That's it.  Last night even the nicotiana and jerusalem artichokes bit it.  I raked leaves, covered things up with the new tarps I bought.  I should dig the celeriac and harvest the flowering kale, but already I feel tired.  Maybe I'll go for a bike ride later.....

My dog Pepper got into something stinky and rolled in it.  I have to say, this is the only thing I don't like about her.  If there is anything decaying at all, she will find it and roll in it.  Smells like fish maybe, or some kind of dead mink.  Ugh!  I need to shampoo her. 

Speaking of shampoos and things, I decided to go with a bob haircut.  I just brushed it, parted it down the middle, grabbed one half of it on one side, combing it straight and together, and cut it off at the side.  Then the other side.  Looks good, and comes to a slight v-shape in back.

The weather is beautiful, but the leaves are falling fast.  But that means that I get to see the sky again.  Last night, it was so clear, and the stars were twinkling away.  I love this time of year.  Although the temps have fallen to as low as 25 deg., it still hasn't definitely frozen my garden here.  I still have Jerusalem artichokes blossoming, and nicotiana leaves are still vibrant, but most everything else looks done for. 

I did a 4 foot section of wall today, putting up sheetrock and screwing it onto the joists.  Then I hauled my bookcase down from upstairs, cleaned it, put it in front of the 4' section, put books in it, and cleaned very good all around.  I put a stained glass lamp on a table next, and it all really looks so much better.  This is the third bookcase I have hauled down from upstairs and filled with books.  I also have some sort of plant stand that I converted to a bookshelf and I have one big shelf full of books there, too.  That takes care of, Oh, maybe 2/3 of the books I have, maybe more.  I could use another couple of bookcases, but the remaining books are, well, not my favorites and I would get rid of them, if I could.  Maybe next year there will be a huge donation to the Women's Auxiliary of the University of Wisconsin.  They have a big book sale every last week in July. 

Tomorrow I will get out there and rake the leaves, at least get started on that.  I have started a new diet.  This time, I have determined that if I eat 5 times a day, no more than 400 calories each sitting, that I will keep my calorie consumption to 2,000 calories a day.  That should produce some result, maybe.  The trick is to be certain about calorie counting.  So I've had to keep a food diary right by my plate, and list the calories of every dish I prepare, in total, then divide the dish into serving size portions.  So far, I've been at it for 5 days, and I haven't felt too full.  I eat at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m.  I often don't feel like eating in the morning, but my appetite increases as evening approaches.  And evenings are the danger time for me.  I weigh in only once a week.   

As I'm dusting (finally), I'm also organizing and rearranging furniture.  I suppose this is preliminary to actually doing the home improvement thing, but it is time-consuming and I know I've been working, that's for sure.  It makes me happy to clean house, though.

I have an amazing number of supplements; not only do I take them, I apparently like to look at them too.  This week, yet another shipment arrived from Swanson Vitamins - these are going to keep me from getting bird flu (I hope).  I got hyssop, nettle leaf, stinging nettle root, DHEA, and zinc gluconate.  Last week I got oregano oil, CoQ10, ester-C, odor-controlled garlic, and full-spectrum cinnamon.  Every day I take calcium/magnesium, lecithin, potassium and sometimes glucosamine/MSM.  Because of my thyroid problems, which are still ruining my life as far as I'm concerned, I take synthroid every morning, and sometimes Thyroid & L-tyrosine complex.  At night, I may take Melatonin, St. Johnswort, Eyebright, and/or White Willow Bark, but not all and not all at once.  I don't take anything near the time of taking the synthroid.  When my daughter heard that I got DHEA, she read me a warning that it could cause erections (in men, I guess), baldness, and a bunch of other stuff like a beard.  Naturally, I had to take one pill of this before bedtime, just to see if I could join the circus in the morning.  I woke in the middle of the night, and my heart was pumping strongly at 65 beats a minute.  I thought it made me more perceptive about my real physical condition, which I consider to be pretty bad, since the thyroid killing.  I so regret that I didn't look into an alternative medicine therapy.  But I will just have to deal with it now.  Anyway, I will take the DHEA, at least occasionally. 

Still too cold and dreary out to do leaf raking...

So the Packer/Viking game was a good one, though the Pack lost, oh well, that last field goal by the Vikes was fantastic, 56 yards I think.  I went to Menards before the game, got my shopping done for home improvements, and was back before noon.  I got about $90.00 of stuff, including one gallon of a soft yellow paint ($18.00) for the kitchen.  I love to paint.  I also had to get clear silicone caulk for my metal roofing panels and 2-1/2" screws for the roofing.  They were on sale, $20.00 for a 5 lb. box.  And I got gripping shelf liner to glue on butts, knees (if necessary), and even hips, so we don't slide off the roof.  It's worth a try.  Got 22 1"x2" furring strips for ceilings, even walls.  Got some tarps to cover up my rear tine tiller and firewood, and that's just about all. 

The weather has turned rainy and cold.  Every time I am outside, I seem to develop an instant head cold, lots of sneezing too.  Waiting for dryer weather now to finalize all winter work, do some leaf raking.  My little chickadees are busy at the bird feeder, along with nuthatches and woodpeckers.  I love to watch them.

Went to town last night, got air in my bike tires, almost fell off my bike already this morning before 8:00 a.m. even - jeez, that wouldn't be good.  So I had a bite to eat with pals at a restaurant later last eve, that was fun.  Today I really am going shopping; I want to start home improvements on the inside of the house now. 

Here is a recipe for a bran/flax muffin that is actually edible.  Found it in Prevention magazine.  Only tweaked it a bit and added more baking soda.

