THE HOUSE FINCHES PLUS...

Please turn the noise off if it disturbs you. The birds are very noisy on this one, but hopefully entertaining. There is also a lot of background noise. That can be anything from planes flying overhead (depending on which way the wind is blowing as our major airport is only 30 minutes away), to yard work being done in other gardens, to dogs barking. At least I know the sound works!

The leaves are starting to fall like rain and I will be getting out there tomorrow, to sweep them up off the deck, and also to refresh the water (full of leaves) and a general clean up. Amazed at how the weeds have grown, amazed that this always takes me by surprise but things should be slowing down now.

We had a very nice run out around noon and had our weekly fast-food lunch. I tried something new on the menu, a waffle and chicken sandwich. It looked nothing like its picture, was smaller than my usual sandwich, which is what I was going for. The waffle was limp and the chicken was fried. I never order fried chicken normally but that lovely photo pulled me into its web. We have never had bad food there, but they must have been having an off day and everyone's entitled to one of those. I ended up leaving most of it. Won’t try that again! Had my coffee treat on the way home. I will try that again! I usually stick to my one cup of black coffee first thing in the morning at home, and green tea for the rest of the day. 

We were driving by a business and I asked Gregg if he would pull into the parking lot as I saw these. Say hello to Hecate and Vespera (I like to name things as you may or may not know). Halloween decorations have been popping up early since the beginning of September. I don't remember them ever being this early. I don't decorate myself, but I enjoy seeing what others do.

The clouds were full of rain but fortunately it held off while we were out. It rained the previous night. The ridge line you can see in the distance (above) is the Shenandoah. Below are tops of the buildings from one of our shopping areas.

New fencing going up next to one home area a mile or so down the road. Those boards are twice as high as the ones they are building across the street. 

When we got home we spent it quietly. We had a busy one yesterday as we got together with our son and daughter-in-law at Chateau de Chantilly Cafe. They introduced us to this place originally and it was a pleasure to be with them here. I'll have photos on another post sometime.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your day is a great one.

AROUND AND ABOUT A BIT THIS WEEK, AND ANN’S SEPTEMBER HAPPY MAIL

I am starting off with Ann’s September card. The month is zipping right along and I didn’t want any further time to disappear before I mentioned her Happy Mail. She continues to delight those of us who receive them, with her thoughtfulness and wonderful creativity.

Thanks always Ann, you are such a dear friend.

I hope everyone’s week is going well. It was another glorious week for cloud watching here, a little more drama in those skies today. (We have had ongoing construction work on our roads for the last three years, adding an extra lane or two and working along several miles of road. We are nearing the end of our section. I'm sure they will be moving down to another. That's usually how it goes right?)

"Nature is a mutable cloud, which is always and never the same."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

We thought this looked like a very odd Toyota, but it wasn’t long before the penny dropped. It was no Toyota I had seen before, and yet even from a distance, familiar. It wasn't until we got closer that we saw the owner had a sense of humor, or was it something more?

We followed him for a few miles and then the Tesla Cybertruck turned right. 

I went back to cloud watching.

The skies started brightening up later but not before we had a downpour. This short video was at the beginning. It fell heavily afterwards. It's been all quiet today, apart from Mama Squirrel coming for a drink. (Today it got up to 89 degrees F. - 32 degrees C. The leaves are turning, we see signs everywhere and Fall is definitely around the corner.) 

It seems the appropriate time to share one of the jigsaw puzzles. I completed it a few days ago. I don't know what that red umbrella and those beautiful flowers are doing there on the wet cobbled street. We could write our own scenario. Any takers? No, me neither!

One day we decided a trip to our favorite cafe was in order. Hubby took a photo of me. Seriously, how many of you prefer to be behind the camera instead of in front of it? He, like me, loves to play on those phone apps and he changed me into a sketch and finally got my approval. I told him to take the lines out. My skin looked like the Grand Canyon and it ain't that bad yet. Smile Denise!

They were serving their coffee in Christmas mugs. The one I am holding has a wreathe with two cardinals and the word “love”. I can probably purchase one. If I didn’t have a zillion mugs in the cupboard, it might have come home with me, but we are still in the process of downsizing. It’s taking forever! Yes Ms. Kondo, it still sparks joy. That’s the problem, there are too many things around here that spark joy! I am keeping a few favorites that remind me of places we have visited over the years, and also treasures that family and friends have given. The rest are going to the man who keeps a big bus in one of the large parking lots. It's run by our local church where all donated items will be going to a good home.

