Speaking of Rose of Sharon, some deer chomped on the smaller of the two bushes, eating lots of the flower buds. Grrrrr.

Next year, I’m installing some sort of barrier around them.

Boy, the weather has really changed. There’s definitely a feeling of autumn in the air. It’s now dark when we wake up so we’re not sure what time it is. And the evening dark comes much earlier. I’m ready for sweaters and thermals (our favorite winter wear.) There are small maple leaves that have already changed color falling to the ground. It happens so quickly.

As much as I love spring and summer, I find myself feeling happy that it will soon be autumn. That’s what I love about the seasons and what I eventually missed when I lived in southern California. I grew up in Michigan, moved to Philadelphia, and then moved to Boston. Four distinct seasons is what I know. And now it’s what Don – a San Diego boy – knows, too. He loves it.

The phlox is fading, as are the coneflowers. September is around the corner. Soon the kids will be back in school. The rivers are low. We need rain, just like last year at this time. But there’s one thing we know: it will all change. And then, we’ll be complaining about too much rain.

In a week, I go back to NJ for two days. And again, the week after that. Don has his last event in the summer concert series while I’m gone next week. I’m disappointed because that’s the one I had planned on attending because Don is on the bill. He’ll be singing. But, what can you do?

By the time I finish this job, it will be mid-September! Time goes by so quickly.

Today, I have lots of little chores to tackle. Nothing exciting, but definitely necessary.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

We have this beautiful thistle that grows wild around here and this is what it looks like after the spent bloom bursts open.

You can see a lot of the milkweed in this photo. And it’s in other places as well. I keep reminding myself to thin it out next year. It takes up too much real estate.

I mowed the front lawn on Monday and then had to take yesterday to recover. Here’s the story about why Don fell asleep on the front porch while waiting for me to arrive. The day before, he realized he had run out of coffee. He had no car. I happened to call him and when he answered, I could tell he was walking. When I asked where, he said “You don’t want to know.” He fessed up, however. He was walking into town (and beyond) to buy some coffee. Why didn’t you ask our neighbor if they could take you to buy some, I asked? He didn’t want to. So he walked three miles to the corner store. He only had one choice, an overpriced small can of Chock Full of Nuts. He bought it and rested for a bit. Then he headed back. Six miles in all. WAY too much for a guy who doesn’t go on many walks and is 74. It has taken him a while to recover. His legs are sore and he is really tired.

And that’s why he fell asleep sitting on the glider.

Another view of the house and the huge maple on the right.

Our neighbor who was in the motorcycle accident  – a head on collision with an SUV – is home recuperating. It will be a long haul. To quote from his sister’s post on FB:

“On June 8th, my brother was airlifted to a Level 1 Trauma Center in Albany after a bad motorcycle accident involving a head on collision with an SUV. He had severe pelvic ring fractures (to the extent that his spine was no longer connected to his pelvis), a hip fracture, open femur and tibia fractures, many broken ribs, a separated shoulder, a collapsed lung, and lacerations to his liver and both kidneys. The doctors feared he wouldn’t make it through the night. He was put in skeletal traction to stabilize his femur and pelvis while awaiting orthopedic surgery. But he developed acute kidney failure due to hemorrhagic shock and severe breakdown of muscle tissue, which then caused a seizure. He therefore had to be sedated and intubated because he had stopped breathing. A variety of complications ensued which resulted in his remaining sedated and intubated for 6 weeks. During that time, some of his doctors didn’t think he was going to make it. But Emile is tenacious! After many sessions of dialysis, his kidneys began to heal and made a full recovery. To the great surprise of some of his doctors, Emile came out of that medically induced coma with his memory and all brain function completely intact. He was eventually cleared for surgery, which thankfully went great! They put a rod in his femur and a few massive screws in his pelvis. A week later, he was transferred to an acute rehab facility in Schenectady. It was a rough transition, but he began to stand within a week! After just 2 and a half weeks of rehab, he was discharged. His physical therapists were blown away by his rapid progress.”

Two terrible car/motorcycle accidents this year – our friend, Margaret, and Emile. Please stay safe, everyone.

The light has changed and the temperatures have cooled. I’m sensing that Fall is on the horizon. The light is golden and beautiful. I’m going to resume walking at our library, and, if Don is feeling better, he will join me.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Heavens, it’s taking me so long to recover from the trip! I didn’t sleep well the night before last, waking up at 4 am, so I barely functioned yesterday. I got more sleep last night, so I feel better – foggy, but better. The drive on the Garden State Parkway is insane. Huge backups for no reason. It takes forever. Once I got on the Thruway in NY, it was smooth sailing.

I was tired when I got home, but the first thing I saw was a black swallowtail butterfly flitting around the garden. Wasn’t that a lovely welcome? Better than the welcome from my husband, who fell asleep on the porch glider and didn’t even hear me drive in! I was in and out of the house calling for him, and starting to get worried, and then I found him on the porch where he had been sitting, waiting for me. Sleep overtook him.

The theater building and complex are fabulous and so well planned. Filled with light. It was renovated not that long ago. Red Bank is a pretty little town on the Navesink river, not far from the Atlantic Ocean. I did walk around a bit on Friday. There were antique shops right by the theater, but they were disappointing. Pretty junky. But the view of the river is beautiful and when Hurricane Rita finally passed us, I could see the harbor and all the boats.

It felt good to be coaching again, and not via Zoom, but in person, face-to-face. There’s no comparison. I go back in a little less than 2 weeks.

Ruby and Dexter, dressed for a road trip.

Blythes are good companions, but this little girl is sort of the perfect size. Same body size as a Blythe, but obviously, a smaller head.

This is how they traveled. Remember this basket from my friends at Play From Your Heart that I got at the Blythe convention? It comes with a little mattress and pillow.

Don took this photo.

I think everyone should have a doll as a traveling companion!

I missed the others, though, and was glad to see them again.

I am telling you: they keep me sane in the midst of the horrors and crimes and abuse from this administration. Play. Whatever your preferred method of playing and creating is, go for it. Do everything you can to find pockets of peace and joy. We are meant to play, and that shouldn’t stop just because we’re adults. Or old ladies, in my case.

Love to you all.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.