Tuesday, November 14 - Massachusetts

Good evening, my friends! Looking at the calendar (and emails from my sister), it is hard to believe Thanksgiving will be here next week already.

Wow - what a long, strange year it's been. And - I have so very, very much to be thankful for.

After last week's "Panda incident", and a mini flood which occurred a week before, I finally broke down and bought a mop. I did not have one; have put off the trip to Walmart because, well, I just really, REALLY dislike going to Walmart.

A few weeks ago we had a nasty storm - high winds and torrential rain. I was sitting at the table reading, and noticed a huge puddle of water forming on the kitchen floor. It was seeping in under the back door due to the high winds. An anomaly, yes, but quite a mess at the time.

I did not have a mop and had to use a ton of paper towels and few older towels to mop it up. Took a lot of time! Then the Panda incident occurred. Grrr. So I got a mop on sale last week at the grocery store. Figure now that I have one I will not need it (one can only hope!). Paper towels are not really the best line of defense for kitchen floor flood clean-up!
The past few weeks I have plowed through quite a bit of paperwork etc. My life is quite complicated. Too much for my liking at this point. I am trying to make it less so.

I have mentioned many times - I like to read in the evening for awhile. I recently picked out of my books-that-made-it one of poetry by Dylan Thomas; a collection that contains many of his earlier poems. Probably one of the hardest poets to get through and definitely not for a novice poetry reader!

Dylan Thomas

A Welsh poet - tormented by demons, of course - he died at the very early age of 39. He left behind a wealth of words. Ingenious and actually quite rhythmic. Deep. I find myself reading his poetry out loud. Dylan Thomas had a fascination with words and the images they concoct. He is best known for "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "A child's Christmas in Wales".

Yes, I do indeed have a great many things to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for every single one of them, and each and every moment. I have a cat who is going to be 20 years old in a few months. I have had the privilege to share her life since she was 6 months old. I have some outstanding friends, and I have a family with whom I am very close; especially my siblings.

That, my friends, means the entire world to me. That is what matters. Stay tuned!

Saturday, November 11 - Massachusetts

Good afternoon my friends! It has been awhile since I posted. Appointments, errands, and paperwork have kept me busy. Household chores, and starting to button things up here for the Winter. Not many pictures today.

This will be the first Winter in my new place. A few things to do outside, along with outdoor Summer furniture to be put away. My most awesome Brother has been helping me as he can.

I met my most supportive sister for lunch two weeks ago for her birthday. Her birthday was not for a few days yet, but that was the day we could meet. It was really nice! She loves puzzles, and every year I try to find one more challenging than the previous year. This year's was an ocean sunset, which I chuckled over in glee when I bought it! It was 1500 pieces, and many of the colors are the same across the puzzle. That is what makes it difficult :)

I believe she groaned when she opened it :) My sister is really, really good at puzzles. Me - not so much. My brain skews in the opposite direction in creativity. I have absolutely no doubt she will complete it however!

And we had such a wonderful afternoon!!

Had a "small incident" with my kitty Panda yesterday. Caused me much consternation and there was much scolding involved at said kitty. My kitchen table is rather small, and I keep some (revolving) paperwork on it. Along with my laptop. I have a chair in which I sit and can fire up the laptop. Cell phone etc. set down next to it.

Yesterday afternoon Panda started to chase a small flying-type bug & raced across the living room, leaped from the floor onto the table, and knocked over a full glass of water. The glass holds about 13 oz. of water, plus ice cubes, and was almost full. I quickly rescued the electronics (laptop, cell phone), but the damage was done.

Water everywhere! Mopped up the table as quickly as I could. Dried off the electronics (obviously they still work). Papers got soaked. Took a bit longer to mop up the floor. Amazingly the glass did not break. It rolled all the way across the kitchen floor intact.

Three seconds and spaz-cat emerged. Panda. I love her to pieces, but she is the antithesis of what cats are supposed to be! She is not delicate or dainty. She is clumsy and uncoordinated. And - she is beautiful. Loving. How could one not forgive this little face? Of course I did. :)

Stay tuned! Things happening :)

Wednesday, October 18

Martha's Vineyard, Day 5 - Tuesday, October 10

Good evening! Last Tuesday - our last day on the Vineyard - dawned sunny, warm, and beautiful! I have come to believe it is my fate that the day I leave is one of the best weather days!

Short-ish post  tonight (compared to the past week's!), and a few scattered pix.

I slept in a bit (well, not much). Enjoyed morning coffee and a smoke on the back patio. Packed my stuff and readied everything to go. :( Car packed & checked out, Brother headed into downtown for breakfast. Linda Jean's! We both ordered eggs Benedict; long day ahead. We were booked on the 1:15 ferry, and it is about a two-hour drive home from here.

Taking the time, Brother drove around through some of the more neighborhood-type streets, just kind of wandering. We ended up at a small harbor not far from the ferry. Sat outside enjoying the day along the waterfront.

Brother wandered down to a small market to get an ice tea for him and a bottle of water for me. I was happy to park myself on a bench and revel in the beauty of the day. After Columbus Day the Vineyard pretty much shuts down. All Monday's ferries were booked solid with returnees. Brother wanted the extra day, and without the crowds it was so well worth it!

Ocean harbor

Ocean harbor

 And Tuesday! It was such gorgeous weather and magnificent. Crowds were gone. While I was sitting on the bench snapping pix of the harbor, I met some random local people who were very friendly. A lady jogging said hello. A couple bicylcling. An older couple walking a totally cute dog also stopped, greeted me and we spoke.

Harbor

Harbor

Finally it was time to head to the ferry.

Hotel grounds

I had a wonderful, almost magical time this year. The cliffs of Aquinnah - the alpacas - the food!! (Think I gained about 10 pounds!) The lighthouses Brother indulged me in (thank you!!)! The weather was pretty perfect this year! Everything.

Looking forward to next year and its adventures :) Stay tuned, my friends, lots happening around here as well. I leave you with some pix of the hotel.

Hotel grounds

Hotel & grounds