My Jumbled Mind

 The last days of October just flew by, and I don't even remember them.  I do remember the beautiful fall weather disappearing and the clouds coming - but not all day every day.  Just enough to let you know the seasons are changing.  We had some lovely monsoon-like windstorms that Elise and I enjoyed from our snug little apartment - warm and prepared with flashlights and candles.  We just had some brief flickering of light, thank goodness, but it was pretty messy looking out on the damage.

When I went to the dentist Monday morning, I started seeing detour signs as I approached North Bend.  Luckily, the detour didn't take me far out of my comfort zone, and I got to get my semi-annual cleaning done.  I've been going there for about 5 years, and it's a nice place.  One dentist, one hygienist - sometimes - one office person - sometimes one person is all three!  There's always good conversation, and I've never had to have any procedures done there, so that makes me happy.  

I made myself go to the grocery store on the way home, because I knew if I didn't stop, my procrastination would keep me from going at all.  It was pleasant even though rather crowded, and I took my time and got almost everything I went in for.  I saw a long line for the one checkout space available and opted for self-checkout, which turned out to not be a good idea.  I try to avoid it when I have full groceries just because it makes me tired to stand in one place and bend over and pick up stuff when I'm tired anyway.  And after filling up 4 of my bags, I noticed I was feeling a little warm and dizzy.  I got everything bagged up, but I could not manage to swipe my credit card and just put my head down on the shopping cart a minute.  Immediately, the staff swarmed around me and swiped my card and brought me a chair and offered me water and hovered quite a bit.  I was back to normal in about 5 minutes and felt ready to go, but one of the familiar guys who lives near me insisted on taking my groceries out and putting them in the back of the car.  I felt silly but was really glad to have that help.  Elise brought everything in for me when I got home.  I really wish I knew what caused this dizziness.  I think it's not eating breakfast and trying to do things even though I feel okay when I start.  I hate to complain because I don't like to have to depend on someone else to take me places.  Driving is never an issue, because I only feel dizzy when I stand in one place too long.  

It's been an unpredictable week.  I never know what I'm doing when I wake up but find out during the day if the girls are coming by and when and for how long.  That's fine, but I feel like I never see them enough lately.  I guess I don't even have any Halloween pictures.  I'll need to request some from Emily so I don't have to keep on writing about myself.  

I just did that.  She's planning a wreath-making afternoon for us next week at Squak Mountain Nursery.  I know it will be fun, and I'll actually get to see her in person for a change.  She knows I'm a klutzy crafter and wants to take me anyway!  I haven't driven on the new interchange yet - just haven't had the desire or the need - so I think that will be a good day for Elise to drop me off at the clinic and go buy her weekly Trader Joe's meals.  

Another thing Elise and I have done is try to clean out the "sewing room" and get rid of some of the things I know I'll never do.  That's usually fun for me, finding things and organizing, but I'm puzzled about where to keep them.  Elise needs more room, and I know once I put fabric and stuff in the garage, it will disappear from my mind unless I label VERY carefully.  So far, I have.

I'm getting rid of my old Christmas tree that takes up so much room on the shelves since Noreen was nice enough to gift me a bigger one last year.  I also have a chair and several boxes of things to put on the Buy Nothing FB page too.  I just procrastinate about taking those pictures and listing them.  It was nice to donate about 6 boxes of clothing and household things to a fundraiser at the high school in October.  It seems like the more I take out, the more I have, and I feel like I never buy anything new.  

I'm making detailed lists of the books I want to read and giving it more thought.  I've been on a downhill journey with reading lately.  It seems like nothing I've tried has pleased me, and I end up sending them back to the library unread.  I did read two quite extraordinary books this week though, and I just recommended them to Emily.  I'll copy my message to her to save time.

-- I've been crying over a book this morning, so I thought you would like it.  It's The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry.  Several times this week, I've been listening to it when I went to bed and fell asleep with it playing all night, I guess.  I must wake up some during that time, because I do remember excerpts from it later.  After doing this for the third time, I just went back to the halfway point and am taking the time to listen to it all at once.  I did miss a lot!  And it's good.  And sad in places.  And human and beautiful all at the same time.  The other one is Sipsworth by Van Booy.  Sipsworth is a mouse.  I probably wouldn't have read it if I had known that.  I just read a recommendation about how much people love it and how beautiful it is, so I listened to it.  When the heroine is about my age and adopts a mouse and shares strawberries with it, how can I not like it?  It's almost fantasy but realistic enough to identify with. I have holds for several other good-sounding books that will be trickling in in the next few weeks or months.

I don't see any pictures being delivered, and the only one I was sent this week was a video of a soccer game in the pouring rain and high winds with lots of screaming and laughter.  

