Beautiful October Weather

 

We are in a streak of sunshine, blue skies, temperatures in the mid-60s to low 70's. Because I have a bad cold, I have not been outside much. This afternoon as I took a few photos I noticed leaves are already floating down. I need to enjoy the beautiful fall weather now! The forecast looks like a mild one for trick-or-treaters Saturday.

Actually, September and October have gone by in a blur. I had surgical procedures two weeks apart (September 9 and 23); my husband had total knee replacement surgery October 5th; this week we both have bad colds with hacking coughs; and for over a month my washing machine has had no functional spin cycle until last Wednesday when it was finally repaired. I am sort of looking forward to November, but of course that signals winter is on its way. We are expected to have a mild winter because of El Nino. We will see. 

When I bought my two small pots of mums at the end of September, there was only a handful of blooms open. Now they are at peak bloom. There were a few brown ones I cut off this afternoon, but still unopened ones, too. 

We are starting to discuss Thanksgiving options. We haven't made any decisions yet. Our retirement community announcement sheet said the food service is going to offer a Thanksgiving meal ready to heat up at home for $50 for four people. Choice of ham or turkey. That is a new service this year. A few years ago, when we ate in the dining room, the service was so slow that by the time they came to our table they had run out of gravy and the portions were skimpy as they were running out of food. Don't know how generous the servings will be for take-home. You have to pick up the meal the afternoon before Thanksgiving. Might be better to eat at a restaurant since then there are no dirty dishes. Something to ponder.