Iowa

Iowa

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Autumn

I was taking some pictures today. The one I posted is of a planting in the yard. I love this time of the year. The days are warm and the nights are cool enough to snuggle under the covers on the bed. And when the sun is shining it is a glorious picture that Mother Nature paints for us. In the morning, the sun is coming through the trees at a delightful angle, casting shadows on the street where the leaves have fallen. Do you remember jumping into piles of leaves? I do. We lived in a neighborhood with lots of trees, and everyone would rake the leaves into the street in big piles to be picked up by the borough. One had to be careful when jumping not to land on the curb...that was painful. I love to wander through the neighborhood and see the grass covered with a blanket of beautiful leaves, all different in color and shape. When I go to the mailbox now I have to be careful. The oak trees are dropping acorns, and more than one has bounced off my head. I guess some get depressed with the coming of winter. Not me. And is there anything more beautiful than the first snowfall? I could not live where there is not the changing of the seasons. I don't like the ice, the bitter cold winds, but it only makes me appreciate the warm, sunny days like today.
My brother and sister-in-law visited for some time over the weekend. It was fun to have them here and to drive all over the city and then some! I believe it was about 150 miles in search of an antique shop and a botique. Never did find the botique. But we had fun.
Final baseball game is Tuesday, I believe. Monkeyboy isn't supposed to play, but he has been sick all weekend, so maybe they will call him up since he missed the game on Saturday. I think his deck hockey goes on for a while.
Bean has begun rehersal for Les Misérables. I can't wait to see it. I love to watch their productions.
Seems as though lots of folks are sick with some kind of flu. 'Tis the season, I suppose. I think Bean said 20% of her class was out. Monkeyboy was sick most of the weekend, but seems to be on the mend.
The Steelers won again, and I think I may have won some money. I'm not sure, since I don't quite know how to read this sheet. I'll let you know. Troy is still out, but some of the new players are showing great promise.
Hope all is well in your world. Have a wonderful week.

21 comments:

Shelly said...

Wow, how did I miss these last two posts?? I finish my art show and it was a total success. I guess that is how I missed this. Mia, have you ever shown you photographs? They are magnificant! Seriously, the composition and color are great. I missed you posts, but obviously, not enough to check every day. Glad to see you back again, and do you have somewhere that you post all of you pictures?

Ben said...

Yup, the Steelers won. If you won money, are you taking us all to lunch, Mia? Theses games are nail biting at the end. They almost came back again. There is a great antique shop here on the North Side, Mia. I got a mantle there for a home I am working on. They have great furniture, but also lots of glassware and antique toys. No botiques though, at least not that I know. Maybe Tim knows of one. We used to jump in the leaves too. It is the only reason my parents could get us to rake them. I have lots of trees on my lot, but not much yard, so I end up just sweeping most of them. And now, we have to put them in bags, no more picking them up.

Allie (cat) said...

I agree with Shelly, Mia, you should show your pictures. Those colors are wonderful! I like fall also. I don't like winter. I think I should live in one of the southern coastal states for four months of the year, not the south, but NC or SC, something like that. Everyone is sick. I can't believe how many people I know are sick with one thing or another. Did you know they are making some hospital workers, MAKING THEM, get the H1N1 flu shot? I can't believe that they are actually making them. I don't want to get the flu, but if I don't want to get the shot, that's my business. That is such a pretty picture, Mia. I am just sitting here staring at it. Keep up the good work!

Cathy said...

Our kids both have some kind of flu. They have been sick since Friday, but are slowly getting better. I guess it will be our turn next. Good for Bean and her production. That must be very exciting. I love the fall also. I like winter too. We go skiing a lot, so I think if you have something in winter to look forward to, it makes it a little easier. So, Mia, when is you showing of pictures? With your winnings from the football game, you can get us all to Pittsburgh AND take us to lunch before the show. The picture is very pretty, thanks for sharing it.

Tigger said...

I was down in the park all day yesterday. It wasn't the best of days, but good enough to relax in the fall weather. NYC marathon coming up, so lots of people running in the park getting ready. The colors on that picture are very pretty, vivid. And what a beautiful description of autumn. Thanks for the nice post, mia.
Hope the flu is a quick one, Cathy and I hope Monkeyboy feels better. Congrats to Bean.

Jessica said...

