It’s the middle of October . . . and I offer this R-E-P-O-R-T.
At mid-month, I’m . . .
R . . . ed fishing.
Well. I’m not red fishing. But Tom is. He’s been in Louisiana since Saturday on a fishing adventure with his graduate school advisor. They’ve enjoyed many fishing adventures together over the years, and I’m so glad he can enjoy this one now. Tom caught this trophy red fish on Sunday.
E . . . njoying.
Early last summer, I had to stop using my Bird Buddy. Because it had become Squirrel Party Central. I tried some hot chili pepper food, but it turned out that the squirrels in my neighborhood have a taste for spicy food. And although I do believe that all critters gotta eat, I was tired of all the piggy-squirrel photos in my Bird Buddy feed. So I stopped using it. But a couple of weeks ago, my local Wild Birds Unlimited store started stocking a NEW-and-improved (and way hotter) mix of bird seed. So far, I’m getting lots of bird activity . . . and zero squirrel activity. We’ll see how things go when the winter sets in, but for now, my Bird Buddy is fun again!
P . . . romising.
Every year, I tell myself that I will ONLY buy Halloween candy that kids like . . . but that Tom and I don’t like. And every year, I “forget” and buy just one bag of “forbidden” chocolate treats. Which I say is for the kids, but in reality . . . we eat them. This year, I promised myself that I wouldn’t fall into that trap again. And yesterday at Costco, I stuck to my promise! I only bought candy that kids love and we don’t. (Nerds and Starburst and gummy stuff; not one piece of chocolate!) I’m so pleased with myself!
O . . . rganizing.
Well. I’m planning to do some organizing. In the fall and spring, I go through the clothes in my closet and “re-prioritize” (shift) those I won’t wear in the coming season, with special attention to weeding out those I won’t wear ever . . . in any season ever again. (My closet gets more spare with every seasonal switch, so that’s good.) Anyway, it’s time for me to get that chore taken care of again. Although there are still some warm(ish) days in the forecast, I think my days of shorts and tank tops are gone. It’s time to put them away until the spring.
R . . . ecommending.
Looking for some distractions these days? I have a few TV shows we’ve enjoyed lately that might help you avoid, well. . . . y’know. On Apple+ we liked Slow Horses (we just wrapped up Season 4), Bad Monkey (new, lighter and more silly . . . but still a pretty tight series), and we’re looking forward to Shrinking (Season 2) which is rolling out this week. On Netflix, we really liked Kaos (although were disappointed to hear it won’t be back for a second season), and I’ve been watching Nobody Wants This while Tom is out of town this week (I think he’d like it, too). Of course, we’re tuning into the new season of The Great British Baking Show each Friday, and we’re looking forward to the upcoming season of The Lincoln Lawyer (season 3) which also kicks off later this week.
T . . . aking.
As in taking my own sweet time on the living room furniture shopping I mentioned several months ago in a mid-month REPORT. Because I don’t really know what I want. Which is why I’ve been dragging my feet for so long in the first place. I’m hoping that just writing the words here again will maybe kick me into gear?
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And that’s it for this check-in. How about you?
What’s going on for you . . . at mid-month?
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The photos I’ve included in this month’s REPORT are pretty random, but also slices of my life right now: a chickadee at my “bird cam,” 4 members of my “gang-of-six” deer family . . . just grabbing a bite of lunch in my front garden yesterday, shadows in my dining room window, and a few still-blooming dahlias in my garden.
I love that smile on Tom’s face. I have one of my husband with a big fish like that, same smile – LOL! I have been thinking about a Bird Buddy, but I live on “squirrel hill”, so I will wait to hear a report about the BU updated food. Very little discourages my squirrels. They have been known to disassemble some feeders I have purchased. Those deer! They are not skittish at all, are they? Love all the photos, Kym.
Congratulations to Tom on that fish! Thanks for the TV recommendations – We loved Slow Horses (the books are good as well) and are looking forward to Shrinking, so that makes me think I should be considering your other suggestions. Somehow we’ve haven’t started the new season of British Baking. And I’ve promised to finish Rings of Power, even though well, it’s more Chuck’s thing than mine. I just heard on the radio that it will be getting cooler later this week, but we are planning one more backyard lunch with my nephew and his family this weekend. (We made a new patio and did some landscaping and are REALLY enjoying our backyard again. Of course, here, fall can be one of the best times to do that.)
Hooray for Tom, that’s quite a fish! And I’m so glad the extra spicey bird seed is keeping the squirrels away, fingers crossed that continues to be the case. I do want to watch Nobody Wants This and I’ll admit that I’ve never heard of the others you mentioned. Well, except GBBS but I’m really not into that. I’ve tried and . . . nope. Now get out there and start furniture shopping!
WOW! Tom’s fish is epic! Love the bird cam and that sweet chickadee with the berry?seed? in his beak. Nice shot of your dinner guests just leisurely pigging out. Shopping is how you’ll find your style. It seems to happen by accident and you’ll (eventually) find just the right thing. We’ve had a beautiful autumn and I’m not looking forward to the cold days ahead, but I did hear there is a warm up right after that cold snap, so autumn has more to come!
That’s a great picture of Tom with his trophy fish! John is sitting in a tree as I write this, looking for his deer trophy, or at least meat for the freezer. And I’m always glad to hear about someone outwitting squirrels. I hope they continue to stay away from the spiciness. I fell down on the Halloween candy this year. I bought a bag of KitKats, telling myself that Justin liked them. So far I’ve eaten two and Justin has had zero. I may be forced to do some reverse trick-or-treating and take them to his house. Knitting and distractions on TV (GBBS) are helping me avoid you-know-what.
Do you eat the fish? It’s huge.
Congrats to Tom on his big catch! We don’t get any trick or treaters so I buy a special treat for the young boy across the street and have no desire to eat from Doug’s consistent Nestle’s Crunch stash. I just told him we should do the Bird Buddy as our Christmas purchase this year. 🙂 I’m in the middle of Nobody Wants This – such great characters.
That fish — that’s impressive! I wish I had your resolve and didn’t buy candy I didn’t like, but every year I totally fail. We’re at the end of a dead-end street and usually get very few, if any, trick-or-treaters (often only the kids who live across the street and whatever friends are with them), but I never feel like I can skip buying candy altogether. Maybe we should just do a small bag this year so at least there aren’t many leftovers. Molly and I are savoring the new season of Bake Off, and my husband and I are planning to watch Nobody Wants This.
Wow, you had lots to report. What a great fish catch for Tom! You might want to keep the shorts and tanks on top of the winter storage pile. We seem to be having more warmer weather than cooler these says. Thanks for all the binge-watching and new series recommendations. We always love to have at least one series going. Although two of my favorites still remain “Shetland” and “All Things Great and Small” if anybody’s asking. (Haunting for the first and feel-good for the latter).
that fish is AMAZING – yay Tom! I did my laundry today and laughed to see a tennis skirt and tank … worn to a boy baseball game last week? … when it was 36 degrees for today’s morning walk. yikes this season is a tricky one! We’ve been enjoying The Good Karma Hospital on PBS (and we’ll catch up with the Bake Off soon). Happy mid-October!
Holy cow, that fish is amazing. Your dahlia is also spectacular. I’ve been contemplating trying some in my yard. I’m happy that your bird camera is back in operation. Those damn squirrels.