Accompanied James and Nicole and The Grands on our Annual Trip to The Orchard on the 21st.
Always fun...although this year was positively frosty outside!
The 64 Skylark was warm and cozy...and I got more photos of the interior because I am still kind of blown away.
Shared celebratory Marlboro Reds after discovering that the 1964 in-dash cigarette lighter actually still works!
Nicole, like me, loves Fall...and Fall Baking.
We've been baking away...and taking the chill off our homes at the same time!
Loretta and Diane and Judy and I lost our friend Sharon this week.
Loretta and Judy and Sharon (in blue)
She and Diane and Judy & I were all meeting for our Monthly Brunch together
on Friday.
For Sharon...Friday Never Came.
She died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday night.
We had all been friends for over 8 years.
Let me tell you a little about Sharon.
She never married. Was the happiest, most positive woman I think I have ever known, when she lost the sight in her right eye completely she didn't complain...she joked
"Now I have an excuse to buy a big flat screened TV"
And then she did!
She was diabetic but once a month on our Brunches she allowed herself to eat anything she wanted...which usually included a piece of pie.
"What good is life if you don't splurge once in a while."
(...she was the number one reason I said to hell with it and am remodeling my bedroom compliments of my revolving credit card...after she commented one day "If you don't just do it...you are going to be dead first!" )
Her sister is a wonderful woman, and although Sharon never had children, she helped raise her niece and they were very close!
I truly never heard Sharon ever use a curse word or talk bad about a single person.
She stayed active in her church up until the weekend before she died.
She had friends everywhere.
A few years back she met a man from Michigan who moved near her apartment. They hit it off and were inseparable.
Love...also in the Age of Arthritis.
I am so glad they had the time together and found one another.
We had our brunch on Friday...toasted our late friend and talked about her life and how all of ours had crossed paths.
And in a moment of lightness Diane reminded us that Sharon had just been to her doctor for a check-up on Monday...and he had proclaimed she was
"Doing Fine."
"Obviously NOT.", Diane remarked dryly.
During our Brunch...our group smaller yet now with Loretta in Assisted Living and Sharon gone...reflected on how very short life really is and how you have to live every day as though it was your last...because some day...it WILL be.
Yesterday- Lisa, Tina and I enjoyed our 3rd (ever) SISTERS DAY together.
Tina brought Blueberry Blush wine, Lisa made Homemade Fudge, I baked Pizza...and we used a tutorial that Tina found and painted together. Our own Wine and Art Party.
Fall Sunset colors because we are in the Autumn of Our Lives.
Three Birds...signifying the three of us.
We also started answering a series of
50 Questions That Sisters Should Know About Each Other
(...which was great and, although we only did a few this time, we are going to continue with this...so much we are learning about each other- having been raised apart...)
Everyone's November is insanely booked. Mine included...so we are reconvening in Mid-December for a Holiday Meal and Baking Christmas Cookies...something else we have NEVER done together as Sisters.
It is NEVER too late to have a Happy Childhood!
No Movie this Week.
I did finish the Second Season of
Binge Watching it all week until the final 10th Episode.
If you have never seen the first Season you must...to appreciate this one.
Outstanding casting. Takes a lot of liberties from the book...but it works well.
I missed Jerome's "Tyrone Feelgood" alter ego from the books...but can see where it wouldn't have been received well on TV.
And a surprise (but satisfying) ending. Once again...completely different from the trilogy...but very good.
Anxious to see if they do the 3rd book next Season.
This Week's Book
Sadly, so MUCH outrageous shit has occurred since this book was penned and released that now the contents seem sad...almost anti-climatic.
IKR????
It is insane.
Scrutiny of the Trump White House through the eyes, ears and mouths of those who are actually at Ground Zero.
FEAR is an apt title.
Woodward is a professional journalist so this is a much more
"Just the FACTS, Jack."
Kind of book.
A bit less entertaining that Wolff's: Fire and Fury.
Much less salacious than Stormy's detailed description of the Presidential Pecker in her tell-all: Full Disclosure
(...which may have put me off button mushrooms and definitely ruined Mario Cart for LIFE...)
WTF was she thinking????
Nobody wants to visualize THAT.
The COLTS have rallied for the past two Sundays!!!
We beat Buffalo and Oakland!
This is our "Bye Week"
Defined as such:
Each NFL team has one "bye week" during a normal season; this is placed on the team's schedule, usually falling between Week 5 and Week 11 inclusive.. The NFL added the bye week in 1990 so as to extend the 16-game regular season schedule to span 17 weeks to increase the number of viewable games for TV contracts.
Now we all know.
So no football for us this week.
And a word from Capt. Luck
Dearest mother — Celebration for our recent victory was cut short as we received notice the painted Ruffians residing in the Land of Oak seek battle. The unit shall move out today. With this letter is a parcel containing a portrait to be affixed atop the fireplace. — Andrew
Dearest mother — I have received your care package of antler bread and fresh Squirrel Oil. We continue our march to the Land of Oak. Scouts report the area is vast, but empty. The ground itself black, riddled with bones. The sea — silver in color. Most disturbing. — Andrew
Dearest mother — I dare say the tide has turned. The unit secured another victory in the Land of Oak. We found light in an otherwise Black Hole. What is more, Sgt. Vinatieri proved himself the greatest sniper among all those who battle. My smile is wide. I love you. — Andrew
So, things are looking up for our boys in blue and white. We now have most of the team's injured list back.
Go Colt's.
(...but don't beat The Saints...because they are kind of MY TEAM...okay???)
Geaux Saints!!!
(...and John...if it actually comes down to the Saints and the Colts in the Superbowl...we WILL have an interesting dilemma...just saying...)
Recovering from yesterday with my sisters...just moodling around the house today...maybe painting a bit in a while. I want to finish that Fall Pumpkin Patch while it is still...well...FALL. I have literally shelved it and worked on it for 3 years now.
Ridiculous.
And...another bomb mailed to CNN today. Waiting to see if it is from the same guy...already in custody...or another crazy.
Want a Happy Thought?
Only 8 more days until Midterms.
Tomorrow we're back to Our Virtual Adventure!
Until Then...
"You can't find me..." ~Sofi
"Get the hell off the table!" ~Shelby