Monday, October 6, 2025

It’s Monday and it’s link up day with Sarah and Holly to share our weekends!

Let’s go back to Thursday – trying to make Thirsty Thursday a thing where I water and care for my plants!

I made Thursday an errand day – Kroger pick up and library – so not too bad – then it was a day doing home chores before the weekend.

I took my new Birk dupes out for a test run…

I am not a big scary book/mystery book person but I grabbed this on a whim with my other library requests…

Thursday night Tom came straight from work and met me and our friends Mike and Beth to hear our new Australian/Nashville singer at the tavern…

Friday was a birthday lunch for Heather and her neighborhood group of girlfriends (and the other Heather and I) and we had a lovely table in a lovely outdoor area. I can’t wait to go back. It was held at an old Louisville institution 211 Clover Lane.

This cake is a classic from another Louisville staple Plehn’s Bakery.

It is the best cake!

Do you remember on Friday when I showed my brow products?

Here is my before…

After…

And, no I don’t think I dare risk the more permanent brow situations. I am fine with my products.

Friday night we got take out and it was a bit of a disaster because I picked it up and then had to go back and get the part that was missing. Better than cooking! Ha!

Saturday was a big day for both Eddie Otis and I. I knew Tom was going hiking with his friend Rob two hours away but I didn’t know he had invited EO! EO turned out to be a great hiker boy and Mommy (me) had a quiet house from 8-4. Is that mean to say? I was super happy to see him when he returned, though!

Switching back to first person… I just read outside most of the day! I did keep doors open and shoes strewn about – FREEDOM! But, around 2 pm, I went to Word Market and a boutique.

The Christmas stuff is out big time! There is a bit of autumn stuff, too, but it there Christmas stuff is out and I adore so much of it.

Did I buy this top? Come back Thursday!

My baby got home!

He hung out on the porch with me for a bit and then we ordered Thai food.

I finished this Saturday night! Whoa! I don’t know what I think. Did anyone read it?

Then, I started this even though it had summer in the name…

And, I started this series that Jenn raves about…

I made two new recipes for Sunday breakfast…

British sausage in puff pastry – wow!

Hawaiian cinnamon buns… wow!

This week dinners –

Monday – weekend food – anything remaining

Tuesday – chicken  enchiladas with Spanish rice

Wednesday – roast with carrots, onion, potato (temps are supposed to drop)

Thursday – baked fish and not sure about sides yet – might need a quick grocery trip

What was the high point of your weekend?

Amy

P.S. – I am waiting on my new keyboard and my issues are making it hard to respond to your wonderfu comments. I am out of synonyms for words that have a certain etter in them. It’s exhausting, but I am continuousy ooking for brain chaenges now that I am not teaching. So, I guess this is good for me.

Friday, October 3, 2025

It’s so weird to write “October”! It’s everyones’ favorite day in the blog world – Friday Favorites with Andrea and Erika.

Here are mine…

It’s been Fall Break this week in our pubic school district so we have had a lot less traffic noise in the mornings and afternoons this week. It’s been so nice. Since I live within spitting distance of three schools – elementary behind my house, middle in front and about a block away, and high school just past the middle – we do get people parking near my house for pick up and slamming car doors, honking, and I do have to watch my outings if they are around 8:30 or 3:30. Eddie Otis is very sensitive to outside noises and gets very scared and anxious. Anyway, we have enjoyed a week of quiet around here!

I rarely get fast food or any food that isn’t home food for lunch but this week I wanted to try Cane’s naked chicken fingers. They ain’t pretty but they were delish especially with the sauce. Recommend!

This is so good I would consider getting rid of my coffee pot. I just bought it in decaf so a girl has options. It is excellent for iced coffee, too. I use my tea kettle for the hot water. It continues to shock me just how good this coffee is! It ain’t your Grandma’s instant, ok?

