Dog Jordan

Who knows why an eleven year old boy wants to be a hot dog for Halloween, but that was Jordan's choice  this year.  He loved it and it will fit me if I want to wear it sometime.

He thought the mean face would make him a scary dog, we just laughed.

I love Halloween.

Rainy Night

The delightful sound of rain on the tin roof is what we hear tonight.  We have listened to it for most of the day as well.  Tomorrow brings our first real cold snap.  After all the heat and drought the weather is changing, and not every one is happy about it.  That's ok,  just like life the weather changes and for some it is a good thing for others not so good.  I am doing a happy dance tonight.

My class this afternoon was how to use yoga to bring balance and stability and calmness to your life.
It was the men's class and the guys really enjoyed it.  It still amazes me to watch someone come into my room so tense, sad and fearful and leave smiling.

My cup of hot tea calls to me...rain, a bit of a read and a cup of hot tea...life is good.

Greens and Drought

We are expecting our first frost Thursday  night.  Today I transplanted collard plants, gave some to friends and still have lots more to plant.  If you have never eaten collard greens they are an acquired taste but I love them.  I have been eating them since I was a very small child.  When I was growing up, we ate seasonal.  Probably because we raised so much of our food, but various greens, root vegetables  and soups and stews  and dried beans were our fall and winter diet...still that way.

I mentioned the first frost because collard greens develop a sweetness when frost bites their leaves.
When I was digging in the earth this morning I was shocked that about three inches down, the ground was bone dry.  This after we had almost six inches of rain last weekend.  That's the kind of drought we are in.  Thankfully more rain to come tonight and Wednesday and Thursday.  I just wish I could share it with the folks in California.

Nothing planned for tomorrow morning except a good long practice session.  We have a gig next weekend and we are getting ready to have fun.  Of course there is work after lunch, but the morning is all about the music.

My cup of hot tea awaits,  be kind tomorrow and laugh out loud.

Foggy Color

It was a chilly foggy morning as we walked the  dogs today.  It just seemed to bring out the fall color that is starting to appear.

Hungry and tired this evening, bedtime will be soon.
Goodnight, sweet dreams

Bugs

Jordan loves playing practical jokes.  Today on their way home from the swim meet, his mom took him back to the Cook's Museum in Decatur or as Jordan fondly calls it the Bug Museum.  As all the kids roamed the museum today, the museum employees gave them plastic bugs as treats instead of candy.

When they came by the house this evening I caught a glimpse of a scorpion on my kitchen table, of course I screeched and Jordan laughed.  One of the many bugs he was given at the museum today.
I have been warned, there will be many more to come.  I dare not think about where the others will be lurking.

Last week of October coming up, along with one of my favorite holidays, Halloween.  The down side to living out in the country on a dead end road, very few trick or treaters.  The kids who do make it by our house get lots of good candy!

Enjoy your Monday, be kind...to yourself and everyone you meet.

A Good Saturday

Our great nephew Aiden came for a visit today.  He is still not sure if he likes me, but I can say without a doubt I am crazy for him.

It has been a good day.  The rain continued but Aiden came for a visit, we had dinner with friends, we got in a great practice session and Jordan did awesome at his swim meet.

May your Sunday bring joy and peace.

Color

Lots of rain today and fall color is beginning to brighten the woods.  It's an odd time, this in between seasons for us.  Lots of green still, but golds and oranges and reds are starting to pop up.
The forecast  calls for our first frost  next week, so when the rains stop Sunday, we will move all our potted plants to the now converted screen porch/sun room.

I wore a sweater and boots today.  It felt great to put my summer clothes away.  The sound of the rain on the tin roof is so calming tonight.  Good sleeping weather.

Simple Things

I love this fence post.  It holds the gate that secures the road to our barn.  This time of year with fall leaves in the back ground the moss is at its prettiest.

It's an interesting composition of metal gate, wooden post, wire, moss and fall foliage. The colors and all the elements work together perfectly I think. All simple things, each has their own unique beauty.

Thursdays are long and draining, as soon as I get home I put my pjs on, bedtime comes early.
I hope your Friday ushers in a great weekend.

Surprises

Daily there is something new to discover.  This morning on our walk, this white fungus was on several  fallen trees.  It was not there yesterday.  Surprises are everywhere, just look for them.

Fall Sunset

It's been a beautiful fall day, ending with a beautiful fall sunset.

Not sure about the brain drain, but I have it tonight.

Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Best Day

" Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Similar

Jordan's mom, Samantha and I had a long heart to heart this week.  We are both in the same place in the same area of our lives and struggling with similar issues.  I think we both realized that even with the age difference we have more in common than just being related. 

