Pictures

 It feels like forever ago that we went on our little trip.  We so wanted to have a nice beach trip this year.  We would have been there this week had we been able to book it.  As it turns out, with hurricane Ian coming ashore, I think we might have been evacuated had we been there.  Still, we wish we could have gone.

But we've been keeping ourselves busy.  The Husband has been working on the reverse osmosis unit for the drinking water hooked up to the fridge (and ice maker).  We've been giving away lots of tomatoes.  We had a fun dinner with our son-in-law and grandson. Last week I managed to have not one, not two, but three ice creams from Chick-Fil-A.  (One time The Husband and I split one of their autumn spice shakes.  It was decent and I'm glad we tried it.  But also glad we split one and now I don't need to have any more.) We went to Costco and realized after we'd returned that I had missed putting a couple things on my list.  So back we went.  Had our favorite checker (Gilbert - he of the hip-long gray hair) both times and the second time as we were leaving he called to us "see you tomorrow!"   Funny guy.  I told The Husband he'd notice that we were there more often than usual.

The Husband has pulled out some of the tomatoes.  The nights are pretty cool and things are s-l-o-w-i-n-g way down.  We did, however cut a canteloupe yesterday that was one of the largest I've seen.  I probably let it go a day too long before cutting but The Husband is loving it.  He could eat the whole thing in one sitting.

And I've some pictures.  The asters are blooming next door.  That's my favorite bed of blossoms this time of year - one of my favorite (because they're my birth month flower) and the color is gorgeous. The mums are kinda-sorta-almost beginning to bloom.  There are hundreds of buds on the bushes that span the length of the front porch.  It will be quite a show if they actually bloom and don't freeze.  Last year we had one or two days of blooms and then it was a hard freeze and they were done.  

Our neighbors have been trying to convince us to go to Sam's Club for a soft warm pretzel.  The ones with butter and cinnamon sugar. Today was the day.  And yup, pretty tasty.  (Remember, we got in on a $7 membership back in the early summer.  We've been debating whether to renew or not - it'll depend on the cost - but The Husband is thinking the pretzels and maybe the pizza whenever we try it (and if we like it) might be worth the renewal cost. We just rarely go there.  Somehow we've habituated to Costco, been members there for decades.) We wandered around the store for a while.  And I scored a 2023 calendar.  I've been wondering about getting one for next year and I like this one.  And yes, I still like a paper wall calendar.  It's handy for keeping track of the orchid watering and work schedules.  I like to write on it things I need to remember.  For me, it's tons better than using my phone.  I'm so much better with paper (and pen) than digital, generally speaking.  I'm definitely old.

I'm so grateful today for the rain we had.  It was glorious.  Although the loud thunder immediately over the rec center during yoga caused quite a few gasps and squeals, it was so sudden and unexpected in a room with blinds mostly closed and all of us concentrating on our poses. So grateful for the sweet lady in the class who made it a point to come speak to me.  I think she'd make a great member of our church because of the kind, warm, non-judgemental way she treats others. She's a good example.