cold. I know that many folks appreciate the change in seasons, but if I had it my way, winter would be abolished. I could handle three seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall ....oh look, here's spring again! But winter and I do not get along.

What's your favorite season? Why?

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You Are Low Key and Relaxed

You are a energetic, warm, optimistic person. You approach everything with a lot of enthusiasm. When you are happiest, you are calm. You appreciate tradition and family. You enjoy feeling cozy. You tend to be afraid of change. You are never ready for things to be different. You find love to be the most comforting thing in the world. You feel at peace when you're with your loved ones. Your ideal day is active and full. You like to keep busy with your favorite things, and you appreciate a routine. You are very impatient. You spend more time waiting for something than actually enjoying it.

The Autumn Test

Except for the optimistic part, this is pretty close.

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Return to Routine

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

It's been an interesting few days down here at the ranch... DH has been home sick all week, which really puts a hitch in the routine DD and I have organized. The schoolroom is behind the master bedroom, so we have to wait until DH is up and out before school starts ... this has put DD a bit behind as it's hard for her to settle down after putzing around all morning.

As for me? Well... I haven't been able to watch any of my shows this week (usually I have the TV on while I'm working on the computer) and it's season premier week! ARGH. Thank heavens for TiVo. Also, just having DH in the house is oddly unsettling ... I didn't get any real "alone" time this week and it makes me very cranky. I've often said that DH and I need to have our own houses, side-by-side, and visit each other. Neither he nor I like too much togetherness with anyone, so it works out, really. But this week was a strain.

Today, he's planning on going to work, but he's off again F/S/S ...

The good news is, neither DD nor I seem to have caught his bug (knock wood).

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DD and I went to the eye doctor yesterday. Her Rx has changed quite a bit (which I figured, as she can't see the oven timer if she's on the other side of the kitchen), but mine didn't, which is good. However, I've been getting headaches when I work on the computer too much, and the doc said I really need reading glasses. Here's the problem: I wear a prism because my eyes see on different levels -- one is looking up a little higher than the other. Basically, I have permanent double vision. I can't wear contacts for the condition either. When I was younger, my eyes worked to focus together, but as they get old and tired, they can't do it anymore, so I have special glasses that help them work together. If I had reading glasses, they'd have to have the prism, too.

While this wouldn't be a problem under normal circumstances, I'm a little ADD and tend to not sit still for very long. So, I'm on the computer for 20 mins and then pop up and mop the floor, then sit again, and then pop up and walk the dog, and then sit....

And having reading glasses would mean a game of "change the glasses" every few minutes. So, for now I'm opting out. It's not that bad, and it's better than the alternative.

Getting older really stinks.

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The weather here has been just amazing -- high-70s and mostly sunny. DD and Dd have done a LOT of running around outside, and I'm still cleaning out the gardens for winter: dead-heading and cutting the perennials that are dying (like the hostas) and pulling up my dahlia bulbs to store them over the winter.

I bought a bunch of pink daffodil bulbs to put in for next spring. They're deer (and hopefully vole) resistant and will give some nice, different color to the yellow ones I already have. The voles and chipmunks have eaten nearly all my crocus and grape hyacinth bulbs, so I'm not really certain what my spring gardens will look like next year. We won't talk about the almost certain damage the voles will do over the winter... little buggers.

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Your Right Part Says You're Conventional and Professional

You are confident, smart, and together. You command respect. You've found it easily to excel in life. You play by the rules and win the game. You are a very practical person. If something works, you stick with it. You approach life rationally and carefully. When things aren't fair, you just work harder.

What Does Your Part Say About You?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

Well... yeah.

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Book Buying

"I like being around books. It makes me feel civilized.
The only way to do all the things you'd like to do is to read." - Tom Clancy

Interesting comments yesterday about re-reading... we ended up about half and half, with only one person as rabid a re-reading as I. Funny thing about life: we tend to assume that what we do is the norm, and that's what everyone does! LOL... If I didn't re-read, I wouldn't buy books. In fact, I've been known to borrow from the library to see if I like something and then, after I've read it and know, I'll go buy it to read again.

I'm not a blind book-buyer. There are few folks I'll buy without reading first. I only have so many dollars to spread around, and want to make sure I spread them around on something I'll value in the upcoming years. I do always buy my friends / crit partners books. Partly to support them, and partly because it's neat to see them on my shelf and know what they went through to get there.