Kate had that soccer game and a very good martial arts skills test that her teacher was pleased with this week.  She went trick-or-treating with her friend Eiri while Graysen was out with a soccer friend ringing doorbells somewhere else.  Gray and Sawyer went to a Halloween dance last Friday night, and she gave it a thumbs up, but I don't know any more details about it.  And probably never will!!

I had a fun morning one day last week when I got to visit with 3 friends - besides mah jongg ones - all on the same morning.  Mary asked me over to play Scrabble, and as I left, I once again ran into Peggy walking her dog Riley (I think.  She lost one recently).  She walked along with me awhile, and we had a nice chat.  Then as I passed Noreen's window, I peeked in and spotted her at her table.  She waved me in and made me some coffee, and we managed to catch up on so many things.  Our lives have been full of kids and activities and doctor appointments, so it was good to have the whole day to devote to friends.  

I do have some pictures.  The Wyvills invited me to brunch last Sunday morning, and I took a couple of pictures.  We played a complicated cops and robber and innocent people game that I never quite understood, but it was quite entertaining.  Carly had made pancakes, and there were English muffins and very good bacon plus some much-needed coffee.  It's always fun to spend some time with them.  Since they've moved a block or so away, we don't see as much of them. Well, Graysen sees Linda every day since she's her math teacher!

I missed getting pictures of the cats and the scary Halloween head in the window, and the one I took of Wes in the kitchen was blurred.  Unfortunately, they're moving completely out of the neighborhood next week but within walking distance.  

I tried to take some pictures of Kate in her punk rock outfit Friday after school, but Graysen took my camera and fancied up the ones she took until I hardly recognized her.  Looks like she had a hard day of recess in the rain and wind, but at least one eye retained the makeup!

I liked the whole look better - the black high-top sneakers with the untied laces, the leather jacket and the tattoos plus some leather studded wrist bands - or something! I miss orange ballerinas and Harry Potter costumes!

I took these on my way back from Mary's the other day.  It was a pretty day in spite of the clouds.

I surprised myself by taking out a yellow sign from the above picture.  It was pretty neat.

Emily sent me the soccer practice ones.  Those were some strange clouds.

Ryan brought over the girls' laundry that I love to do, and it was perfect timing.  I was about to do mine, so I'll have it all clean and ready to go in a few hours.  He also changed the filter in my car.  We have a nice bartering system!  Elise and I are babysitting for the whole weekend starting Friday, so we need to call in all the favors we can!  

Beautiful Day for Mah Jongg

 Yesterday was our Tuesday group.  If I go to Mah Jongg at 1:00, I waste the whole morning until then.  I had some coffee early and then ate lunch - some leftover lasagna - because if I skip lunch, I get too hungry by 3:30.  I'd much rather play in the mornings, but afternoon is when the Y gives us a room, and we haven't get started playing in our homes - not sure we ever will since Tom and Jan don't even live here.  It's so easy this way.  They furnish a nice quiet BIG room, tables and chairs and the game, so all we need to do is bring ourselves and our card.  I always forget to take pictures there.  It's nothing special in terms of a room (it's an added-on prefab building where children have an after-school class) but it serves us fine.  They even ordered some new card tables for us.

Yesterday, there were 5 people for another table.  They play faster than we do and talk more than we do.  It's ladies who have known each other and played together for many years, so they have a lot in common.  Our table is quieter and more studious (nervous), and Tom doesn't put up with much chatty nonsense, so we're pretty focused!  

Almost all of us had a mah-jongg during the afternoon.  I think.  I can't remember.  Sharon tried the Halloween card, which is hard to focus on since we don't use it all the time.  She was within a pair of reaching MJ.  Then Jan had been blessed with 5 jokers and had a pretty hand of consecutive number lineup, all Bams.  Next Tom laid his winning hand on the board, and it turned out that he had forgotten one simple rule about a concealed hand (you have to actually conceal it), so his was declared dead while the other 3 of us finished the game.  I got close on that one, but it turned out to be a Wall game.  Next game, I tried the same hand, and it worked out.  There were only about 3 tiles left, and Sharon and I both claimed the tile when it was discarded, but I was ready for MJ, so I got it.  We learn a lot and have some laughs.  It's a good way to spend an afternoon.  Sharon and I will play again Thursday with Elisette and either Gina or Adriana.  We're all still in the learning phase, so it's low key and fun.  

I worked on cleaning my sewing room out when I got home and not much else.  After it got dark, Elise reminded me that I had forgotten to pick up or order cat litter, and I wasn't going out and risk hitting a pedestrian.  Nights are for not driving for me.  I was getting ready to make the laundry exchange for Emily, so I asked if they had some extra litter we could get to tide us over until the next day, and Ryan, who was going by the grocery store anyway, brought me a big box of it.  It's nice to have family to get you out of trouble.  

