Settling In at Home

There's something about being home after a summer spent largely at the lake that is disconcerting. It's good to be back, yet life seems to be in a slightly chaotic state. I feel like I am rediscovering things once familiar, while at the same time trying to negotiate the unpacking, the scheduling of appointments that were put off till fall, gatherings with friends and more (all while living in too much clutter and impending deadlines.)

I miss the sunsets. 

Bad news doesn't help either -- but more on that later.

My Take

I've been listening to and reading a lot of news lately, especially as we lead up to the midterm elections in the U.S. And I've also heard a lot of complaining, too -- about the costs of food, gas and more. And I'm getting tired of it. (Even though I've said a few of those things myself.) But, as many of us are filling out absentee ballots, participating in early voting or planning a trip to the polls,  today I'm going off the grid and taking a diversion from my usual day-to-day topics and offer some food for thought.

Because it's not all about us. It's about something much bigger.

Postcards From the Lake: One Last Postcard

Before I wrap up the last of our postcards from the (mostly) lake for this season, a few images and moments I want to remember that I don't think I've posted before! So here are a load of photos (check the captions) that I don't want to leave behind.

Art

My friend Maryanne gave me these to-die-for colors for my birthday!

Postcards From the Lake: A Fond Farewell and a Recipe

All good things come to an end. After all that glorious color, those crisp days and crispier nights, it was time to wrap up our summer -- and early fall -- at the lake.

For me, that meant a final trip to the farmer's market.

Postcards From the Lake: And You Thought I Was Done with Color

In my last post, I took you along with Rick and me for a color ride. We had such a wonderful time checking out the fall color near the cottage -- and it was just getting better and better!

So, when my friend Susan called and said she was coming to Gaylord, we decided to do another color tour.

Postcards From the Lake: A Fall Color Tour

Our year at the lake has drawn to a close. The house is buttoned up for the winter, the car stuffed to overflowing with all the things coming home that we brought up for the summer (and a cat) and outdoor furniture tucked safely into the garage or the house till next spring. Oh, I hate leaving. 

It has been an odd last visit. There were so many plans that didn't happen -- road trips that didn't get taken, work that didn't get done. Having pneumonia will do that to a person. I was knocked for a loop and it was a big one. By the time I was well, the weather had pretty much gone from glorious to cold and damp. A good time to be inside; not much good for anything else. But....

A Real Treasure

My inspiring friend Dick Hill, whom I wrote about here (please read it if you haven't before) and a little bit here, offered some of his paintings for "Art for Charity." If he posted an available painting. you would make a gift to the charity of your choice, tell him what that charity is, and the painting is yours. Today, more than ever, I am grateful this one came to me, for reasons hard to speak of.

The September Book Recap

 I'm not sure how I managed to pull six books out of September -- it wasn't a great month for reading. Most were pretty light mysteries (one classic), set in Ireland, France, and England. Two other non-mysteries, also set in England, were far meatier and interesting and one is on my favorites of the year list.

Postcards From the Lake: So, What's New?

Rick and I decided to spend a relaxing week or two at the cottage. My last hurrah for the year, though he may come up again later. He handles the cold better than I! When the lake is as still as glass, pretty much all boat traffic apart from fishing boats is gone and the only sound you hear for the most part is distant road noise, it's a perfect time of year.