HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween everyone!  I hope you all have had a nice day.

After I wrote my post this morning I laid down and went back to sleep and slept through the alarm clock!  I got to work on time, but just barely.

The library was so dead today.  Almost no one came in.  At 3:00 some of us put on costumes to wait for the kids, but about 10 kids came in and that was it.  Sort of sad.  But we got a lot of work done.

Of course I got some pictures for you.

I took an hour off tonight to help Joe hand out candy to the kids.  We never get a lot.  Tonight we got about 25 or 30.  The little ones are so cute.  We sit out on the front step along with our next-door neighbor, Chrissy, and talk in between groups of kids.

Joe handing out the candy.

I put a lit jack-o-lantern in the flowers.  Don't worry, it was a battery operated candle.

 So now the last trick-or-treater is gone.  The door is closed on the spooky night.  And the holidays have begun.  At least in my mind.  It's been a good day.

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Mostly cloudy
High:  71 degrees (nice!)
Low:  63 degrees
Sunrise:  7:29 a.m.
Sunset:  5:59 p.m.
10 hours and 30 minutes of daylight

GETTING READY FOR HALLOWEEN

Another morning where I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and can't go back to sleep.  It's now 4:30 and I am starting to get tired so maybe I can get a few more hours sleep before going to work.

My checklist for today is starting to get filled.  Candy?  Check.  I got 6 bags of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  They are my favorite so whatever is left is mine.  
 

I still have to go to the attic and get the Halloween bowl we always put them into, get some chairs to put out front to sit on, and find the Halloween top I want to wear to work.  I know exactly what I want to wear it's just a matter of finding it in my mess of clothes.

I will be taking pictures to show you later today or tomorrow.  We dress up at work and I always try to get a shot or two (or five or six).

After today, it's on to the holidays.  Only 55 days to Christmas and 59 days to my birthday.  The years just seem to fly by anymore.  I must be getting old. 

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Wednesday -- Light rain
High:  59 degrees
Low:  44 degrees
Sunrise:  7:28 a.m.
Sunset:  6:00 p.m.
10 hours and 32 minutes of daylight
The days are getting shorter and shorter. 

CATCHING UP

What do you say when life is just going on as normal?  That has seemed to be my problem lately with blogging.  But considering how messed up my life is sometimes, normal is GOOD!

I was so tired after work on Monday that we decided to get pizza from Bridesburg Pizza for dinner.  They have good pizza and on Mondays it's "pay when you call" day.  So for example we called at 5:28 p.m. and paid $5.28 for an extra large pizza.  That's a good deal!

Yesterday morning I taught Bible Study before I went to work.  I have taken over for a few months while Joe recovers from his injury.  We are studying the book of Esther.  You know how people say the teacher learns more than the students?  Boy, is that ever right.  Yesterday we talked about faithfulness and courage.  It was one of the best studies ever.

We also celebrated Dottie's 90th birthday.  Wish I had taken a picture but here is one of her from last year.

I brought in cupcakes, and put a candle in one of them.  We then sang "happy birthday" to her.  She was so touched she started crying.  Such a sweet lady.  She wants to live 10 more years to reach 100 and I think she just might do that.  Dottie stands at the front door of the church each Sunday greeting everyone who comes in and giving everyone a hug.  Even the young 20 year old guys in the church call Dottie their girlfriend and get their hug each week.


It has been really busy at work this week.  I hope it lets up soon.  I just can't seem to get everything done.  Or maybe it's me slowing down.  I know my arthritis has been bothering me a lot lately.

So that's what's been happening.  Now I'm off to another day at work.  Joe has his last physical therapy session today.  He actually walked down the street without his cane on Monday so that is really, really good!
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Tuesday -- Sunny
High:  61 degrees
Low:  42 degrees
Sunrise:  7:27 a.m.
Sunset:  6:01 p.m.
10 hours and 34 minutes of daylight.

A SUNDAY VISITOR

Look who came to visit at church yesterday.

A praying mantis!  It was on the handrail as we were walking into the building.

 

I guess he wanted to come in and pray.

