Salute the Chair Man

Woke up to a dusting of snow today. Looks good on the leaves and grass, but not so much on this guy...

Today I'm grateful for Mr. Deck Chair. He quite literally has supported me through thick and thin. (I'm sure he prefers thin.) And had always been my chief enabler for procrastinating – especially when it comes to housework or anything involving, well, work.

It's surprising how a little time with Mr. Deck Chair can go a long way. I am not as high maintenance as some may thing. Give me a good cup of coffee and Mr. Deck Chair on a mild summer's morning, and I'm good to go. Give me a good book and Mr. Deck Chair any time of day and I can avoid cleaning like nobody's business.

And a nap with my face to the sun? Pull up a chair!

Based on the forecast for the next little while, I'll probably have to tuck Mr. Deck Chair and his friends away for a few months.

When he comes back out in the spring, though, I know the worst (season, that is) is behind us. I can guarantee I'll be grateful for that, too.

Do you have a go-to spot to unwind? It's a sweet blessing we deserve, isn't it?

My Political Post

Here's my political post...

You might have to zoom in on the cat. While two of us in our household can wear "I voted" stickers, she could sport the "I vomited" one. Even on non-election days.

I did vote early. Went on way to work and there were lines already and people registering, too. Great to see that!

After work I went straight to a nearly two-hour church meeting and now I'm home. The committee in my head has voted that I should sit down and watch a Hallmark Christmas movie instead of blog.

I love democracy in action!

The Midnight Express

According the internet, Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the fall, in order to make better use of natural daylight.

Better use? For who?

This is me every year on the Monday after the fall time change.

But in the spirit of my 30 days of gratitude, I will say that I was quite appreciative of not having to get dressed in the dark this morning. My clothes matched on first try. So I do like that for the few weeks it lasts.

For now, though, it's 6:25 p.m. and it looks like midnight (that got here fast). And I am soooo tempted to put on jammies and curl up with Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. 

Since hubby's home and not bowling for anyone tonight, I better ease into that transition. Comfy sweats, the recliner, and The Voice. 

And fast asleep at 9 p.m.

Rain Dates

When the weatherman calls for 100 percent rain – and he's actually right – there's only one thing to do: Spend the day inside. With a friend.

My childhood (and beyond) friend Julie and I try to get together a few times a year since we live less than 2 hours apart (she's just south of Madison). And we're both at the empty nest stage in life where we should have free time. Still, it usually takes some major schedule coordination to pull it off.

Today, she was on standby based on Mr. Forecaster. Since he was correct, that postponed a senior photo shoot indefinitely – freeing up my day. So we agreed to meet at a halfway point for lunch: Monk's Bar and Grill in Wisconsin Dells.

Thankfully it wasn't super busy so we could enjoy a nearly 3-hour visit! So very good to see her!

Today, for my Gratitude Month Blessing Photo Challenge, I am grateful for my lifelong friend. She's been there for me through awkward junior high years to handling life at 50! Lucky to have this Luck girl by my side always!

Not sure if we'll have another rain date soon, but we'll have our snow date in February at Camp Crop-A-Lot. Then we have 3 days instead of 3 hours of quality time.

Feeling blessed beyond words. Hope you found a spot of sunshine in your rainy day, too!

An Extra Hour-ish

Knowing we'd have a whole extra hour today – unofficially – I made myself quite a Saturday To Do List:

• Clean house
• Close the Course
• Photograph a rock star
• Bake Xmas cookies
• Watch Hallmark movie
• Turn back the clocks 

Today I am grateful for extra time – and I have some photos to show for it.

Did I get my list all done? Almost. I did get some sweeping done, but hubby vacuumed while I was off closing the course.

The Close the Course Race actually does close the golf course at SentryWorld for the season. My neighbor Marigene and I represented the 'hood and a certain age category. She finished 4th in it and I followed at 6th. Here we are celebrating with our finish-line beer. Point Root Beer, that is!

Was a lovely day for a run. Last year it rained, so having the sun out with no wind was an extra bonus. Made the 40 degrees feel warm. Or something. 

I haven't been doing much running so I signed up for the 2.5-mile run instead of the 5-mile one. Knowing I'd have to walk part of it, I was just hoping I could finish under 30 minutes. I crossed at 27:49, which was 3 minutes better than last year. So I was ecstatic between that and the fact this year's event t-shirts are purple!

Came home and went out on a photo shoot. Yes, a rock star, for real. Jim's classmate Kat, who we sometimes go hear when her band is playing in the area. Took some pictures of her for a portfolio of sorts. Didn't get time to jazz up yet, though.

Had to go to the next item on my list: Christmas cookies. Now I purchased two "cookie stamps" from a Scandinavian store that I hoped to use for the upcoming Cookie Bake. No matter what I tried – oil, sugar, flour – I could not get a decent stamp. And usually the dough stuck to it. So I manage to get a half dozen Viking cookies to work and then switch gears and made round cookies with melted chocolate drizzled on them later.

This one is still beauti-SKOL, doncha think? If you know a trick for using those stamps successfully, I'll take advice. Thanks!

I actually skipped the Hallmark movie tonight and went to a real one. I know. The second movie date this week. Jim and I both enjoyed Bohemian Rhapsody. Even somewhat knowing the story, it was still a great way to tell it! After the flick, we stopped at Ida's for pizza and now I'm checking all the clocks.

I squeezed a lot into that extra hour today. How 'bout you?

There Once Was a Little Girl Who Had a Little Curl

There once was a little girl
who had a little curl
in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good, she was very good.
When she was bad, she was horrid.

Do you know why she was horrid? Because she couldn't sleep the night before. She had curlers in her hair and no matter which way she lay, the harmless little white and pink rods stabbed her head.

True story.

As a female with perfectly straight and very fine hair, it was a big production to give it some life when I was young. If there was a Christmas program or wedding or special event, the night before would mean an hour in the chair while Mom put the curlers in.

Pull that hair, Mom. Be sure it's tight around the curler and can create a better curl come morning when our hair is dry. And our head is like a dimpled golf ball from all the pins jabbing it during the night. Thank goodness the ends were a little blunt so they didn't break skin.

Always such restless sleep with them in, though. You just couldn't get comfortable!

But so worth it when we looked all cute and curly the next day!

See I told you it started young!!

Smiling at our parents' silver wedding anniversary party – despite the fact we probably got little sleep the night before. Must have been some good punch!

So yes, for my Gratitude Month daily Photo Blessing... Today I am grateful for the women of long ago who one day thought: "If we burn our hair, it will make it pretty."

Thank you from all of us perfectly straight- and fine-haired ladies who can finally sleep at night!

Sweet dreams!

Gratitude Month

I'm stealing my own Facebook post this time! 

Hello, November! (a.k.a. Gratitude Month)

While I try to practice an attitude of gratitude every day, I could use a jump start (probably a poor choice of words considering my recent car troubles). And November seems the appropriate time to do so.

I usually challenge myself to express gratitude for something each day of the month, leading up to Thanksgiving, without repeating any. This year, I'm giving myself a Blessing Photo Challenge. I will share my gratitude through my lens. And then my blog. Join me?

Today, as pictured above, I am grateful for fall colors. Not everyone – even in the states – is blessed to have different seasons. They miss out on the gorgeous handmade quilt Mother Nature presents each autumn. This year, she definitely went all out and the view was outstanding!

Now, those final leaves are clinging to branches, knowing their absence makes way for the presence of the next season – the one I don't particularly love.

Hold tight, my little colorful friends. Please!