Bundled for a Great Season

It's Sunday night and fall is coming, the weather man has promised. It was cooler today and the humidity is falling which is truly heavenly. Why do I like the cooler days best? The smells of fall, the crunch of the fallen leaves and that air that associated with this season makes for a wonderful introduction to the perfect time after a hot summer. Fall is like a tall cold glass of ice tea to cool your core after a muggy warm summer.

Alright , so now you know I am a fall fanatic! For me it is a lovely time of year for walking, bike ridding or simply sitting and watching the birds and letting the world simply go by.

I need that end to all that warmth to wind down to the end of any year. So here's to that colorful, mufflered old gentleman named fall who's brought a whole new character to my part of the world!

Impossible Possibilities

Life can be crazy way too often these days. But the one thing I am observing more and more is that though people mouth the idea of putting others first and being caring individuals, is that it is only how they want to be, but who they really are in their real world.

The idea for random acts of kindness have a wonderful warm feeling in many hearts, but few stepped up and did more than a cursory few and returned to the typical cut throat American way of dealing with others. I guess I'm too close to people who lead right now, but the only place people serve and care that I can see are those who themselves have so little.

I wish there was a way to reach people and make them see that they need to give not just from their financial prosperity, but from them selves and get to know people they help care for - be a friend, in the truest sense of the word. It isn't easy but to have people who are wealthy see those they govern, they must understand the people and take on a relationship to truly help. Maybe I'm too much of a dreamer, but I think it is possible!

Where's Fall?

Strange how today felt more like early summer than late September. I love the fall...the great cool crisp air and the colors that are usually taking hold of the green leaves of summer. Well, this year we have small spots of lovely oranges and reds, but the majority of the leaves are still an iridescent summer green.

Believe me,I like summer, but I am ready for the colors, the colder temps and the whole fall package! There are many who are relishing this extension to our summer, but I am not one of them.

So who ever is holding fall prisoner, I am willing to bargain for its release!

Wouldn't You Like to Ride in My Beautiful Balloon?

Cool and foggy night with the golden glow the the street lights set s an eerie tone for a end of September evening. Wandering around with the dogs outside I can almost envision something creepy creeping out from under nearby bushes. Thank goodness my dogs are quick to notice anything out of the ordinary - like a possum scurrying away! Our little guy lets out a bellow that shakes the neighborhood if he even thinks there is something that doesn't belong in the yard!

Well just before dusk last evening both went totally crazing barking jumping around and shaking! I was mystified as to the source of all that excitement until I heard the sound of a hot air balloon. Out from the shadows of one of our big trees and drifting barely above the tops was a huge red and blue balloon. This happens at least 3 times a summer and my dogs for some unknown reason feel those balloons are invading their own personal air space and can sometimes drive the neighbors crazy with their incessant barrage that continues until long after the hot-air balloon has vacated the skies overhead.

Why this type of air craft bothers my two fuzzy friends I will never know, but I have to admit it can be quite a site as our two dogs stand baying after a balloon they will never catch. It certainly is a site I won't soon forget!

How Do You Relax?

It's a lovely Friday night with a haze that gives the moon a lovely look. Fall is my favorite season and I enjoy the morning outside. I have a small patio and grab my first cup of coffee and just sit and take all the sights and sounds in and ponder the coming day.

My garden is full of birds that sway in wind on what is left of the stems of my false sunflowers and black eyed Susans. Some of my fall flowers are beginning to come to life. The asters and mums are beginning the bring color back to what had begun to be all drab and brown that often comes with the end of summer. The real geraniums are still blooming which makes for a lovely edge to this fall garden.

I need to take time away from the craziness of phones, cell phones computers and work. So, turn off the phones, and TV and escape to your backyard - I need that escape to begin or end almost every day.

Personal Dreams

Have you ever wanted to travel some where so much that you dream about it at least twice a week? I've never been able to travel there and probably won't any time soon, but I find myself envision a museum, or historical area where I'm exploring and of course in my element since the place I'm at is a place that I have longed to visit for years.

Where is this place you are probably wondering by now, that place that has me so enthralled? It's London. I don't want to be a royal watcher, but a history one. The city is filled with theatrical, early Celtic history as well as Sir Christopher Wren's buildings and Anglican churches and chapels. So tonight I'm going to travel to a really exotic place for me - considering I'm just a Midwest girl. Happy dreams!

Politics...As Usual

LA, LA, LA! I-can't-hear-you! (My ears are plugged!) I HATE presidential politics! I realize that hate is a strong word, but I mean it. Normally calm, easy going people get loud and totally obnoxious when they begin pushing their chosen candidates, or parties, especially during the presidential season.

Add to the nastiness the ads and phone calls and it's a recipe for anger, and total pandemonium where we have politics as usual here in the U.S. For me it's a time to turn off the radio and TV and simply ignore what people are shouting at each other.

Why? I am interested in keeping our country secure and prosperous. But I will be honest - all that shouting and fighting makes me want to vote for the other guy...you know the opposite of who YOU want elected!

LA, LA, LA!!! I'm not listening!!!