I finished my book, which I was proud of, since it was not that great.  The Boyhood of Cain by Michael Amherst - recommended by some book club or something.  I returned that one and had downloaded a few more from another book club's recommendations:  

1.  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.  I've read this and remember really loving it but have forgotten it.  So I'm reading it again.  I'll also see if she has any new books I haven't read.  Eleanor is ''an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a chance encounter with a stranger."  The eccentric loner appeals to me. This is from the Reese Witherspoon Book Club.

2.  Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy.  Again, this book involves a chance encounter, but this time it's with a pet mouse that gives a woman the will to live.  I have to admit it's not my unusual type of book, but I'll give it a try.  I'm all for second chances, I guess.

3.  The Wedding People by Alison Espach.  Seems like I've tried to read this one, but we'll see.  "A Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick, a Goodreads Choice Awards 2024 Winner, and long-listed in many Best of the Year 2024 picks."  It certainly has good recommendations.  Reading a review, it's once again a new beginning for someone named Phoebe.  There seems to be a pattern evolving here.

4.  The Storied Life of A. J. Filkry by Gabrielle Zevin.  Another new beginning, it looks like, this time from a man, "owner of Island Books, the only bookstore on Alice Island, who has lost his wife."  I think we see where this one is going.  I must have found the new beginnings in old age section to pick my books.  I'll get started on Eleanor this morning.

The only other things I have to do is make some cookies for the girls and check their salty snacks since they'll be coming over after school today.  Graysen is loving not having to stay after school for cross-country and has nothing scheduled until soccer starts.  There is a Halloween dance this weekend.

 I might work on the sewing room some more.  I do have a few little projects I want to finish.  Actually, more than a few.  I opened the trash can last night and just let go of some old stamps I had had around for more years than I want to think about.  I never stamp anything, and it's extremely messy dealing with stamp pads.  I'll organize the other projects and try to make myself accountable to finishing a few things.  I found 6 partially finished quilts - or maybe more if I'm counting.  I'm not sure I'll get back to those but might leave them for the girls to have to worry about.  I'm more in the mood for small and quick things.  I made some gray dishrags last week that turned out pretty with no effort, and we were really needing some.

Now for a cup of coffee.  Elise called me from the grocery store Monday to ask which flavor of coffee I wanted since they had their new K-cups on sale.  I am never able tell much difference between them, but I think she got some cinnamon and hazelnut flavor.  She's a pushover for flavored coffee and tea.  I enjoy the Holiday Blend at Christmastime every year, but it's not out yet, I guess.  

Bowie can hardly wait for me to get up in the mornings, so he can have my spot for a little nap.  

  

Nice Fall Days

 I wish each day was twice as long as it is.  I can't do everything I want to do, and now that I'm dedicated to cleaning out my sewing things, I've added a bunch more projects to my already jumbled thoughts.  

So what am I doing?  Nothing of any consequence - just anything I see that pleases me.  I'm going down my list and checking them off like it's a job, or I would just flounder around and get nothing down. 

1.  I'm still doing the girls' laundry.  I had to beg for it, because parents never want to admit they could use some help/can't make their children love laundry chores/think I'm not supposed to be working at my advanced age.  I've done it two weekends now and loved every bit of it.  It's two baskets, and when I'm through, they know they'll have clean soccer, cross-country, and martial arts uniforms for the upcoming week.  Socks, underwear, and pajamas get washed as well as whatever they wore to school that week, including barely worn T-shirts and hoodies now that the weather is cooler.  They also get the bonus of having repairs made if I see any and spot removal.  The orange shadows around the white fleece jogging pants look suspiciously like Cheeto stains from fingers, and the tear in the kangaroo pocket of one hoodie is justified, seeing that it's from about 1990 - the Upson-Lee Rebels Danceline hoodie which fits Kate perfectly.  With her auburn hair, she looks so much like Emily did at 13.  All stainfree and repaired now.  They told me they put everything up as soon as they got them home and didn't fuss about it at all.  Hope it lasts.  I love washing and drying and even ironing sometimes, and it one of the few things I have enough energy to follow through with.  

2.  Reading.  I've downloaded dozens of books lately, and most of them never made the cut past the first few chapters.  I guess I can be picky now since choosing and downloading them are so easy, and sending them back is just as easy.  I made a 2-page list yesterday of books I know I've read but have forgotten and about 30 or 40 new (to me) books.  I'll give them all another try and see what I can find that's good to read.  Elise is hooked on short stories and brings home thick books of them to recommend to me.  I usually end up reading the whole book of them, so I can count that as a book, I guess.  

I just finished one last night that I had to struggle to get through.  I'm not sure what made me keep on.  I guess I thought it would get better or I'd relate to it, but I listened to the whole thing and still didn't enjoy it.  

