October Things

 

It's been a minute or two. I've been enjoying October, which happens to be my most loved month of the year. What's not to love about warm days, cool nights, colorful landscapes, end of season baseball, the start of football and all the early fall festivities. It is good to be a sports fan in Wisconsin these days. Just ask Gus.

 

We were lucky to attend one of the National League playoff games...my first game of the year. It was a blast to be a part of the electric energy and a treat to be in the first row on the third baseline. Nothing tastes better than a cold beer and a grilled brat in the parking lot before the game. After the win, we brought out the chairs and coolers and waited out the mass exodus. The almost hot day turned into the most beautiful night and we weren't ready for it to be over.

 

Now we can't wait for the World Series to start tonight. In the meantime, we've been picking apples and pumpkins, making soups and breads for family Sunday supper and just enjoying the calm before the holiday storm. 

 

Every October we set aside an afternoon to pick apples. It's a whole family affair that the kids look forward to. As you can see, we ended up with the most perfect day. We filled our bags and headed home for Mike's chili and the Packer game.

 

 

 

The kids and cats are getting settled in their swanky new condo. We spent a weekend packing and moving them just when we thought we'd ended our heavy lifting days. They have twice as much space and so much beautiful natural light. I think they're going to be very happy in this home. We're all grateful to Candace for agreeing to be their landlord and for having such exquisite taste.

On our own homefront...life is good. Cozy. My trip to NYC has been postponed and I am more than okay with that. I'm in serious homebody mode. My camera feed is all bread and cats and I'll be the first to say there's nothing wrong with that.

We celebrated thirty-one years this week. We had plans to go out for a fancy dinner. We ended up watching the gubernatorial debate and then split a cheeseburger at the local pub and both agreed it was perfect.

October never ever disappoints.

Can you say psyop?

How are you? I ask so I can share that I am in a weird place. Really you say. Yes, I reply. Let me tell you I'm experiencing low level anxiety behind the mostly happy, peaceful facade. On one hand I'm baking loaf of bread after loaf of bread and delivering them warm with fancy butter. On the other, I'm researching bug out bags, heirloom seeds and generators.

I'm getting the news from various sources all day long (yes, highly problematic). What is happening? Take Paris. Are these really students wreaking all this havoc? According to the "mainstream media," yes. These frustrated kids want more teachers and desks. X and reels show something much different and very sinister. What is real? I can honestly say that I'm not sure anymore.

Last night I was scrolling through my phone and the algorithm became glaringly obvious: every fourth video was political unrest. Riots in France, and Greece, Amsterdam, which I'm not seeing anywhere else. The other three were thrifting, Broadway shows and bread baking. Makes some sense. I stepped into a Goodwill recently in search of a big old bowl for mixing my sourdough and now I'm inundated with influencers proving that one man's junk is another's treasure. I searched for entertainment options for my upcoming trip to NYC on my PC and the bread baking is obvious and quite honestly, welcome. Nothing new here, just disturbing. We know our phones are listening to us and yet we make it so easy to be Big Brothered. We keep them in hand day and night.

AI only muddies the water. The ability to create, manipulate, and distort information is a real problem. Agendas and objectives must be considered...questioned. Heck, everything must be questioned. Everyone. And do your research...your due diligence because life as we know it is perched on the precipice. 

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

10...TEN hours of sleep last night.

A beautiful week of 65 degree days and cooler temps at night.

My toe is on the mend. I'm really hoping that it's not broken and that I just tweaked it good.

Cheeks. That's what I call him for obvious reason.

 

Earl. That's my starter. I think I righted it, and will have fresh bread this weekend. It'll be my second bake and first solo.

 

 This was my first...

 

Signs from beyond. My orchid, dormant for at least a year, chose to bloom on my Mom's birthday.

 

 

My Puras. The scents are so good and there are so many. I already stocked up on Frasier Fir for the holidays.

Kitty snuggles. It's rare for Hazel and Gus to cuddle up, and yet they did so twice this week so just maybe this is the start of something sweet and new.

 

 

Finally getting into the salon for a cut and color. I hadn't been since April. I'm tired here after 4...FOUR hours in the chair.

 

My Dad dropped off bottles of water he pumped from the spring by his house and a container of his ham and bean soup.

My Dad finally got hearing aids. 

Good neighbors.

Ted bought a truck for a little side hustle he's pursuing. He's always been an entrepreneur. 

 

 Ted's appetite. That's a brat, a hot dog and an Italian.

 

 Always this girl...hard at work, or playing Minecraft.