October "Flew" a Mind Meander

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Wow, October came and flew out the window with all the witches and goblins.

I've neglected the blogs---but golly, OCTOBER was busy.

First, I have to be very careful of my shoulder...the cortisone has worn off and each day is good or bad, or really awful, depending on how the crabby shoulder feels about doing anything. Flinging totes and racking leaves, pulling weeds are all on the NOT REALLY list. I try, and then give up quickly.

My Gardening has been limited. The vegetable garden NEVER got fully planted, and the corn, beans, peas, pumpkins, squash we planted, didn't produce for us. TWO beans---out of 4 packages.

Yikes, the worst year ever. Peppers were okay, we did have fresh broccoli, chard, and tomatoes, 

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The last of our tomatoes...ripening in the window.

and fresh cucumbers all summer and into Fall. 

The garden still needs to be emptied and tilled, which is this weekend's project.

Late in October I finally cleared the flower bed by the pond and got new mulch to protect the plants for winter, that was my Spring clean-up. We did get all the bushes trimmed and many branches cut down and dealt with. Hubby has really had to crank as these are the things I usually do.

Socially  we had a fish boil, and three family events in October

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Here are Cupcakes decorated as a family project before a Sunday dinner!

... and we saw a play, and had dinner out four times with friends. That's actually a lot for us. I do get out with a friend to do some 'thrifting' or a fun event during the day, usually once a week, too. Hubby bowls and has breakfast out twice a week and runs errands with a friend.

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Seriously what is more fun then family!

I usually plan an activity when everyone comes---we decorated red velvet cupcakes for Halloween. Lots of fun!

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 My Grand, her grandmother from the Phillipines..we are the same age and have lots of fun together!

In October, our only grand, turned 11, I can't believe that she is already a young lady. Time certainly flies the older you get.

I also did four Mather Institute projects which I will share more in a post. I had to go out and buy an iron to set the dyes we used for projects. 

oldnewgreenredo

oldnewgreenredo

The Bulk of my time in October, I spent on listings for my Etsy shop, over 134 different items. So, Figure a minimum of 8 photos each  or 1,072 or more photos, all edited and information researched to verify age, condition, price and more. That is a my own personal record. Goal is 8 more totes or another 75 items for November, which ever comes first. I will be listing some wonderful handmade vintage mold and tart tins Christmas items this coming week.

    

Etsy BarberryLane

Etsy BarberryLane

Treasures from all different times.  

My mom's and my own stashes!

Etsy BarberryLane

Some of these are already gone...but you can visit my Etsy shop in the right column.

Etsy BarberryLane

And SALES were very good for me in October, with new items always generating interest in everything. 

I did get through over 15 totes of vintage items, family linens and my own craft stashes to get all those new items listed. I'm over the ache of letting things go, it is time to wean and find homes for all the wonderful items my family and myself have collected. I also made several delivery trips to Goodwill and another favorite thrift store with donations. Use it, sell it, or LOSE IT...is the motto now!

We are still dealing with the fruit-basket-upset since the February flood. But, we managed to get all the saved totes out of the garage and, and the tent taken down after emptying and gone through, though some totes/boxes are still on the back porch. More of everything will have to be dealt with this month. 

Doll wise---I attended the October Windy City Doll meeting and had a great time at that. The dolls are happily content to live in their houses and not pester me too much about getting out, for the moment! 

oldnewgreenredo

oldnewgreenredo

Our only home decorating for Fall was the buffet, and a few floral arrangements in the house. 

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 I've been terrible about sharing--but there has always  been a stack of something somewhere in some state of disrepair or cleaning that screwed any photo taking. Who needs photos of chaos...when you are living in it.

I attempted to have little spots of normalcy with seasonal touches.

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It's surprising how well the oranges/reds work with all my blue and white!

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My herbs are now in the kitchen

Last week we brought the outside in...and my house plants have moved back inside the house, just in the knick of time. The huge Hibiscus plant was wheeled into our temp controlled garage...it's too heavy to lift at this point, and we have a grow light on a timer hooked up with it. I have three Mandillas that need to have new hanging pots---which will be a project this coming week, I will share.

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Mandillas---set in those clear bowls that will become hangers/Cross your fingers? The did get a bit of nipped from frost I think, I hope they recover.

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A double dracena/pony tail was happy on the front porch, and now shares the windows with my Ivy tree.

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Gnomes seem to not want to leave anything alone. 

No apologies, they are from my Scandinavian heritage...so I just have to let them do 

what they want to do. LOL!

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Waxing the counters is a seasonal chore...!

I never managed Spring cleaning with the mess in my shoulder, so I'm concentrating on a good clean now everywhere. We've had more electrical work done this last month, and now realize as seniors, we may have to have help with more regular things around the house and yard. We are hosting Thanksgiving, but not Christmas.  And, I will be scaling back both holidays in order to deal more of the down-sizing project.

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The angle of the sun changes so this time of year, and my wood tones seem to come to life. I appreciate the sun now when it isn't so blistering hot.

So, that is the plan for November, and I promise to share!

Sending wishes that you all are Healthy and Happy, and please keep my blog and our journey in mind, as I try and do a few posts here and there. 

Starting November cleaning in the kitchen...NOW!

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Sandi