It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

One day late, but catching up!

I’ve just completed the Sunday puzzles, placing the “w” in the last spot. Monday whizzed by with that minor accomplishment achieved. It just seems to be a necessary duty before the week can properly begin, otherwise it’s a nagging feeling of unfinished business. Now Monday may commence, even though it is six pm.

The ritual of fall planting will find its place on the agenda this week with the procurement of chrysanthemums and tulip bulbs. Flu shots, checking the furnace filter, and tending to the septic field are also on tap.

It’s a glorious week, replete with “abundant” sunshine, as the weatherman predicted. We shall be enjoying it before the hint of winter seeps in, and taking to our tasks in preparation.

My free time has been rather sporadic lately, and happily so.

Perusing my Pinterest feeds and other such wonderful apps during a down time, I came across this useful little tip, which hopefully will never need employing for any of us. Rather than read the tip, I just spent an inordinate amount of time wondering why someone thought to post this? On Pinterest? Maybe it could lead the reader to a possible craft?

Speaking of crafts, it’s Fall, and abundant pumpkin opportunities abound for little pumpkins. Now those I am hoping to employ as soon as possible!

The lawn improvement equipment has been cleaned and stored for the winter, even though it promptly rained again after my meticulous work. Next on the chopping block? The flowers.

It’s probably a good thing I live where we have four seasons as I am tired of my beautiful blooms and tending to them just as Fall arrives. I’m apparently only good for four months of horticultural nurturing. Soon the lawn furniture will take its place in storage and the cold winds will chase us indoors.

While I may not yearn for the snow just yet I am totally ready for a hard freeze. Achoo!

She had to have a mission.

I gave my lovely granddaughter a bunch of push pins to carry in the Kubota while my husband and I drove her down the road. We really are not the most responsible grandparents, are we?

Well, we all wore helmets at ten miles an hour, so in a way we are being responsible. And she is really detail-oriented so the push pins with sharp edges were handled well. And we didn’t even tell her parents what we did. I think we are exceptionally responsible. Unless they read this.

Our goal was to post a missive from the HOA president on the mailboxes with wood posts, push- pinning the missive to them. At least ten minutes of time was dedicated to this venture. Quite frankly, we all enjoyed the outing. (Especially the president who is still trying to replace herself! )

Pokey things and dangerous objects, like motorized vehicles. I’ve decided that we are in charge of all of that. And thankfully, the parents of my little pup trust us.

I guess we did raise one of them.

Since we ditched the four-year requirements for literature and history in our high schools and colleges, I’m leaning towards educating via the roads. Our signage should consider the public’s dearth of knowledge and encourage more readin’ and writin’.

It will require an amount of cleverness, but I believe it can be done. Send your ideas to CDOT.

Yesterday I arose with the dawn. Determined to spend a brief time with the newspaper before church, I proceeded to the bottom of the driveway. There was no material for the day, but a chance to perhaps solve the mystery of our half-eaten, usually day-old news delivery mode.

I sat on the bench in the music room working on a copy of the LATimes puzzle. I kept en eye out for the delivery driver and possible thief. I was near the end of my exploration when a family member walked by me and commented, “Your paper is out in the neighbor’s field.” We laughed our heads off. Apparently it was too dark for me to notice the remains and I had suffered the hard planks of my bench for no reason.

This week’s detective work continues. It’s good to have goals.

Why that came to mind? I didn’t get to watch “Lost in Space,” but I’ve heard that line enough to feel that I have. It doesn’t really apply to anything other than the little mystery we’ve encountered here in the ‘hood.

For the past two mornings our newspaper has arrived, deep teeth marks, gashed and torn to shreds, strewn across the neighbor’s yard. (She gets all the fun stuff. The deer, falcon, our litter.) My best guess is that the driver throws the paper, a wild animal (fox) mistakes it for a small creature and scoops it up, demolishing it and dragging it to its death until realization kicks in.

There is always a silver lining though. The puzzle section has remained intact. At least the creature has discriminating tastes.

Two puzzles and a cup of caffeine await and hopefully no serious danger in the day.

Nothing screams “relaxing evening,” like getting a two-year old ready for bed in the midst of replacing a garbage disposal at 8 pm.

Thankfully the leak was fresh, HD had a placement, my husband is a handy repairman, and the little girl was tired. The relaxing part came as I finished that previously initiated puzzle when all were fast asleep.

Today? We venture out into the world of children’s entertainment, striving to keep a little one from napping in the car. It’s always a day filled with opportunity!

Thank you, dear Son. The 1,000-piece puzzle set up yesterday has captured my attention.

Once again I am in another world, placing pieces and gently encouraging them to work in the slots I wish for them. I can feel my father and sister sitting there doing the same thing as we work on the “family puzzle,” which seemed to have a permanent place behind the sofa on a nice big banquet table. We worked furiously to complete the said puzzle when we needed the table for dinners or parties, relishing the “last piece” trophy.

Ah. After forcing myself to retire past midnight, I arose to put ten pieces together, pronto. Now the day may officially be underway.

Good luck solving your puzzle.

It has been active around here.

My granddaughter spotted a stag wandering through the yard to my neighbor’s house. He was in no hurry as he gracefully strolled along. The previous week that same neighbor had a falcon land in her front yard – at least that’s my story. It did not fly like the hawks, which thankfully have returned sporadically, and it was huge! Last night a fox screamed through the backyard with a parliament of magpies chasing him. Quite the sight!

This morning the backyard was an aviary with doves, the blue jay, little sparrows and the token magpies. I went to grab a photo of the mob, but the minute I opened the door they all flew, only to be replaced by a little bugger of a squirrel who is now taunting me.

The gentle rains apparently fueled the morning coffee klatch. On to my own power source.