I'll do a better list later.  My night is getting away from me.

3.  NYT Puzzles:  I don't enjoy the NYT crosswords as much as Mike did.  I don't like to do them online, and I decided to stop taking the Seattle Times just for a crossword puzzle when I never finish over half of one.  But I never miss WORDLE.  A few times lately, I've been stumped over one, but usually I'll pull it out of somewhere.  I even got a 2-try one lately.

Then I do Connections, which seem harder lately as well as Strands and Pips.  That domino game was intimidating at first, but the more I play, the quicker I can do them.  I started an online jigsaw puzzle this morning while I finished listening to my uninteresting book, and when Kate came after school, she took over and found several pieces.

I'm really boring myself, so I'm going to bed and hopefully will wake up with more interesting things to mention, including Mah Jongg, which I'm playing tomorrow afternoon.  I just got a new strategy book today that I need to study.  I can't play defense at all.  It takes everything I have just to pay attention to what I have.  It'll be nice to see the MJ folks again after taking a week off.

Just for the sake of a picture, here's a quince that Emily water colored yesterday.  I think she's quite good, although she complains about it.  

Tuesday in October

 It seemed cool this morning, and I really didn't look forward to going out, but Elise and I had returns to make, so we went up to the UPS store and got that done.  It was nice once we got out and found the sunshine, and I ended up walking home while Elise drove.  Such a nice walk.

I'm enjoying seeing the strawberry-vanilla hydrangeas as they turn different colors.  I thought this little pot of dead-looking stems would never leaf and bloom.

I'm not sure the temps got low enough to hurt any plants, but we dutifully brought them inside last night.  I wish they had looked this good all summer.  These are the ones we couldn't find a place for in the apartment.

I met the others at the Y for mah jongg this afternoon, and we noticed we were playing along at a good pace and not having to sit there saying "Where were we?  What are we doing?"  I did get the perfect hand my first time and reached mah jongg early.  Things just fell into place nicely, and it was a pleasure.  Sharon won the last game, and there were two wall games.

Sharon had made us Halloween-themed cards to try, and she did one and won, but the others of us kept forgetting to try it.  Maybe during the interval, we can at least look at it and get familiar with some of the hands.  I guess I'll go Friday unless I get a chance to go to the cross-country meet.

The girls both came after school and had a lunch of sorts - Gray had tomato basil soup and cheese toast plus half an apple and some chips.  Kate had mac and cheese, cheese toast and the same snacks.  They watched a Mystery show with Elise while they ate and then tried to work on homework.  Gray's especially was so hard.  We got a little frustrated at word problems talking about refilling bird feeders and fractions and those greater than, less than signs.  They have soccer practice and/or DMW tonight, so they left pretty early. 

I'm going to get warm and put on pjs and have a cup of coffee and read some.  Elise has me interested in some Flannery O'Connor short stories, and I have some blogs to read.  I feel a little down tonight for no particular reason, but my blogs always cheer me up.

A little bonus:  Ryan called and said he was bringing some laundry over - I've volunteered to do some of the girls' laundry to take some of the weekend backlog off them - and I love to do laundry.  He also brought several pieces of banana bread he had made, which made having that cup of coffee that much nicer.  Good-smelling clothes, coffee with cinnamon-vanilla creamer this week, and banana bread.  Nice night after all.  

Recovery

 After a long nearly 2 weeks of someone being sick and/or testing negative for COVID, life got a little back to normal today with the girls going back to school and Emily to work.  I had a slow morning getting started, but by afternoon, I was feeling great and expecting Kate after school.  

She was starved - FINALLY - after not eating anything for nearly a week, so we fixed her up with mac and cheese and a few snacks.  She had watched the first 3 innings of the Mariners game at school.  Don't ask me what the lesson plan was for Mr. Rooney, but he is not going to miss his Mariners.  It was 3-2 when we first found the ESPN gamecast on the computer.  Neither one of us loves baseball enough to sit and look at a TV for long, so we did other things and kept checking back.  A few innings later, it was 6-3, and we were happy.  We devised our own method of "watching."  She called out the pitches and whether they were balls, strikes, or fouls - or HITS and the MPH.  I called out the on-deck batters that were listed by last name and first initial, and we tried to guess the first names.  Never did we get one right.  The 3 Js, we called Javier, Jose, and John.  They were actually Julio, Jorge, and Josh.  I just treasured these interactions with her after not seeing her in so long.  She is just so knowledgeable and knows so much than I do already.  About baseball that's not much, but with the computers too.  She asked me where she would go to customize my computer.  After staring blankly at the screen, I suggested maybe the Start button, and she was off.  I'm not sure of what I'll find tonight.  

