If You Build It...

I don't know about you, but I think our neighborhood is getting together to build an ark! It's been coming down steady all day with no sign of stopping until Sunday! We already have an inch and counting in the rain gauge. 

It stinks because there are so many OUTDOOR fall activities to do this weekend.

Our neighborhood Pumpkin Shed opened today. It's not even half a block away so we take pride and ownership!

They've got pumpkins of all colors and sizes – and beautiful mums.

They've got gourds of all shapes and sizes as well.

Including these "things" that look like they belong on episode of Dr. Pimple Popper! You can un-see that now, can you?!

If squash is your thing, they have the usual varieties.

Including this new variety call Mac n Cheese. I mean if squash soup tasted like Mac n Cheese, I might actually like it. Just never been my thing.

They also have decorations, craft items, and Gene's world-famous salsa – made with all ingredients grown on the farm. There are also few cooky and spooky displays like this chicken who never had the guts (get it?) to cross the road.

And this poor fella has been waiting FOREVER for someone to give him a push on the swing!

And this little guy is waiting to trick or treat! Always something fun to see and do. Hopefully when the weather clears, you can show those hardworking farm ladies some love! (Deer Road and 70th Street in Grand Rapids.)

Of course, when the rain does stop Sunday, I'll be having my INDOOR fun. Yup BINGO returns to Assumption! Doors open at noon. Play starts at 1 p.m. And Robyn yells her first "BINGO!" at 1:13 p.m. Ha.

Try to have a nice weekend, everyone!

Fall Fast Forward

Somehow September has speeded ahead and we're almost to the first official day of fall. How are we halfway through the month? I have no idea!

But check out the suggested September Bucket List! Have you accomplished anything on the list?

I've done pictures and farmers markets and football games, but I better get myself in gear for the rest of the list!

I think my favorite is the simple "Get cozy and relax." Doesn't require any special props or extra people. Ha. What do you look forward to most in the "almost fall" season?

 

No Time To Spare

It's so ironic that when my baby boy calls for a "catch up" that he says it's about the only 10 minutes he'll have available in the next week.

I thought we, the parents, were the busy ones but now I realize my update was something like "nope, nothing new here, we work, life is boring."

But of course I was excited to hear about our college kids... yes we kind of adopted all his friends... and now more are getting married and having babies. Must start on baby blanket now!

And I do have a weird night of spare time. Usually there is no sports going on – but also choir. Our director retired so we'll see what happens next week.

As for non-Wednesday activities, I think I can get some steps and do the ol' "Netflix and Chill."

Random At Home

My "off" weeks are kind of weird for work. I am remote all week and miss the normal cadence of life. How I do I get things done in time? And I mean dang, I missed the Emmy's last night as a normal human being!

So the rest of the week I am contributing to the fun parade! We are starting our two-week United Way campaign so we all are doing our best to contribute when and where we can. 

Just put work stress aside and determine if we can contribute $$$ instead??

Working well so far. 👌 

Sunday Funday

 

OMG. What a delightful Sunday when I ran into random Vikings fans – beyond humans – when i was out and about at the Downtown Grand Affair! (You know how this turned out!)

I was shopping for nothing in particular, but I  was happy to see a fellow purple fans as a I walked around!

There were several "farmers markets"  produce and pumpkins but I must give all positive vibes to the Pumpkin Shed just half block away!! Opening next weekend!

A Walk (or Run) in the Park

I spent a good chunk of my day at beautiful Standing Rocks Park near Plover where Stevens Point High School was hosting their annual cross country meet.

The fluctuation of our Royals cross country team has been interesting. Sometimes there's so many runners they have to compete for the Varsity 7. Other times, like today, there were not enough runners – we need 5 to score as a team.

Still, it's always fun to watch and to capture. And I think this year was the first time I wasn't dying from sun and heat. I actually had to go back to my car at one point to get my jacket!

I think Assumption did as well as they hoped. 

Afterward, since we all had to follow a dusty gravel road to get to the park, I made sure to find a car wash. Then the rest of the day was random errands and getting steps.

Hope y'all had a satisfying and relaxing Saturday!!

25 Years?

Hard to believe today is 25 years since the most impactful historical moment of my lifetime happened. When our young football team faced the flag during our moment of silence this evening, I realized none of them were even born! Do they understand the impact of today?

I remember in high school when I had write some paper that involved asking my parents for memorable/impactful moments in history. My mother knew exactly what she was doing and how she heard on the radio that JFK was assassinated. I thought "How do you remember that from 20 years ago?!" 

But now I get it.

Between work and taking football pictures this evening, I didn't have time to watch any of the 25th anniversary tributes to 9/11. Maybe tomorrow I can find them. It's not like I want to re-live the day. But don't you want to go back to that month and remember how we all came together as a nation – and it didn't matter our political affiliation, our skin color, our income, or anything? We bonded together as mourners and survivors.

That definitely got lost in the decades since, unfortunately.

For me, it was crazy week. Working at a newspaper had a whole host of extra memories. Special editions. Two newspapers a day. And we still couldn't keep up with how much was being discovered those first few days – Trade Center, Pentagon, Flight 93 – and how it all tied together. So surreal.

But like I said, any of us who woke up ALIVE on September 12 should consider ourselves survivors. Let's try not to take that for granted.

Or our freedom to comment on this event however we want!