Washing My World

Sunday has been quiet. Rainy, but quiet. We've had 4 inches of rain in the past 24 hours so we're more than a bit soggy around here. It's funny how most of August was extremely dry and then this fall we've had and extraordinary amount of rain. Our little piece of ground is looking quite lush actually! The flowers that were small in stature are filling in and looking profusely green, not common in the fall.

The humidity has ended, for the time being so I've opened the house up and the cool air in slithering in and filling the living room with something we have had in a few days - the fragrance of the fall after a rain.

I am looking forward to Monday and what the week holds. Here's to each new weeks and the possibilities offered in new beginnings.

Wild Weeks

Life this week took many twists and turns with a few added frustrations. I don't usually say this, but I'm glad the week is over. I'm tired from lack of sleep mostly. We had lovely weather though that has evaporated, unlike the humidity and rain that has moved in like a cloud over everywhere.

I am sleeping in tomorrow and doing only the things that need to get done before Sunday. It's funny how some weeks are really hazardous for your health and sleep patterns. I need Sunday off this week more than ever! Here's hoping for a beautiful non-humid day by Sunday!!!

Fall's Dripping in With the Rain

Trees are fading to the fall colors, from the first vivid greens that are early spring to the deep velvety shades of the summer to first the yellow then brilliant oranges and over the top reds that all come together on that pallet that is West Michigan.

I really love this season the most because of the exuberance that comes with the hues that pepper almost every tree and many shrubs. The wind and fingers of cold that begin to tickle our way from the North are also a part of this time of the year.

Life in the fast lane almost blocks some of these wonderful sites for me and I'm glad that today I got to enjoy the bits of fall that past my way today.

The Daily Grind

Saturday was a quiet day and even though I had to shop and do my normal Saturday jobs it was a totally lovely day, too. It began on a quiet bench in the back yard with an extremely good cup of coffee. Sitting there watching the flowers and the humming birds that often frequent my part of the world in the fall creates a easy going feel to any day, but sitting there watching the clouds trail off with the wind as the birds, the fall flowers, and many of the browned and spent flowers from summer, and all filled with birds buzzing in and out and hiding under the leaves of the clematis or waving in the breeze on the spent stems of the lilies makes the day almost magical.

Then began the jobs that drive almost every day of the week. the shopping around to get what's needed for the week is a major part of the day, and that calls for many stops and lots of walking, but I really like it because the time it gives for thinking through what the coming week has in store.

When the day is done finishing the chores and then sitting and playing with my dogs who love to bark, wrestle, and then snuggle down is my favorite way to bring any day to a close. As I now sit on the floor with my two tired, fuzzy friends I have to say that life here is good!

Cool is Cool

Cooler weather - finally! The cold front just waltzed through pushing the humidity and HOT temps here right out the door. Life will be so much better for me since I do terrible in the hot and humid mess we've been having lately. I know lots of people like to sweat - it means that it's really summer for them, but for me the season is centered around the green trees and the color that flourishes in our yard. I love sitting on the patio every morning with a mug of coffee to watch the morning unfold. The humming birds and butterflies make for a really relaxing start to any day.

Don't get me wrong, I know a few of those hot days are part of the package with most summers. That what we had mostly years ago. Those were always reminders of what it might be like if we lived in the deep South and it was enough to make us thankful we were cool Northerners! (No offense intended) Heat to me has been the worst since I am not the princess of perspiring sweetly - I do not perspire, I sweat! There is nothing worse than sitting sweetly in church as every hair on my head gets soaked simply by sitting there! It's so frustrating sitting among a group of women who are sitting there demurely patting their foreheads to remove the occasional drip when I have a torrent that is more like a outdoor faucet turned up on high racing down my face and into my eyes!!

That "faucet" gets turned on for me the minute the dew point reaches 57 degrees and from that moment on I literally hover around the nearest air conditioning unit whether it be in my home, car or the nearest shopping center. I often find myself running between these cool refuges throughout those unbearable summer days.

So welcome fall! Your cooler days are welcome to this Northern lady!

Totally Crazy!

I got to watch one of the most bizarre scenes that nature has to offer today. As I watered some of my gardens around the yard with various sprinklers I saw 2 mourning doves "nesting" in the grass under one of the sprinklers. At first I thought they were dead because they were laying a bit sideways on the ground, but as I stood watching them I discovered one of the weirdest scenes. One bird slowly lifted one wing and as I watched in amazement it let the steady stream of water rinse that wing. Then it lifted the other wing and rolled over on its other side! The two birds did this back and forth thing with each wing over and over again for over twenty minutes!! It was like watching people changing sides on the beach!!!

I am constantly amazed at the antics of all the crazy critters in my backyard.

Hello?! Is Anyone There??

Tink...tink! Hello? Are you there?? Well I know I am! I really love to write, and I have to admit I am intrigued by the gadgets that tell me when some of you are here and looking at my thoughts and ruminations. I don't know where many of you are from, but I do know how long you stay - or don't.

I love blogging since it's the greatest way of letting out frustrations and sometimes letting imagination run free through the black and white on the pages. So here is where I create my colorful word paintings that literally speak for themselves.

It's not perfection, but it is often simply and explosion of ideas and verbal expressions of what I see, feel and hear. It's good to let go and watch the words come alive!