Honoring the Days

 Last Friday, I decided that the world was beckoning so I struck off looking for foliage and two mums. 

I had no sooner left my driveway when I saw this poor, struggling tree right on my neighbor's lawn. It was putting its all into perhaps its last autumn season.

I can sit right on my deck and see it from my own backyard. 

I was going to prove it, but the tree has already faded in just three short days. Plus, it has rained and taken a lot of leaves.

Just before peak and heading out of the neighborhood...

Looking for mums and I found them! This was not as easy as it had been last week when every single farmstand from here to there had mums. Not any more!

I placed my selections on the hood of the car so I didn't have to drip them through the store to the counter and back. It pleased me to find them because my sister, brother-in-law, and I were traveling the next day to my grandparents' hometown well north of Bangor.

A good chauffeur

Pleased to honor our grandparents once again...

Just to the right was a graveside service. My step-uncle passed away in Florida at the age of 92. He was the last one standing of his generation on my mother's side of the family. He lived a wonderful life and enjoyed many travels and work assignments with the railroad all around the world. My sister and I wanted to honor him and to see his sons once again. It has been such a long time. They live from California to Georgia to Ontario, Canada. You may remember that we are one of those families that spans both sides of the Canada~US border.

 

It was very surprising to me that the youngest son from Ontario was even allowed to attend his father's service in this time of you know. He, like my sister, is a dual citizen. He said that that was the only thing that got him in. On return, he must quarantine for two weeks. He jokingly said that he'd be living in a tent on his back lawn.

I have happy memories of my uncle and aunt. He was the uncle spoken of *here* where we discussed genealogy. He was the one who got me most interested in the search.

As we stood there, a beautiful September day with temps in the high 70s, we were listening to the bagpipes and drums behind us when we heard the familiar chug of a train engine. How perfect. Few trains rumble by these days. It was all so symbolic.

We wished that we had been able to join them for a family supper at a restaurant in Bangor, but Steve and Kim were leaving early the next morning for Iowa. As I type this, they are in the process of driving back to Maine with a U-haul. They are bringing Steve's mother home to live with them.

We said goodbye to this small town in middle Maine. The railroad left a decade or so ago taking all the jobs with it. Even the grocery store is gone.  My grandparents' home sits empty and looking so sad. The garage is falling down and the home will be soon at this rate...the windows gone. I refused to even take a photo preferring to remember better days. My cousins said that they had driven around and were equally dismayed. 

Saying goodbye to Brownville Junction... Hope to see it again one day.

Thanks for reading...

Love,

Vee

 

Welcome Autumn Hodge Podge

 The questions:

1. It's fall y'all. What's something you love about this season and also something you don't? 

2. When you think of the colors of fall, which one is your favorite? Is there somewhere you could easily day trip to see the leaves in all their glory? Will you? 

3. What's one thing you've let 'fall' by the wayside during this season of staying home and staying away? 

4. If you're wearing a sweater is it most likely a cardigan, crew neck, v-neck, or zip up hoodie? 

5. What's your secret to dealing with change? 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

The Answers:

1. Autumn is my favorite time of year for all the usual reasons: apples, pumpkins, leaves, crisp days, cozy sweaters, hearty meals, extra blankets on the bed...

Something I don't like about fall is Halloween. Why, when all the world is showing the glory of God, must I look at a witch splatted on the side of my neighbor's home? 😣

2. Even though yellow is my favorite color, red is my favorite autumn color. It looks like a great year for reds this year! 

3. Though I have been home a lot, I have not felt like "creating home." I'll try to do better this autumn. 

4. a hoodie

5. Oh I hope someone has the answer to this because I sure don't. The best I can offer is to "Trust in The Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding."

6. For my regular readers, my daughter has sold her home (closing in late October) and will be relocating permanently up north on the river. When I visited my doctor today, I pulled into my daughter's place to take some photos before it's too late. I think I'll miss that place, but she is sure that she won't. 

She's trading the above for the below...

Thank you for visiting, please visit Joyce right here. 

