Welcome October

 Hello October ...

Scream the ghost and Beastly the bat welcome you as we've turned the page to another month.  October entered with sunny skies and mid-60's temperatures here in Pennsylvania.  I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt but it won't be long before I'll have to dress in sweatshirts and sweaters and that's okay with me.  

October is my birthday month.  I don't look at birthdays with as much excitement as I used to.  Instead, I see it simply for what it truly is: a blessing.  A blessing to have made it another year.  Even though my eye sight is worsening and my muscles don't move like they once did I appreciate all that I can do, still.  I am going to enter the forty-seventh year with gratitude.  

October is also the month when my kids' fall activities begin to wrap up.  These will be the last weeks of marching band practices, performances and cross-country practices and meets.  Yesterday was their first and only home meet of this season and Senior Night.  I'm glad my parents were able to be there and watch as Matthew set the school record.  They changed the course direction this year and he is the first for the record.  This is my daughter's first year and although she is always taking up the rear with her races I'm proud of her effort.  Last night, with disappointment in her tone she said, "I feel like I'm letting everyone down."  I assured her she wasn't but the goal would be to just work harder.  What I love about cross-country is the kindness that everyone shows - the coaches, teammates and even those on other teams.  It's so much different than our experience with baseball and dance.  I do hope she sticks with it with a willingness to work harder and improve.  Nevertheless, I'm as proud of her as I am my son.  

To kick off a new month I decided to put the scent of Sweet Apple in the essential oil defuser.  That probably would have been more suited for September but it is what it is.  The house is smelling so sweet.  

My goal for October is finding time to do some apple picking before it's too late.  That probably would have also been better to do in September but our busy schedules haven't allowed for it.  We also need to get some pumpkins.  It may also be time to tear down my garden, even though the tomatoes are still growing.  I'm sure the cold weather will appear soon enough and without warning and so it's better to get out there and prep for the winter that's soon to come.  Ugh!  I was actually staring at the garden today while planning all of the changes I want to make to it next year with eagerness for that season.  I'm going to take this time to do a lot of studying on how to improve my gardening skills.  I would love to expand and add more vegetables but that will have to begin with time, money and building.  

For you, my readers and friends - I hope October welcomes you with many, many blessings.  Thanks for stopping by.