If you aren’t a beer drinker, there are some really good ciders. I tried a jam berry cider at the Oktoberfest last weekend. Many places let you try a taste before you commit, which is so nice.

Let’s talk about tv this week. I am watching Dancing with the Stars but I do like to fast forward past all the scores and talking and just watch the dancing. I love Robert Irwin. He’s a doll!

I am watching The Golden Bachelor but I have only watched the first episode as of the writing of this blog post. I don’t love the guy. I get the vibe that he was always big man on campus and thinks he is hotter than he is and that his beep don’t stink. He told one lady that he planned to work all the time when she said she is looking for someone that has time for her. He’s a lawyer and played some amount of professional football I think. Also, he has two very young sons for a 63 year old man – like 18 and 20 year old sons. So, there’s still some heavy duty parenting duties happening (ask me how I know!) and who knows what his relationship with his ex is like. Sorry I’m taking this so seriously!

The ladies are inspiring but I just don’t see him as a catch.

I went in hard on Love is Blind UK this week on Netflix. It’s so good!

I am trying a new shampoo/conditioner based on an Instagram of good and bad drugstore shampoos. This smells very nice. I don’t love the conditioner as much as I love the shampoo. Do yours have to match? Like same brand?

Mason lives at home but is working and pretty busy so we haven’t done much together to be honest. He had a day off and we decided to try a new coffee shop. It was so cute and he loved his ube coffee drink.

He loves to go to coffee shops just like the 20 somethings out there. It has become such a thing to spend money on coffee out. Is it the “third place” for many young adults? You have your home, your work, and your “third place”. I have a coffee shop near me that I love atmosphere-wise and I need to go there more to blog or read and just be out in the world. Maybe that is a winter goal. Even when I was watching Friends religiously and dissecting each episode I didn’t have a Central Perk to hang out in.

I had two social highlights this week with friends. I went to a new place for Mexican breakfast with my friend Victoria. We split chilaquiles and I am going to recreate them at home this weekend, too! It looks like a dog’s breakfast but it tasted good!

Then, I heard that one of my favorite spots in all of my city – Grale Haus (breakfast), Holy Grale (bar and German food), and Bar Grale (wine bar and shop) and they are opening Grale Goods which will be like a breakfast and bakery – was having a German wine fight special just until the end of the week.

I met my friend Beth and we sat in their gorgeous European style garden.

We had house made chips and dip because there was so much wine in the flight that we needed food!

Then we moved into the beer garden area and ordered sauerkraut balls with an amazing horseradish dip.

We spent a nice sunny afternoon and sat there for almost 3 hours chatting!

Brows are so important. Have you worked on yours? Mine used to be full and I never thought much about them except to get them waxed! Now, I have sparse hairs and uneven brows. All of these products are elf or NYX and they are great!

This is the order I do them in (picture has them in the order I do from left to right):

First the pencil, then the elf wand, then the NYX brow glue, then finally the clear. I also spray a tiny bit of hairspray on the clear spooly to hold the brows in place. They really frame your face.

I will get a photo of before and after soon for the one person that might care!

Exactly one year ago this week we were on the high school/college graduation trip for my twins. It might be our last family of four trip, too, which makes me sad but it’s reality.

We went to Spain! We split our time between Madrid and Barcelona. I would have loved to see friends in a couple of other places and to see some smaller towns but this is what made the most sense. It was a dream! If you are new to my blog there is also Spain Part 2, 3, 4, and my packing! I am going to go back and read them!

My phone made me a memory video, though!

Enjoying a little happy hour alone right below our Madrid apartment:

I said why sit in the apartment when I can people watch while my family was resting before our next outing?

A classical guitar lesson and purchase of a new guitar:

Wandering the gothic quarter of Barcelona:

It’s hard to believe it was a year ago!

What were your favorites this week?

Amy

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Say what? October 2nd? It is Thursday and time to link up with Kellyann and Jill to share some fashion (I use that word loosely) from the past week.