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Sunday -- Mostly sunny

High:  59 degrees

Low:  43 degrees

Sunrise:  7:24 a.m.

Sunset:  6:04 p.m.

10 hours and 40 minutes of daylight

FRIDAY VIEW

I finally got myself together and went out and took some pictures so I have a great Friday view for you today.

Today is my day off since I work on Saturday.  My day started with taking the car back to the mechanic AGAIN for low tire pressure.  It appears that the colder weather is making the tires lose pressure which sets off the very sensitive sensor.  So even though my tires are not going flat, the sensor thinks they are.  They told me the next time to just check the pressure (it's supposed to be 32 pounds) and put some air in and see if that does the trick.  The guys there are so nice and didn't even charge me for their time.

This afternoon I am getting together with Debbie and we are going to Shop Rite.  It's sort of nice having Friday off because a lot of people are working and the store isn't as crowded.  Joe volunteered us to make lunch for the Elder's Meeting at church on Sunday.  Since I will not be home tomorrow to cook, I am just buying some lunchmeat, cheese and rolls and throwing together a couple of salads to take over.  Easy peasy.

We finally got our air conditioners taken out of the windows.  Our friends Walt and Carole came over yesterday while I was at work and did it for us.  Usually Joe and I can do it ourselves but with his broken shoulder there was no way that was happening.  It was so nice of them to help us out that way.

So here are some Friday views for you.  Hope you like seeing the Halloween decorations.  Can you believe it's less than a week away?

Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin Scarecrow that I got at Rite Aid a couple of months ago.  I love that the lady scarecrow is holding a crow.

One of my Cherished Teddies.  I have two more Halloween ones, but the picture didn't turn out.  I'll have to take another one to post.

I love decorating with cats, bears and pumpkins.  No witches, devils or ghosts for me.

My black cat and jack-o-lantern suncatcher.

A scarecrow on the door.

So many of my blog friends have posted beautiful pictures of the trees turning color.  I wish I could.  This is the most colorful tree I found on my block.

 

Most of our trees still look like this.

 

Maybe this colder weather will bring out the colors.

Have to run.  Until later...

 -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Mostly sunny

High:  55 degrees

Low:  36 degrees

Sunrise:  7:22 a.m.

Sunset:  6:06 p.m.

10 hours and 44 minutes of daylight

 

WRITER'S BLOCK

That's what happens when day to day life is just routine.  I hope to get out of this funk soon and get back to blogging.  I just really can't think of anything to write about.  Maybe a recipe?  Some pictures if I ever get around to taking them?  Maybe something exciting will happen to me?  How do all of you people think of something to say every day?

Ah me.  On that note I think I will just say...

Mostly cloudy

High:  57 degrees

Low:  38 degrees

Sunrise:  7:20 a.m.

Sunset:  6:09 p.m.

10 hours and 49 minutes of daylight

 

THE BULLY

Last night when I came home from work there was our neighborhood cat Oreo waiting for me.  As I opened the door, she pushed past me and into the house.  She made herself at home.  She didn't even want to eat, I think she just wanted a warm place to sleep.

But...  Oreo turned into a bully.  She refused to let our cat Jenny down the stairs.  She growled at Jenny and even took out her claws and tried to scratch her.  She clawed at our new sofa and growled at Joe when he told her to stop.  She jumped up on the table and tried to eat our dinner off of our plates.  She even knocked things off of the table when she didn't get her own way.  I had to sleep on the sofa because we didn't want the two cats together and Oreo followed me no matter where I went.  Needless to say I didn't get much sleep.

This morning about 5 a.m. Oreo decided she wanted to go out.  She clawed at me until I got up and opened the door.  She went out, then came back in.  Around 5:30 she clawed my leg again, went out and disappeared.

Every time I have gone out today she has been out there waiting for me, wanting to come back in.  But since it is a warm sunny day I have not taken her inside.  Poor Jenny is being terrorized and that's not right.  Oreo won't even let Jenny near her food or water bowls, so Jenny had nothing to eat last night.  Since she eats mostly at night she was very hungry this morning.