The nurse's union fought that, Allie, so I don't think it is going to happen. There are so many things going around now, I don't know what is what! Yes, mia, I remember jumping into piles of leaves, we still do it here! We wait until all the leaves are down, then we all get together, rake them up and jump into them. I also love to see the bright colors covering the grass and always take pictures of the day when we start, of the leaf pile then of the clean yard. It really is a tradition in our home. Stay well, everyone!

SocialWorker2 said...

People are certainly freaking about this flu. I love to go in search of antiques, Mia. I collect milk glass and vases for flowers. I love it! It is such fun to hunt for things and find something old and unusual. Great post.

Jen said...

Never saw Les Miserables. Love the music though. Baseball over? Oh, no, Mia, what will you do? Well, isn't the world series coming up. Maybe that will help. Not little league, not as fun, but maybe it will suffice. I think the leaves are at their peak here. Now comes the clean up.

Kevin said...

All I know is that I am not going to do all the raking this year.

Kevin's wife said...

THIS YEAR?

Tim said...

I am resting. Can't keep doing those cheers for the Steelers. My legs are worn out. Can't they just discontinue the fourth quarter?

Bill said...

Sorry to hear, Tim, don't know what we would do without your vigorous cheering. We here in Pittsburgh appreciate it greatly. We have begun to think about raking leaves in our yard. I like Kevin and his wife's comment. I hate raking leaves and don't do it until I absolutely have to.

ginger said...

I'm with Tim on that discontinuing the last quarter of the game for the Steelers. They sure have a tough time finishing. If they do the same thing with Cleveland, Shame on them!

Yes, the fall is a beautiful time and I too love the change of seasons. To live somewhere with the same look all the time would be so Boring!

Keep showing all those great pictures, Mia. We love them

Twigs said...

It hasn't been a great fall here, but the leaves are changing. Cool and wet, yuk! Mia, is there a way of displaying ALL your pictures here?

Nate said...

I hear Rush Limbaugh is trying to buy a football team. Glad it is not the Steelers. He could probably buy six football teams. The Steelers are getting off to a rocky start, but winning nonetheless. Hopefully they will get it together, and yes, let's drop that fourth quarter.

Miss(ing) Summer Kitty said...

Mia could display a lot of her pics with a slideshow. I'm just saying....

Didn't like jumping into those leaves after I realized what other critters inhabited those piles. Slimy things. YIKES! But I do like the fall colors on the trees and the crispness in the air. Also like dancing under the mystic Harvest Moon. But I'm with Allie. Still a Summertime (cat)girl. Sounds like a Don Henley song. LOL.

Michele said...

As a child, I never really liked jumping in leaves. There were mysterious things in there as Kitty said and it looked like it should be soft, and it wasn't and I have bad allegries, so it always lead to sneezing and itching.

Speaking of sneezing, I am finally breaking free of the flu. I'm not sure which one I have because my doctor said it didn't really matter.

Glad to see you blogging again!

Angela said...

Glad to see you are over the flu, Michele. My doctor said the same, it doesn't matter what kind you have, drink fluids, sleep and stay home. I did. I am okay now.
I don't like to have people visit in my home...too much chaos. Let them stay somewhere and visit in my home. Especially if they have kids, it is way too much for my kids. It's okay in the summer, but in the cold weather with all those kids. Spare me. Call me a grouch, but that is who I am and how I feel.

JD said...

I live where there are tons of trees, fortunately, I can use a tractor to mulch them and pick them up and use them for compost. My kids used to jump in them, but they are all adults and have moved away.
When is Mia buying us lunch? I'll be there. She can display her photographs then. I'll buy one. I like the sunset ones.

Shelly said...

Thanks, Tamara, it was a thrill. It's the first showing that I had where I sold everything. The timing was right. The gallery was a part of the tour our city had, and the paintings were of a price that people could afford. I think, for the first time, that I got what they were worth in terms of the time I put into the show. And, it got a review in the local paper. Finally, it paid off for me. My family thought I was crazy for leaving something that was stable to follow my dream, but it was just something I had to try. I have no kids, no responsibilities beyond myself, so I thought I had to try now. It was so rewarding, knowing that all the effort paid off. I have been living on a shoestring, but now I have something to build on. I already have two commissions based on the show.

Ben said...

My parents freaked when I told them what I was going to do (rehab houses). They said it couldn't be done for a profit. It can. And everyday, I am glad I am doing it. Good for you for following your dream. More people should do it. Glad you had success. So, Mia can show her photgraphs and you can show your paintings. We can all chip in and buy one of each.