I have a decent sized walk in closet but I don’t do well with visual clutter so I decided to physically remove all my summer things and put them in the moved out son’s closet. Yes, I am a closet hog!

Now I can really see what I have and it’s glorious!

Don’t you get so happy when you have made a good clothing or shoe purchase? I love these jeans and these shoes and if you are a regular reader, yes, I am a broken record. I thought that the sandal would be great going into fall due to the darker leather and it has proven true. I do need to get a fall pedicure and I am trying to decide on the color. I have reached for these so much this summer and I think I will wear them until the end of October?

They are Kork Ease and they weren’t cheap but I am working on quality over quantity and no more cheap shoes if I can help it. Also, it is sweet because I got these shoes with a store credit from a shoe store in my hometown from shoes my mom purchased and never go to wear before she passed away.

The jeans are the high waisted wide leg pull on by Halara. I am 5’4 and I ordered the petite. The petite is still a bit long on me but they work with a heeled shoe.

My blouse is new by the brand Umgee from a local boutique called Tunie’s. They do online, as well if you want to click on the link. The blouse was $52 I think but I had a gift card from my besties for a retirement gift.

I wore this to dinner at a Cuban restaurant Friday night.

Tunie’s also has an outlet and I found this leopard print by the brand Entro. I was so happy to find it because I had been wanting a leopard print. It was about $32.

Same jeans, same shoes – you know the drill. I wore this to Oktoberfest on Saturday late afternoon.

What I like about both of these blouses is that they are in fall colors but a perimenopausal/menopausal woman is not gonna over heat. Are you picking up what I am putting down? And if you live in the south or south-ish it can stay quite hot until November or longer.

I don’t know why I am standing like this with my mouth open, but that’s the best photo I got. Monday I wore the straight legged Halaras (petite but had to get them hemmed because they were in no way petite length), my Free People espadrilles, and my Marshall’s striped blouse. I wore this to run a couple of errands.

I bought myself a fall purse. It was only $24.99 and that is just the right price since I wasn’t sure if I would like this style. I had it in my head that I wanted olive green and the universe delivered. Well, the TJ Maxx universe delivered.

While in TJ Maxx where I found the purse, I also saw these and had been planning to buy some. These were also $24.

Now, I am trying not to shop in October except for consignment. I really don’t want to shop at all until my birthday in November. My goal is to wear what I have and be content but to make a list of “holes” in my closet. We shall see if I can do that!

What have you been wearing lately? Do you have a favorite outfit? Are you into blouses and jeans outfits?

Amy

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Hello October! I am linking up with Joyce for Hodgepodge today.

1. What’s your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now? 

I got to smell lots of fall smells in this cute store in my hometown and I am excited to go back and see what else they have. I love pumpkin, vanilla, apple, cinnamon, and any combinations of those smells. I really love the Mrs. Meyer’s acorn spice hand soap. I love the smell of a fire. There’s nothing like smelling a fire in the distance in the crisp fall air.

I have the trio of little glass jar candles from Trader Joe’s in my house along with the acorn spice hand soap. I have a couple of candles on the patio that are a bit stronger and better for outside. I have become more sensitive to artificial smells in the last couple of years, so I am quite picky.

2. October is Country Music Month…are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse? 

I am not really a country music fan but I like most live music of any genre. I just don’t fan girl or really know anyone or their songs very well.

We took a little family trip to Nashville a few summers ago. We stayed at The Graduate which was so cool. This was the trip I discovered boutique hotel means “small rooms” and that I realized that we had outgrown one hotel room for our family of four.

This photo makes me laugh!

I would say I am a suburban mouse. I can do a bit of country and a bit of city but I am most comfortable in suburbia!

