Hurrah for cooler weather! We had big, scary storms here on Saturday evening. Yet another huge limb from one of our trees came down. There was volatile weather all around our area – NYC had a tornado! That’s a rarity. Anyway, the storms finally cleared out all the oppressive humidity. Thank goodness.
Leaves are falling. Already. Yikes.
Readers of this blog know about my love for hot chocolate. I will admit that I’ve been pushing the boundaries of acceptable hot chocolate drinking weather. Somehow, the minute the yarn comes out, a signal is sent to my brain and I find myself craving a fix. Ghirardelli’s – Chocolate Mocha. Yummy.
The yarn? That’s an Obsession Scarf in the making. It’s autumn. Time for new scarves in the Etsy shop.
The perfect understated English title for a garden book: A Gentle Plea for Chaos, Reflections from an English Garden.
What can I say about the weekend? It was rather uneventful except for our trip to Urgent Care Saturday morning. It seems to be the year for tetanus shots here at the cottage. I gently urged Don to check our gutters as that big old storm was due later in the day. There he was, up on the roof, trying to clear one of the downspouts, when he cut his finger on a rusty piece of metal. We cleaned it out but after the sort of conversation that goes back and forth between “Do you think I really need to get a shot?” and “Maybe I should get a tetanus shot to be safe” we decided to err on the side of caution. (I had to get one earlier this year when I cut myself on the rusty wires on my old wicker rocker.)
We’re covered in that department for the next ten years.
On Friday we had to have the car inspected. We knew we had to get two new front tires. Then we crossed all our fingers and toes hoping that our almost 12 year old car would pass. After the tires were replaced, oil was changed and wiper blades were replaced – it passed. Sigh of relief.
More zinnias. Remember the spider web and the beautiful yellow and black garden spider of a few posts back? The day after I wrote about her, I went outside to see how she was doing. Gone. No trace of the web, no trace of her. When I initially searched for information about her, I read that these spiders set up a web and stayed there for a long time, unless a predator was nearby. So there must have been some sort of predator nearby. (I hope she didn’t think I was a predator!)
Anyway, I sort of miss her.
I picked up Riley’s ashes on Friday. More tears. I seem to cry most every day.
Have a Happy Monday.
Zinnias have become one of my favorite flowers sometimes I order seeds and buy the short zinnias and put them in pots on my porch. We had hot chocolate with marshmallows this weekend. Yum!
hot chocolate, a good book and crochet, what a wonderful way to spend the day. i had to chuckle when you said you “gently” urged don to check the gutters. I “gently” reminded my husband this morning that we have only until the end of the month to finish painting our kitchen cupboards…hee hee. enjoy your day!
So sorry Claudia but unfortunately you will probably tear up about Riley for a very long time, it’s funny but I sometimes find myself thinking about the loss of our first pup, who was hit by a car at just 5 months over 25 years ago and I still cry.
It has been very cool here the past few nights and early in the morning, I am thinking about hot chocolate myself now. That looks delicious and the scarf looks scrumptious too.
Have a lovely day,
Sue
I read ‘Hot Chocolate’ in the title and went “Ooooo!” Five minutes later I’m back at the computer with a luscious cup in my hands. I love hot cocoa and would drink it in the summer while sitting in front of the air conditioner. :)
Have a good week.
Cassandra from ‘Renaissance Women’
This is a gorgeous color of yarn. I was at a festival this weekend and saw so many beautiful crochet throws, guess I better get some yarn to my MIL to make me another one!
Healing tears within your happy light-filled home will be bring healing..not forgetting, but healing.
Looking forward to new crocheted “banners” too! *hint *hint… :)
Claudia – Your first photo looks so warm and cozy!! We’re much cooler here than we have been. Thank goodness. I’m definitely ready for Fall.
Have a great day!!
Judy
Iced Hot Chocolate. You make up the minimum amount of hot chocolate (to dissolve everything) and then add ice cubes and additional cold water/milk. It’s good. (At least, it’s good with the Chuao’s Winter mix I use which is loaded with yummy spices)
And, you make me cry..I’d like to say it gets better but times like your loss bring it all back..So sorry for you..Cherish the memories…
Cooler weather and crochet. Yum. The hot chocolate is a bonus! I’m thinking that Miss Spider saw you with your yarn and figured you were making a web she couldn’t top, so she moved on. :) Hugs to you as you are missing your sweet pup. My heart goes out to you. :)
Tears are healing, and so are hot chocolate and yarn! Have a blessed day, Claudia!
