The last 2 days here were absolutely glorious! Warm and sunny. I openned up the house and let the breeze and warm air work it's magic. Since today is my day off and the morning is still warm, I am out on the sunporch in my owl PJs, typing at you and sipping my coffee. We don't have sun this morning, but the golden leaves covering the ground like a rich carpet make up for it in only the way they can. The construction guys were here the last few days, finishing up the windows, door and bookshelf. The mess is large. So, after work last night I started cleaning, and since I had to move furniture to get under the windows, I figured I would simply move everything and get it all. Spring cleaning in fall! I have one room left, and then my plans are to pickle me some green tomoatoes and start moving all the stuff out of the guest room upstair so I can paint the 2 walls in there. I have so many things to do, but I keep getting distracted by friends (yep, I now have several!) and beautiful weather. People keep telling me the weather will change, and I believe them. So, I will enjoy what I have now, and deal with the sleepy winter when it hits. The birds here are fabulous, and much to Dianas dismay I plan on feeding them throughout the winter season. They bring Pug, Smudge and me much joy. I need to find a bird book specifically for the feathered creatures of this area and start identifing. I saw a Red Cardinal zip by while I wandered a cememtary the other day! Oh, and the Jays! They are everywhere, and so pretty! I keep my eyes open for gifts of feather everytime I am outside. Mom and Dad are in Brason until this Tuesday. Dad and I are going to see if we can get a little time in on Middle Earth while Mom is doing her thing. My visit to the Ottowa Museum is tomorrow instead of next week because next week we are having a garage sale to get rid of the stuff Carol left behind. I am starting to collect the suplies I need to teach a class or two, and hope to do that soon. Diana has been gone the last few days, and it's to empty around here. I am looking forward to having her home agan tonight. Someone drank my coffee. Hmmm. I'd better do something about that.

Two weeks since I posted here and it feels like forever! I am sitting out back on the porch steps, watching Pug chase the leaves that are blowing in the wind, and drinking a cup of morning coffee. It's warm, but Fall is very established. The leaves turn only a little faster than they are being blown off the trees. However, every morning I get to look out windows at the picture that Mother Nature is painting, and it is beautiful! I have made 2 friends here. Both are happy to show me around, geocache with me, and just hang out. I have a trip to Canada planned for 2 weeks from now. Patric and I are headed for the art museum in Ottowa. Long day, but it will be worth it. I am hoping to head N.E. today to a town called Canton. It's a little college town where another potential friend lives. He owns land and 4 rental houses. He live in a smithy that has been turned into a house. It looks very cool! Also, he has foraging skills, and I would love to tap into some of that. I love having people around me I can learn from. Besides, he offered me a beer, and I haven't had a good beer since I got here!. Hahaha! Diana's Mom is leaving a week early. The movers come this Monday. I am not sure if she is headed out Monday night or Tuesday morning, but I do know that Diana is also leaving on business on Wednesday, so I will have the house to myself for a few days. I plan on painting walls and some miscellanous things that never were finished, listening to loud music, and having a box explosion happen upstairs. I will be able to unpack, spread out, organize, and leave the stuff lying about until I have a place for it! Yeah!!! AND....wait for it....The sunporch will be empty of boxes and I can actually use it!!!! Bliss! Work is work. I love being a worker bee. They leave me alone and I get to see projects through from begining to end. They are starting to offer me more hours. I work 4 days next week, 2 of them 8 hour shifts. Every little bit helps. I need to volunteer for Thanksgiving. It's time and a half, and it will keep me off the streets and out of trouble.

Diana's mom is gone for the next few days, so I was able to spread out my boxes a bit last night without worry of setting off her OCD. I was able to unpack another 7 because Carol picked up some cool shelves from Ollies that fit on top of my dresser. Yeah! I will finish the rug today, and get ready for a delivery of stuff on Monday or Tuesday. Yep. The parents will be here with the rest of it soon. Yeah! They will be gald to empty their car, and I will be glad to take it! Diana and I will be hitting a local rummage sale today. I am hoping to find a few of the things I am looking for to finish up my closet, and get a few more things unpacked. It is all finally coming together and I am feeling like I have a personal space here to stretch myself out in. Pug has been going out, and he is happier because of it. However, he has realized there isn't anyone outsideto play with, either. Poor booboo! He and Justice are poised on the edge of playing. Faith gave it a go the other day, and although Pug didn't go for it, he wasn't a big meanie about it either. All good signs that he's adjusting well. Misty has discovered Diana's lap, so that is a good thing. She needs her lap time. She wanders downstairs, even when I am not around and hangs out. This is her way of saying she has excepted where she is, so Ha! She is claiming the space as hers, but still wants major amounts of lap time from me. She's my silly little cranky pnats, that's for sure! Smudge is having the hardest time. She went out for the first time 2 days ago, and practically took off running for the nearest bush to sit under. She feels safe under bushes apparently. She was out there about 45 minutes before I had to bring her in. She spends most of her time under the bed in the guest room. I am not thrilled about that. She is super skitish. She does wander downstairs during the early mornings or late evenings when things are calm and quiet. I hurt in my heart for her. I wish the sun porch wasn't full of packed crap so she could at least enjoy that. Le sigh! It will change for her eventually. I feel we have the rest of the month for outdoor adventures before itgets super cold and rainy/windy/snowy. I hope to get her out a lot more between now and winter.