She has at least a short term solution/answer for her issue, I am still trying to figure mine out.
There is no doubt we will both do what we need to do.

There is a warm front coming up from the Gulf tonight and a cold front coming from the northwest.
Things could get interesting around here tomorrow.  Hopefully no severe storms just lots of rain.

Mondays come so fast.  I hope for all of us, tomorrow is a Monday of kindness and great joy.

Accomplishments

The transformation continued today.  I cleaned out my closets.  Rick dusted window blinds.
The house feels bigger.  He also got the screen porch  ready to move all our potted plants to this week.  It just feels good to get some things accomplished.

Tomorrow we rest.
Enjoy your Sunday, may it bring peace to you and yours.

Fall Bits and Pieces

Last bit of fall decorating and house cleaning today.   It felt  good to stay home and get some things done.

Now, maybe tomorrow, clean the closets.

Sometimes just the simple cleaning of your space is an amazing transformation.

Foodies

Jordan's mom sent over a photo of his report card tonight, all A's, straight 100 averages.
I mentioned we should celebrate, she said well he has already, he asked for pork chops and mashed potatoes for dinner.  What can I say, our family celebrates, mourns, loves , comforts and bonds with food.

Put us around a dinner table, we can love, solve world problems and laugh ourselves into tears.
Food is the tie that binds.  At least for our family.  No better way to celebrate than with a good meal.
Did I mention I came home from and made fish tacos?

I hope your Friday is a good one.  Be safe, be happy and be kind.

Soup

We do our best to eat seasonal foods.  In the fall and winter we eat lots of root vegetables, greens and soups and stews.  Today I made a giant pot of vegetable soup.  A little of this, a little of that, raiding the pantry, the fridge, the freezer.  Tossed together, magic happens and the flavors blend.  Thank goodness Rick doesn't mind leftovers.  We will be eating soup for a few days.

Spend some time with those you love tomorrow, laugh out loud and be kind.

The Trouble

"The trouble is, you think you have time."  - Buddha

If I could give someone one quote to live by, it would be this one.  We are all guilty, we all think we have time.  We think we have time to make our dreams come true, to take that trip, to make amends, to work on our health...it's a never ending list, this thinking we have time.

Jordan Time

We picked Jordan up from school today.  He was in such a good mood.   He was also hungry.
He pretty much ate from the time we left school until his mom picked him up.

All that swimming takes a lot of energy and he is a growing boy.  I am amazed at how much food he can consume!

I hope tomorrow brings kindness and joy to each of you.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Fall Dance

This morning as we walked, I couldn't help myself...I burst into song and dance.

The air was crisp and clean, it truly was a "great day to be alive."

I am glad only Rick and the dogs saw me.

I hope your Monday will be a "great day to be alive."  Be kind.

Fall Daisies

I couldn't resist decorating the kitchen table.  The daisies come from the plant my sister Nell gave us in the spring.  The plant is at least 15 feet tall, covered in those beautiful yellow daisies.

It has been a wonderful fall day.  We did a few errands but not much on the agenda, the same for tomorrow.

I hope your Sunday brings peace and joy.

Welcome

Good news, Jordan's foot is not broken, his ankle over extended and he will be fine for his swim meet and he got to see the parade today and get a bag full of candy.  He and his cousin Anthony always have so much fun at my sister's house.  And what kid doesn't love a parade?

I came home after we delivered the boys to their homes and did a little fall decorating.  Rain and cooler weather coming in tonight just put me in the mood!

I hope your weekend started with as much fun as mine did.  Nothing like kids and a small town parade to make you smile.

What a Thursday

I taught a walking meditation class today for the pain management group and a pranayama class as well ( breath work).  After that I spent an hour with first responders, police officers and military students, and finally this evening with our women's group.   It is rewarding work, but exhausting.

Tomorrow is our local high school's home coming.  That means a parade and a football game tomorrow night.  I always take Jordan to  my sister's house for the parade, she has the best view ever.
He twisted his ankle today in PE class and is going to see the orthopedic doc first thing in the morning.  Next weekend he has a big swim meet.  Send him some good thoughts and healing energies and a few prayers, those feet are important when you are swimming. 

He is upset about his foot, about the swim meet and about missing the parade tomorrow.  We just want his foot to be ok.

My bed and a cup of hot tea are calling to me. 
Sweet dreams to you all.

Hump Day

I read a wonderful blog tonight about stillness and silence.    I know this might sound a little strange coming from a musician, but I love silence.  Actually I crave it and if I don't have those moments of silence, of being still ,I become out of sorts.  Those moments nourish my spirit.  They inspire my creativity and they make me a better person, a better teacher.

