Happy Autumn

Here's what it looks like at my house.

 I purchased these mums last week.  They're actually a deep russet color, but aren't showing up that way.

This is the view from our back balcony.  What you may not be able to tell from the photos is that it has been gray and rainy, rainy, rainy all day.  Like I said, Happy Autumn.

The Original Reason

The reason I originally started this blog was to explore my life changes.  I have homeschooled for many years, but this year will be the last because my son will graduate from high school.  And so I wonder (and continue to wonder) what comes next?

No answers, so far.

But two interesting things have happened.  I have faced transitions this year that I never imagined and they are having a huge impact on me.

The first transition was the death of my mother.  In some ways I lost her several years ago as dementia set in and she no longer knew who I was.  I've said before that it's an odd feeling to realize you are now an orphan.  Is anyone ever ready for this?

The second transition is the loss of friends.  I blogged earlier this summer about two friends who have recently moved.  I now have a third friend to add to the list.  Each woman is special to me in a distinctly different way and each has enriched my life.

I think I now have more friends who live in other states than live near.

Labor Day

I've been amused for a long time that the day the U.S. calls Labor Day is actually a day when many people have a paid holiday from work.  Oxymorons are an unending source of amusement for me.  My introduction to oxymorons came from a comedy bit by George Carlin and I'll always remember his derision about the foolishness of jumbo shrimp.


On another note, we all view Labor Day as the end of summer and the beginning of the autumn season, although here in Virginia we can have summer weather for another 4-6 weeks.  I have my misgivings about there being that much summer left because the invasion of shield bugs into the home has begun.  I've forgotten their official name, but you probably know what I mean. 


Next year when my three sons go away to college I'll have to dispose of my own shield bugs unless I wait for my husband to return home from work.  I may have to return to work full time.


This probably would have been a good place to insert a photo of one of these nasty creatures, but I can't bear to see pictures of insects that are larger than life-sized.

Moving Ahead

We've made it through the earthquake and Irene, that's last week's news, now.


This week our final year of homeschooling started.  So far a smooth beginning, but first weeks usually are.  The extra classes and activities haven't started so it is easier to focus on the meat and potatoes.


College searching continues, SAT's and SAT II tests are looming ahead this fall to be quickly followed by college applications.


I'm savoring this week, it's like the calm before the storm.


In knitting news, I have so far only met one of my knitting goals for this year.  The three goals were: learn to knit socks (mission accomplished - can't wait to start a new pair, grown-up people sized this time not mini tutorial socks), entrelac, and fair isle.  I will accomplish fair isle by the end of this year since I plan to make a Christmas gift hat.  Pattern, yarn and needles all purchased and ready to go.  But first I am working on the easier Christmas knitting.  One cowl flying along with plans to finish this weekend. Another to go.