Hi all! Thanks for all of the bday/anniversary wishes--I had a great week, and we had a really nice anniversary! :) Rog got me tickets to see A.J. Jacobs (the author--he writes for Esquire, and is like Bill Bryson--really hysterical!), and tickets for Anthony Bourdain the next night. Now, he's yummy! :) Then, this past Friday night, I went to see a live showing of Rocky Horror--gad, that was f*u*n! No props, but it was still fun yelling out the lines to the actors! :) We're going to Chattanooga, TN next weekend to look at fall foliage, and just have fun and relax. So, it's been a lovely couple of weeks! School is going well, too. I just took another algebra test, and did suprising well on it. I am one point away from an A average, so hopefully, I can get it. Even though I've worked in corporate accounting/finance for decades, I still am not a math person. Go figure. LOL! I'm enjoying it, though, and it's good to get the ol' gray matter up and working again. I did get a very nice complement from a friend. We were discussing my going back to school at my age, and she said that I was her hero for doing it, and that she'd like to be a nurse too, but that she didn't think she could do it. I told her that I thought that if *I* can do it, anyone can and that she'd be a wonderful nurse (and she would). I just thought that was nice as I've never been anyone's 'hero' before. :) Milkdud--liver! Urk! :) I like the taste, but can not get past the texture. Congrats on good numbers! :) I started eating better, and walking 3 miles a day, and I feel so much better. I think that mess I went through in July was a real b*tt-kicker for me to take better care of myself. Speaking of that........ (drumroll, please!) I am down almost 50 pounds from my top weight!!!! And I have bought a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans, and got in Âem, and they are comfortable. I am thrilled, to say the least! I want to lose another 20 pounds to get to a healthy BMI, and then maintain this. I canÂt believe thatÂs itÂs this close to Halloween already. Gad, what a year. Does anyone what to do a Christmas exchange this year? (I know that I missed last years, so IÂm hoping that we will do it this year!) Anyhoo, gotta goÂhope all is well with everyone! Love and hugs, Maddie

Greetings all, I can hardly believe its Thursday already. I have been swamped this week. Milkdud, tell me more about ESA? Sounds interesting. Peggy, glad you are up and about. Donna, good to see you posting. Marci hugs and prayers while you and yours continue to heal. Jan, hugs to you and yours also. QOD: Squash - Delicata and Sweet Dumpling delicious heirloom varieties. Raeanne, happy trails? You bet and you asked for it LOL My weekend was simply divine. The weather was nothing short of spectacular between the brilliance of the crystal clear blue sky and the symphony of fall colors. The air was cool and dry but the endless sun kept us warm - but not too warm - just right. There was an excellent turn out of campers, 15 in all not including those who came for the day only on Saturday and/or Sunday. The nights were fairly warm so we did not worry too much about the cold. We enjoyed sitting around the campfires at night listening to the wildlife and drinking wine. The only problem I had was keeping my red wine from getting too cold! LOL The scenery in Hancock is truly breathtaking but this particular location is really special. The field we camp in is surrounded by ponds on three sides and they are all lined with the splendor of brilliantly colored trees. The ponds are teaming with wildlife of all kinds and this year we were serenaded by coyotes plus we heard a screech from some critter that was so loud and unusual no one could identify it. I even had a Bluebird couple visit my site for a while each day hunting bugs in the grass. All along the driving roads are beautifully restored antique homes that beckon to an era gone by an era of simpler times when equines were the only mode of transportation. Some of the roads that are included in the drive are historic roads. Most notably, The Kings Highway which was built by settlers around 1768 to get grain from Stoddard, NH to the nearest grist mill in Peterborough, NH. Riding through the woods was just like nothing else. The leaves swishing under the horses feet and there were spots that were cathedral like with ancient maples creating a canopy of brilliant color  as I looked up I was entranced by the colors and the blue sky in the background. It was truly moving. This yearÂs foliage has been divine and even at past peak it takes my breath away. I like to star gaze and the October sky does not disappoint hosting a nearly full moon. Once the moon got closer to setting we could see some stars. Antares, a brilliant jewel set within the Milky Way, and one of the great constellations of the sky, the Zodiac's Scorpius (or Scorpio, my sign!) is to the right of the Moon in the early evening sky right now. Jupiter sallied boldly forth, shining in the south at nightfall. Taurus, the bull, has started to charge into the evening skies. In the north we could view the Big Dipper and the "W" of Cassiopeia to the lower left and upper right of Polaris, the North Star. The beauty is humbling and overwhelming!! SighÂ..itÂs just a memory now. This weekend I am off to Woodstock, VT for one last horsey weekend and foliage riding!! Supposed to be cold but who cares? More happy trails!!

WOWZA, it's quiet here today. DeeMarie, welcome back. Can't wait to see your pix. Marci posted some for me while you were gone! Raeanne, I would think that right after the first of the year we should start seriously making plans. Maybe sooner? I guess I would ask Maddie to guide us here because who knows. I can't even remember the exact date! I am sending Kingfisher thoughts your way. LOL Today is my Siamese boys birthday. 12 and 10 years old. Boy time has flown. They are out in the livingroom rolling around in the catnip I got them to celebrate with. I will join them with a glass of wine shortly! I love watching them groove on catnip. I lead such an exciting life!!! The pumpkin festival in Keene, NH is this weekend. Our office carved pumpkins to spell out Equine Journal and it will be displayed on the tower at the top of Main Street about 9 tiers up. Keene is trying to break it's own world's record of 28,000 or so. This year we are going for 30,000! Check out the link below. The tower you see here is at the top of the square and is the tower our pumpkins will be on. QOD: My alarm is set for 4am Mon-Fri. and I am usually in bed by 9:30 and 10 is pushing it for me unless I have to. On weekends I try to sleep in which usually ends up being 5:30 or 6! Still it feels good not to have to hear the alarm. Here is a link that might be useful: Keene Pumpkin Festival

I made a label for my Fiesta quilt and mailed it off to a friend of ours in California. She was a high school friend of mine and my DH. In fact, they dated back then. She has remained our dear friend all these years, and she has traveled extensively in Mexico, so I was really excited to send the quilt to her. I'm also packing my Scrappy Log Cabin Chevron in my suitcase to take to our friends in Chattanooga. I did actually make a few blocks for my Strip Twist quilt and will probably make a few more this evening while binge-watching Season 3 of Outlander. Season 4 debuts next weekend, so I want to review. A new grand baby! How exciting, Linda. My best wishes for an uneventful delivery.