Emily kept us up with the cross-country meet.  Gray wasn't on top of the world after being sick and out of school for several days and was just going to take it easy and run the route slowly, but she ended up coming in second overall.  I'm not even sure of the school we were competing against, but I'm so proud of her.  She just takes running for granted, and I hope she'll always be happy doing it.  

Kate and I conspired to not give away the score to Ryan and Emily in case they wanted to watch it from the start when they got home, so if they happen to read this - fat chance - don't read any further.

We ended up winning 10-3, which is a big contrast to the low-scoring prior games I've followed.  I even stayed up for the 15-inning game Saturday night, and that was exciting, somewhat.  

It's supposed to dip down to 31 degrees tonight.  Hoping it won't.  Elise and I have been deciding which plants to bring inside and which to put in the garage and which to leave outside.  Naturally, everything is at its prettiest the last couple of weeks, and it's hard to bring them in and punish them.  We don't enjoy the cooler weather that much, but we're going to make ourselves get out and try to layer up and walk.  

I'll be going to mah jongg tomorrow afternoon and maybe Thursday too.  Graysen has her cross-country final Thursday, so I'll want to leave early if there is a chance I can make it to that.  Not sure what town it's in, but I think it's Carnation.  I need to see her run once more and also see another of Kate's soccer games before it gets too miserable to sit out there and cheer.  

I've asked for some pictures of today but haven't gotten any yet, so I'll post some old ones I found.  These have been either missed by me or forgotten, but they bring back sweet memories.

Our first peek at this girl that changed our lives.  

My grandmother made these little dresses for Elise and Emily and they naturally didn't wear them much.  I wasn't really in a position to iron much in those days!  Graysen seems a little dubious about them too, but they were made with love and Grandma's talent for sewing.

I think they all liked this shirt better.  Perfect position.  I hope Kate got to wear it too, knowing her love for martial arts.

Crazy but typical picture I named Chaos.  But happy chaos.  I wish I knew what the discussion was all about.

Good Running

 Gray's third cross-country meet was Thursday after school.  Twin Falls Middle School was their opponent.  Life gets complicated though, and I didn't get to go watch it.  

It seems Ryan and Emily both have/had Covid, although they really wanted to be there to support her.  As they had been sick for almost a week, they felt like they were less contagious but could go and stand at a distance with masks and cheer her on.  I was in charge of Kate who had crossing guard after school and then martial arts later on.  

It hasn't been the best of starts for Graysen this year after having such success last year.  She was beginning to lose confidence and take not winning too hard, although the last school they competed against has a huge team and do cross-country all year long, where SMS just has one quarter a year.  

But she's a good runner and a fierce competitor, so I think she went into it with a good attitude.  

Carly, our friend and neighbor, ran with the 6th grade team and went early, so Wes and Linda kept me up with how things were going.  I'm not sure how Carly placed, although Wes mentioned more serious off-season workouts!  Like they couldn't all do better!  I'm sure she did fine though, and it's fun and a good experience for them.  I was a little nervous when I didn't get a text when I thought Gray's race should have ended, but then Wes sent me two pictures and said, "Looks like Graysen might be gaining and might catch this kid!"  

The kid is her friend Maija, and they run almost neck and neck every race.  Today was no exception.  Gray never exactly caught her, but there is a smiling picture where she has made a big gain and is heading for the finish line.  From the pictures Emily sent me, it looked like a perfect tie, but Maija came in just ahead of Gray. (I have to do a correction.  After talking to Emily one day, she said that Gray did pull just ahead of Maija, not that it matters a bit in their competition.  Maija did get the MVP award for the team this year.  Yay, Maija!)

These races are so hard on them - 2 miles after a full day of school - and they get so emotional, but I think it was a happy ending.  These two came in first and second, and I just don't know how the rest of the team did or if they actually won the meet - since I wasn't there, and no one wants to ask the sick people every little detail.  Maybe Kate and I will get to go to the next one.  

I got Carly's dad to send a couple of pictures of her running in the 6th grade race.  Looks like she was all alone - which is usually a good sign since I see people way behind her!  Hopefully, they'll get to go out and run some this weekend to get ready for a big meet Wednesday afternoon.

I see little sister's hand, I think.  They were there to cheer on both girls.

Kate came in after school and had a snack, watched a short TV show about magic - Elise and the girls are all into that but not me - and then did her stretches.  We walked down to the DMW class then.  She is such a joy.  Any time we cross a street - twice - she slows down and comes and stays right beside me and holds my hand.  How life has changed from my holding her hand and guiding her across streets!  She and Gray both are very conscious of making sure I don't hit one of those sidewalk eruptions and trip.  I'm pretty concentrated on that too.  

