We got off easy post-hurricane–an overturned camp chair full of skeletons was easily put right, though a roof skeleton is still prostrate from the ordeal.  Whereas much of the south is under water, downed trees and utility poles, without power, and literally cut off from the outside world.  So I’d say we made out OK!

Like roof skelly, my overnight stay (so Avdi could get out) mostly involved lying down on the job, tossing and turning, with bizarre, twisted dreams when I finally slept.  Other than that, it was nicely non-eventful.

It’s more eventful in the garden, where pollinators are in a frenzy to take advantage of the masses of goldenrod, asters, boneset or snakeroot, and other fall natives.  I finally got some calendula to bloom (the bright orange annuals).

We felt some of the outlying effects of Helene even up here in MO, though nothing like the devastation the south experienced.  It rained steadily for a day or so, with high winds at times, but not enough to stop me from walking over to Avdi’s, where the yard was pretty soggy but not flooded.  It finally feels more fall-like instead of a sauna.  The garden is thriving.

Avdi and I collaborated on the erev meal, which turned out well.  He and the kids actually went to the football game in the rain and enjoyed it.  He’s turning into a suburban football dad!  I love rain, but not that much.

Today a carload of them and friends will be going to the RenFaire.  I considered going, if there were room.  This time of year always brings renfaire nostalgia back, although dampened by being so old.  In medieval times (which I suspect we’ve returned to,  if we ever left), people didn’t even live to be my age, or else they were an ugly old crone.  It’s a young person’s scene.  Yet I still get that mystical feeling in the cool, rainy autumn air of mysteries just beyond my senses.  I know, sounds like white person fantasy.  And now back to reality.

I suppose falling behind on my writing means I’ve been super busy, not delinquent–you decide.  At any rate, I’m just going to catch up on posting photos from the last few days, and leave you to guess what I’ve been up to.

The Harvest Moon B&B went well.  E took over the kitchen and really outdid themself baking and creating outstanding delicacies of all kinds.  Avdi and Allie and I set up.  It was a particularly hot, humid last official summer day, so we were suffering a little, but nothing the cold pool couldn’t relieve, which is how I spent much of the afternoon.  Kids were screaming and splashing around me, but I was in my water-(and-beer-) induced euphoria.  Eventually Avdi finally made it to the pool and collapsed.

After that I enjoyed hanging out with everyone.  Ja’lon and his dad Deon showed up, and we all had a great discussion around the patio table.  After winding down, A and A went out for a while, and I spent the night.

Now I’m back “home”, exhausted in a good way.

I did my erev preps thing, cleaned the house, and got to know Avdi’s friend A. a little.  Shabbat meal went well–lots of conversation between the kids and adults.  It’s fascinating to listen to kids’ takes on catastrophic world events like the nazi holocaust and 9/11 that they weren’t even around for and study as history.  At least their schools don’t ban or leave out subjects like genocide and racism.  You can see their mind trying to conceive of such atrocities and how to feel about them.

We have a Harvest Moon B&B to set up today, so I’ll make this quick.

I was driving home–yes, driving a new friend’s borrowed car–last night and suddenly this gigantic orange sphere was taking up most of the lower sky!  I’ve never seen a Super Harvest Moon so huge!  I parked and then tried to capture it, but no way I could do it justice on Watson Road with my phone.  It was stunning.

Avdi’s friend A is in town from Knoxville, so I finally got to meet her.  I spent the day cleaning up the house.  In the evening we  had drinks together while I showed her the garden.  Then A&A went out for dinner, while I spent some good time with Y, which seems to be a thing lately.  Y came up with this clever and festive answer to lights and reflective tape while biking at night!  The oversized skeleton next door looked on.  It was like a scene from Men in Black!  Then Jess came over and helped K with his homework, and I drove home.

I let the toad go free yesterday.  I just can’t play god and intentionally incarcerate an innocent wild creature for my own amusement.  It’s abuse of power and toads.  Just speaking for myself.  Y was disappointed, but I was the jailer so I got to make the call.  I know I should have waited ’til they got another look, but my conscience (and probable nightmares) wouldn’t let me.  Is there a metaphor or analogy in there–no doubt!

So I didn’t have nightmares, but some stranger than usual dreams, which I can’t repeat, during the excessively long sleep-in I apparently needed.  I literally can’t wake up or get up from those.   And the sweats–night and day–are getting worse.  I felt feverish, but wasn’t.  And more fatigue.  I also feel guilty being able to catch up on sleep when my son can’t.  Like I’m sleeping for two!  If only that were a thing.

I did get some garden work done yesterday.  I liberated the prickly pear from its weedy bondage, so it can revive and be part of the permanent perennial fruit and veg beds, with strawberries, asparagus, and horseradish, so far.  The bees and pollinators are out in force, doing their last minute fall jobs–see closeups.

If I were superstitious, I’d call yesterday an auspicious day for me.  You may laugh at what I consider significant, but this is my life now; little favors mean a lot.

For starters, I seem to have regained my “finding gift”.  I used to be able to consistently find, literally, needles in haystacks for people.  Then for a while I guess I lost the faith or touch.  I have no idea how it works, but anyway, it’s back.  I found Avdi’s and Y’s lost items two days in a row.  And believe me, that house can be the proverbial haystack.

Then, out on the patio, I found a big toad and a snake, one after the other, which is significant, because I’ve never seen either one there before, and now two in a row.  It means Avdi’s environmental habitat is getting healthier for wildlife, which is a big deal.  It’s what I’m striving for as I garden.  (The toad is temporarily in captivity for ed purposes, to be released soon.)

Also, on a hunch, I went into the antique store and finally found lots of nice, inexpensive wind chimes for the garden, which made me happy.  That place needed more wind chimes!

Now, if the “spirits of the universe” continue to be kind to me, like the time I received the big surprise dental refund, I’m hoping to not be charged additional large sums for long-past medical procedures the insurance may still not cover.  It takes them forever to resolve these things.  Just when you think they’re done gouging, they find new ways to bleed you out.  Now I’m reluctant to go to any more doctors unless I really have to.  There are repercussions that go on for months.

Anyway, maybe STL is my good luck charm.

Saturday I spent a quiet overnight at A’s so he could get away–at one point, I think I was the only one still awake, but eventually I succumbed.  Sunday was just the usual getting stuff done and minding the fort.  Eventually I got around to watering the garden,  and prepared to walk home, so you can guess what happened next with no warning–a thunderstorm!  It dumped a lot of water in a short time, then was gone, and so was I.

This one adorable chipmunk is so used to me, it sits right near me, then sneaks around behind me to get to the rest of its home in the porch gardens.  I didn’t mean to cut off its head in the photo, but it was going too fast.  Stupid Martha Stewart says chipmunks are destructive rodents to be eliminated from your manicured garden, as opposed to birds and butterflies, which is a total lie–they’re just as much a part of the beneficial natural chain, and don’t harm or damage anything.  On the other hand, some humans could use a little natural selection.

(In separate but related news, some people need to work on their aiming precision. How hard could it be?  Get it right, people. Don’t quote me.)

I’m getting behind, what with all the work/sleep/work/repeat.  Not that you missed much, just the usual.  Erev preps and meal went well.  Stuff got done.  Oh, and it rained right after I lied about no rain, of course!