3. How about ‘country cooking’? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

My mom’s family was from Chicago so no country cookin’ there. My Dad’s family loved their fried chicken, mashed potatoes, apple pie (Southern Indiana). We didn’t really eat fried foods growing up, though. The fried chicken was a treat at Grandma’s house. My Dad was health conscious from my childhood. We didn’t even eat much red meat except for ground beef. We had a lot of chicken. My mom made this bone in chicken breast with powdered parmesan on it with canned or frozen vegetables. She also didn’t like to cook potatoes. We had a lot of corn.

Nashville hot chicken in Nashville:

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-‘barbecue’-gumbo-banana pudding 

We did have deviled eggs once a year after Easter. Tom loves collard greens and gumbo. I have not yet attempted either.

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven’t tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered?

I only eat it about once a year but I love biscuits and gravy. I probably had it for the first time in my 30s. Growing up, I only knew canned biscuits!

4. What’s something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 

Being around water! A sunny day! A bright blue sky! New shoes! A good hair day!

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you. 

Noun – sun

Verb – reflecting/to reflect

Adjective – slow

We had a truly gorgeous September with so much sun and very little rain. August still felt like summer but September really had me feeling like I was retired. It was a gift to have a September at home without the pressure of school.

I spent much of the month reflecting on where my life is now and how much it’s changed in a year. I am a reflective person so this was a good thing. I miss certain aspects of school life, of course. I had a former student send me a message to ask if I would be at Prom. He is a senior now. Awwwww.

It was slow in many regards (and fast in other) and I wasn’t in a hurry. I mean slow in the best of ways…as in relaxed. Sometimes being too relaxed isn’t a good thing so I am trying to find that balance.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I feel happy in this photo. It’s good to feel happy after feeling sad!

What would you say to any of these questions? Thanks for reading my deep thoughts!

Amy

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Have y’all seen the “Unfortunately I do love” trend on social media? My blog friend Jen beat me to this but I swear I had already started this post! I got to thinking this would be a fun link up or I would just like to hear my favorite bloggers share theirs, so have at it!

Here is the trend explained according to Cosmo:

A new TikTok trend called “Unfortunately I Do Love” has users listing out their guilty pleasures.

What are you most ashamed of? Is it your perpetual lateness? An overreliance on Uber Eats orders? A tendency to Like every Instagram story you see after one cocktail? Instead of allowing that shame to consume you, consider using your worst qualities as fodder for a potentially viral TikTok.

Here are some of mine:

Unfortunately I do love…

Wine from a can! Wine without a cork!

Buying new sneakers! They are so fun!

Jeans without any zippers or buttons, baby! Sponsor me, Halara!

Press on nails! I have made my bestie promise to tell me if they look tacky!

Ordering fries at restaurants to share with everyone! Bonus points if they are loaded!

Door Dash! What a time to be alive! We can get so many things delivered to our homes!

My Amazon frother! I have never been happier with my at home coffee (or tea). Starbucks who?

My iphone! It can do so much! I do try to avoid being on it too much!

Early music start times! Who decided music should start at my bedtime?

Small hole in the wall places instead of large places and chains!

Happy hours and happy hour bargains – $5 margs!

Cookbooks – especially the ones where people submit their best recipes!

Cheap floral assortments more than a dozen perfect red roses!

Boxed desserts that taste like homemade!

Self tanner!

A baked potato for dinner! Is there are more perfect food?

That was fun!

Tell me one of yours! Is there anything that surprises you about me?

Amy

Monday, September 29, 2025

How was your weekend? Your last one of September??? Let’s link up with both Sarah and Holly to share!

I am having a bit of a probem with my computer and I am trying to think of synonyms when I can. The character that comes between K and M is not aways working for me. So, this post wi be both a bog post and a fun puzze for you! Yippee! Won’t that be fun?

I am still weird in that I don’t tell the internet when I/we/someone is out of town so I didn’t state to you ahead of time that Tom was out of town most of last week for a work conference and Eddie Otis and I were both missing him. This is the first time EO has sat in Daddy’s chair, in fact. Ernie used to do it, though!

