Welcome, October! Who’s loving these wonderful early fall
days? It may be time to stow those tanks and tees, but it’s also finally sweater
weather. Gotta love it!
Empty bird feeder! (Photo c2016 by LAN/Practically at Home)
The birds are organizing a revolt. I have dropped the ball,
when it comes to keeping my bird feeders
filled.
Another empty feeder! (Photo c2016 by LAN/Practically at Home)
Although this picture isn’t too clear on a darker day like
today, I love looking out through this stained glass piece. Here’s why it’s
special. One of my kids helped to make it with a friend who owns a stained
glass shop.
Love this treasure! (Photo c2016 by LAN/Practically at Home)
I am thinking …
It is way past time for me to pull my notes together for a
new book I’ve been planning for a while. I have the outline, the quotes, and
the anecdotes ready to go. It just needs some organization and polish.
I am thankful …
The weather has shifted a bit. The wild late-summer barometric
pressure shifts seem to have subsided somewhat. That means A LOT to someone
with frequent migraine headaches, as this climactic settling can make them less
frequent. And it has.
Seasons shift. (Photo c2016 by LAN/Practically at Home)
One of my favorite things …
OK, I admit it. Seasonal closet changeovers are not really a
favorite task for me. But space is limited in our current home, so this must be
done. It’s time to tuck all those wispy summer clothes away and bring out the
warm and wooly sweaters and fleeces. That’s sort of refreshing, except that the
switch requires a few trips up and down the stairs.
Hey, I need the exercise, right?
I am creating …
In a cubby in the basement is a basket. In the basket is a
stack of random quilt squares, cut out of remnants of nearly everything I have
sewed in the past couple of years. I’ve started assembling the squares into
strips. Next, I will join the strips to make a wild bed quilt that will bring
back tons of memories. We’re talking kids’ toys, Easter and Christmas dresses,
baby clothes, home accents, and much more – all represented in quilt squares.
Now, if I can just finish the thing, and then keep the pets
off it!
Product promo photo - fair use
I am wearing …
These are those mixed-up early October days when everyone
seems confused about what season it is. I do it too. I start the day with long
sleeves and multiple layers. By midday, I’m wishing I’d pulled on something
summery instead. But I’m not complaining. I adore autumn weather.
As I put this month’s SWDB post together today, I’m
listening to Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Just because.
“It’s so black and white.
He’s stealin’ your thunder.
Baby, blue ain’t your color.”
I am hoping …
This fall, I hope to bump up my running mileage again. This
has been a challenge this year, but I’m starting to get there. A friend invited
me to do another half marathon this winter. I’m toying with the idea, although
I don’t relish the idea of trudging through 13.1 miles of snow, slush, slop, or
slippery ice.
Adapted from public domain artwork.
I am learning …
The past few months have stretched me in multiple ways. Dragons
of multiple stripes have tried to face me down. I’m drawing my sword against a
couple of long-time nemeses. (Nope, I’m not talking about people here, although
I certainly could. But these dragons are symbolic.)
I hope to offer upbeat updates on these in the coming
months.
Fall gourds from a friend's farm. (Photo c2016 by LAN/Practically at Home)
In my kitchen …
Here’s another sign of autumn. I’m starting to want to bake
again. Honestly, this is sort of a seasonal thing for me. The latest result is
a big batch of apple-blueberry muffins, including apples from a friend’s
orchard.
Although nearly everyone I know seems to be craving all
things pumpkin, I have a hankering of a different sort right now. Sadly, we are
out of Quaker
Buttered Popcorn Rice Cakes. This is practically a snacking emergency for
me. Those crunchy wonders are better than popcorn itself.
Product promo photo - fair use.
In the school room …
I guess the dragon-fighting I mentioned earlier fits here. (Watch for more to come on that.)
In my garden …
Oh, the garden. It’s
pretty much over for the year. I’m hoping to drop in some new bulbs for spring
blooms. The freakishly overfed wild bunnies did a number on the old bulbs this
year!
Garden path. (Photo c2016 by LAN/Practically at Home)
Board room …
Here’s
a pin from my Finding
Faith board on Pinterest. I love this Bible verse, and I need this reminder
constantly. To Him be all the glory.
Throughout the
month of October, I am participating in a blogging challenge called October
Poetry Writing Month. On my Nickers
and Ink Poetry and Humor site, I am planning to post 31 poems for the 31
days of the month.
I noticed a hawk, flying way up high overhead. I’ve been a
little under the weather, so to speak, facing a stretch of low energy. Guess I’m
glad it was a hawk, instead of a vulture.
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
I am thinking …
This may sound funny, but there’s a little garden gnome in
our yard (dressed in Chicago Bears colors), who mysteriously moves from place
to place on random occasions. Is there more to this story, if does this occur
simply because someone in our home recently retired and finds the need to
fidget with details?
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
I am thankful …
Sometimes computer glitches seem to resolve themselves. At
least, I’m kind of counting on that, right about now. After all, this sort of
message is never exactly welcome.
