That color! As everything else is dropping leaves, as the fall colors fade, this bush is simply gorgeous. Don’t get me wrong, it’s shedding its leaves, too, but much of it is still beautifully intact.

Don is out raking some leaves at the moment. I’m still feeling a bit under the weather. Yesterday, I realized that I’d reached the end of my rope. I don’t feel well, I’m enraged on a daily basis, I’m text banking, I’m glued to Twitter. It hit me as I was talking to Don – my body and soul need a break. So I largely stayed away from the news yesterday. I listened to music. I read. I even vowed not to text bank, though late in the day, I found myself signing on and doing some texting anyway. That’s what I’m trying to do this weekend: lay low, stay away from the news, listen to music, read. I’ve reached a point where I am emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted. Time to surrender for a few days.

Early voting starts today in New York. I’m not up to standing in a long line today but hopefully, we’ll get there on Tuesday. Don has a doctor’s appointment on Monday for a recurring problem with his right pinky finger that has been exacerbated by years of playing the guitar. Whether it’s arthritis, tendonitis, or a sprain, we don’t know. But hopefully, he can get a diagnosis and a plan to ease the pain.

I just now caught Don dragging the ladder towards the house. We talked about cleaning out the gutters today. I just had to get up and tell him not to do anything  until I finished this post and could go out and help him. Oh boy.

And just now I saw him stepping on a rung and had to yell out NO! NO! – It reminds me of having a pet that you have to say no to all the time.

Anyway, as you can see, I have to finish this post in order to keep my husband in line.

We’re hanging in there. I hope you are, too.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

A package arrived yesterday from Sarah at Landau House.

A set with Art Nouveau covers.

Vintage classics.

Agatha Christie.

An illustrated (on the inside pages as well as the cover) Sleeping Beauty,  and a gift from Sarah – Persuasion  by Jane Austen.

Her books are beautifully done. I’ve had some problems with mini books in the past – too big, too awkward, out of scale. These are perfect.

I quickly put them in the bookcase so I could see them all together:

It’s fiddly work, getting them all in there. I have lots more to go, but every time I add something new, I get excited.

I’m starting to want to live in this little space. I would also like this piece of furniture in my real house, please.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Everything is starting to fade and I suppose these will, too, but right now, they’re as vibrant as ever.

We have so many leaves to rake. It’s daunting. Don make take a stab at some of them later today. I may or may not join him, depending on how I feel.

I find I can’t think of much else but the election right now. I do make myself read my novel, but too often I’m checking the news when I should be escaping. Both Don and I have accepted the fact that for the next however-many days, our focus will be on the news and, of course, doing our volunteer work for the campaign. Don is making lots of calls (he’s very good at that) and I am texting. Every once in a while I encounter a rude MAGA via texting and that person behaves in just the way you’d imagine. But most of the time, it’s positive and rewarding. Texting doesn’t officially start until 4 pm and I keep monitoring replies up until 9 pm. By the way, I’m not texting on my phone, I’m using a program that is on my computer so it’s much easier than it sounds. I don’t know about you, but texting on my phone is always frustrating. I hit the wrong letter or symbol, auto-correct takes over, and it takes me three times as long as it would if I was typing an email. This texting is nothing like that.

Don just got back from the grocery store and I’m about to make our second cup of coffee.

I don’t think I’ll watch the debate tonight, simply because I can’t abide one second of that man. Don probably will because he can distance himself from the whole thing better than I can. If only we had a mute button for OM all day, every day. Better yet, prison.

And prison for Rudy Giuliani, as well.

New York starts early voting on Saturday. We will probably go on Monday, to avoid the weekend voters. We can’t wait to finally cast our ballots.

Thanks so much for all your comments yesterday. Sharing together is powerful.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.