Take a Hike

 Saturday was solar eclipse day,

but we had a cloudy day and were not able to see it.

Saturday was also men's prayer breakfast at church.

Prayer breakfast is at 7.

So we need to leave at 6.

So we sit down to Bible study at 5.

So prayer breakfast days mean we get up like a normal work day.

Because of this, it is sometimes hard to get motivated to support it ...

... but we try to "habit stack."

We link another activity with it.

Last time we had a prayer breakfast,

hubby finished the prayer meeting and we went to the greenway right near the church.

This time, we planned to go to the Greenway in "local" Springfield, TN.

We had hiked it last year on October 15.

It was a warmer day, and I was still recuperating from surgery and lugging around a new cast.

This year, though not as sunny, was more pleasant.

The path is marked in 1/4 miles.

We hiked the 3-mile path out,

wandered Springfield a bit,

hiked the 3-mile path back,

and then enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch in the park at the trail head

(well it was lovely to be together, but it was a bit cold).

About the time we sat to eat,

it got quite dark behind the clouds,

so I think that we did experience a bit of the eclipse :)

The Scarecrow Trail

 Last year, we discovered a local fall activity.

It is not really large, but does pull a crowd.

It is a scarecrow walk.

Some local businesses get advertising by decorating a scarecrow in a theme that matches their business.

They line a local walking trail that we enjoy from time to time.

The walk started October 2 and will run through October 22.

Not knowing what else we would find to do in the coming weeks,

we visited the walk today.

It was a beautiful sunny day with temps around 65.

I think the sun warmed us a little more than that,

but it was a pleasant day for a stroll.

Here is a sampling of some of the "ads" we saw.

Parker Lord deals with industrial parts and made their scarecrows out of those parts.

I didn't know DIXIE products were made by Georgia-Pacific in Bowling Green!

This display was so traditional and celebrated fall so nicely.

Just a cute display advertising a farm that is a local venue for events.

It Just Makes Me Smile

 There are just some things that make me smile,

Recently, green grass has made me smile.

I am excited to see that the yard has filled in and is looking healthy.

It is encouraging when an investment of time and money pays off.

These little fruits - Rambutan - made me smile in the store.

They look like little little monsters or critters.

I saw them in the store ... and I just needed to try them.

They were yummy,

probably not worth the price,

but definitely an experience.

This little chubby scarecrow has been cheering me as I do the dishes.

Just a cheap Hobby Lobby trinket, a little piece of fall that makes me smile.

And of course, an essential oil for fall.

This "Autumn Wreath" oil smells like apples

and fills the house with such a pleasant scent.

When the Duds Have a Date

I am a homebody!

Truly there is no place that I would rather be.

My home is a sanctuary to me.

Because I love home so much,

we often have dates at home.

That could possibly give me the title of "a dud."

But home dates save money,

I get to bed on time,

and all of the food is gluten-free!

When we do go out on a Saturday,

we are usually home before dark to rest and to relax at home.

BUT...

On Wednesday or Thursday,

I heard that the builders of our home were sponsoring a "Symphony Stroll" in a "neighboring" town on Friday night.

(The town was about an hour and 15 minutes away.) 

The Owensboro, KY Symphony would have a few small symphonic groups performing down on the river's edge.

I asked hubby if we could go.

It might be great, it might be a bust.

He said "YES!"

We went and we were so glad that we did.

The riverfront park was simply beautiful,

we enjoyed walking along the river,

and we listened to beautiful music as the sun set and the moon rose.

It was a clear night, with a full moon

and the bridge would change colors.

An epic success!

When You Must Adapt

 Hubby just got back from more training.

This time, he was in Davenport, IA to learn about combines.

As is my custom,

the house got a more thorough cleaning while he was gone.

More focus on corners,

closets,

all bedding ...

and repurposing.

After a year in our new home, 

it has become obvious that a home office for hubby was a little more important than a second guest room.

Hubby's office at work has no windows,

and he has recently had to "share" it with a coworker.

When both employees are on the phone,

it can be a little distracting.

So hubby has been working from home sometimes.

He graciously uses the garage,

but that can be cold in the morning

or hot in the afternoon.

So out went the little bed,

and in time ...

I will move the desk from the living room

and he will choose some artwork for the walls.

With an air mattress,

a fold-out chair,

or a murphy bed,

it can still be used for guest overflow ...

but so far that has not been a big issue.

I am thankful for the space in our home that allows hubby a place to work with fresh air and bright sunlight!

