October, My Favorite Month

"I'm so glad I live in a world 

where there are Octobers."

~L. M. Montgomery

October has arrived and so far our trees aren't showing many signs of being very colorful this year.  It's still plenty warm enough to have the a/c running night and day and we really need some rain here.

I didn't intend to stay away from blogging and visiting blogs for a week, but there has been so much happening around the world that I just didn't think I could put the right words together for posting or commenting.  My thoughts and prayers are with those who are hurting and those who need healing or comfort.

As always, for me, nature has a way of soothing a heavy heart.  I gaze out my kitchen windows to look for a change in color in the leaves.  See the mighty oak that stands in the Back 6 in the above photo?  It is a massive, beautiful tree and the leaves will hopefully turn that pretty shade of deep red before long.  

I haven't yet seen many birds or geese winging their way south.  Just the other day, I saw a Blue Heron down by the pond.  I'm thinking he will stick around for the winter.  I remember in years past watching him walk on the iced over pond. 

We picked up my car today from the shop.  A huge raccoon had run out in front of me recently and I couldn't avoid hitting it.  It left a nice-sized dent in my front fender.  The whole piece was replaced and now my car looks new again.  Well, aside from a few little scratches in the back where a woman ran into me at a stop sign a year or so ago.  The body shop is in the country and it was a nice little drive.

I love October and I love drives in the country.  In spite of the heat, I can feel that fall is in the air.  I'd like to make a trip to the Amish country sometime this month. 

I won't be buying many baked goodies when I visit the Amish.  At my doctor visit last week, I found out that my A1C numbers were much too high.  I've been put on a diabetic pill until I can get the numbers under control.  So that means no sugar and eating better.  Guess I pigged out a little too much in Branson.  

Maybe I'll even lose a few pounds.  I'm not obese by any means, but I could stand to lose some weight and I know that scarfing down sweet iced tea by the gallons and runs to the DQ for blizzards or ice cream cones are going to have to stop.  I knew that I was borderline diabetic but kept eating anything I wanted to.  Bad girl. 

 
My daughter loves decorating for fall and the above photo is of part of her front yard this fall.  We had fun shopping for mums and pumpkins at the Big Town one day last week.  I had a hard time choosing mums, I love them all.  I had to get one of the tri-colored mums which is in my first photo.  We also ate some good food while there.  That was before I got the doctor's report.  

My son came home for the weekend and we grilled one evening which was yummy.  He is the grill master in our family.  Shh, don't tell BG I said that.  He does okay, but Brett is better.  

Anyhoo, we also fixed several foods in my new toy, an oil-less fryer.  BG loves his french fries and I don't like to turn on the oven in hot weather.  I fixed some BBQ chicken legs, french fries and onion rings.  Not all at once, of course.  Everything I fixed turned out really good so I give this new gadget 5 stars.  The only drawback I find is that it is quite large and takes up space if you want to leave it on the counter top like I do.  The pull out drawer and basket can be put in the dishwasher which is a plus.  Both BG and I love fried foods, so I know this will get a lot of use.  Btw, I'm not being compensated for saying any of this

I'll run along now and fix myself a glass of iced tea with Splenda.   It's not my choice but it isn't too bad.  

Happy Wednesday to you!
xo Cheryl