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It Has Been Awhile

July 26, 2017 to be exact. 

A lot of my blogging buddies participate in Joyce's weekly Hodge Podge. For lack of an original blogging idea, I have decided to join in this week. Thank goodness, Joyce is still coming up with great questions.

Let's begin! 

1. What's one thing you learned at the ripe old age of whatever age you are now?

Hmmm...I have learned a lot in this particular season of covid, masks, isolation, social distancing, talk of vaccines, etc., etc., You think that I'm going to tell you, right? No, though I will say that I am never putting myself in a place of isolation again. Quite frankly, death would be preferable. Needless to say, this is my opinion only; I am not speaking for you or anyone else. 

2. I read here a list of foods that can help you look younger-

extra virgin olive oil, green tea, fatty fish, dark chocolate, vegetables, flaxseeds, pomegranates, avocados, tomatoes, spices, bone broth

How many of the foods listed have you tried? How many do you eat regularly? Your favorite from the list?

Since I am currently on a sliced tomato drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt kick, guess that that's my favorite.

green tea 😣

fatty fish 😣 wait, is haddock considered "fatty fish"?

dark chocolate 😖

flaxseeds ?

pomegranates 😣

avocados 😖

spices?

bone broth 😏

3. Something you miss from the 'good old days'? When were the good old days anyway?

I miss the days when almost everyone was a patriot. I'm a firm believer in not looking back all the time, but if forced to make a choice, I'd say the 1980s was a pretty good time. My years married to John were very sweet; nevertheless, the politics of the time made life unnecessarily difficult and oppressive. I'm looking forward to better days ahead. Sometimes you might hear me whispering Maranatha... 

4. What are two or three of the most rewarding things to be found in growing older?

For me, Sam and Jake. Grandchildren. ツ I like to see families moving forward and growing. 

5. What's your favorite part of your life right now?

Family, friends, books, flowers, cooler weather, cozy days...

My friend Deanna from Creekside Cottage found these Gladys Taber books for me at her local used bookstore. They arrived today just in time for tea and cozy time.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It's back to the garage for me. My goal is to have it all cleaned out by the end of September. So many unnecessary extras that have gathered over the years were making it impossible to function. 

It doesn't all belong to me, but since others are content to allow me to deal with it, deal with it I will. No yard sales for me, though I have considered putting things on the lawn with a FREE sign. I'm just worried that others would not be interested in my castoffs. So to the landfill it is... 

Perhaps you've been away from the Hodge Podge for a while and would like to check it out once again. You can find Joyce 

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Thank you for your visit. 

And a Fun Day Was Had by All

<So the new blogger was rolled out I see. A minute in and I already see problems. Okay, Vee, calm down, carry on.>

If I get any further behind, I'll never catch up. I want to document, for myself, the wonderful Labor Day we enjoyed at my daughter's home on the river. I have made a little movie and I hope that it will show the shape of the day, but the movie is a little out of focus so I am also adding photos.

That beautiful September day, I drove to my sister's home and from there we went further north to Laurel's. Laurel was mowing when we arrived, but soon gave the job over to my grandson Sam...

because she and her brother had to get the grill going.

There was a bit of color...

There was time spent chatting and eating, but it was a remarkably active crowd.

Time at the River...

And time in the wiffle ball field...

where big boys and little boys played happily together. (Girls, too, of course!)

My sister's grandson spent some happy times in the middle of the field. At one point, when she had a hit and was running bases, he watched surprised as she sped right on by him. "Grammie," he said in an accusing tone. "I can't stop, Emmanuel, I'm playing a game." ツ

And that was not all...Laurel remembered Streamer Tag which captured Emmanuel's imagination completely.

Emmanuel arrived at my knee because I had the nice cold drink he was making short work of. It was a lovely day and I am grateful for it.  

Adam meets Anneke for the first time...

Since then, I have been stuck in the garage trying to reclaim some much needed space. Perhaps, if I get more brave, I'll share. 

Yup, it's been an adventure posting. Hope it flies.

Thanks for your visit.