What about you? Do you just buy books all the time, even if they are new-to-you authors or you aren't sure you'll like the books? Do you have a large "keeper" shelf, or do you spend a lot of time taking your books to the UBS or donating them to the library? Or, are you careful how you spend your book-buying budget? Do you give it a lot of thought before shelling out the dough? Do you only buy books you think you'll keep forever? And... what is the deciding factor when you DO buy a book?

Inquiring minds want to know.

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So, it frosted pretty hard last night. I bet that was the death knoll for most of my annuals. It's amazing they've made it this long... So, today I'll be on corpse clean-up and will count it as the true end of summer. I keep trying to be happy we had such a mild fall this far, but I really, really dread the winter. The highs this week are going to be in the 50s -- which feels cold now, but in a couple of months would be a heat wave! LOL... perception is a funny thing.

Dakota still hasn't sprouted her feathers, so her fur is very thin and smooth and doesn't keep her warm. I may end up having to buy her dog clothes -- something I never thought I'd do for a bigger dog. I've never been one of those folks who wants to dress up my dog and treat it like a human. But even now, at night, when it's cool in the house she cuddles and curls up in a tiny ball, and feel cold to the touch. I hope her fur fills in soon!

I'm working on a blog about worm composting on It's Only Natural ... check over there to read about it if you're interesting. I do my best to garden organically (though it's a battle with the DH who is all about chemicals), so have done some research into worms. I love worms. I... well, that's a story for the other blog. *G*

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Your Autumn Test Results

You are a dynamic, vibrant person. You aren't afraid to pursue your passions. When you are happiest, you are calm. You appreciate tradition and family. You enjoy feeling cozy. You tend to be afraid of change. You are never ready for things to be different. You find love to be the most comforting thing in the world. You feel at peace when you're with your loved ones. Your ideal day is active and full. You like to keep busy with your favorite things, and you appreciate a routine. You are very impatient. You spend more time waiting for something than actually enjoying it.

The Autumn Test

Okay, yeah... mostly...

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Dakota Duty

If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders. ~Abigail Van Buren

We've discovered recently that Dakota likes to play in piles of leaves -- just like a kid. Rake up a big pile, let her off leash, and she tears over and LEAPS(!!) into the pile. It's so cute! I've tried taking video, but haven't been able to time them just right... it's like she knows.

Speaking of Dakota... DD decided she doesn't want to sleep with her any more (truthfully, Dd is a bed hog) which leaves me in a quandary. The reason Dakota hogs the bed is because she's a snuggler. She MUST be right up against you when she sleeps. If you roll over or move, she stands up with a sigh comes close and flops down right against you.

And therein lies my problem. She is very needy, emotionally. She must, Must, MUST be with you, against you, at your feet. DH says he doesn't want her to sleep with us (for that reason), but it breaks my heart to think of making her sleep alone.

I know, I know... she's a dog, not a human, but still...

And, the kicker to all of this is that DD wanted "her own dog" (because Bailey was truly mine), so I've really been working toward that -- letting DD walk her, and be the one in obedience class who works with her, and sleep with her.

Now it's not fun anymore.

Part of me wants to say: too bad.

Maybe I will. ((mean old mom))

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Still moving forward to NaNoWriMo ... trying to figure out how to write some blog post ahead of time and then add current events to them each day. I don't know if that is practical. Y'all won't mind if I do brief drive-bys all November, right? The neuroses that is NaNo may be sucking my brain cells dry.

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Rain today, and then a cold front moves in. Indian Summer is over -- we'll be having highs in the 50s starting tomorrow. Darn it. I've been so spoiled!

As a reminder of summer, I posted a Thursday Thirteen with flower pictures on my Nature Blog. Take a look if you like pretty things!

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What Your Nose Says About You

You are straightforward and honest. You sometimes offend people without realizing it. You are helpful and giving. You like cooperating, and you're always willing to lend a hand. You are a realist. You aren't much of an optimist or a pessimist.

What Does Your Nose Say About You?

Yep, that's about right...

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Stacked!

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Yay! The wood is stacked.

:::snoopy dance:::

It was an absolutely gorgeous day yesterday -- 70 degrees and sunny. We're having a blessedly mild fall, for which I am truly grateful. I know winter will be here soon, but this lengthening of the nice weather will (hopefully) make the snow a little easier to take.

