Well, the haying in the far pasture was a bust. After the hay was mowed, the baler couldn't make it off the lip of Ridge Road's paved edge safely so the cut hay is composting the pasture in today's downpour.

Mowed far pasture. Ah me.

It's been a fairly dry couple of months for PA, I understand. So, the heavy rain today is a good thing.

Last week saw the end of Aidan's middle school soccer season.

Look, Mom, no hands...as Aidan bonks one with his head.

High fives at the end.

He's already started the local "all-star" team practices this week. They play in the park fields behind the Landis Supermarket over in town with flood-lights. Zeal rules.

Our friends, the lady bugs, came back to the Southwest wall again this Fall. Lots of them get into the house and spend the winters in our nooks and crannies. This time there was a spider sitting there with the same thing in mind, I believe

We've had our first hard frost. The animals coats are thick now. I must get some more blankets out of the attic tomorrow. The wind is howling outside so I think the morning will see a colder front blown into the area.

The cataract doctor takes one more look at my eye tomorrow. As of last followup visit we won't do the other eye until some much later date. It isn't as bad. Yea! I think I'm done with this.

Despite a flu shot I got a cold and had several unpleasant days. Better now. I think the Primary doc is going to scold me about cholesterol next week though. That, or give me an Rx for a statin. Bah

humbug.

This picture is about two things: Wendy has gathered odd pumpkins that grew from huge volunteer vines out on the manure pile; and, Toby is asking for goat's milk--now his favorite treat that is far and above all other treats.

Well, it's time to wind up and nestle into bed. Didn't get my walk in this afternoon since it was raining pretty hard. But often enjoy a hike around the pastures'  perimeters...

Meaning...What Meaning?

The household was put back in order. Best of all, the wash machine sat back in its place for the waiting piles of laundry.

The dog crates are in the back of the living room now, and Harvey the Turtle is up on a shelf.

The floor is all done.

The TV cabinet was the biggest item hauled in from the moving truck two years ago. The kitchen door was the only one it would go through. There was a quarter inch to spare after they moved the refrigerator. The couch never made it through any door, and sat out in the barn in its movers' shrink-wrap until it was miraculously hauled away by an Internet purchaser. Someday, Wendy and John might buy another couch. It is not high on the priority list.

Sports Desk: Soccer-soaked Saturday! Aidan's team didn't fare too well on their last tournament a week ago, but they played to the max. Soccer parents lined the fields; John and Wendy among them...

Three games into the day, it was over. No joy in Mudville...

Not altogether happy with the results, but, still, they all played like there was no tomorrow.

Parent photo-op. Or, maybe grandmother photo-op.

Coach asked Aidan if he wanted to be on the All-Stars team.

 Aidan's soccer exuberance was restored at the school practices and games this week as evidenced by his socks...

The mornings are now consistently too cold to sit on the porch with early coffee. Still, I go out for a minute or two and have a conversation with Toby. This morning I could see him working the fence line and beneath Neighbor Joe's trees hunting game. He likes his smidgen of goat milk in the mornings. I warm it up a little for him now. 

Aidan made a cake. This time he did the whole thing himself from beginning to end. I supplied the ingredients, a little of the clean-up; mostly, hung out while he did it all.

Friend Sarah and I went to the CSA farm she subscribes to; not too far away. It's season starts June 1st and runs through to November each year. We went out and Sarah picked a few remaining flowers to go with this week's sacks of produce we collected for her larder. The cultivation is about twice the area that can be seen here, and has a number of the quonset shaped plant shelters...

Wendy had someone come cut her far pasture to bale up for winter...

Going through gate to far pasture beyond the second fence.

It's nice outside for walks most afternoons now...

I see on the cover
of the AARP Bulletin:
Oprah is searching for meaning.
Oprah!? Holy Cow!
I thought she knew.
Now what.

As soon as I said that
Poof! There before me
stood Destiny
laughing
in her long underwear.

She scratched herself
and said

"Forget it, Lady,
we're all waiting
for the fat lady to sing.

Weather Report: Baggin' UVs

I'll wait on trying some "after" (Reveal Pictures, HGTV?) pictures of Wendy and John's new flooring. It's slowly going back together. In the living room John was in a swoon of success as he played his old records yesterday afternoon having put together his LP system with over-the-top amplification. The stucco didn't fall off the walls despite the mighty decibels--that would have been a shame since all that is so nicely painted now.

Keoni is for sure becoming his own man. He didn't come home for Fall Break, but instead had a few days in Chicago with friends. He text messaged to us, and this was among them...

Early morning, Lake Michigan.

Meanwhile, Aidan, at home text messaged a picture while I was at church...

It went right over the house.

Today is possibly the most perfect weather day of all time.

Fancy and Sebastian baggin' UVs.

Aidan has the day off. He and I went to the park where he chased the soccer ball with a bunch of friends that gathered there. Wendy got her groceries and we put them away. Now I'm sitting here so sleepy on the porch and truly wish I could flop on the deck with Fancy right now.

Weather Report: Fall Day Exceeds Expectations

Besides all the beauty happening outdoors, the cataract removal proceeded well. The kitchen, laundry, 1/2 bath, and living room floor reno...see, HGTV, I know one of your words, but I still refuse to call a toilet and basin with running water a Powder Room...the "reno" should be complete tomorrow.

Here's what the prepped floors looked like this morning...

Where are the dogs kept to keep them out from underfoot...Keoni's room, of course.

What a Wonderful World.
Over in Georgia, Keoni texts he doesn't mind guests in his room, especially since they're not humanoids. Frezz and Fancy and Sebastian just smile and in gravelly voices collectively sing,
"Oh, yeah..."

I think I still have anesthesia in my system...

After Joaquin

The area didn't suffer the extremes from the storm that affected a lot of other territory. Grey skies for five days, several inches of non-violent rain, and Aidan played two Crest soccer games in the rain. Wendy and I huddled under our umbrellas. I've failed to catch on video more dramatic moves by Aidan, but here and there is a snippet.





They've been having some close games and they are more vigorous than the summer league he played on. He flings himself into the games with high energy, abandoning all else.

The clouds abandoned us, and by Sunday afternoon the afternoon was fresh, sunny with blue skies. A walk around the place was a welcome event. It will be nice to think of as I have cataract removal surgery early tomorrow.

Crooked Creek Road passing lane.

Wild grapes hanging in the trees.

A few late Queen Anne's lace  blooms persist in the fields, even after the haying.

Queen Anne's dried seed heads in the foreground making ready for winter's sleep and next year's cycle.