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).

A Rave and a Rant!

My husband and I went out of town for a few days and on the whole had a very good time.  We discovered new shops and new restaurants in a place where we have been going for years.  It was such fun to make new discoveries in an old familiar place.

First, the Rave. 

I always go to Barnes & Noble when we visit this city.  It is my happy place.  Books, Vanilla Cappuccino, music, bathrooms, cafe...I could live there.  I have a member rewards card which I use to get discounts on my purchases including my vanilla cappacinos.  I was standing in the line to get my favorite delicious drink behind a woman who was also ordering.  The clerk asked her if she had a rewards card, she said no.  I pulled mine out and said, "use mine."  The clerk took it and told the woman she would get a discount on her order using my card.  The woman looked surprised and turned to me and thanked me.  This is something I do fairly often just as a small kindness to someone else.  I thought nothing more about it and sat down at a table with my drink and books.  A few minutes later, the clerk came up to me and set a plate with 2 large cookies on it in front of me.  I explained that I had not ordered them but she smiled and said that the woman I had let use my card ordered them for me as a thank you.  What a thoughtful gift on a Thursday afternoon.

Now, my Rant.

My husband and I were driving on our way home from our mini vacation and stopped at a traffic light.  I looked at a house next to the road and saw that the resident had hung an American flag on the front porch.  It had the blue field with white stars and white stripes but in place of the red stripes were images of AR15 rifles in red.  I was shocked to say the least.  Let me start by saying that I believe in the Consitution and the right of free speech but that, to me, was an insult to a symbol of this great country.  With all the mass shootings that have been happening and it seems the AR15 has turned out to be the gun of choice, how could anyone display such a thing and in such a context as the American Flag!  This desecration of an American symbol is, in my opinion, unpatriotic, insulting and shameful.  It was an upsetting end to a very good mini vacation.