A few days later we were at the supermarket and my sweet tooth checked out all the different kinds of fudge and cookies, but our sensible personalities took over, and we concentrated on fruits and veggies, except... 

that we were out extra early, missed breakfast and it was lunchtime. We had a slice of pizza in their restaurant area. We could have bought a whole one for less I know but at $4.00 a slice, in our minds, it prevented us from scoffing the lot during the rest of the day. We are trying the mindset of portion control, and those hiccups/side trips are much less than they used to be. Pat on the back for us, yay! 

We saw a family member this week. Last week too as we looked after his vehicle while he was away. Our airport is only half an hour from here. It was good to see him both times as there was a chance for a good catch-up. 

Bless him, he let us use his vehicle for taking things to our local garbage center as it has a truck bed. Gregg made a big dent in the garage, another yay! (This latest pile of 'goodies' was beyond taking to the man in charge of the donation bus). 

When I went out later I said to my dear man, "Where's the ironing board?" I got a sheepish look and an "Errrr....ironing board?" I had put it out there temporarily when I cleared out the area where I stored it. He said, "I thought you didn't like ironing anymore?" True, not that I ever did like ironing but there are times I need one. Oh well, we saw the funny side and there is a new ironing board in our future. And dear Ms Kondo, my ironing board never exactly sparked joy, but I was sorry to see it go.

We have noticed a lot of seasonal decorations in the stores, and saying it seems much earlier than last year. Merchants are getting a head start. A couple of weeks ago we saw these on our way out of the neighborhood. That skeleton is about as tall as I am. It’s huge!

I am not a skeleton person but I can’t seem to help myself, everything is a photo op. The following snapshots are of my favorite house for decorations. I have admired the effort they have put into it for several years now. They have added new ones this year. I'm going to wait until nearer Halloween before I ask Gregg to drive us through the neighborhood at night, not on Halloween but before, or maybe even afterwards. None are taken down too quickly. 

I'm sure these will all be lit up at night and will look exceptionally scary. Personally, I would like to see a few dragons, smiling yes! 

I realized I didn’t have any Halloween decorations and treated myself to a trio of scarecrows in witch hats. That's about as far as I go, and handing out the candy on the night. It is now 43 days until the 31st.

Thanks for looking and take 

good care of yourselves out there.

Enjoy your day.

IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN...

and too early for me but I've been seeing a lot of Halloween and Christmas items for sale lately. Today I am sharing the Jack O'Lanterns and Ghosts on display outside one of our supermarkets. 

I am one of the baa-humbugs who doesn't decorate for Halloween. I was always scared of those Halloween movies, any horror movie, and wouldn't watch them, this after I moved here. I grew up not knowing anything about Halloween. It just wasn't celebrated in my neck of the woods and I lived in my own little glass bubble. Nowadays it is and perhaps our blogging friends in other regions around the world can tell us more.

When our son was young, I used to make an effort, baking and decorating Halloween-shaped cookies for him, especially when his friends came over. I helped carve a pumpkin or two.

I put together a costume for him to go out on Halloween, that was pitifully tame compared to some that mother's made their kids, but he enjoyed them.

I do enjoy going around the neighborhood and seeing how people decorate their homes and front gardens, and taking photos. Many of those have made it on my blog.

No, I didn't buy any of these. Just looked and took photos.

Boo to you from our Crew.

Enjoy your Thursday and thanks for stopping by.

HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

We were driving home in the dark the other night and I asked my dear other half if he would take me through a couple of the neighborhoods around here. This is what we found. 

I am not one for decorating for Halloween, never have been. I made Halloween Cookies when our son was young and all his friends were visiting, but those designs were about as tame as it could get. I enjoy seeing how others decorate their front gardens. Skeletons were very popular this year! I think these would give me nightmares.

From the same front yard.

I recognize Beetlejuice.

He went 'thataway!'

At another home.

And another.

And another.

Not many people had decorated but I was happy to get these few. Some are very elaborate. I would think if there were going to be any more, they would have been done by now.  I guess it's time to think about buying that Halloween Candy.

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes."

~William Shakespeare's ‘MacBeth’~

Thanks for looking everyone.

Have a great day!