The other class was finishing up when we got there, so I found a seat and she came and stood behind me with her arms on my shoulders.  Such a tough girl on the mat but such a Mimi's girl beforehand.  She showed me which classmate was Juliet, the one whose mother had become my new Mah Jongg friend that very day!  I introduced myself and wished her a happy birthday Saturday, and then Elissette and her husband came in, and I met him.  It was nice to have someone to chat with while we watched the girls.  

I am usually on the wrong side of the room, but I did get a few good pictures and maybe a video.  There is a room full of kids, mainly boys and all so well-behaved and attentive.  The leaders/teachers do a good job with them.  The little talk before class was about bullying and how to insert yourself to give kids who are being bullied a safe place to get away.  

Juliet on the left and Kate on the right - hidden most of the time.  They sure have their serious faces on.

Since today is Saturday, there will probably be a soccer match, but one of the girls is off today, and the other is out of town, so I won't be going out today.  I'm really tired from this week.  It seems like I've been involved in something every day.  It's the first time I've played Mah-Jongg twice in a week, but I really like it.  We learn a lot and have fun doing it.  The Y is using our room for something, so we'll take a break this week.  We could meet somewhere else, but we probably all have things we'd like to catch up on.  I think I can find a few things.  Elise is aggravated with me because I won't get serious about putting some fall decorations out, but I did clear the Mah-Jongg stuff off the table and put it up, so maybe I'll find some incentive today.

I ordered some bats with green lights for eyes to hang on the porch, but they look a little complicated to put together.  I hope I'm up for the task! 

Elise and I are determined to take a car load of donations to the high school this morning.  The Mount Si FFA is collecting items for a fundraiser, and we have filled up a few boxes and bags of our stuff.  I gave away a good many toys and games last month that the girls have outgrown, and we sure do need the room.  I guess I'll start on my sewing room next.  It's not like I can get to anything easily to complete a project.  I keep a mending kit in the bedroom beside my chair to sew on those patches that the girls seem to always be needing and darning socks.  

Speaking of socks, this was one of my birthday gifts:

She knows my obsession with Mr. Darcy, and if I have a favorite all-time actor, it's Colin Firth.  She got another set for herself and says she'll take the Elizabeth ones for herself and let me have Mr. Darcy on both my feet. I'm not sure I can take being constantly judged by those eyes!

  

Noreen has been off for another week-long trip to Bellingham, and it will be good to have her home again.  With this cooler weather, we'll be up for a few morning coffees, I'm sure.  I first need to see what the weekend has in store for me.  I went to bed so early last night that I was up and ready for the day at 3:00 a.m.  A nap will probably be called for this afternoon.  I think the vitamin B12 gummies I got have helped a little with my energy levels - or maybe it's wishful thinking.  I'm doing everything I'm supposed to be doing and just have to be happy with a little progress at a time.  

All of a Sudden - Busy

 We've been waiting for our pretty trees to get beautiful and almost missed it.  I took this picture around 6:00 on a drab day so will try to get some better ones on the way to Mah Jongg in a few minutes.  Not that it's bright and sunny, but the sky is blue enough, and it's warm enough for me.  

I played Mah Jongg and after two blah hands, I won the third.  We were all close, so it was a good game.  I met a new friend Elissette, who has a daughter in Kate's martial arts class, Juliet.  We'll have to get them together to play sometime since they know each other somewhat although not going to the same school.  And now it's time for the cross country meet.  I'm not sure if I'm going to be keeping Kate here.  

Birthday Weekend - Lots of Good food and Fun

 What a nice birthday I had this year, the beginning of my last year before becoming an octogenarian!  

From Friday evening until just now, on Sunday afternoon, we've had a good time with sweet cards and gifts and messages from Facebook friends plus a two-day conversation with Debra from GA.  I'm not sure we got around to all we needed to say, but maybe we won't wait a year next time.

Today is fresh on my mind, since I just got home, but I'll have to rave about a wonderful new-to-me place that Noreen took me.  

It's called The Freestone and is a cute little unassuming place right in the middle of Railroad Avenue in Old Snoqualmie - across from the Railroad Museum.  With such a beautiful day and rain expected next week, it looked like everybody in the area was outside.  

Having had a delicious Mexican dinner Friday night and a spicy Thai lunch yesterday, I was ready for something fresh and not so filling.  After looking at the menu, I could tell I would find something there.

Just walking into the place was Heavenly with the smell of freshly-baked bread and coffee and pizza.  We noticed two small tables outside and a little place for maybe 3 people to sit inside.  The main tables are upstairs, so we read the menu and placed our orders and then looked at the gift and prepared foods section.  I wish I had taken pictures downstairs, but it was a little busy and crowded.  

