* It's Monday! *

Hey everyone! I've been busy with different activities and just haven't been able to finish a blog post. I started writing one for "I Wonder" and couldn't get to the end of it. I think that was this past Thursday. Then I remembered my "Nostalgic Sunday" posts and thought that would be fun to do yesterday. Well, as you can see, it's Monday evening...

Some of my recent "activities" 

1) I've been doing a lot around the house. Ron and I are slowly getting our remodeling done. I don't remember if I mentioned about our purchase of a double-wide mobile home, in a senior community (55+ years old). We bought it 2 years ago and began taking it apart and putting in new. We moved in about a year ago and the work continues. We got it at a really good price and knew we could fix it up to make it our own. I told Ron that if I hadn't watched that TV show, "Flip or Flop", I would never have believed we could make it beautiful! Maybe I can post some "before and after" photos later as we keep working on it.

2) I'm also very happy to announce I've been writing!! I'm working on my sequel in the fact that I've found a bunch of notes and have been trying to get them in some kind of order. I'm also working on a story for a Chicken Soup book, and plan to write something for another one that's not due for quite a while. 

3) This evening I cut up carrots, potatoes and onions and put them all in the refrigerator in storage bags. Tomorrow morning before I leave for work at 6:00 am, I'll dump them all into my crockpot which is ready to be plugged in...and of course, I have a round roast to put in with the veggies. Mmm, that sounds so yummy to me. It's the kind of food I crave in the cooler/colder weather. How about you? 

"A few days ago, I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air." -- Eric Sloane

.... AND AUTUMN IS TEASING ME!

I love autumn, and lately we've had a few days of delightful temperatures and low humidity. 

I know we'll continue to have hot and humid days for a while, but for now, I'm basking in the promise of sites such as these.....

all photos taken by Becky Lewellen Povich
(Most photos will enlarge if you click on them)

* IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD *

♪ ♪   It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood....   ♪ ♪

 

♪ ♪  Won't you be my neighbor?!  ♪ ♪

 

Ah, yes it is a glorious day in my neighborhood today: sweatshirt and jeans weather...my favorite!

 

I've been given a gift...to be outside enjoying this bright, sunny day with a crisp in the air...because I have to run some errands...post office, grocery store, etc. but just wanted to post something before I left.

 

Here are a couple of photos from my neighborhood from last fall - 2015. How fortunate I am to live in the beautiful Midwest!

 

 

 

 

 

Have a blissful, beautiful day!

 

 

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

 

“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul... but I must confess that I love you only because you are a prelude to my beloved October.”
― Peggy Toney Horton

 

“October had tremendous possibility. The summer's oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures. They made me believe in miracles.”
― Sarah Guillory, Reclaimed

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday!

 

 

 

Yay! It's October and we've finally had some cooler temperatures here at the new homestead. I LOVE fall, as I've expressed many, many times on my blog! The leaves aren't changing colors yet, so I'm posting photos from times past....thus, the Nostalgic Sunday post. :)

 

 

 

 

These three pictures were taken on November 13, 2012...almost four years ago. It seems like a lifetime ago, and it seems like just the other day. Our lives were in the midst of changes, big changes, and the downsizing began.

 

 

I miss that house sometimes, and the happy memories that were made there, but one of the best things about "happy" memories, is that they go along with you, no matter where you are.

 

When I think all the way back to every house/apartment I ever lived in, I miss every one of them for various reasons(except the two crappy apartments in Germany...thank goodness we lived in nice ones the majority of those years) And even during those years of unhappiness and loneliness spent with my first husband...I have fond memories of the places we lived, because I enjoyed so much of how I made each of them into a "home." Does that make sense?

 

I've told Ron many times over the years that I would be happy living anywhere with him, no matter how small or old the place might be, and that's how it's always been and I know it always will be.

 

 (P.S. The new background photo is one I also took around the same time.)

 

 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

* YIKES, IT'S NOVEMBER *

As most people my age seem to say these days.....

Time is flying by way too fast.

I can't believe it's ________ ! (fill in the month)

Why can't time drag by, the way it did when we were kids?

I certainly say all those things and more. One of my favorites is:

Poster from the 1966 movie, "Stop the World. I Want to Get off."

Alas, that's not possible, and besides, if it WAS, where would I go?? I guess I'd just float around in space, and that would be awful. That wouldn't accomplish anything! So, I've learned to stop thinking (too much) about the passing of time, and just enjoy the Here and the Now as much as I possibly can.


Below are some photos I took about a week ago along the boardwalk where Vern and I go for our strolls. I'm so happy that I did, because the leaves were at their peak! Since then, it's been rainy and windy and the leaves are falling....and I love to walk through them, making crunching noises! Yes, I'm still a kid at heart!

* If you click on each photo, you'll see a much larger view.

"Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” - -  Lauren DeStefano, Wither

* YIKES - IT'S OCTOBER! *

Wasn't it just five or six days ago that I wrote about it being September 1st ?? As I've said before, sometimes I wish I could lasso the earth and slow it down...a lot! But, since I'm not Superman or Superwoman, I guess I'll have to skip along the treadmill of life with everyone else! (I don't jog...I skip! It's much more fun.)

So if life must rush along, then I'm glad it's autumn again...my favorite time of the year, and October is my favorite month for various reasons: birthdays, football season, the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs! J  Go Cards!

I just love this comic strip. I think it came out in 2012 because that's when I first posted it.
Thank you, Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutts!

Below are some of my favorite quotes about autumn:

"Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!" - Humbert Wolfe

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." - George Eliot

 

"Listen to the trees as they sway in the wind. Their leaves are telling secrets...." -- Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration 

 

 

 

* A SPLENDID AUTUMN MORNING.....AND * BOING! *

♪♪ It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor.... ♪♪

 

 

Vern and I went on our usual morning walk this morning. It was sunny, crisp and just beautiful. I decided it was a good day to take a couple of photos of him and the crunchy leaves. He was moving as I took these with my cell phone camera. They came out pretty good, didn't they? 