I am always urging my students to find stillness, to sit in silence.  I urge you to sit in silence a few minutes every day.  Once you do, you will find yourself like me, craving it.  No tv, no music, no conversation...just silence...and stillness.

We spent most of our  morning with our primary care doc, doing the regular check-up stuff. Then we treated ourselves to lunch at our favorite meat and three.  It's been a good hump day.

Remember kindness tomorrow, to yourself and others.

At Last

A wonderful fall day.  Our walk this morning was cool and crisp, this afternoon hit a high of 74 degrees.  At last.

The dogs enjoyed the walk this morning as much as we humans did.  For the first time in months they didn't pant when we got home and neither did we.

The change in the weather inspired me to cook chicken and dumplings.  Jordan came by after swim practice this evening and was beside himself to know he would be having chicken and dumplings for dinner.

Tomorrow is Wednesday, this week is flying by.  May you enjoy kindness and may you extend that kindness to others.

Peace

Sharing a quote with ya'll tonight.



" Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than how you think it should be."  -Wayne Dyer

Change

Rains came yesterday evening, for the first time in  months we had rain during the night.  The weather guys say more tonight and tomorrow.  Our world looks so different today.  Everything looks alive and vibrant. The temps have dropped about 15 degrees, today was around 80 with a breeze.  It was heavenly.  A true change in the weather.

 A real cold front is suppose to move through next weekend, I can hardly wait.  I'll be wearing those boots and sweaters before you know it.  I told Jordan today, we have to start making plans for a weenie roast!

It seems the past couple of months our weekends have been non-stop, this one has been no different.
I hope this is a good week for all of you, be kind, spread joy, laugh every day.

Frog Ribs

Rick does the local Frog Festival website which was today.  Once again it was hot as blazes and I debated on going or staying home.  I decided to go for two reasons, the first, I always see people I haven't seen in years and two, a friend I went to high school always has a booth there and he cooks ribs.  Anyone who has ever eaten my BBQ ribs will tell you they are good, but his are great!!
We brought a slab home and we both ate ourselves silly.   I wish I could send you all just a taste.  But,  between Rick, me and Jordan there are no more.

Dinner

One of Rick's favorite dishes tonight.  It is so simple, just peppers, onions, garlic and some sort of sausage.  ( I used a local one, Conecuh) throw in a dash of olive oil, some crusty bread and dinner is ready.

I hope your Friday has been a good one.  We broke more heat records today and more to come tomorrow.

Spread some joy, be kind and if you actually have fall where you live, please enjoy and be grateful.

Plasticity

In my pain management classes on Thursdays we talk often about the plasticity of the brain.  If you have not read or heard people in science and medicine talk about this subject, do yourself a favor and read, "The Brain That Changes It Self" by Norman Doidge, M.D.

The last several courses I have studied, everything from meditation to chronic pain to yoga have all included lectures on plasticity of the brain.  For the past few months I have been working on myself, rewiring my brain to function even with the damage from the Meniere's.

This brain science has been used with stroke victims, addictions, chronic pain, so many different health concerns.  The more I study about it, the more fascinating it becomes because of the possibilities.

I am exhausted, as always on Thursdays and that is ok.  Thursdays give me the opportunity to see results, good results from my teaching.

Tomorrow be kind, spread joy and at least once, laugh out loud.

Thirsty

Our magnificent dogwood  is so thirsty.  The tree is one of the first things you see as you enter our driveway.  In the spring it looks like a massive white cloud and in the fall when the leaves turn red it is glorious.

All the kids have climbed its loving limbs.  I wrote a story a long time ago about it called The Magic Tree.  That's what the kids have always called it.

Each day I walk by her and tell her to hang on.  I know the rain is coming.  We hit 100 degrees today.
The weather guys swear rain and cooler rain will make an appearance this weekend.  I hope so.

October 1

October 1...today is my mom's and dad's anniversary, they would have been married 76 years

October 1...96 degrees today, we broke some records

October 1...no rain

October 1...my dad's and my brothers' who are twin have birthdays this month, Rick's dad as well

October 1...this will be remembered as the year of the endless summer

October 1...time to mix the candy corn with salted peanuts

October 1...I love Halloween

October 1...can't wait to wear boots and sweaters

October 1...no fall color, only brown dead leaves

October 1...the last quarter of 2019

October 1...Jordan wants a bonfire and s'mores, so do I

October 1...a pot of chili would be nice ( if we cranked the ac to about 65 degrees)

October 1...I know I am a whiney baby about the weather