Mums the Word

 Last week I mentioned that the front of the house just needed some mums.

They have been purchased and planted.

And in true "If you give a wife some mums ... " fashion ...

"... she'll want asters and pansies too."

The front landscape bed was just "green,"

so the pansies brighten it up between the phlox and bushes.

And the asters and pansies just brighten my morning workouts on the patio.

The blueberry bushes are still small enough to share the planter box.

When it gets just a bit cooler, 

I am sure we will add a nice pumpkin or two under the shepherd's hook.

Welcome Fall!

 The calendar said that we entered fall on Saturday.

In honor of the season change, hubby and I attended a local Fall Festival.

Pumpkins, mums, corn stalks, crafts, ...

we wandered and just enjoyed the outing.

I had intended to attend the same festival last year,

but I never made it because I made my own "fall" fest last year.

Saturday was the anniversary of my wrist break.

My wrist is a constant reminder of God's goodness,

of the ability of our bodies to heal,

of the need to think before I act.

After the fall fest,

hubby and I did a little shopping for the house - 

some little things to add a little touch of autumn.

It was just a pleasant day-

a great way to start a new season

and a great way to celebrate an inauspicious anniversary 

and the healing that has occurred.

Success

The weekend's projects were a success.

God provided beautiful weather for the task.

The patio project was begun on Wednesday with a power wash.

Then Thursday, it got a coat of stain and one coat of sealant.

Friday morning it got another coat of sealant.

Then we waited 24 hours and put it all back together.

At about the 28-hour point, a brief rain moved in -

sealant had cured well and nothing was harmed. 

The color was not as dark as I had hoped,

(in fact, to look at the before and after pictures, you really can't see the difference)

but it is a little more "finished" looking

and the patio is sealed so hopefully it will age better.

Then ...

since the tree ring went so well,

hubby used the same pavers to outline the front landscaping bed.

It went well and we are both pleased with the results.

Now, I must get off to the cleaning.

It is awfully nice to clean with the windows open this morning!

And this afternoon, I will put some mums in the hanging planters

and within the tree ring!

Thankful Thursday: There is Always Something to Be Thankful For

 Do you look for the good,

or just dwell on the bad?

There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.

I do not have a ministry with children as much as I would like,

but this week, I did get to teach in children's church!

I am thankful for the times when I get to pour something into the lives of others,

perhaps to support a parent who needs backup,

perhaps to introduce a bus kid to love and structure in balance.

I am also thankful for the differences that make us stronger.

I am thankful that not everyone is like me.

This is most often seen in a home.

The difference can drive us crazy,

or they can show us how each person contributes in a unique way.

I am thankful that hubby has different strengths and abilities than I do.

We can balance each other.

I am not the most organized (or neat) by nature,

but to serve hubby, I try to be a little more so.

He is by nature an all-or-nothing type of personality.

While this gets things done quickly and efficiently,

sometimes our health, or time, requires a more moderate approach,

and I can balance that with him.

Hubby gets things done as soon as they are on the to-do list.

Often this is a GREAT skill because unfinished tasks do not pile up.

But sometimes things need to be thought about for just a little while longer

and I can balance in that area.

You can see where our differences could drive the other crazy (and sometimes may)!

Perhaps you are having an interpersonal struggle.

On this thankful Thursday,

why not try seeing the good in the other person?

Why not look for the the way that person helps you, balances you?

And then why not tell them the good that you see?

Footnote:  Hubby and I are not in the middle of a struggle 😊

We are enjoying this season of life and hopefully using our strengths to help each other!

Fall Projects

 The cooler autumn weather will inspire anyone to be outside

(at least anyone in this house).

After a little debating,

we finally decided to create a defined tree ring around the front cherry tree.

We went with a simple grey paver and it was put together in no time.

The zinnias are just about ready to be replaced with fall mums.

The cherry tree still needs to fill out, but all in good time.

Of course, with how well the project turned out,

and with a few extra pavers,

I thought ...

why not outline the front bed in the same way!

So it is a project for the future.

The extra pavers are just waiting their turn.

The real project of the weekend is to stain and seal the back patio.

The planters have been moved,

the patio power washed and dried.

Today we hope to get the stain on.

We are using a semi-transparent stain in a dark grey.

There are 3 applications each separated by about 6 hours, so it will take us a few days,

but we are excited to see the results and also to add some longevity to the concrete.

Here is the before picture.

After picture will hopefully be here by Monday!