It’s nearly the middle of October, isn’t it? We often have a gorgeous fall here with sunny days, yet mild temperatures and dark, cool nights. That’s probably why autumn is my favorite season–but only by a whisker. So many people LOVE summer which is a nearly perfect time in the Pacific Northwest with our moderate climate and mountains and water. There are many fantastic activities to do outside, and we can actually be outside comfortably! However, due to our northern latitude, summer is way too bright until late at night and I don’t sleep as well due to that. As for winter, it can be cozy with pleasant days, but it’s also rainy and gray. However, I’m hoping for lots of mountain snow for our vital snowpack. And no atmospheric rivers, please. I’ve come to love spring as well although the yard and flower beds need tons of work after my lazy winter hibernation; I often feel overwhelmed. The plusses are that I’m always excited to see which tulips bloom and that I eagerly anticipate picking out my annuals.
So, what happens when fall feels like summer? The past few days it’s meant mowing, planting the tulips, sprinkling the godawful bulb fertilizer in the beds and splurging on some cyclamen, one of my favorite flowers.
Here are the tulips I chose, quite an eclectic bunch. I couldn’t resist two bags of parrot tulips although they never last more than a year for me. I mainly stuck to two tone blooms but also threw in a couple peony style tulips. I planted in small bunches, both in the new front flower bed and the back side one. I’m SO excited for spring! (and it’s not even winter yet)
Cyclamen come in all different colors and I couldn’t resist any of them! I overspent…
Every October, I wear my “I like black cats and I cannot lie” shirt and try to get a photo of me in it, holding Mari. And EVERY YEAR, Mari refuses to cooperate.
Perhaps I could photoshop her onto my lap?
Anders is very into selfies these days, “I want a picture with Grandma!”
Meanwhile, sweet little Ian is pulling himself up on everything, standing briefly without holding on and then plopping down on his rear. His back seems to be better and he’s in good spirits. Now Anders has a strange mark on his leg though and apparently impetigo is going around at daycare. A few weeks ago, it was hand, foot and mouth disease. Both boys have eczema and it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s going on with them disease-wise when the skin is involved. And getting in to see the doctor can be tricky, especially for working parents. Sigh.
Tomorrow I’ll be granny nannying for Sharky who is off school for a Professional Development Day. I used to travel a lot on this weekend when OD lived in New York City, then Los Angeles, then New York again. I wasn’t at all fond of those red eye flights to JFK, yet I have mostly wonderful memories of my visits to the three different cities in NY and CA: the food, the sights, the beaches, the orchards, the museums, the historic cities, and of course, time with my daughter.
Although I rarely post about politics and would rather not even think about them most of the time (I do vote!), I’m sickened and angry at the idea of live streaming an execution. Are we living in the land of the American Taliban?
On that “cheerful” note, happy almost Friday?
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