I know it is getting cold and I don't want Oreo out there in the snow, but I don't know what to do.  Any suggestions?

P.S.  Now there are another two cats and a kitten hanging around.  Joe thinks we should round them up and take them to the SPCA.

Sunny
High: 63 degrees
Low:  44 degrees
Sunrise:  7:17 a.m.
Sunset:  6:13 p.m.
10 hours and 56 minutes of daylight

PUMPKINS

I scheduled another Pre-school Story Time for this morning before I went to work.  And this time it was a complete success!  I had 5 little ones come to hear the stories:  two 2-year-olds (twins), two 3-year-olds, and one 4-year-old.  I read them books about pumpkins!  

Then we sang "The B-I-B-L-E" and had a Bible story on Jonah.

They loved it.  The one boy, Connor, asked me if I was going to do this again tomorrow!  (smile)  I told him not tomorrow, but soon.

After the stories I gave them coloring pages of pumpkins and crayons and they all colored some pictures to take home and show Daddy.  So cute!

I was tentative about doing another thing in my busy life, but this was worth it.  I had so much fun and so did the kids.  I am doing this once a month and it's only for half an hour so it's not a big commitment.  Next month, of course, it's about Thanksgiving.

Cloudy
High:  74 degrees
Low:  54 degrees
Sunrise:  7:13 a.m.
Sunset:  6:17 p.m.
11 hours and 4 minutes of daylight

A VISITOR AND A TURKEY DINNER

About a month ago a stray cat showed up at my door.  She was so sweet, rubbed against me, wanted to be held and petted.  Not a feral cat at all.  You could tell she belonged to someone at one point.  But she was like a walking skeleton.  I began leaving food out for her and trying to find her a home.  I wanted to bring her in and keep her but our little princess Jenny was having none of that.

But every once in awhile when Jenny was upstairs Oreo (as we named her) would sneak in, eat Jenny's food, get warm and then leave.  Sunday night, however, she came in for the whole night.  After she ate she curled up on the sofa and went to sleep.  Jenny was furious.  Hissing, snarling, growling.  Oreo didn't do anything, didn't even acknowledge that Jenny was there.  I had great hopes of things working out.  But after spending the night Oreo was at the front door howling, scratching, and trying her best to get out.  So I let her go.  She still comes running for pets when she sees me and eats the food I put out (she's gaining weight) but she doesn't want to live inside.  Go figure.

I took some pictures of her when she was in here.  She is so cute.

This is why I call her Oreo.  She has a black head, black tail, and is white in the middle with cookie sized spots on her.

Look at that face!

She's very clean and gave herself a bath after she ate.

She washed every bit of herself.

And got into some weird positions.

Before finally settling down for a nap.

 So after that experience I had Monday off for Columbus Day.  I had a 5 pound turkey breast in the freezer that I wanted to use, so I invited Carole and Walt over for dinner.  They are so good to us, help us out so much, that I wanted to do this for them.  I don't like turkey and rarely eat it, but I do know how to cook it.  Everyone said it turned out wonderful.  I had a whole Thanksgiving dinner -- turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, green beans and cranberries.  I even had pumpkin pie for dessert.  It was good.  There was not a lot left.

Tuesday it was back to work.  Although it was busy, it was not overwhelming and was a rather pleasant day.  It's so nice to have more pleasant days than not at work.  Ever since the kids have gone back to school the whole atmosphere has changed.  I'm enjoying it.

And so now it's about 1:30 a.m. and I am still trying to get things cleaned up for the Physical Therapist and the Nurse who are coming to see Joe tomorrow while I am at work.  So much still to do.  But I am really tired, so I think I am going to go to sleep for a few hours and get up and finish early tomorrow before I go to work.  Oh the life I live.

Until later...

Tuesday -- sunny
High:  73 degrees at 3:05 p.m.
Low:  49 degrees at 7:05 a.m.
Sunrise:  7:11 a.m.
Sunset:  6:20 p.m.
11 hours and 9 minutes of daylight.

 

A RAINY FRIDAY

I had plans for today.  So many plans.  We were going to go out for awhile.  But it ended up pouring all day and I slept almost all day.  I don't know why I'm so tired, but I am glad I am home and can sleep.