There were jars of condiments for sale along with coffee and bread, casseroles and quiches, little pots of succulents - perfect for a little gift when you don't know what to give!  Cakes, pies, cookies, biscotti, freshly milled flour, cat and dog biscuits!  It's such a different concept that I'm just now reading their website and realizing what they offer - sort of a community-involved deal where guest chefs prepare foods and conduct cooking classes.  There are Community Pizza Nights, Holiday Menus, and a featured fresh bread every day.  I need to get some notifications so I see what's going on and when.

Noreen and I each got a different sandwich so we could exchange halves and try both.  These were our three finalists:

TURKEY & BACON Roasted Turkey Breast, Fall City Meats Bacon, Swiss, Mayo, Avocado, Heirloom Tomato & Greens on Housemade Focaccia $16.95

 HAM & FIG - MISS FIGGY Shaved Ham, Fig Mostarda, Gouda, Dijonnaise, and Pickled Red Onions with Arugula on Housemade Focaccia. $16.95 

VEGGIE - LADY BABA Olive Tapenade, Baba Ganoush, Heirloom Tomato, Cucumber, Ferndale Mozzarella, Fresh Arugula on Housemade Glass Bread $15.95 **We love to add Wilde Roots Shiitake Bakin’

We picked Ham & Fig and Turkey and Bacon and saved the Veggie one for another time.  I ate my Ham and Fig half first, and it was one of the best sandwiches I've had.  I was afraid it was going to be a little sweet, but it was just perfect with fig mustard and pickled onions along with a very generous serving of ham and thick focaccia!  

I had one bite of the turkey sandwich and realized I was just too full to eat that and saved it for later.  Noreen said it was delicious, so I can't wait to try it.  That third one, the veggie, Lady Baba - sounds very tempting, and I'll try to get back and order that next time.

Since the tables were full, we took our coffee upstairs, and they brought the sandwiches when they were ready.  We had the whole room to ourselves almost the whole time, and it was so nice.  No one checked on us and just let us relax with our coffee and food and talk as long as we wanted to.  

These are both sandwiches side by side, and they looked and tasted a lot better than these pictures.  Homemade fries too.  I can see getting soup and a half sandwich on a cold rainy day and one of their delicious coffees.  Or quiche.  Or Pizza.  Or just a chocolate cherry scone.  

Overall, a pleasant afternoon.  We drove around the back streets for a bit and saw the renovations to the park by the river and some of the cute little houses there before going home.  

I love outings where everything goes smoothy as planned, the weather is nice, and the food is good.  We've tended when we go out to just walk down to the nearest restaurants and not be too adventurous.  The Infusion Bar and Grill, which is the restaurant a couple of blocks away that we tend to gravitate to  has closed.  I didn't even know it.  I have never lived here when it hasn't been on that corner.

I'll talk about the Win-Bin prepared fish tacos and more that we had Friday when I have more time.  Yum.  Such a happy night.  Now I have to go play with my big gift - my very own set of Mah Jongg tiles and racks and a pretty mat.  I'm working on getting everyone interested enough to learn and give me someone to play with.  

Raspberry Jam

 

I've been hoarding this jar of raspberry jam every since Noreen shared it with me last summer.  It's the freezable kind, and I put it in the corner of the freezer to bring out at another time.

She picked them at Remlinger Farms Raspberry U-Pick in Carnation WA, one of my favorite towns.  She and the oldest grandson Anthony did the picking and came home with a big supply and had fun doing it.  I plan on savoring it as long as I can, because it's a long time til summer.  Maybe I'll learn how to do this.

It's been a long time since I've been to Remlinger Farms, and it was not to pick raspberries or fruit.  I went along with the family to a work-related picnic the first time, and it was a lot of fun.  After a good picnic lunch, we went inside the gates to find all kinds of things to do.  There was a roller coaster and a pumpkin ride, and maybe some swings, but that's all I remember.  Katherine was too young to ride, so I was content to watch her wander around and wave to the others.  There was a barn filled with hay for jumping, and I think that was their favorite thing to do.  They met friends there and had snacks and picked out our pumpkins.  We even met some Auburn fans who live in the area.  

I notice from later pictures that it's expanded quite a bit.  Many more rides and attractions.  I hope they go this year, and I'll try to attach myself to the group.  

Kate was here long enough to do her homework and make a bowl of mac and cheese.  It was long division AND decimals but only two problems.  

We were laughing at her sad eraser.  Right before school started, I gave them a cute little pencil case just filled with sparkly colorful mechanical pencils with extra lead and erasers, and then I look over and see her with this.  So where are they?  At school or at home or just two rooms away in her bookbag.  I think she just liked the fact that the top kept falling off and distracting her.