Hi Claudia, I cried every day for a good while after I lost each of my kitties. Good for you, that’s what they are! A little here, a little there, and the healing continues. Glad you guys are safe and sound. Take care. xo Jennifer
Hot chocolate sounds good as it’s pretty cool here this morning. I know it’s been a hard time and picking up Riley’s ashes was hard. Hope today is a healing day. Hugs, Linda
Yes I still tear up at time thinking about my pets who have gone to the rainbow bridge. I don’t I will ever get over losing them. This weekend was very tough as we learned that our Murphy has kidney damage! Of course the call came on sat and we weren’t home. Then had to wait until today to learn more. I hate when things happen on the weekend. Tomorrow we take him in to get his protein checked. ( I followed him around today to get a sample. Yeah right. You try to get a cup in his stream without him stopping) They will have to take one from him tomorrow. Hopefully with a change in food it will slow down the disease. No cure. This has been so hard. Teary weekend. So of course we don’t know how long we will have him. If we can get his levels down and keep them there it will at least slow down the progress and help him live longer. Tearing up again.
That spider was beautiful You were lucky to him/her.
Your photo looks sooo inviting. I’m excited for cooler weather and mugs of hot drinks. I’ve enjoyed catching up on your posts, Claudia. The last one was especially sweet. Your home is so warm and inviting.
I hope your wonderful hot chocolate helps to ease some of your sorrow. This reminds me that I need to make a note to get a tetanus shot next time I am at the doctor. I also need a flu shot. Ouch!!!
I’ve been thinking about cocoa for the past week, Claudia! (Great minds….) There’s none in the house so I’ve been soothing myself with Maxwell House International “Cappucino Cinnamon Dulce”. It’s so delicious! And so is that yarn color…. what a beautiful jewel tone for autumn. I’ve been knitting, too, ever since the weather broke. I’ve made one sock and have started another. I’m glad you have Riley home again. *hugging*
Ten years you are good for now! Wouldn’t it be great if flu shots, or other such things gave us a guarantee for 10 years. Mark that one off your list! I heard about your storms and the NYC tornado! And I say that after the last few weeks you’ve had, it’s time to break out the hot chocolate and get some comfort. Wish you could stitch your broken heart back together, but that will happen over time. Ann
Ah dear one, how could anyone think you were a predator? Good for you working in a timely reminder for tetanus shots for all of us preparing our gardens for winter. You rock!
ahh … what’s better than the crispy air of fall, the first hot chocolate of the season, and work-horse cars passing inspection? well 2 out of 3 for me, anyway. our 12 year old car didn’t pass and we had to get a new car. felt so proud and frugal pulling into the dealer with our cassette playin’, no power-anything hyundai!
i hope all is well with you and don and your family. i’m playing a little overdue catch up tonight and it feels wonderful!
bottoms up!
xo
elyse
Hello Claudia,
I am so sorry to hear about Riley! Oh my dear, I send you a hug…wishing you the best during this time of adjustment…gosh. I remember how it is. Hot chocolate is very comforting…it would be my choice too!
Hugs,
Terri
Hi Claudia
You had a busy weekend and Im sorry about hubbys cut but glad he got the shot.. As for Riley, my heart breaks for you because I know your pain and yes you will cry for a long time.. I still cry over the loss of my Bruiser in Dec 2010.. it’s rough.. …
As a side note, I hope it’s OK, I’d like to put a link to your blog on my blog because I love reading yours and I know others will too..
Robyn
Claudia, I’ve missed you. I have been so busy with work and life that I haven’t been able to visit much at all. I’m so sorry to ready about your Riley, and I know how your heart must hurt.
I’ve spent a few minutes trying to catch up on your posts. I smiled at your happy home – such a tribute to the two kind hearts making the home. And, I am happy that your move to WordPress went so well. Everything over here is looking quite awesome.♥
ClaUDIA that scarfe has the most beautiful colours ,I love what I can see –
and the Zinnia ,-Gorgeous..
Also love your little new mantle, and sweet collection inside.
I`m feeling sad for you dear, and hope your tears will soon dry, and you can live
with the beautiful memory , feeling sad yes, but not that unhappy.
Hugs from Dorthe
Oh! I remember how overwhelming and heartbreaking it was to go in and pick up the ashes … sending you lots more hugs! Please know you’re in my thoughts.
They say it’s never too late to learn new stuff and I must learn how to knit and crochet. That’s all there is to it!
Love that book title, sounds perfect, I will have to check it out. And try the Ghirardelli’s too, I’m all about Mocha’s. ;)
Yeah! Gotta check for scarves in your Etsy shop soon. We’re still weeks away from cool weather, but it’s at least tolerable now.
Crying can be very therapeutic, it cleanses the soul. I know how losing your baby feels, but with time it will get easier. The pain is replaced by such precious, loving memories.