Things went well at the doctor's yesterday.  She said I am healing just the way I should and that all looks well.  However, the time frame she gave me for a complete healing was not what I wanted to hear -- two months to a year.  A year!  I don't know how I would deal with this for that long.  But whatever.  As long as I am getting better.

So what did happen today?  I woke up early and got all the trash and recycling out for pick up.  That is usually Joe's job, but with his broken shoulder it will be mine for awhile.  Last week I overslept and didn't make it so there was a lot to put out this time.

I made breakfast, helped Joe get up and showered, and made him breakfast.  I hadn't even gotten into the shower yet when the physical therapist came.  She worked with Joe for quite awhile.  I went out into the kitchen and started cleaning up.  Then ended up taking my shower while she was with Joe so I didn't have to worry about him being up and about by himself.

I slept most of the afternoon.  I was going to do wash, go food shopping and clean, but forget all that.  The one thing I did do was make my Irish stew for dinner.  I had everything I needed in the house, so that was a no brainer.  And with it being cool and rainy it was stew weather.  It turned out so good too.

I posted the recipe a couple of years ago, but thought I would give you the link right here.

So here it is after midnight.  I slept the evening away too.  It's work for me tomorrow (or should I say today) so I'd better go to bed and get even more sleep.

Friday -- showers
High:  66 degrees
Low:  54 degrees
Sunrise:  7:07 a.m.
Sunset:   6:26 p.m.
11 hours and 19 minutes of daylight.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING

This has been a really busy week.  I can't possibly tell you everything, but thought I would give you a few highlights.
 
On Friday I went shopping and saw these jack-o-lantern Peeps.  If you know me, you know I LOVE Peeps.  Needless to say they disappeared this weekend.  YUM!

This past weekend I put up my autumn leaves and apple curtains in the kitchen.  I also wrapped the orange lights around them.  They look so pretty in the evening.

 

Yesterday was the first day of our Tuesday Morning Fellowship which is a Bible study that Joe and I teach each week.  We take a break in the summer and pick it up again in the fall.  Usually we start in September, but with my job up in the air for awhile I had to wait to see exactly what days I would be working late and where I would be working.  We decided to start and see what happens.  We are studying the book of Esther.  Everyone seems to be getting into it and liking it so that is good news.  We even have a new member, Gennie, this week.  Hopefully more people will come.  I was too tired to bake this week, so I got donuts from Wawa on the way in.  I got two pumpkin, two chocolate and two plain.  No one seemed to mind and they all disappeared.

I ran home at 6:00 p.m. for dinner last night to check on Joe and get him a snack to hold him over until dinner time at 8:30 p.m.  Going back to work I was amazed at the absolutely beautiful sky.  The whole sky was red and gold and the clouds made it look like I was underwater.  I have never seen anything like it.  Of course I didn't have my camera with me.  I took a couple of pictures with my cell phone, but it isn't as good as the camera would have been.  But it's still pretty good.

This is a little blurry but you can see the colors.

This one is better, but it was way more intense than this.  Much redder.  Much golder.  So beautiful.  It was indescribable.

 At work I have been doing a lot of cleaning up.  My desk is an absolute mess.  I hate going through things and so have been putting off going through my baskets, but finally decided to do it.  So much trash I found.  I don't think I need memos from 2009 about things that no longer exist.  I don't think I need the backs off of tablets where all the paper has been used.  I will be working on this project all week.  By the end I think I will actually be able to find things again.

Cleaning at work, cleaning at home.  What's gotten into me?  I must be very, very sick because although I like a clean environment, I hate cleaning.

I'd better run because I have to get up early tomorrow to go to see the surgeon.  Although my incision is healing, it is still gushing liquid out.  A lot of my clothing has been stained.  I have a load of wash in and hopefully it has all washed out.

So until later....

Wednesday -- Mostly cloudy
High:  65 degrees
Low:  53 degrees
Sunrise:  7:05 a.m.
Sunset:  6:29 p.m.
The 80 degree weather is over.  And the day is so short -- 11 hours and 24 minutes.  This does not make me happy.

