Take Your Dog to the Park Day

To be honest; every day should be Take Your Dog to the Park Day, at least, according to Boomer Dog. Fortunately for him; we live near the nicest park in Petticoat Junction.

The colors in the park are always amazing this time of year, so, when Boom and I went earlier this week; I made sure to get lots of pictures.

The Blue Herons that were nesting in the park over the spring and summer have apparently migrated to warmer climates, but, the ducks have moved into the lake to take their place. I spotted a couple of Mallards and their hens on the water as we were rounding the pathway that curves around the lake.

I'm guessing the geese will move in soon, as well, but that won't be for a few weeks yet. I'll have to keep an eye out. I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunity to do so, considering how often the Booms wants to go to the park to play fetch.

We didn't name him Boomerang for nothing, after all.

Friday Favorites

This will be a quick one; Hugh flew to North Carolina this morning for a wrestling tournament, so I took the day off to revel in the novelty of having no one to take care of, nowhere to be, and nothing to do. Sloth is my favorite of the seven deadlies (gluttony is a close second).

This candle is my favorite seasonal scent. It screams Halloween to me. Unfortunately, it can only be purchased on the Fragrant Jewels website and it isn't exactly inexpensive. It does come with a ring embedded in the wax, so there's that, I guess. It also burns a hella long time; I've had this particular one for several years and I've burned it for the entire month of October each time; it is only now nearing the end of it's wax and wicks (so, of course I ordered another one; expense be damned!).

Another Halloween favorite is my new coffee mug. It holds a two full cups of coffee and is super cute.

The view from my office lately has been especially pretty. Of course, just moments after I snapped this picture, the wind kicked up and scattered the leaves across the lawn. No worries! Leaves crunching underfoot is anotger favorite for this time of year.

As the month nears its end, so does our virtual 5K at Not So New Job. The kids all participated and the pictures they sent are favorites, for sure.

Lastly, I discovered this tea recently. It isn't a fall flavor at all; more like a Christmas blend, but, I am enjoying the heck out of it and, Christmas is just 10 Saturdays away, so...

(yep, 10 Saturdays away. You're welcome for that reminder)

Silver and Gold

It's officially Hump Day, which means we are rolling toward the weekend. I've been trying to make my weekends more productive lately, and, for the most part, I've had the energy to do so (thanks, modern pharmaceuticals!), I had an especially productive few days this past weekend; managing to photograph my Halloween decorations, clean out my largest pantry, and other household tasks.

I also polished a few new silver pieces that I picked up at an antique store in Hooterville on Friday. I love vintage silver trays-using them in Halloween displays when they are good and tarnished and in Christmas displays when they've been cleaned up.

I have Christmas plans for the three new pieces I got, so I wanted them as shiny as I could get them. I'm also that weird gal who gets a sense of satisfaction from seeing the transformation that a little bit of silver cleaner and some elbow grease can accomplish (I was probably a maid in a fancy house in a previous life).

This particular tray was a fun find; it has the previous owner's name engraved on the back. Fancy!

That covers the silver part of the title of this post. As for the gold, that would be the butternut squash pasta sauce that I made on Sunday. I've been trying to make time to attempt a copycat recipe of the Gourmet Dave's butternut squash pasta sauce that I love so much, and, following a trip to the local farm stand, I had the necessary ingredients to give it a whirl.

The recipe required roasted butternut squash (obviously) as well as roasted red bell pepper and garlic, all of which I picked up. Hugh grabbed a couple of spaghetti squash, and that is what we served the sauce on. Spoiler: it was delicious. Was it as good as Gourmet Dave's? Not precisely, so I will be tweaking the recipe the next time I make it.

Anyhoodle, this was my first time roasting peppers, so, while the recipe required only a very small amount; I went ahead and prepared several peppers and then froze them for future recipes.

I roasted two squashes, which was also way more than the recipe required, but I have plans to make a nice big pot of butternut squash soup this weekend, so I stored the extra squash in the fridge.

The recipe made enough sauce for our dinner as well as a large container for the freezer. 

It may not seem like much, but, for someone who could barely get off the couch for the past year or so; it was a huge accomplishment (again, thank you, modern pharmaceuticals!).

There Is No Timeline For Grief

October 19, 2014.

Seven Years.

Eighty-four months.

Three hundred and sixty-four weeks.

Two thousand, five hundred and fifty-five days.

Sixty-one thousand, three hundred and twenty hours.

You would think that would be enough time for grief to run its course; you would be wrong.

The thing that I have learned about grief is that there is no timetable for how long it will hold you in its grip. You may go days, weeks, even, with nary a twinge of sadness. You may see someone who reminds you of your missing loved one, nod, and say to yourself "huh" before going about your day. You may see a picture, hear a song, read a phrase, any one of a thousand little things that could remind you of your loss, and, yet, go on and you're fine.

Then, there are the other days. The day when the familiar scent of aftershave drifting in the air at the supermarket is your undoing. The day that a flash of silver hair catches the corner of your eye and, for just one second, you think to yourself "there you are" while simultaneously being hit by the stark reality that, no. No, you aren't there. On these days, you are most definitely not fine.

The best that you can hope for are more fine days and that the less fine days will be fewer and farther in between. And, on those fine days, remind yourself of the words of Thomas Campbell: To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.

As for the less fine days?

Everyone Ever is also pretty wise.

I miss you, Dad. Even on the fine days; I still miss you.

Til Death Do Us Part

It's mid-October, which seems like the perfect time to unveil this year's Halloween skeleton display. It's been up-partially-since the beginning of the month, but I just put the final touches on it yesterday. The display is a lot less extra than in previous years, but, I think that adds to its' charm

Also, when the weather turns to absolute crap, which, will happen any day now; I won't have to freeze my ass off for longer than it takes to undress a few bodies and wrap up a few cords. That's a solid win.

Anyhoodle, without further adieu, I bring you Until Death Do Us Part: A Story Told in Three Acts

Act One: The Proposal

Act Two: Vegas or Bust

Act Three: Buying the Farm

One interesting factoid: in Act Two, the bridesmaid is wearing the dress that I actually wore to a good friend's wedding in 1988. Peach was the in color that year and bows were all the rage. The dress lasted in a box under my mom's bed for approximately 31 years longer than the marriage lasted. My friend would totally approve of this use.