The trees outside are gorgeous -- DH hates pine trees, and so took all the ones in our backyard down when we first moved in. As a result, all we have is vibrant color. I meant to take some pictures yesterday, but completely forgot. Will do so today.

I also finally started setting up my office. I don't really have a desk -- just a particle board table thingie, but it works. The first thing I did was hang up the quilt Dru sent me some time ago. :-)

Once it's a little tidier in there, I'll take pix. DD's schoolroom is back where it used to be, instead of in the same room. I tried working with her, but she talks non-stop -- not necessarily to me, frequently to herself, but it's still chatter, lol.

And, because I wasn't busy enough, I decided to start a blog to talk about all the outdoors stuff I enjoy: gardening, bugs, weather, bird, etc. If you're so inclined, feel free to visit: It's Only Natural.

Nothing like a little pressure -- LASR doesn't have a story for this week. We have one for next week and the week after, etc. Just not THIS week. So, I need to write one... unless any of y'all have a 1000 word (or so, we're flexible within reason) romance lying around somewhere? Please? *G*

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You Are a Monkey

You are a very fascinating creature. People are interested in every little thing you do. You are smart, curious, and clever. You are naturally witty, and you have a great sense of humor. You can see things from many different angles, and you always have an interesting perspective on life. You are likely agile and playful. You stay physically fit simply by staying active.

What Animal Are You?

You know... I've been told that before, lol.

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Temptation...

“I deal with temptation by yielding to it” -- Mark Twain

First off, I forgot to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my DemonDog, Dakota, who turned ONE YEAR OLD yesterday.

"I did what? Does that mean I get a cookie?"


And, yes... she's amazingly skinny. She eats (are you ready?) ... SEVEN CUPS of food a day (!!!) and I still can't keep the weight on her. She's 45 lbs and holding. Does that tell you how high-strung she is?

Now, on to the temptation portion of our program:

Samhain Publishingrecently did two calls for submission that are tempting me something fierce. One is for cowboy novellas and one is for shape-shifter novellas (which isn't on the page, but trust me... it happened, lol). They will be released separately as eBooks, but together in print. It just so happens that I have a shifter story started (it was intended for the TWRP "Got Wolf" contest, but I just couldn't get it done in time) AND I have plans for another cowboy story (a sequel to "A Change of Heart").

I'm trying not to be led astray... BUT... these are shorts that would be released in PRINT. Yanno? And I already have stories either started or planned...

Dear heavens.

I KNOW I should focus on one thing and get it done before I begin something else, but these are really, really tempting.

And, aside from NaNoWriMo (and, yes Charity... feel free to do your annual post *G*), I haven't been working on much (well, except the sequel to "One Love For Liv" about a heartbroken Geoff, and that's really in the brainstorming process... though as I think about it, I can't help but wonder if I should do THIS story for NaNo since Liv was a NaNo book. My HQ American isn't going to be quite as silly... and wouldn't lend itself to the odd dares I take during NaNo... Hmmm....)

See? TEMPTATION IS EVERYWHERE.

**sigh**

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Your Autumn Test Results

You are a dynamic, vibrant person. You aren't afraid to pursue your passions. When you are happiest, you are calm. You appreciate tradition and family. You enjoy feeling cozy. You tend to be afraid of change. You are never ready for things to be different. You find abundance to be the most comforting thing in the world. You love shopping and having nice things. Your ideal day is active and full. You like to keep busy with your favorite things, and you appreciate a routine. You are very impatient. You spend more time waiting for something than actually enjoying it.

The Autumn Test

That's **mostly** true. There are some incorrect assumptions, but it's pretty darn close. I find that a bit eerie.

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Comments to the comments from yesterday:

Ceri, I watched "Xanadu" a couple years back (I got the movie as a Christmas present from someone), and I couldn't BELIEVE how awful it was. But it really made my teenaged heart swoon.

Groovy, the trees were all perfectly healthy. My DH just doesn't like trees too close to the house, so when they get tall enough that they could fall on us, they come down. That, and he likes to play with his saw. I've spent years trying to reason with him, to no avail.

Amy, I know... I know... I wish I could have at least sent him boating, but the boat has been winterized and put away. Yes, already. Welcome to the Northeast. UGH.

Tori, I LOVED "V" ... watched the movie and the mini-series religiously. And, I've never heard of "My Chauffeur"... hmmm... maybe I should check it out.

I think I answered all the questions... Have a great day!

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