THE EASIEST PUMPKIN MUFFINS EVER

I love pumpkin muffins, so when I found this recipe I wanted to try it.  It is so easy!

Begin with a box of yellow cake mix.  Any kind will do except don't use the "pudding" kind.

Put the mix in a bowl and add a 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree.  Not pumpkin pie mix.

Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon of cloves.  Mix together.  Really mix.  I found this hard to do because the batter gets really thick.

Line 12 muffin cups and fill them about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way with the batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Let cool and enjoy!

 

Warning:  These contain a lot of fiber.  If you have difficulty digesting fiber, this muffin is not for you.  I found out the hard way, but Joe enjoyed the other 10.  ;)

 

FIRST SATURDAY BACK

My back was still hurting me today.  I threw it out on Thursday doing shelving at work.  That figures, doesn't it?  But I took some of the medicine the doctor gave me for my knees and surprisingly by lunch time I was feeling much better.  Why oh why didn't I take it yesterday?  Why did I suffer the whole day?  I guess I will take it for a few days until all the pain is gone.

So fortunately for me it was very slow at work today.  It usually is on the first Saturday we are open.  People are still used to our summer hours.  But before you know it they will know we are there and it will get busy again.

It was another pleasant day.  Allison from the Fishtown Branch was our librarian today.  She is so nice and sweet and a pleasure to work with.  Diane and Marquita were also there, so it was a good group.  I got so much work done that has been sitting on my desk for so long.  All my end of the month reports, supply orders, transportation report.  So most of the day I was able to just sit and I think that helped my back also.

 Before I went to work this morning I put a load of wash out on the line.  My clothes always smell so good after being out in the fresh air all day.  I love it and might as well do as much as I can while the weather is still in the 80s.  Can you believe it's October and it's still 80 degrees?  I am loving this weather!

I am decorating the house for Halloween these days.  I will be posting some pictures for you this week.  It's looking very cute.

I smell my chicken, so I know it's almost time to eat.  Yum!  It smells so good.  I love roasted chicken.  So I am going to run and get my dinner.  Until later....

Partly cloudy
High:  86 degrees
Low:  66 degrees
Sunrise:  7:01 a.m.
Sunset:  6:36 p.m.

It may be warm, but the days are getting shorter.

FRIDAY VIEW

I know it is a little late, but enjoy anyway.  I'll try to do a regular post when I get home from work today.

A man, his cat, and his coffee!

 

 Friday -- Partly Cloudy

High:  87 degrees

Low:  62 degrees

Sunrise:  7:00 a.m.

Sunset:  6:37 p.m.

I could enjoy this weather all year long!  I love warm weather!

I'M GOING TO TRY GOING BACK TO WORK TODAY...

...after spending most of this week in the hospital.  First the ER, then the surgeon.  On Tuesday I saw a stitch emerge, called the surgeon's office and the tech told me to come in on Wednesday.  So after taking Joe to the hospital for his visit to the Orthopedic doctor and his primary doctor, I came home and went to my surgeon.  The tech examined me and said the stitch was gone.  She was going to cut it out, but it must have fallen out itself.  So as the incision continues to drain, my breast continues to get better.  Such a time.

I was going to go back to get Joe, but I started getting a severe headache, stomach pains and throwing up.  I called our friend, Carole, and she went down to get him.  My doctor had already left for the day so after my stomach settled down I just had some tea and crackers.  There's a stomach virus going around here and I have a feeling I got a touch of that.  Spending so much time in the hospital there is no telling what I could have picked up.

My blog seems to be all about sickness lately.  And it's funny because that's why I started this blog.  I was about to have major surgery and was tired of repeating myself over and over to people, so just told them to read the blog.  Then I only had to say it once.  People want to know what's going on, want to help, but it's nerve wracking to say over and over that you are having major surgery, and this is what's wrong with you.

So as I said I am feeling better today and decided to go back to work.  I am working Saturday so I have off tomorrow.  I thought this would be a good way to ease myself in.  I am not going to overdo anything today.  I couldn't anyway because I am still in a lot of pain.