He returned home Thursday night and we were both so happy!

Nothing says “welcome home like a pot of sloppy joes!

They don’t photograph well – sorry. But, Tom was happy!

Friday I took myself shopping and to lunch. It was kinda my reward for being a singe dog mom. I found a cute leopard blouse and the lunch place I went to was celebrating its 2nd birthday and that was my reason for going to lunch there.

Free champagne! Don’t mind if I do!

Birthday cake! Don’t mind if I do!

I ordered a wedge salad and it was delish. I later told my sister Molly what I had and asked if she liked wedge salads and she said she doesn’t like to eat a head of iceberg. Well, ok.

Their bread is amazing…

I sat on the pretty patio in the gorgeous weather and I was delightful company. I ended up taking the cake and the bread home.

I rallied for dinner at a Cuban place with our friends. Champagne at lunch makes one very sleep, fyi. I kept it to water after that.

I didn’t really like what I ordered for dinner.

Saturday I did some chores and didn’t go anywhere before afternoon/evening. Tom did his annua trying on of the ederhosen.

Then we went to a beer garden’s Oktoberfest!

Our friends met us and it was so nice!

I’m not super into this…

So I started this…

Sunday I went to the gym and then it was a boat day!

We had three friends join us. We had brunch on the boat at Captain’s Quarters.

On the way home I picked up a Kroger order – really would rather do grocery pick up during the week but you know how it goes. We needed some things before Monday. Eddie Otis got a big carrot!

And, that’s a wrap on a nice weekend!

This week’s dinner menu – Sunday eftovers, Monday samon, Tuesday chicken with mushrooms and bacon (copycat Outback), Wednesday tiapia

What did you do?

Amy

Saturday, September 27, 2025

I’m coming to you on a Saturday to link up with Jenn for her Share 4 Somethings.

So many of my things relate to my new retirement life and my loss of my last remaining parent. I also had a kid move out this month. I am a half empty nester, I guess.

Loved – What I have loved this month…

We have had some gorgeous weather! I have loved learning to slow down. I do feel a bit out of sorts some days but I am also embracing not rushing and having more time at home and with my pup. I had so much fun at a music festival in my hometown with just Tom. It was nice to go there for fun instead of business.

I have also enjoyed lots of time to read and several good and memorable books. I feel that I have finally gotten my house to a good place regarding keeping it clean and organized -ish. I mean, I still have dog toys strewn about but they make my pup happy.

I think Tom has benefitted from me being home and has a more relaxed wife now. I have taken some things off of his plate.

Learned – What I have learned this month…

I think I am learning to be softer with myself and with everyone. I am learning to slow down.

I think my visit to the Salt Cave was good for me this month!

Went Well – What went well this month…

Having a kid move out for real and not just for college has gone better than expected. He doesn’t have an in unit laundry and I have offered for him to come home and do laundry on a day off from work, so I have gotten to lay eyes on my kid once a week. I try to send him back with some food and it’s been much appreciated. I think our relationship has benefitted.

Let Go – What I have let go this month…

We are still trying to sell my mom’s house. It’s been a hard time to sell a house. I think that when it does finally sell we will be ready to let go of it and will be relieved and maybe if it had sold too soon we wouldn’t have been as ready? I do know I can’t control when the right buyer comes along.

Being in my hometown twice this month and my parents’ birthdays falling this month hit me harder than I thought. I also had already started worrying about what the holidays would look like. I think I am more at peace now with whatever we decide to do.

My sisters are very appreciative that I am handling the business end of this. Since I am a words of affirmation person it is nice that they thank me regularly. They are both in the thick of the school year with very difficult students and classes this year.

When I look back over the month of September, I really did a lot!

What about you? Do you have anything you would share this Saturday?

Amy

Friday, September 26, 2025

It’s Friday and it’s time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites. I cannot believe we are at the end of September! I thought it would slow down now that I am retired from a school job, but it really seemed to fly for me, too.

