Simple Pleasures

 We are having a warm, lovely Autumn. I find plenty of things to love during Autumns like this. There are the last blooms of summer: Azalea,

Phlox,

 and roses.

I'm also eagerly anticipating the enjoyment of my $3,028 cantaloupe:  $4.25 for the starter plant and $3,023.75 for watering.

I'm going to get a grand total of *one* homegrown, vine-ripened cantaloupe for my money and efforts. 

It's totally worth it.

 Since there is no Montana winter in sight, my strawberries decided to kick into production again. Life doesn't get much better than this--

--unless, of course, I think about the joy of spending quality duplex time with Stan. We are hard at work on the 1334 side. Someone gave us a used, huge piece of rusty orange carpet in 1985. We used it to carpet the duplex's basement family room and had enough left over to carpet the smaller bedroom.  Even Stan agrees the time has come to replace it and

the stained 25 year Berber carpet in the larger bedroom.

We are doing a few other updates. This is the chandelier that was in our home when we moved in. When the chandelier at the duplex broke a dozen years ago, I selflessly suggested we get a new light and give our ugly dated interesting chandelier to the duplex.

 As remodeler co-boss, 

I put myself in charge of refinishing the doors. They are in sad shape.  We dealt with these old doors on the 32 side by replacing them--however, we are tired of throwing money at duplex remodeling, and are finishing our updating with elbow grease instead of cash this time around. You can see the kitchen on this side has already been remodeled.

 After eights hours of backbreaking work, I sanding and primed all 7 doors and 4 bi-fold closet doors.

 And I managed to only gash myself once. I only bled out half my blood volume. 

Obviously, I have a gift for this kind of work.

 Meanwhile, the other co-boss is painting popcorn ceilings made of pure asbestos. 

What could be funner than spending every free moment fixing up our duplex?

Yeah, I can think of a bunch of funner things, too.....

Teaching The Old Dogs New Tricks

Stan and I have been learning a lot since Megan left the nest.

1. We've been downsizing for the past 15 years, but I still find myself cooking for a crowd, even though I made the oatmeal muffins and crock pot dish off of a "cooking for two" website. I've learned I need to find a different website.

2. I've learned I may have over planted my garden.  I figure we will need to eat a squash a week from now till next season to get through our winter squash harvest.

 The tomato situation is even worse. I've been picking and preserving for several weeks.

 I figure we will need to eat a preserved tomato product every 1 1/2 days to get through our current tomato bonanza before next summer.

3. I discovered I have more time. Megan loves this dress we bought at Dillard's. Unfortunately, someone forgot to add the bottom four inches of it. I finally found time to remedy that situation. Luckily, I learned I also have time to stand in line at the post office for an hour and mail it to Megan.

 4. I've learned that any and all church events revolve around food. Here's what I took to the temple this morning for our "Stake Sisters at the Temple" session. One of my counselors is bringing the rest of the food. Next week is the broadcast and we get to do it all again, AND decorate tables, too.

5. Through sad experience, I have learned that when something breaks, there is no one to blame.  Even more tragically,

when something gets eaten, it's much harder to explain. I'm thinking about getting a goat I can scape.

 6. I've discovered our house has been sooo quiet. Fortunately, someone intervened.

Makayla and Hailey both took a sick day this week--instead of school, they came to Grandma's house for some TLC while Amy was at school and at work. As you can see, Hailey is dying of stomach flu and crabbiness.

I was forced to pull out "Grandma's Magical Flu and Cranky Cure".  Hailey had 10 or 12 doses.

 It completely ended the throwing up, but didn't do much for the crankiness.

Makayla  has the worst diaper rash I've ever seen. Additionally, there's something seriously wrong with her hair. She's treating that diaper rash by keeping her ointment nearby as she's eating 4 or 5 peppers I picked from the garden this morning. 

Those peppers didn't do a thing for her hair problem. Makayla, you should have tried my ice cream magic.

7. We have learned we will survive. We may even be having fun, but don't tell the kids. They may be tempted to come home and see what we're up to.