Screenshot - fair use
One of my favorite things …
Flowers are favorites for me. Gerbera Daisies are one of the
blooms I like the best. I have a pair of patio pots that still sport fresh
blossoms, even as September slips by.
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
I am creating …
This week, another new Kindle eBook was added to my author
list on Amazon. I wrote this short volume (10
courtesy tips for taking a pet to a host's home) to help animal lovers and
those who may host them at some point (such as the upcoming holiday season) to
deal with the potential complications of pet guests.
Having experienced some rather delicate situations in our
own home, with extended family members and others bringing their animals for
occasional visits and overnight stays, I understand the concerns. And I hope
this book will help others in similar situations.
Book cover / fair use
I am wearing …
Right now, I am sporting a running race tee (from a past
event) and a pair of jogging shorts. I have not laced on those sneakers yet,
although I (groan!) know I will have to do so soon. (Actually, I was all revved
up and ready to go … until I realized my phone needed charging first. Hey, I
don’t want to miss the chance to keep track of those miles.)
I am watching …
My dog is doing laps around me, as I sit at my desk. Based
on our regular routines, I am pretty sure she knows it’s almost run-time.
Most of the time, she and the cat practice their Couch
Pet-Tater acts. But not at run-time. (You might say she’s got my number.)
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
YouTube is playing, and I’m hearing “Grace Wins,” by Matthew
West.
Gotta love these lyrics:
“Words
can't describe the way it feels
When mercy floods a thirsty soul
A broken side begins to heal
And grace returns what guilt has stole.”
Bless the Lord. How I need that every day!
I am hoping …
One of these days, the professional crew will show up at the
stables to fix an ongoing drainage problem that has allowed the many mid- and
late-summer storms to flood the indoor riding arena at the stables. I feel sorry for the owners, who have pumped and shoveled and brainstormed, trying to
fix this issue. It’s also a concern for the barn staff, who slog through mud daily to care for the horses, for the boarding customers (as an important part of the facility is out of commission), and a trainer (who has faced more than a
few lesson cancellations).
The covered arena has been flooded almost every day since late July. Fortunately, there is also an outdoor arena, which has been super for working horses on non-rainy
days. For that, we are thankful.
Honestly, it feels a lot more like April than September at
the farm. But the hay field looks lush and lovely, so the horses will
have plenty of delicious hay all winter. (See? A silver lining!)
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
I am learning …
Have you heard the perennial warning about praying for
patience? It’s sort of a source of ouch-y humor among people of faith. Why?
Patience seems only to be learned through difficulties and disappointments and
longer waits than we’d like.
But I’ve been in that school, so to speak, for a while. A
couple of long-term heart-rending prayer requests are prime examples.
On another note, I’ve always chuckled that one of the most
popular and colorful annual garden flowers is called impatiens. It’s easy to
grow and simply satisfying. Don’t you wish patience came the same way?
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
In my kitchen …
I’m trying to eat healthier foods. But I’m still something
of a carbo-holic. I crave crunchy, salty, starchy snacks too often. So I’m
making it a point to shop a little smarter. Now I have a cupboard filled with
low-calorie rice cakes and popcorn, instead of chips and crackers.
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
It’s been fun to see friends and loved ones posting
first-day-of-school photos on Facebook in the past week or so. I don’t have
anyone heading to class this fall, but I love seeing all these dear ones’
youngsters growing up.
Despite having no students in the house anymore, I am as
busy as a proverbial bee. So there we are.
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
In my garden …
Most of my plantings
are growing end-of-season tired. Some fall colors are popping up. As the sun
sets earlier and casts a more muted glow over nature, it’s neat to see the
flowers changing as well.
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
Last weekend, I
transplanted several leggy-looking annuals from patio pots into the garden
beds, filling in spots where I’ve already cut back some spent perennials. A few are just reaching their prime, like the Autumn Joy Sedum.
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
I also washed out several the pots, so I can pack them away for next spring. A few remain on the patio, as the geraniums and marigolds are still producing.
Photo by Linda Ann Nickerson for PAH. All rights reserved.
I need that reminder (preaching to the mirror), again and
again.
Vintage / public domain photo
Post Script …
Here we go,
marching into September. What’s on the agenda for this month? I’m working on
another book or two. (Multi-tasking keeps me going.) I’m looking forward to a couple
of early fall running races. And I’m planning a cross-country visit next month.
(Maybe I’ll tuck some trip photos into my October edition of the SW Daybook.)
Shared Quote …
Autumn doesn’t technically begin for a couple of weeks.
Still, with Labor Day behind us, it feels sort of like unofficial autumn
already. So here we are:
Autumn
is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
Albert Camus, French philosopher (1913-1960)
Closing Notes:
Thanks for stopping by! Cheers for a sweet September.
to help animal lovers and
those who may host them at some point (such as the upcoming holiday season) to
deal with the potential complications of pet guests. 
