Fall Is So Beautiful!

95% pine needles, from 20% of the yard

We headed out to the yard first thing on Saturday.  Spent several hours out there raking and cleaning up.  The outside stairwell was full of leaves, with The Husband's help we made quick work of that section.  I enjoyed it for less than a day before noticing more (yes more!) leaves down there.  The sweeper The Husband pulls behind his John Deere was worth every penny!  It saves so much time.

Lights on tree at the park.

The best part?  We were out there working together.  We got a lot done, even in the front yard.  And maybe next weekend will be the last stint of leaf gathering.

We rewarded ourselves with a spur-of-the-minute movie.  It was truly engrossing and interesting, but again:  I'm much better with happy endings.  I should have researched this one a little better.

Clematis still blooming!

The Husband gets home tomorrow.  I so miss him when he's gone, but am happy that he mostly enjoys his work and that he gets to do it from home the majority of the time!  After he left for the airport yesterday morning I headed out for my walk.  It was such a pretty morning.  Until I was almost home.  All of a sudden it was hailing.  I can't ever remember being outside in a hailstorm before.  And it didn't last too awfully long, just long enough to build up in the roof corners.  But yes, it was strange and weird to be walking along (so glad I wore my slicker) and be pelted with hail.  Almost enjoyable, but only because I was out in it for just about 5 minutes.

This morning's walk presented the most fun skies - the clouds scudding across the valley and snugged up against the mountains.  I reveled in every step - almost went extra far to extend the enjoyment.

And I've been thinking a lot about things.  About prayer and blessings and challenges and people.  Life can be really hard.  Even people who are well-intentioned often act out of self-interest and an overdeveloped sense of their own importance and superior judgement.  Why is it so easy to see the faults of others and be so oblivious to the same ones in ourselves?

6:30 a.m.

The last couple days I've had too many experiences with others directing my actions.  This has been a life-long struggle.  Apparently I came to earth with a sign on my forehead that not quite everyone can see, only some with certain personalities.  That sign must say something like "stupid", "doesn't know a thing", "Please, go ahead, tell me how to do what I already know how to do", "can't function without your instructions", " I'm an idiot, please tell me how it's supposed to be done".  At least I assume that's what it says since I can't see it, but base that thinking on the things people tell me to do.  And why on earth is this so bothersome to me?  I know there's no shortage of opinions in the world.  I know lots of people have more self-assurance than maybe they should have.  I should, by my advanced age, be more capable of shrugging it off.  I guess maybe because it happens so much it just gets under my skin and I get a bit exercised about defending my intelligence.  It's a personal challenge that I'm not fond of and still haven't managed to come up with a proper response.

6:45 a.m.

And in spite of how annoyed and irritated a certain person (not a relative or even really a friend, just an acquaintance - which makes her arrogance in telling me what to do even worse!) has made me, I've still got a grateful heart.

I'm so grateful for this beautiful world.  I'm grateful for morning walks that soothe my soul.  For the return tomorrow night of my bestest.  I'm grateful for a gift card for soup this afternoon at Corner Bakery.  I'm grateful for the physical ability to work in the yard, and also for health insurance.  I'm grateful for those generous sisters in the ward who sign up (and often) to take meals to their fellow ward members.  I'm grateful for warm sweaters and good shoes.  I'm grateful for people who actually follow through on their commitments.  For those who return emails and texts. And I'm once again (and always) grateful for the peace that comes when I pray, for the hope that Heavenly Father is aware and answers prayers according to His will.