Wednesday, October 7, 2026

It’s time for this month’s Currently and I wanted to make it a bit of a Halloween theme with my prompts.

Falling for

I’m really enjoying my little fall touches, and I keep meaning to add some twinkle lights to the mantel as it gets dark earlier. I will have to dig those out of my Christmas decor box.

The wooden sign was a gift from my mom: “Sweet cider, cozy blankets, perfect pumpkins, etc.” I love my leaf garland made from felt that is really old and I love my Scrabble letters that spell out “AUTUMN”.

We still can’t really trust Eddie Otis with stuff on the coffee table, so I keep the candle and matches up high and then bring them down when I want to use them…

Look at those blondies in their barn jackets in the second photo! By mid-elementary their hair had darkened as you can see in the first family photo on the left.

I am enjoying my diffuser that my sister Kate gave me many years ago. I have been using a combo of nutmeg, clove, orange, and peppermint. I especially love it when I’ve been gone and come back in to the fall smells it emits.

Scaring (me)

How quickly the months pass! How quickly 2026 is coming to a close! It’s crazy, right? I can’t be the only one that thinks this year has gone by quickly.

Working on

I am working on getting more protein over the last two weeks. I thought I was doing well but it took me actually reading labels, looking things up, and measuring. Whoa! It’s like a part-time job. I am going to share more on Friday but here is a 39 gram breakfast casserole for one. It’s a lot of food and I have had to save some for lunch on days that I wasn’t as hungry. Or I will set it aside and not eat it all at once.

2 eggs = 12 g

3 T egg whites = 5 g

1/2 cup cottage cheese = 13 g

1/2 cup Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles = 9 g (really delicious!)

green chilies = 0 g but they add some nice flavor

You can either microwave it or bake it, and you could double it/triple it for multiple days. I find that the cottage cheese makes it so creamy that I don’t miss any additional cheese, but you could add that for more protein. I have been baking it at 350 for 25 minutes because I think the oven makes it taste better. I won’t eat anything that tastes artificial or bad. I am pretty picky that it must be good.

I’m realizing that I need some form of turkey sausage and some form of protein drink to get the amount needed.

Loving

I’m still loving Emma M. Lion!

I also love how I’m reading her… I am reading 2-3 volumes and then taking a break and reading something else. It’s helping me to really savor the journals. I recommend you give yourself about 45 minutes to an hour to really get into volume 1 if you are interested. You will be hooked if you are like me!

Entertaining (me)

Alexa playing classical music in the morning for Eddie Otis and I. He is a very reactive dog and the music takes the edge off of the sounds of cars and movement in the morning. I especially love when it’s songs like Pink Pony Club but as a violin instrumental. I’ve realized the music is good for me, too.

Bravo shows like Below Deck, Real Housewives of New York, and more recently Netflix Love is Blind Netherlands. I still don’t watch any tv until after dinner.

Tom – he said some really funny things this weekend. The nieces think he’s hilarious and that makes me enjoy it more!

Eddie Otis and his silly antics. He is a nervous but funny boy. I think he’s really smart, too. Doesn’t every parent think their human or canine is really smart?

Instagram reels – I give myself a limit but boy are some people so creative and I get so tickled and laugh out loud.

Look at this face:

And, now for Hodgepodge with Joyce!

1. Let’s embrace it shall we? What’s something you recently forgot to do? Is your memory these days more like a sieve or an elephant? 

I recently forget to do the links for Fashion Files and Currently! Marsha helped me out. I usually spend some time on the blog on Sundays but this past Sunday was gorgeous out and I just totally forgot.

2. Share a trick/strategy you have to help you remember things you need to remember. 

I write everything down! I love a list! I don’t know how people exist without one.

3. What’s your favorite fall vegetable to cook with? Do you prefer your fall veggies roasted, blended into a warm soup, or fresh in a crisp autumn salad? 

I love a roasted vegetable. I love the combo of carrots, onions, potatoes. I love mushrooms. I also love a warm soup and a crisp autumn salad.

I have been inspired to cook lately! I’m trying to save money on food since it’s just the two of us, reduce food waste, and cook healthy but delicious dinners.

4. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. Did you? If so tell us about it. Or maybe someone did something nice for you, and if that’s the case please share. 

I try to do something nice every day. I think and hope I do nice things for Tom every day and then I try to text a friend, remember an important date of a friend’s, make something for a friend like a cookie, or something like that. I recently dropped off a Sissy Cake for my friend’s birthday on the actual day. I am big on doing something on the friend’s actual birthday if I can.

5.  Nathaniel Hawthorne is credited with the quote “I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.”  

Do you tend to spend more time outside this time of year? 

Yes! Yes! Now if we can get the bugs to go away, that would be great. I know it’s going to take the first frost for that to happen. I love sitting on both of my patios and reading. I also talk on the phone outside.

Do you actively pause to soak in fleeting moments of beauty in your daily routine? Elaborate. 

Yes! I try to take a photo to help me remember but I also just try to slow down and enjoy.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Since I did Currently today, I am out of random thoughts!

Please link up for Currently here!

Amy