Tuesday, October 6, 2020

A Little of This and That

Here are a variety of photos from my garden. I'm reluctant to put it all to bed until the rains begin for the season of winter. We are having sunshine this week until Thursday. The rains will be here in time for Thanksgiving. It will rain for almost a week and then the sun is expected to come out again but I notice the temperatures will be quite frigid. I guess I'll need to try and get things done outside around that time.
















I've been busy trying to keep up with the Fly Lady routines after participating in the Fly Lady Babysteps "course". Everything is going well, perhaps better than I expected. 

I surpassed my reading goals back in August so I've slowed down in my reading habit. I just completed the 3rd book in a series by Lesley Downer. I really enjoyed the first two books and I also enjoyed the 3rd one but not quite as much. I believe there is one more in the series.

Currently, I'm reading The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker.  I've seen the author here and there on You Tube and I'm enjoying his book so far.   It's doubtful I'll be implementing Mr. Becker's system though I agree with his philosophy of getting rid of unnecessary things so you can enjoy the things you deem necessary.  I also just like reading about different approaches to major decluttering like the Kon Mari Method, Swedish Death Cleaning, the Fly Lady and so on).


I've got a simple dinner in mind for Thanksgiving as there will only be two of us and no guests this year. Ham (I'll save the turkey dinner for Christmas and New Year's dinners), sweet potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, maybe some scalloped potatoes too, a few crunchy veggies (crudités) instead of a salad and a pie of some kind. Perhaps cherry pie just to be different.  I always make more than enough food so we can enjoy leftovers and I can make ham and pea soup once or twice. Soup is always good but especially at this time of year when the weather starts turning cool.

What about you dear reader? What is the weather like where you are? Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? If yes, what will you have for dinner and what will you remember to give thanks for in 2020? As for me I am very grateful that my family members and friends far and wide, are safe and that I am safe. I had a bit of scare last month when a friend of mine had a family member test positive for Covid in the country of Kenya. Thankfully they had very minor symptoms and are fully recovered.

Thank you for stopping by. I'm joining in a little late with Our World Tuesday.




24 comments:

Jan said...

Lots to do in the garden Penny, yes indeed. How lovely all your blooms look. Sounds like a great feast to celebrate Thanksgiving, I'd love to join you if I weren't so far away. Of course we don't celebrate here and I have no friends who do so. I think giving thanks is a daily practice which I know you will also. I am thankful for so much this year and yes being safe and well and having family and friends safe too is a big one, I am glad to hear your friend's family member recovered well.

Joyful said...

Thank you Jan. It really is too bad you are so far away we could enjoy a meal together. I know Thanksgiving Day is a holiday more for the North American continent. I love that we have such a day though I do like to make giving thanks a daily practice as you do. Stay safe and keep well.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Penny
Your flowers are still looking pretty, lovely blooms. Hubby and I will stay home for Thanksgiving, I will cook a small turkey. We like having the leftovers. We are still trying to keep our distance and avoid the gatherings. Take care, enjoy your day!

Joyful said...

Thank you Eileen. I am very happy about the blooms. I am amazed that the geraniums are still blooming profusely. Turkey will be great for Thanksgiving and it's what we usually have too but this year will be a bit different. Enjoy the holiday and continue to keep safe.

EricaSta said...

The Minimalist Home seems to be an interesting book. Your garden looks perfect. We have rainy days too but I'm glad about, it was to less in the last months.

Happy MosaicMonday... stay healthy and well.

Joyful said...

Thank you Erica. I would recommend the book. We had a lot of rain over the summer so I'd like less rain right now. But it is normal to get rain in our autumn and in our winter.

colleen said...

Still so much color...and now the rusts and golds. I have a hard time saying goodbye. It's been sunny and warm here in VA too.

Red said...

Sometimes I wait to clean up the garden and then get caught with cold weather and have a miserable job to clean up the garden in the cold.

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Your plants are still so vivid and beautiful!
Sounds like a lovely Thanksgiving dinner coming up.
Enjoy...

Rhodesia said...

No thanksgiving here and the weather is diabolical, rain, rain and more rain!!!!
Your garden photos are excellent, very pretty, you have done well with them this year.

Keep well and stay safe, Diane

Joyful said...

Colleen, I can imagine the glorious colour you have in VA. It is difficult when the colours are gone and winter arrives.

Joyful said...

Hi Red, you've captured my conundrum perfectly.

Joyful said...

Thank you Dixie!

Joyful said...

Your rains will hopefully cease before the winter sets in. Have a wonderful week Diane.

Joanne Noragon said...

Your flowers always are beautiful. I even recognized some. I'll have that little red zinnia next year!

Mari said...

Hi Penny! Your photos are just gorgeous. They look like postcards.
I've done the fly lady routine and it really does work. I should start up again!

Joyful said...

Thank you Joanne. The red and deep burgundy zinnias are beautiful and I'm sure you will enjoy them.

Joyful said...

Thank you Mari. I was using camera lenses that belong to my brother. It really makes a difference. I know the fly lady routines work for so many women but I resisted getting into it for a few years. I'm just doing some of the baby steps right now and I find it helpful just having a routine of some kind. When one is working I find you automatically have routines in order to get things done besides work, lol.

Pamela M. Steiner said...

I guess you are talking about the Canadian Thanksgiving next week? I hope you have a lovely day and enjoy your dinner. It sounds good. We will probably have the traditional turkey dinner at our Thanksgiving next month. Still haven't made any definite plans as to who is coming on what day, etc. Sometimes we have two dinners to accommodate both sides of the family. We shall see what people feel like doing this year since we probably should avoid a large crowd gathering. Your flowers are lovely. The deep purple pansies are so pretty! My geraniums have started blooming again since I put them back outside. I had to bring them in for a while because it was so hot and to sunny where they were sitting and they almost died, but they weren't getting quite enough sun inside so I was glad when the sun moved around a little bit and it isn't quite as hot, and they are happy outside again until the weather gets too cold. Enjoy your Thanksgiving day!!

Joyful said...

Hi Pamela, yes it is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. I know yours is closer to Christmas and I hope you have a fantastic day however you decide to celebrate. I'm glad your geraniums are doing better outside. I love geraniums and pansies and also the petunias. I try to plant all 3 each and every year. It is getting harder to find pansies.

Practical Parsimony said...

Somehow, I thought you did not have a blog! Your flowers are so pretty.

Joyful said...

Thank you and welcome!

Tanza Erlambang said...

green... and have beautiful flowers ...love it.
Have a wonderful day

Joyful said...

Thank you Tanza.

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