October had tremendous possibility. The summer’s oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of adventures. They made me believe in miracles. ~ Sarah Guillory, Reclaimed
Hello again! I hope that this finds you and yours doing well and enjoying a colorful autumn. Despite not having much rain this summer, the fall foliage here in northwest Arkansas was better than expected and we’ve been seeing some beautiful changes along the bluffs that tower above the lake. Most of the other owners have already left or, like us, will be leaving soon. Things are winding down.
I almost skipped writing an update this month, basically because we’re living a fairly mundane existence and also because I’m writing daily musings on another website I play around with, www.gratitude365.us. But I found I couldn’t not do it, especially as the month dwindled down to these last couple of days. So, I thought the simplest thing to do is attach the gratitude365-link to this month’s out-of-the ordinary happenings if you’d like to read more. There were a few this month: Kate and the kids visited during fall break, Dave and I celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary, and I celebrated 11 years of sobriety. October was a banner month in comparison to most.
We’ve been really enjoying the e-bikes we got a few weeks ago, thanks in large part to a really nice 6-mile-round-trip bike path at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, not too far from here. It’s another local Johnnie Morris (Bass Pro Shop) development–the others being Big Cedar, Top of the Rock–where opulence somehow tastefully melds with nature. Our goal is to go at least three times a week. The exercise has done Dave’s knee a world of good, and we’ll be taking the bikes with us when we head south next month. We have no firm departure date set, thinking that we’ll play the weather and leave when it gets too cold. Meanwhile, we’ve already cleaned and stored away most everything on the patio that needed to be put away for the winter and could be ready to go anytime.
Our Biscuit-pup (14) gave us a bit of a scare earlier this month. Here it was October, and her incision was still draining from a procedure that had been done in early August. A follow-up was done last month and an x-ray had been taken, but nothing was detected. So Dave took her BACK to the vet earlier this month again and this time the head vet examined at her. He discovered the drain tube was still lodged inside her, but it couldn’t be seen on the x-ray for some reason. Not only that; the tube was the size that would be used on a cow! Poor Biscuit! She’s doing much better now that it’s been removed! Meanwhile, Victor (17) is doing well, though the vet thinks he might be showing signs of doggie dementia. Such is life.
That’s about all from here for now. Christmas in Branson kicks off November 1, and I’m glad we’ll be here to see some of the festivities. The Gratitude365 website is where I hope to post daily essays on finding gratitude in everyday moments and challenges.Until then, peace, love, and long hugs. Take care💞 Maria