Let's see ...

What have I been doing lately?  Well, I've had some busy days and some blessedly quiet days.  Just a good balance I think.  We've enjoyed some good weather but the fall leaves aren't quite as colorful as usual this year.  All in all, everything's pretty normal.  I have been doing lots of hooking and some weaving, too -- almost done with a rooster hooked rug and just completed a rug for a friend who gave up hooking.  And I've cranked off about half a dozen woven rugs.  Got all the flower beds tucked in and the yard decor back in the garden shed for the winter.  I think one more mowing will do it for the yard.  Also got a good amount of reading done -- for some reason I decided to read everything of Willa Cather that I hadn't read before.  And re-read everything I 'have' already read.  (sigh ...)  But it's been enjoyable.  She was a complicated person but a wonderful author.  My favorite book of hers is My Antonia.  Got the front door painted last week.  (Just 17 years late but who's counting.)  Also, found a place to spend the winter (yeah!).  So I guess I've been somewhat productive.

On the negative side, I've had a light case of the flu, our furnace went on the blink over a cold weekend (why didn't it do that on Monday morning instead of Saturday afternoon?), and a good friend found out she has cancer.  

Let me look at my pictures ... I know we went to Casey, IL one Saturday and spent an afternoon.  You know, everything's bigger in Casey ... I think in the past I've put pictures on of the huge golf tee, rocking chair and wind chimes there.  There's more -- we still haven't seen it all.  While in town I read that there's a giant pitch fork out at a local restaurant ... I think we need to go back.  Come to think of it, this was actually on my birthday and we spent a little time earlier in the day at the wine festival in Palestine, IL.  It was just a full full day.  Weather beautiful, company wonderful, drive relaxing.  Life's good.

Pencil.

Mailbox -- the flag goes up & down every now and then and you can climb up into it.

Bird cage.  Favorite spot for picture taking; there was a line.

Knitting needles & crochet hook.

Wooden shoes.

The wooden shoes are in the candy shop.  And the large knitting needles & crochet hook in a wonderful yarn shop, all downtown!  I spent some time in the yarn shop while W. waited on a bench outside.  The only thing missing from this downtown is a really good antique shop.  There was one open there, but not good.  I seek them out and really think someone in Casey needs to open a good antique shop there!!!  Someone's missing a good thing (there were lots of people out and about downtown).

Another day in October we went to French Lick!  Don't miss the French Lick Winery if you go there!  Had lunch in the Power Plant Bar and Grill and took a tour of the French Lick Springs Hotel.  We had toured the hotel at West Baden Hotel and stayed there in the past, but never done more than walk through a portion of the French Lick Springs Hotel.  So that was enjoyable for both of us.  It's a big place!  (We didn't go to the casino cause we're not gambling folks.)  The shops there, in the hotel, are very nice, too.  Above is a shot of the lobby where you check in.  While we were there they were busy decorating for Christmas.  Their lighting ceremony will be November 17 ...

I've been crocheting scarves and hats like mad with my leftover odds & ends of yarn.  Here's one I just finished.  Got until Sunday the 12th to get as many done as possible for our church winter warmth project!  I sort of like this one, myself.  But I can picture it on some little girl, can't you?  That is what I see in my mind's eye.

Well, enough already!  Hope you and yours are well and enjoying this beautiful time of year, as we prepare to give thanks for the bounty of our wonderful country later this month.  Remember -- God is good!