Weather or not it is

This was a wonderful portrayal of fall in the local newspaper last week, I shared it on my FB page.  But this week our weather turned overnight as it often can do here in MN.  There is truth in what the former old timers said, "if you don't like the weather just wait a day or less and it will change.."  So it happened here and although I am fond of four seasons and changes I no longer look forward to winter, it is too long and cold.  I did not mind it so much when we could travel south in our motor home, but this year again that will not be as Jerry still has not regained  full strength and stamina and needs  supplemental oxygen.  

October 6, our back deck corner

On October 6, it  continued with wonderful sun shiny warmth, in fact the thermometer on our back deck registered 90 at 5:00PM as this photo shows.  Well it wasn't that warm but that little corner of the deck accumulates the heat.  It was however a wonderful day, perfect for me to do outside gardening, my all purpose word for all the outdoor work I do, ranging from weeding, trimming, hauling, tidying, etc.  A change was imminent, the weather showed a  storm moving across Montana and snow predicted.  But at least  all we would get would be rain, not that we need more because we have had plenty, too much for the farmers to harvest. 

Me and my shadow Oct 6

 
We have had too much rain early in spring and now again, late planting and  some devastation for harvest.  Apples are running behind and this is prime apple season here, normally.  But for me as long as I get those sun shine days, I plod along and can manage to retain optimism and smiles.  

The  new trees all in a row and one pine stump left behind

We have had several major projects over the past months, having the entire exterior of our house painted, clearing away old lanky, spindly, pine trees gone bad out back along the back hillside, behind the garden.  Then beginning replacement landscaping with s one row of 6 ft. arbor vitae  before winter.  Phew, $$  that is all it takes, but so it goes, a joy of home ownership and  we are blessed to be able to afford the upkeep.  The landscape efforts were huge tasks and  even if Jerry were well we would have hired these done, but at least he would have overseen the efforts.  Not so  now, he  stays inside mostly and has to accept the outcomes.  Fortunately we have good trustworthy  workers who run reliable local businesses.  They are the kind we count on as do many around here, solid working folks.   

 The landscape efforts deserve their own blog post but for now, here is one photo of the back side  and the  new trees along with the fill dirt and  landscape net/hay/grass seed.  These efforts have me wishing I were bigger, stronger, taller, etc and often that I had more than two hands.  I recall several times, when I was a teenager and busy into things and had to choose one activity over another, I would lament to my Mother, " I wish I were twins...then I could do both."  Today I wish I were twins so I could get work done faster or more done in a day than I can solitary. But I am not twins, I am only me,  and at least I am blessed with good health, endurance and enjoyment of outside work.  Many others would like to do but are unable and worse, there are those who are too lazy to enjoy this activity.

Pinot Grigio wine and molasses cookies. 

A big benefit I gain is the ability to work and enjoy my treats without gaining weight.  And after a full day of work along with a morning  workout at the Y, I  treat myself to a nice wine and some bites.    It keeps my metabolism going to burn up calories and  many days I burn more than I consume. 

I just had all my medical  blood tests and got excellent results, so although I may grumble, and I sure do at times, wishing for help,  I am staying healthy.  And with being the primary support person here at home often today, that is a blessing.  And after all life is only what we make of it.  We cannot always  be sure what it will throw our way, but we can try to keep ourselves  as well prepared as possible to handle the tossings.  

Even the weather, yesterday we had our first flurries of snow mixed in with the cold wet rain.  Today it is only about 47 degrees and the cold winds have diminished, but I have kept busy inside.  Yesterday the same, as I changed the bed sheets to flannel, did laundry, domestic chores and even decorated some for fall.  When it is not sunshine outside, we can bring it inside with warmth and autumnal colors.  

This stunning arrangement came from our Festival market but it does brighten the living room on the coffee table.  An advantage of  a home, always something somewhere to keep me busy, maybe not what I want to do, but compared to others, I will take it. 

Autumnal bouquet

Living room coffee table with fall decor

One  part of the mantle with autumnal sprays

Only the oldsters get the benefit $$

Here is a head shaker for today.  

We still subscribe to the daily local newspaper, Lacrosse Tribune because Jerry wants a morning paper with his coffee.  So far delivery is going ok, although from time to time that is another aggravation source.  The price has risen over the years, but as I said, he likes his morning newspaper, worthless as it is some days.  We pay quarterly and I noticed on the latest invoice that if we switched to monthly, allowing them to automatically debit our card, it would be cheaper, about $5 per month,  That just doesn't seem right to me, usually paying ahead is a greater discount.  So this morning I went over to their office in Lacrosse, since I was at the Y.  Years ago my neighbor told me to always go over there to get a better deal.  I didn't believe it  but she was right.  Rather than clicking online or calling their 800 number and getting a no English speaking person, so I stop in.  Fortunately we still have the luxury of a local newspaper  office, wonder for how long though because the paper is now printed in Madison, WI.  But it remains the LaCrosse Tribune.  

Today I wanted to find out if it is really cheaper month to month then we will switch back to that.  I guess I am cheap, but us retirees gotta watch out for our $$.🤣

Yes, cheaper monthly that way, BUT as always happens, there was a cheaper yet deal. If we pay for the year, it is cheapest,  works out that we save the cost of a full quarter.  That offer is not available online nor by calling the 800 number.  Go figure.  So of course, that's the option I selected. 

Got home & told Jerry how much I saved, $61.  Also the desk clerk told me that most people pay no attention,  just as long as they can use their plastic charge cards, guess they are happy.  She told me, not to be insulting, but only us old folks are predominantly the only ones who come into the office to pay or inquire, so the local office has negotiated ability to offer greater discounts.  Hah, but only us geezers will benefit!  The rest are too busy to pay attention.  These are the same people who never have a couple bucks cash but use plastic for  the smallest purchases everywhere, every time and glower at the likes of me digging cash out of my purse when they are behind me in line.  That brings on my passive aggressiveness and  stimulates me to be much slower, sometimes even counting out exact change.  Ahh, I  take my joy wherever I can get it.   

Of course, fewer and fewer subscribe to newspapers too, mainly only us geezers.  So as long as we can deal with the local office we are ahead.  

I just do not understand not paying attention to what you spend,  those must be the same overly educated idiots who whine about their student loans.