I finished this cute little book this week; I did pretty much pick it for the London setting. This makes me mad, though – the main character was described as having dirty blonde hair and the cover shows a brunette. Come on! Does lack of attention to detail upset you in a book?

I do recommend it for a cute little read, though. It was a break from WW2 for me!

What says fall more than fall magazines? I subscribed to some magazines as a treat to myself – Southern Living, Magnolia, and Garden and Gun (don’t freak out; it’s mostly just a southern design magazine).

Magazines are skimpy and mostly ads these days but I still enjoy them.

I got to pick up some requested books from the library this week.

Finally!

Have you read this? The jury is still out for me and I am only about halfway through the book.

And:

Can I say again how much I love the library? If I don’t feel a book I just return it and there is no guilt at all. I like to have options and I would rather have too many books than not enough. When do I read? It is usually in the afternoons now. I will often read while I eat lunch and then keep reading for a couple of hours. I don’t turn on the tv at all during the day most days.

Eddie Otis is a big baby about having his nails trimmed. We have found a place near our house that has an angel that manages to do his nails without it being too big of an ordeal. Tom is upset that he can’t do it himself but it just doesn’t go well.

Eddie Otis was so good about getting in the car and did so well overall that I wanted to associate it with a treat. He got a Starbuck’s pup cup and I got a London Fog tea latte.

A Trader Joe’s find. So cute!

These are amazing! Kristin recommended them and I put them in my Kroger order. To combat the dog hair, I use an old fashioned broom and dustpan, these, and the vacuum. We have a Dyson Animal and a Dyson stick.

I am getting ready to change my royal blue toe color – don’t worry. I did a navy shiny press on mani:

I wanted to get a couple of Halloween or Fall graphic tees so I went to Old Navy where I have had great luck with t-shirts lately. I was picturing something to wear with a cardigan over it over the next month.

Ok, so soft and such good quality, Old Navy!

I brought this v-neck pumpkin home:

And, I brought this witching hour cocktail one home. I will wear this one with my new black scalloped cardigan.

I thought I would share this:

And, this is a good follow if you like seasonal books:

I wrote my fall list out so I could see it on my memo board. This was a suggestion from my former student.

I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, but I looked up the London Fog latte recipe and I made a pretty darn good one myself at home this week! It’s Earl Grey tea, vanilla syrup, and foamy skim milk.

We had an authentic German restaurant near our house and sadly they retired in 2022. I was part of their Facebook group and they announced their cookbook was ready to go. I ordered it and it arrived this week. It’s got tons of photos so I think it’s more of a scrapbook/cookbook. It tells their stories from Germany to the US and it is really well done!

I am going to attempt Tom’s favorite dish:

And, that’s a wrap on my favorites this week! How about you?

Amy

It’s Thursday which is the most fashionable day of the week in blog land! I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill to share some recent ‘fits and talk a little fall shopping.

I love fall clothes! I have also always loved having a fall birthday and using it to justify a little closet refresh, you know? My birthday isn’t until November 2, but by that time I have a feel for what I feel like wearing for that current fall season. Also, sales have usually started by then.

I really don’t need many clothes now! I am still figuring out my retirement wardrobe but I think it will be lots of jeans.

I received a super sweet gift card from my college besties for my retirement gift. It was for a local boutique and they have Umgee and Entro and some other boutique brands that I like. I finally made my decision a few weeks ago and picked this fall blouse but notice the short sleeves so women of a certain age don’t get overheated. I wore it out to breakfast with my former student. I have on the blouse, my light Halaras, and my Kork Ease sandals that have proven to have been a good purchase. I thought they would be good as we go into fall.

I wore the next outfit to go hear music Thursday night. The fruit seemed a little summery so it is probably going to be put in the back of my closet now. I have on my darker denim Halaras and the Kork Ease sandals again.

