Happy Halloween!

Bring on the trick or treaters

Yesterday after work, I went shopping. I figured that it would be safe to purchase Halloween candy at this time. I have the inclination to test it out and find myself purchasing more bags after I've eaten every last treat! Today I assembled, Henry the pumpkin man and positioned him on the chair on the porch. My daughter carved the pumpkin and the jack o'lantern sits ready. We have already fired him up in a trial run!

Time is of the essence for professional shoppers

Periodically I shop professionally for the flower shop.  Today I went to purchase items for two gift and flower baskets.  One of the baskets was a timed delivery.  It was scheduled to be delivered in early afternoon.  I had adequate time if I used my time wisely.  I have to use strategy when I professionally shop.  I walk swiftly...in this case choose items from the trail mix and nut aisle and then proceed to the produce section to select unblemished apples, pears, kiwi, oranges, grapes and tangerines.  I have to work my way around lackadaisical shoppers who apparently have all the time in the world and can afford to meander about the store aimlessly.  I met at least a dozen today.  I used the self scan computer to check out and then pushed my cart out of the store and loaded the goodies into the car.  I pulled out of my spot and waited as four teens dressed in batman costumes walked as sloooooowly as possible in front of the car, preventing me from pulling onto the main road.  I don't have time for poky indecisive customers and even pokier unaware pedestrians.

Happy Happy 68th Birthday to YOU!

Trouble!

25 of the letters of the keyboard work except for the letter n.  I guess I will take the keyboard to the repair shop.  It takes some work to figure out words without that particular letter!  The keyboard worked well the other day, just discovered the problem today.

We will celebrate my spouse's birthday today. We will grill steaks, bake potatoes, squash, rolls.  I made pasta salad with homemade dressing.  I will put together a fruit cobbler--blueberries, raspberries, whipped cream.  I bought a small gift, 3 York's Peppermint Patties, a tee shirt with the Tigers as Division Champions.

Day off today, tomorrow.  I looked forward to a quiet peaceful AM time.   At 8:45 am, the grass care fellow was aerating our grass outside.  The aerator was loud, the dogs barked up a storm.  A crazy way to start my day off!

Amish Acres, Nappanee, Indiana

Amish Acres

My sister invited me to go with her to Nappanee, Indiana to Amish Acres.  It is a three hour drive from our home.  As I pulled into the parking lot where I intended to meet her, I had the thought that we should take my car or I should leave the car keys with her husband.  I did neither and as we were driving on the expressway, my sister asked me if I could hear the noise coming from the tire.  We drove further and eventually the car became undriveable.  We called for a tow and discovered that the bearing was bad.  My husband was kind and picked up the spare set of car keys and drove them to my brother-in-law.  He met us in my car, and we drove back 60 miles to drop him off.  We debated whether or not to cancel the trip, but decided to go on as planned.  Eight hours after our initial departure we arrived in Nappanee, just in time for a family style dinner of chicken, beef, potatoes, noodles, slaw, sweet pickles, gravy, bread, butter and apple butter....and dessert.  We scooted from dinner over to the Round Theater to see the musical Plain and Fancy.  In our room we chatted til two in the morning.  The next day we toured a 1860 and 1910 Amish farmhouse.  We took a wagon around the homestead and the guide pointed out the molasses press, mint building used to make mint to send to Chicago, one room schoolhouse.  We hopped on a buggy and rode through the woods, riding past the pumpkin patch where children roasted marshmallow, drank hot chocolate and choose a pumpkin.  After shopping at the cheese and meat and ice cream store, we had to leave.  A quick stop to see the quilts made of pots of mums and then the drive back to pick up my sister's car at the repair shop.