At least the weather is beautiful.  It's been up in the 80s and I'm loving it.  It's the best of both worlds to me -- the beauty of fall and the heat of summer.  Who could ask for more?

I am thinking of retiring the end of the year when I turn 60.  Even though I love what I do, I just feel as if my health will not let me go on.  It would be a very large pay cut to my pension and I will be too young to go on Social Security, but maybe I can do a part-time job in the neighborhood that isn't too hard.  We have lots of businesses here.  It's worth a try anyway.

I have to run and get ready for work.  It's my late day (11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).   Joe's visiting nurse will be here in about an hour so I need to straighten up the living room, get a load of dishes in the dishwasher and hang the wash I put in the machine.  It never ends, does it?

Until later...

Wednesday 10/2 -- sunny
High:  85 degrees
Low:  59 degrees
Sunrise:  6:58 a.m.
Sunset:  6:40 a.m.

THIS ISN'T WHAT I PLANNED

Well, folks, I got jealous of Joe and ended up in the Emergency Room myself on Sunday.  (He didn't take pictures of me though -- ha, ha.)

It all started on Friday night.  When I went to bed, I laid on my stomach and my breast where I just had the surgery started to hurt.  I figured I was laying on a wrinkle in my pj top or in the sheet so I moved and the pain went away and I went to sleep.

When I woke up on Saturday, my whole breast was swollen, red, hot to the touch and extremely PAINFUL!!!  I called the surgeon, got her answering service, but she didn't call back.  Then I called my family doctor and he ordered me an antibiotic to carry me over the weekend and told me to get in touch with the surgeon on Monday.  I carried on with the rest of my day -- cleaning, food shopping, laundry.  But the pain persisted and when I took my temperature it was around 101*.  I had been looking forward to the Fall Festival at Greensgrow Farm but felt way too sick to go.

Sunday was Harvest Day at church.  We were accepting new members, having a congregational luncheon, then in the afternoon a cookout, games, live music and a live streaming of the Harvest Crusade with Greg Laurie.  I was looking forward to it so much.  But instead of going to church I was so sick that I went to the Emergency Room.  They gave me IV antibiotics, did an ultrasound and took x-rays.  The fluid coming from my incision that I thought was puss, isn't.  It's fluid from the surgery.  Everyone tells me that the fact that it's draining is a good thing.  It has to get out.  There's quite a bit of it and it needs to all drain.  They were able to get ahold of my surgeon and she told them not to put a drain in, she needed to see it first.

I was sent home with bandages, but had to go back to the hospital yesterday to see the surgeon.  I got more antibiotics, and I need to let it drain for two weeks then go back to see her.  Hopefully I will not need more surgery.  The surgery would not be nice.

So that's my sad story.  I just took my temperature and I still am running a fever.  I have no time left, so if I take off from work today I will not get paid.  But I think I am going to anyway.  I feel so bad.

I'll end on a happier note.  I saw this on the way home from work the other day and I was at a red light so I was able to get a picture.  Yes, Halloween will be here before we know it.  Can you imagine it's October already?

Inflatible decoration where the ghosts flap in the breeze.  Cool!

Monday -- Partly cloudy
High:  75 degrees
Low:  50 degrees
Sunrise:  6:56 a.m.
Sunset:  6:44 p.m.

A POEM FOR OCTOBER

Falling Leaves

Summer has passed, but
The weather is still fair.
The once leaf-laden trees,
Are, now, almost bear.

Leaves spiral down;
Spinning round and round,
Until, at last, they
Reach the ground.

The once green leaves,
Have now grown old,
And have created below,
A carpet of red, brown, and gold.

Whipped around by the wind,
The fallen leaves, float and fly.
A sudden gust of wind, catches them,
Sending them, sailing up high.

Leaves crunch underfoot;
They curl and decay.
There's a musty smell in the air,
As they slowly, waste away.

Soon the leaves will be gone,
And where they once had lain,
Will be just their lacy skeleton;
Soon, only an impression will remain.

Angela Wybrow