#fdda

MY PLANS FOR SEPTEMBER

Fandango’s Dog Days of August #31: My plans for September

I am planning to not lose my mind this September. Because all though August, I’ve had the definite feeling that I really am losing my mind. Today I was told that the refinance is complete and all that remains is for them to deliver the papers and us to sign them which should happen in the next two days.

During the month of September, I…

Fandango’s Dog Days of August #30: MY BEST JOB EVER

I had been looking for a job that would let me flex my hours so Garry and I could spend time together. It was difficult. He worked terribly long hours, gone before the sun came up and not home until it was dark again. Ironic. Most people think reporters work “a few minutes a day” because that’s all they see on the news. Not true.To get those few…

The Best Job Ever Was Being a Mother: FDDA

My crew.

Written for Fandango’s Dog Days of August Challenge of “your best job ever.”

I was told when I was age 16 that I would never have children of my own, the result of surgery needed after being hit by a boyfriend and landing and bouncing off the hood of a car. So, I planned a life that would be absent motherhood, and at age 17, I tried to go to the Navy to travel all over the world,…

Coming home from Mass General, we drove into the most golden sunset I’ve ever seen. My favorite hours of the day are dawn, just before sunrise when all the birds are singing and you can see the first rays of sun coming over the horizon … and then again twilight and sunset, as the sun sinks down, often leaving some amazing colors behind.

Photo: Garry Armstrong

Today, while we were driving home, the sky turned gold. It was something else. The tops of all the winter trees changed color from green to gold. It was remarkable and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. It’s difficult taking pictures in the car. Windshield and all that, not to mention the annoying habit the dashboard has of popping up. Garry finally pulled off the road, grabbed his camera and took a few more.

#FDDA – Dog Days of August

New England has always been the best place in the world to see the colors of Autumn. We have always had “bad” autumnal years. There can be too much rain or an early snow in September or early October. A hurricane or serious nor’easter can blow the autumn leaves from the trees or wash them away.

The Blackstone River in the fall

The region which we live is usually the best place among many great places in New England, probably because we have more than 70% trees. Also, there is the beautiful Blackstone River and its tributaries running through it. Twisting and turning from it’s birth up in the Worcester hills until it exits into the ocean in Rhode Island.

The canal is most prolifically covered with fallen leaves

Stone bridge over the river and canal in Autumn

For the past two years, we’ve barely had any kind of autumn. It stayed warm so late into the year, the leaves just turned brown and fell off. In 2018, we got about three days of autumn and last year, we got one day. Maybe it was a day and a half. I love autumn for its colors and the crisp, cool weather. I would like fall back again. I want the season. Even a couple of weeks. Please?

October

#FDDA – Dog Days of August

Fandango’s Dog Days of August #28

Today Fandango wants to know what my favorite season is: https://fivedotoh.com/2020/08/28/fandangos-dog-days-of-august-28/

January is too cold

February is over-rated as the month of love

March is bland

April is when I start getting excited because it isn’t cold but it isn’t hot So April starts my favorite season even though it is in the middle of the season

May is good too

June…

Fandango’s Dog Days of August #27

Written for Fandango: https://fivedotoh.com/2020/08/27/fandangos-dog-days-of-august-27/

Today’s theme is “your favorite beverage.” 

Let’s see…

In the morning I like a cup of coffee with Almond milk creamer. I used to use regular creamer but there is quite a bit of artificial junk I don’t need.

I like to drink iced tea. I like the Crystal Light kind, fresh brewed, bottled…I like a…

Kindred Spirits, Leave a Trail

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” -Anne Shirley

Anne Shirley has always been a character near and dear to my heart. Within her quirky ways, overzealous passion, and appetite for knowledge was a reflection of my own awkward self. Growing up, having a character like Anne was monumental. When I read the Green…