What a nerd! I wore this to my pool day! I should lose the chin strap. I really do look like a park ranger.

Saturday walk, library, and farmer’s market outfit is up next. I have on my Old Navy tennis skirt, an Old Navy graphic tee, and my JC Penney SOHO ball cap.

I had the hardest time picking a dress to wear to dinner Saturday night. It was very hot but the calendar said September 20th. I finally settled on the green gauzy J.Crew consignment dress.

Sunday Girlmore Girls brunch that was a bust – it was raining but still pretty warm out. I wore my straight legged Halaras, my new Marshall’s blouse, and my Rothy’s flats that I bought last winter.

Let me tell you about a local business called Bonhomia. The founder uses textiles from Guatemala to make handbags, wallets, etc. She was having design week this week where you could pick your textile on Facebook and which item you wanted. I have been thinking about one and looking at them for maybe 3 years at this point so I decided to finally go for it!

I picked this textile:

This item and leather color:

I’m pretty excited!

It’s boot season. Short boots are so much easier to put on. This was my dog walking ensemble:

I received my Frye & Co boots that I told you about last week. I tried them on with my swim cover up so please excuse. I measured my calves and purchased the wide calf and I was correct to do so; they are pull on and not zipper boots. They have some cool little elastic pulls inside the boot to help you pull them on. They hit at the right place on my leg I think. I have had boots that come up too high. The other colors are pretty, too.

They will require a bit of wearing in or stretching out but I think I like them. I have never had this color boot but again, I think I like it. They are vegan leather so not real leather. I picture them with a dress and my denim skirt and I might try them with a wide leg jean.

I want to find a cute Halloween graphic tee to wear with a cardigan.

Gosh, I am excited for cardigan weather! Are you?

What have you been wearing lately?

Amy

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

It’s Hodgepodge with Joyce day!

1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)…what’s your favorite thing about fall? 

We had some fall rain to start the season. I was super happy. Rainy days and Mondays have no power to get me down anymore!

Eddie Otis is so good off leash and I took advantage of the rain and lack of people to let him off leash on the playground behind our house.

We also took a leash walk in the neighborhood and I marveled at how quickly it went from looking like the height of summer to looking like fall!

I needed just a couple of things from Kroger and thought I would take a look at the pumpkins and mums. I didn’t purchase anything yet.

So, I would say my favorite things about fall are the weather, pumpkins, mums, candles outside and the ability to sit outside, the clothing, and the food. I love it all!

2. What’s one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list? 

I published my list yesterday! After being on a school schedule for 48 years, I was most looking forward to a slowed down fall season. September and October are just crazy in the school setting.

I love being outside in the fall especially after the first frost when the Satanic mosquitoes go bye-bye. I hate bug spray but have to use it.

It feels so nice to wear pants and a top without needing a jacket. I love that sweet spot.

I love being able to sit outside with friends and visiting with a drink in my hand. Bonus points if there’s a fire. Bonus points if there is a pretty view.

3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don’t eat? Which one have you had most recently? 

I really like them all! I like cranberry juice more than the actual cranberries.

4. ‘Fall is proof that change is beautiful’ is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate. 

I just think we have to have the fall and winter to appreciate our re-birth of nature in the spring. It’s a powerful metaphor, too.

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping…of those listed which would you most like to visit? 

I live in the Ohio River valley and we have lots of woods and hills near by. Any daily drive can take me by beautiful leaves changing. With that said, I know that some of the places listed below are even more stunning. I have been to West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina in the fall before.

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tom made our twins’ first Halloween costumes – Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. It seems another lifetime ago. I pulled these out of the Halloween decor bin recently. Yes, they are holding dog bones. Look at those chubby baby legs and feet. I love baby legs and feet but not in a weird way. This is actually right after their first birthday because they were in the NICU until they were 6 weeks old October 20th or so.

Thanks for the fun questions this week, Joyce!

Amy