Curiosity Killed the Cat ...

 ... but not me!

About a week ago, hubby and I went for a walk after dinner.

There was nothing new about that,

but the builder in our neighborhood was having a grand opening of the new Model Home.

I love seeing the latest in home designs and decorations,

so I asked hubby if we could stop in.

We took a quick tour of what they were labeling "The Barbie Home."

As you can imagine, there was a lot of pink.

It was definitely not decorated to my liking.

But, as we left, they took my contact info.

Normally I would not share this,

but technically they already have it

and I have already purchased what they are selling.

Today they called and told me I had won a $50 Amazon card.

So curiosity may have killed the cat,

but a 5-minute self-guided tour made me a few dollars!

Sweetest Day - a "step" by "step" narrative

We don't always remember,

but this year we did.

We don't always celebrate,

but this year we did.

It really didn't look much different than any other day together,

but it is fun to give it a label.

Saturday was Sweetest Day.

Hubby and I enjoyed the day together.

We started with one single lap at our favorite park (just for a few steps).

Then we headed to the downtown area for the Harvest Festival.

We wandered a few craft booths,

enjoyed the fall decorations,

and mad our way up to our favorite Cafe.

We enjoyed a huge harvest bowl - 

quinoa, sweet potato, roast chicken, apples, cranberries, pumpkin seeds.

I think we could have split one, but we didn't realize how large they would be.

We wandered town for a few more steps,

and then because hubby was such a good sport about the festival,

I bought him an iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts.

With coffee in hand,

we went down the street to another local park to walk the Scarecrow Trail.

This was our second visit this year

and our third year to attend.

As we got back to the car ...

I hit 13,000 steps - my goal!

Now to head home to just relax.

Click.

Click.

Oops!  The battery was dead.

Firestone about 3/4 mile down the road - no battery in stock.

Discount tire about 1 mile - we don't stock batteries.

We decided to trek to Walmart to get the battery.

3 miles ... one way!

We got out battery

and after a long walk back (especially for the one carrying the battery)

we were up and running!

How many steps for the day?

Well, it was my record for the year 27,000!

What a blessing that it was a beautiful day!

What a blessing that we did not go dead in a more remote location!

What a blessing that our daily workouts made that jaunt seem feasible!

It wasn't the afternoon that we expected,

but we did enoy spending the WHOLE of Sweetest Day together

and creating a new, crazy memory.

Oh!  

And hubby is going to listen to that little voice that tells him 

we must be getting close to needing a new battery.  

The old one was 6 years old this month!

Time Away

 There is nothing like time away.

Time away from the regular work of the day

(for me that means no cooking!)

Time away from the work phone ringing.

Time to enjoy something new.

Almost 2 weeks ago,

hubby and I set out on a trip north for a family wedding.

This one was in Wisconsin,

so we decided to detour on the way into Chicago.

Since hubby had been in bootcamp in that area,

he wanted to return to the Aquarium located up there.

The setting was lovely.

The weather was lovely.

Of course, the aquarium was full of marvels of creation.

We tried something new and packed a very small lunch because we did not know how long the aquarium would take.

We each carried a tuna/quinoa salad, some apple sauce, crackers, some nuts, and 2 water bottles.

It was simple, but healthy and less expensive than the aquarium offered.

We had the morning free on the morning of the wedding.

Our airbnb wasn't as fabulous as the "wedding chapel" from last August in NY,

but it was right on a walking trail,

so we walked about 6 miles - a welcome stretch after sitting in the car.

We also found a fresh, healthy restaurant in our "back yard" and walked to lunch.

Fall is almost upon us and we are looking forward to some more "explores" as the weather cools and the leaves change.