Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Catching Up


 Last week, we took our last mini-vacation before the season of winter.  We usually do this as in winter we pretty much stay close to home unless special circumstances happen.  We went on a mini trip to shop and get away from it all.  We had a great time.  Shopping went well although we were disappointed that so many of our favorite stores were still closed because of covid or had gone out of business for the same reason.  I did get new winter boots which was one of the items on my list but most of the stores I shop in did not have winter coats or jackets out yet.  Many of them told me that the slow supply chain because of covid was holding up shipments.  Because of that, I hope to get a new winter coat online.  I went to my "happy place" (as my sons call it) Barnes and Noble Bookstore.  I am a sucker for bookstores, libraries, etc.  anyplace that has books.  But I consider B&N my happy place. In my mind's eye, it has everything.  It has comfy couches, books, clean bathrooms, books, music, books, vanilla cappuccinos, books...you are seeing a pattern here, I hope.  I spend the first 30 minutes there wandering the aisles looking at book titles, anticipating which books will theoretically jump out at me as if to say, "read me".  The rest of my time, after a rather large purchase of books (my addiction of choice) is spent sitting in the cafe, sipping my vanilla cappuccino, people watching, perusing my purchases while trying to decide which one to start reading first.  It makes for a lovely afternoon.  I told B that it's a good thing we do not have a B&N near our house or my time would all be spent there as well as spending way too much money.  After such a wonderful, relaxing three days, we have returned home to face our "getting ready for winter" chores.

This week, we are:    

 *putting in the window winter insulation on all the bedroom windows

*putting away the last of the outdoor furniture and decorations

 *putting down the outdoor carpet runner on the front deck so as not to fall when the snow comes

*making sure that there is wood for the downstairs fireplace

 *getting our winter emergency box prepared for the car.  The items in this box will be somewhat of a help if we ever get stuck in the car during the winter. The box will contain 2 blankets, bottled water, food/snacks, emergency flares, extra flashlights and batteries, matches, extra gloves, socks & winter hats, an extra car phone charger and a first aid kit.                                

*covering bushes and plants that need the added protection in the cold temperatures


It seems a lot to do but I like to be prepared and not leave these chores to the last minute (been there, done that).

6 comments:

  1. Wow! Your season must be ahead of ours here in southern Missouri. Our trees haven't even turned yet!

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    1. They are already predicting snow showers this weekend in the UP of Michigan. Except for winter, we have short seasons weather wise.

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  2. I love bookstores as well. I could happily spend hours in them.... Harvey on the other hand does not like them in the least.

    We are finishing up the yard work cutting down lilies, and other plants and putting away the outside furniture.

    God bless.

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    1. My husband doesn't like bookstores either. He usually drops me off there, goes to do his own thing and then returns when it's time to puck me up. Sometimes that's a good thing because I know he will be like kids in a car saying constantly, "are we done yet?"

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  3. Ellen, that photo with your post, with the sign saying, Be prepared, kind of caught my attention - but perhaps in a way different to you wrote. Just a couple of days back, I saw the same phrase and it took me back to a few years before when I was given the warning to prepare for a coming flood. I'm still not sure what form this flood would take. The weather is still fine and so far here we haven't been impacted much by supply chain issues. But all that can change in the blink of an eye. I'm looking at your list of to-do's and thinking perhaps I should stock up at least a wee bit. We did so early in the pandemic last year but since then, we've been like rats in our store, winnowing down our stocks. Maybe it's time to get ready for a winter again.

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    1. The sign had two meanings for me as well. Not only do we get prepared for the season of winter around here but I also get myself mentally and spiritually prepared for whatever God has in mind for me in the coming dark months.

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