I think this is the one I got them in different colors.  I'm just trying to imagine how excited I would have been to have something like this when I was in school - something besides a few #2 yellow pencils and some Blue Horse tablets.  Not that I didn't get excited about everything to do with school, but this would have been something I could only dream of. 

They both left for soccer around 5:00, and it's a nice night for reading up a little on mah jongg and doing whatever I want to do.  

Smoky Days

 I didn't take one picture today and more than likely will not.  Maybe I'll find one in my phone or someone will send me one.  

We planned to go to Graysen's cross-country meet and meet up with Emily in Carnation, but GG called about 2:15 to tell me the meet was cancelled because of bad air quality and asked if she could come to my house.  I was playing MahJongg but told her Elise was there.

It was a nice MJ day.  Sharon, Jan and Tom were there as well as Sandy from the "good" group.  I had nothing to work with and no jokers the first hand - none of us did - and I let Sandy take my place for the second one while I paced around behind them and ate some cheese and Triscuits.  I just can't eat lunch before I get there at 1:15.  Third game looked a little more promising, and it worked its way to being good, so I won that Mah Jongg.  It's a good feeling to see the tiles fall just right and to see that winning tile - a flower - get thrown on the table.  

I brought in the garbage cans, checked the mail, and made a sandwich from the leftover chicken and Chic-Fil-A sauce.  Then I washed the living room windows that needed it as well as any mirrors and glass things I came into contact with.  

I'm yawning like crazy now in spite of just having a cup of coffee.  Looks like I need to straighten up the girls' minor messes, since they had to walk home in spite of no xc or soccer.  Just DMW.  I'm putting in a load of laundry and setting the timer for 10 minutes to pick up a little, and then I'm going to go to bed even if it's not dark yet!  Tomorrow is a day when nothing is planned until school is out, and then it's just Kate for a couple of hours.  

Cat Faces and More September Memories

Do you swear on this book of short stories to tell the truth, etc.

Bowie living his best life.

Today was a nice Monday with nothing at all to do except what I wanted to.  I made myself cook today.  Chicken Diane, which is funny because it's a recipe that I've had for years and years, given to me by my friend Debra - the very one that I talked to at least 3 hours yesterday.  It was so much fun.  Neither one of us talks on the phone much - just depend on texting and FB posts - but when it's time for our yearly talk, we shut everything down and just lose track of time.  There's a lot to cover when you're talking about a year.  We always say we're going to do it more often, but even though we do keep in touch, we don't have the long, in-depth conversations like we do in our September calls.  Her 5 grands are ages10 to 15, two boys and two girls.  We have soccer and teenage and pre-teen conversations and catch up on what's new or not in Thomaston.  She still has friends there that she talks to a lot, but I haven't been there in 15 or more years and doubt I will go back, but we do have a lot of memories there.  We met when Mark and Debra were first married, and we had 2 children, soon to be 3, and then their 2 boys were born.  We worked together and went to church together and never fail to find something to laugh about.  I think we're both doing fine although wishing some things had worked out better for us.  We're near our families and in fairly good health, so all is well!  

Now to more Septembers

2011:

The only thing going on that September is that Mike had retired and come back to Montgomery.  We were having border wars and trying to claim our various comfort zones.   

I had arranged the furniture like this when I moved there since it was a strange room - big but strangely laid out.  Mama watched TV in her room, and I didn't watch it at all, so it didn't matter that it was behind the couch.  

When Mike got moved in, he decided we might like to turn the thing on sometimes, so I worked on changing the whole floor plan.  It turned out fine, but he still missed his recliner that he left in Lubbock.  I guess we should have gotten him another one.

A work in progress.  It worked nicely, and we watched some football games and all the Downton Abby we could.  We found out how to record shows, and that was a nice bonus.  We were always late to the newest technology!  I still miss the cozy feeling of the first room, but it rarely got cold enough to have a fire.  I wish I had all that storage space now and the couch and chair.  

We did work on pruning an overgrown pyracantha, and it really improved it.  It was so nice having someone to work alongside, even if we were bickering about something all the time, it seems.  He shouldn't have left me by myself for 4 years to get independent!

2012:

I had to go into October to find something to write about and had only one picture. We had just found out there was going to be a baby in February, and I was already digging out the quilts I had made over the years. 

I had just finished piecing Emily's quilt top too.  I can't believe I was so productive then and wondering where that enthusiasm went! 

This is what I wrote on October 1.

Biggest change is that right after Emily and I found Baby Boy's complete 1st year wardrobe on sale for 75% off, we discovered that he is actually Baby Girl. We miss him, but we are so excited about a little girl. It's still kind of hard to wrap our minds around. 

October was just jam packed with pictures of everything to do with getting ready for a baby and possibly moving to WA.  Days of excitement and some fear too.  Sadness because Mike's dad died later on in October.  

And