Fall (Courtesy of S. Mailloux from Flickr)
It’s official! – We got our first freeze last night. It wasn’t a hard one but there will be another one tonight. We are officially in the “other side” of the seasons. It’s a signal to switch out the coats. Maybe not the January ones but I need more than a hoody in the morning.
Another thing about fall – By the time we get the first frost, I’m ready to hang up the hose and sprinkling cans that I was so eager to get out in the spring. I dream of winding down and concentrating on writing and planning a project or two. That never happens. There is always other stuff that comes up and distracts. Last winter was a gravely ill cat that sucked out my energy. Time fritters away. At this stage in life, that’s ok except for the sick cats.
Source: Google
Some mouse drama – Friday night both cats were staring into the fireplace. It wasn’t on. They were just staring. This can only mean one thing. There is a mouse in the fireplace area. I used a flashlight but didn’t see anything. Didn’t matter what I could see. They knew. Since it was 8 p.m. and neither the beloved husband nor I were full of energy we opted to check it in the morning. Saturday morning there was no interest in the fireplace. Clearly the mouse had moved on. We opened it up anyway. We didn’t see any mouse or signs of a mouse. Worse yet, we didn’t see any openings that it could get through although it’s a gas fireplace so there is a pipe feeding it. We used the fireplace last night and there were no issues. The cats napped in front of it as they always do when it’s on but no staring. (For all you heartless folks, we would not turn it on if we thought there was a mouse in it!)
Is this it? – One sure sign of aging is you revisit every mistake to assess whether it’s the first sign you are getting dotty. I used to be a great cook, but I must be careful these days. I’ll forget a key ingredient or swap measurements. I blame some of it on eyesight (anything but brain cells!). Sometimes it doesn’t matter but sometimes it does. Then there are days like yesterday. I made a big pot of minestrone soup which has a tomato-y broth. The recipe called for a 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes. My brain interpreted that as a 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes. The soup is a little more like spaghetti sauce with vegetables and beef. Still tasty but not what I was going for. Not sure what to blame this on. Oh well.
Grateful – After an extremely hot summer we’ve had a delightful fall. There was a lot of nourishing rain (without the floods that plagued some areas). I hope that it continues for a long time. I am not ready for winter!
So how was your week?
We just had a mouse in the house, may he rest in peace. I feel bad for a second, then I think of Gene Hackman, dying from ingested mouse turds, and I don’t. It was so cold this morning…I’m not ready.
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The mouse/mice knew where to move to for the winter! They seem unfazed by the Sassy Cats.
My big dementia worry/sign is when I walk into a room and don’t know what I was going to do. Another one is being in mid-sentence and forget what I am talking about. My only consolation is that SSNS does it also. I also go to the wrong cabinet in the kitchen often. You would think I would know the spice cabinet is not the plate cabinet. My brain feels full and distracted. We made it to Florida’s idea of fall this morning…63 degrees. Low tonight 68 degrees. The wind is out of the north… a reason to celebrate!
Our week was spent worrying this cold front would not make it to us!
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I will always share my cold front with you! Walking into another room and not knowing why started in my 40s! :)
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Good chance the mouse met its maker, at least it would have in this house.
As to ingredients, admit nothing, just rack it up to youthful experimentation of a recipe you once saw . . .
Have a not so forgetful and fun week
ERin
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I didn’t see any mouse parts anywhere so I don’t think they got it. Morgan would have. She was the mouser. Yes, yes, I do remember seeing that recipe! :)
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It was 54 degrees here this morning. Brrr!
We had the Celebration of Life for my sister yesterday. My younger brother and wife stayed with us for a couple of nights. My older brother and wife met us at the service/celebration. I am happy to report that I did not collapse into a soggy basket case . . . just a few discreet tears when talking to people about my baby sister. It’s hard to believe she’s gone.
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I am sorry for your loss. I didn’t know she was ill. A little bit soggy was appropriate. Sending hugs.
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Now girls, these little memory lapses aren’t dementia at all!!! Never!!!! It’s just that our hard drives are getting full and it takes that old processor a little longer to find what it’s looking for. Sometimes it just gets impatient and grabs whatever is handy!!
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I’ll second that!
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Most definitely!!
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I’m with you about enjoying this perfect fall weather, even the chillier days, and winter can take its time as far as I’m concerned! I know what you mean about mistakes and wondering if this is the start of dementia or something. I really hate it when I can’t come up with a word I’ve known forever.
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Or the names! I saw someone this week and I couldn’t come up with the name so I didn’t approach. Two hours later I remembered!
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Names are awful, but aside from pets I’ve always been awful with names.
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When I was young (really young) I was very good with names. Now the old acquaintances escape me and new (especially young) people all look alike! :) I’m turning into my mom.
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