 

 

 

  We walk past this dazzling fire bush

  every time we take our usual route.

 

Okay, so what part does the word BOING! have to do with today? We've lived in our townhouse for a year and a half now and every morning Vern and I walk outside through the garage. I hit the button next to the light switch and we meander towards the opening door. We're usually at the door as it's going up and I bend slightly to walk on out.

Do you think it's possible the door was rising slower than normal, or was I just not paying attention when I smacked my forehead on it?!

B O I N G!

(be sure to click on the link)

Ahhh, a story to add to the klutz chapter of my sequel!

Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend....and my next post should have a variety of information.

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air." - Eric Sloane

 



* A BRIGHT, AUTUMN BACKGROUND *

                        ♪ The falling leaves drift by my window.
                                     The falling leaves of red and gold. ♪

Ahh, I love autumn! It's my favorite time of the year, and today I decided to add some glorious fall colors to my background. This photo is one of the trees in our front yard in November 2012. (We've since moved, but I get to see thousands of beautiful leaves in my new neighborhood, too.)

It may be a bit "too busy" for my background, but I won't have it up for very long. Soon it will be time for another change, as in the changing leaves...!

Ba-Dum tssshhh...Rim Shot!

 

 

 

I hope to be back to blogging sometime soon. I miss everyone very much!

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables



** It's So Good To Be Alive **

Today is one of those amazing, autumn days that just makes me feel alive! Cool and crisp, with sunny, blue skies. Gentle breezes, leaves floating down from tall trees. Vern and I took a long walk; I got re-energized, Vern came home and took a nap! ☺ (Sometimes it's the other way around!)

Vern on the daybed in my office/spare bedroom.
He can look right out the window and see what's going on, and nap when he wants, also. 

Happy Fall, y'all! 

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." --  Nathaniel Hawthorne

Autumn is Here!

If you've read my blog in past years, during fall months, you know it's my favorite season. Not everyone loves fall, in fact, some people downright dislike it! I've heard the expression, "Everything is dying in the fall. How can you like it?!"

Pardon me, but the trees and other living plants are not dying! They are going into winter hibernation, so they can bloom again in the spring! You know....that long winter's nap?

I'm looking forward to witnessing and reveling in, the changing colors of the leaves here in our new neighborhood! My anticipation is like waiting to see a beautiful painting.

Photo taken by Becky 11/2010

Below are some of my favorite quotes about autumn:

"Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!" - Humbert Wolfe

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." -- Emily Bronte

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." - George Eliot

"Listen to the trees as they sway in the wind. Their leaves are telling secrets...." -- Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration 

* Thanksgiving is More Than Just One Day *

While Vern and I walked yesterday, I marveled at the glorious leaves, some of which still clung to branches, many covered portions of yards, and others skidded and tumbled along the streets and sidewalks. 

I thought again how everything that has previously happened in my life has brought me to where I am right now. How every event that occurred, whether happy or sad, has been part of my life's path. 

When I was a child the route was chosen for me by my parents, and then when I was a young adult, I decided my own course. Sometimes I needed to make a detour and other times the detour was already in place ahead of me. 

Countless people waste so much precious time fretting about "If Onlys." 

If only I'd taken that job I wanted.
If only my parents didn't do this or that.
If only I had more money.
Etc. 

I learned a long time ago to stop thinking that way. When and how did I figure that out? I really can't remember, at least not at this moment. 

All I know is this: I'm very happy. And material things have nothing to do with my happiness. Can I say that I'm glad every "bad" incident happened in order for me to be in this blissful state of mind? I guess that's what I've been trying to say. It's that domino effect.

Although I sincerely thought I knew what my feelings were about everything in my past, I didn't really begin to know until I began to write my memoir. I still have more to think about. More to learn. More to delve into. I'll just have to start on "the sequel," I guess. ☺

~~~~~

This post doesn't really seem like a Thanksgiving one, does it? I may have gotten a bit too reflective, but my point is this: 

I am alive. I am here on this beautiful earth. My life is not perfect and neither am I! But I'm grateful & thankful, every single day of my life for every single thing that happened along the way. It has made me who I am. 

~~~~~

Happy Thanksgiving!

And have a cup of yummy flavored coffee with me, with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles on top!

"This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control you own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy." -- Susan Polis Schutz

Autumn Bliss - Part 2

Hello Everyone!

As I wrote on Monday's post, I'm sharing some photos taken during our walk.....Vern and I. 

I started taking them as soon as we left our house. Some of them aren't very good, but I'm surprised they're not all one big blur! I managed to get Vern to stop for a second or two when I wanted to take a picture. The two of him in front of me with the outstretched leash were taken while we walked. That was  a bit hard to do! Sometimes he's on a real mission to get to where we're going, and other times he zigzags, stops and sniffs. (I also want to point out that I always carry a little Doggy Do-Do baggie. We don't leave anything behind to show that we were there!)

A couple of the pictures had to be cropped a little more than I really wanted to do, but I also wanted to get rid of street names.

As you can see, we live in a newer neighborhood, where some of the trees are quite small. Everywhere I drive, though, is prettier than the next. I could practically run off the road just looking from tree to tree! (Don't worry, I'm kidding, but I do take in as much of their beauty as I can!)

This last picture is of our neighbor's tree which is right next to our driveway. Our garage is there on the left. When the wind blows, the leaves just flutter down from it and it's like a dream world. I just have to get a picture of that!

* The photos will enlarge if you click on them.*

"Listen to the trees as they sway in the wind. Their leaves are telling secrets...." -- Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration