I arrived at Avdi’s late afternoon, past trees in blazing colors in the sinking sun, to find Jess and Eric in the middle of removing the old broken kitchen ceiling fan and installing a new one.  Easier said than done.  That old house has so many random, illogical infrastructure issues and electrical circuits, no job is routine or intuitive.  It was a long project, but they got’r done.  I could only help minimally, so I sat out of the way by candlelight, waiting to claim A’s bedroom for the night.

Just as I was finally drifting off late at night/early morning, of course a kid burst into noisy activity on one of their compulsive baking sprees.  I can’t really complain, considering the spectacular results: a perfect tiramisu, bread pudding, and almond/lime gelatin confection.  It is a perfectly reasonable time for an atypical teen to take advantage of the adult-free kitchen (and tv screen).  One adapts.  And enjoys the outcome.

Later this morning, it was wet and mild out, so I did a project of my own, turning a messy corner area into an intentional garden bed, with leaf mulch.  A work-in-progress.

Note the calendulas are still blooming in late November.  In fact, with all the mild rain, there’s still a lot of green with bright flashes of every rainbow color.

Another quiet erev, on a mild rainy day and night.  The colors that are left really shine and shimmer on a day like that.  I did the usual baking, and made a hearty beef barley mushroom vegetable stew.  It was just Avdi, K, Jess, and me; E was fast asleep, and Y was over a friend’s house.

Yesterday’s outdoor projects were: dumping the second bin of leaves in the inactive half of the veg garden, and raking the front yard into the garden beds.  The cloudy air was misting up for another rain event, so I switched to indoor projects.  A dense fog descended upon us overnight, much like the state of my brain.

The little microwave I brought from Ohio is finally getting use as a temporary stand-in for the broken kitchen one, so I’m glad I could contribute to the household functioning.

Note the infamous pickle barrel is almost empty after just a day or so!  (I had one!)  Pickleholics.

It turns out there are still outdoorsy things for me to do.  As promised, the neighbors A&S saved me two bins-worth of leaves to use for mulching the new raised bed, the compost, the veg garden, etc.  Also, I cleared out a section of the last raised bed along the back of the house and seeded it with several varieties of poppies, so they can stratify and be more protected.  I’ll do some minimal leaf-raking out front for appearances’ sake.  The rain has continued on and off, so I don’t have to worry about watering.

I think my dental reconstruction project is wrapped up for the year, as of yesterday, except for the money I still owe, despite the insurance that should cover it.  All four quads have had major fixes.  Not much of the original components are left.  I have an android mouth.  So let that be a lesson: do all the dental things all your life and you may end up with most of your natural teeth, and spare funds for all the other debts!

It has been raining, but still fairly mild!  I can feel the garden’s relief.

I got a lot done at Avdi’s yesterday, so that I didn’t have spare time to worry that I’m not doing enough.  All those little projects check off boxes of petty annoyances that Avdi will never have time to get to.  But it’s not all drudgery.  Avdi brought home the mother load of giant dill pickles in a barrel jar, and all of us got to appease our communal pickle craving!  I earn my pickles!

When I say I don’t mess with nature’s autumn agenda, that doesn’t mean I don’t help direct things along a little.  For example, the other day I gathered flower seed heads and pods and scattered seeds in various strategic places throughout the yard.  Later I watered it all in.  Just expediting things a little!  More to look forward to, come spring.

I spent the night Sat. through Sun. as usual, so Avdi could go out.  It was extremely quiet, with Y at a friend’s sleepover, E partying with the drama crew after the finale, and K.  Early Sun. morning, E went out to join the set strike day team.  The weather had again fluctuated from summer-like to mild fall-like overnight, but still gorgeous out, so I soaked it in a while.

I reiterate, I know how boring and mundane this must all sound, while the world is disintegrating around us.  Better minds are recording the atrocities and crimes for posterity, and better-equipped folks are actively resisting and fighting the regime, and I’d join them if I knew how.  In the meantime, I try to be of service in my own small way, so more capable minds can focus on what’s important and do some good.

I won’t be the shoulders others stood upon, but perhaps the back– or backside!  Or even just the butt supporting the feet of the shoulders etc. etc. never mind!

Last night I got to go to the final performance of R&J with Avdi and Jess, and it was outstanding.  E is a natural born actor, without any training, just practice.  His co-star playing Juliet has had training from a young age, and was great, and the kids who played Mercutio and Tybalt were incredible.  But E (no partiality here!?) seems to have a calling or gift.

After the play, when E eventually came out, he got the most enthusiastic reception of screaming, hugging friends and fans of all.  It’s gratifying to see him so embraced and supported by so many, and how self-assured acting has made him.  Much credit goes to Mr. Schaefer, the gifted director and mentor.  I was very proud.

That’s a hard act to follow, so I’ll just wrap up with some gorgeous blazing fall colors.  But my favorite is this little aster, a modest star among all the fiery frenzy.

Look at the size of that sycamore leaf!!  A springlike fall day is such a tease, because I want to be out there doing stuff, but all I can do (for the sake of leaving nature to do her stuff) is admire and be amazed (and water).  The diversity of fallen leaves reminds me how privileged we are to have so many tall native trees surrounding us, providing food and shelter for large raptors and other native wildlife.  My evil plan now includes letting as many trees grow undisturbed as possible.

The big oak tree was showering little black acorns all over, its first serious acorn production since I’ve been here, and all the little critters were dashing around harvesting them.  Meanwhile, I myself was harvesting lots of assorted greens and lettuces from the veg garden, as if it was the peak of spring.  Successive fall planting was an inspired plan, given the mild weather.

Erev was quiet, as E was off performing the second night of Romeo, which he said went even better than the first.  (The flowers are the bouquet Avdi presented to E at the first performance.)  I made a pasta with my homemade sauce, replete with fresh herbs from the garden, and the greens on the side.  The challot were back to the normal recipe, nice and fluffy.  It was just A, K, and I (Y was holed up in his room).

Notice how full of gorgeous blooms the christmas cactus is this year!  (I see why the botanical name is less commonly used–Schlumbergera!  How awful–it sounds like a schnockered hamburger.)  I had the plant outside all summer in part sun, keeping it watered and drained regularly.  People were like “What?!”  It turns out I imitated its preferred conditions (not desertlike) enough to make it happily bloom once I brought it in and gave it moderate light and water.

Not to be left out, my apt jungle is doing well, constantly unfurling new baby leaves.  (That tall spear is an unfurled leaf.)  I think talking to them helps!

Update: It’s about 80º as I write.

Last night A, K, Y, and I were privileged to watch E nail the role of Romeo in his HS drama production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Schaeffer, based on the Baz Luhrmann version.  He was excellent, as were his co-actors.  But he was most excellent!  I was proud.  He really has a calling.

Fall is back to more of a semblance of fall instead of winter (whatever normal is here), mild and pleasant.  Today is supposed to get to 78º!?  The leaves are finally turning colors for real.  There’s nothing really to do outside, just enjoy nature taking back over, and all the little critters in a feeding/storing frenzy.

It’s especially tough for Avdi right now, what with all the schlepping of kids, and dealing with kid breakdowns, and finding/affording additional psychiatric and mental healthcare, and errands, and trying to find time to work to pay for it all.  It’s pretty desperate.  I do what I can, but it’s not enough.

A bright note, at least for me, was he and I got to go out belatedly for our monthly “date”.  We just went nearby to “Off Elm” WG, an upscale, friendly craft cocktail and whiskey bar, now with “snacks” which were more like superb meals.  The drinks were excellent and creative, and the bartender J was interesting to talk to.  I think she gave us the unofficial “bartender’s handshake” with all of us doing shots of Malört, a Swedish bitter that’s stronger than fernet, and we surprisingly liked it!  Avdi and I got to talk more than we ever do, about “matters of consequence”.  So that was a worthwhile reprieve.