                    Orange Bran/Flax Muffins

In one bowl, mix together 1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup soy flour (recipe called for 1-1/2 cups oatmeal, but I wanted to use soy flour) 1 cup white flour, 1 cup flaxseed meal, 1 cup wheat bran, 1 tblspn. baking powder, 1 tblspn. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. salt.  In another bowl, mix together 2 oranges, which have been peeled, seeded, and pureed in food processor, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup buttermilk (I may have used evaporated milk again), 1/2 cup canola oil, 2 eggs, and 1 cup raisins (optional).  Oven 375 degrees.  Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients.  Paper cups in muffin tins.  Bake for 20 minutes. 

My bicycle tires were too soft and squishy to ride, so I've loaded up the bike into the back end of my truck and I'm taking it to town today to fill the tires with air.  It's far too nice and beautiful out not to bicyle around.  The leaves are just past peak, not that they are less beautiful, but they are falling rapidly now.  The ground everywhere is carpeted with the glowing remains of summer.  I once tried to duplicate that look by carpeting my living room in those colors in a pony print, but the effect was ugh! not good.  I had to have that carpeting torn out.

I'm going into town later to shop, then to have a bite with the old girlfriends from school.  I'm looking forward to it. 

I have been applying myself to writing that novel, and I'm happy to report that I have not had any writer's block so far.  It just keeps coming and I am getting it down as fast as I can.  The temperature in the house is 62 degrees and I find it just a tad too cool to be comfortable - I've turned the heat back on, but it will take awhile before the floor warms up.  Guess I'll do dishes, that always warms up the hands.  I've got three blankets on the bed at night now. 

I'm going to cut my hair today, and have been toying with the idea of doing a Farah Fawcett cut, but something is telling me not to go that way.  I just don't know, but I don't want this long, long hair anymore.  Maybe a bob would be nicer. 

What is wrong with me?  I have forgotten to blog lately.  I've been busy writing on my novel.  I sent to Vantage Press and they sent me an envelope to send my novel to them, so I've been writing every day until I get tired. 

Yesterday, I went with my daughter out to their hunting shack on three 40 acre parcels way out west of here.  My son took me on the RV or is it ATV on the trails they have made through all the woods and over dams and through tamarack swamps to all their hunting stands.  I felt like I was riding through one of the Disney World trips.  We laughed because the only one I can now recall is "It's a Small, Small World" which drove me crazy.  About half way through I wanted to jump out of the boat, screaming "Stop!  Stop!"  Apparently, annoyance like that stays in your memory.  I'm sure all the other ones were lovely.  As was the ATV trip through the property.  The leaves are at peak color here in the northwoods, it was a perfect fall day.  What a nice outing!

I went for a bike ride today with my dog and also put away the last garden hose of summer.  Soon I will be raking leaves.  I had my septic tank pumped out the other day, cleaned out all my drains with a homemade cleaner (salt, baking soda, vinegar, followed by boiling water).  Went to the landfill, recycled all my stuff.  Hadn't been anywhere at all for a long long before yesterday.

My grandson finally contacted me - he has moved to Minnesota and will now be able to visit.  I can hardly wait to see him again.  I think it has been about 5 years; he's been living in the south for all that time. 

It did not freeze, after all.  The leaves around my house are beautiful.  There's a constant golden glowing that's very peaceful and I've been riding my bike around, enjoying the cool air.  I've pretty much abandoned the garden to the deer, though I will pick a few tomatoes before frost yet.  I've turned on the floor heat, but keep it on low.  As long as it stays 65 degrees in here, I am comfortable.  I baked a turkey with dressing the other day.  It was 12 lbs. for under $10.00; I've been eating on it for 2 days, and have 2 days more of food before I'm half through, so today, I will wrap up the other half and put it in the freezer.  I am still eating that corn chowder every day for lunch, too. 

I took a can of foam around the house and foamed every place that's a hole or opening where a mouse could get in.  I'm pleased with the results - there are way fewer scritchings and scratchings at night now.  I'm also going to get better mouse traps for any remainders.  The foam swells up overnight and this morning, I have big white bubbles sticking out of the places I foamed - that's okay.  It can be cut off.

My  daughter is worried about the coming bird flu epidemic, who isn't?  I told her we are all going to die, so get ready.  Am I good or what?  I mean, I don't really have any way to reasssure her.  It's sad, but our deaths are born when we are.  I wish our country would develop more medicine for it, tho.

I got out there yesterday afternoon and picked as much as I could of anything remaining above ground.  I didn't pick the green tomatoes though.  Last night, I put an extra blanket on my bed and that did it.  I slept like a baby all night for a change, guess I had just been a little too cold to sleep well. 

Today, I tackled the job of doing something with ALL the vegetables.  I made a corn chowder that I'll be eating for several days, and it is good!

           Garden Medley Corn Chowder

1 pkg. bratwurst (or any sausage you like) browned and simmered for 1/2 hour in frypan.  Cut corn off cobs enough to make 2 or 3 cups (I left two ears with corn on), put this in large soup pot, add 1tiny head of cabbage, chopped; 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed; 3 medium tomatoes, chopped; 1/2 cup carrots, chopped; 1 stalk celery, diced; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 small onion, minced.  Add bratwurst and enough water to almost cover the ingredients, now simmer for 1 hour, adding the following to your taste:  kosher salt (1,2, or 3 tblspns.), freshly ground black pepper (1/4-1/2 tsp.), 1/2 tsp. Mrs. Dash (or other seasoned salt), crushed fennel seed (1 tsp.), basil or parsley (a sprig or two), white sugar (3 tblspns.), Louisiana hot sauce (3 or 4 drops), and lastly, just before serving, 1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk and a big dab of butter. 

Other than that, I have decided to go back to the old-fashioned way of washing my hair in the kitchen sink.  I don't have a shower anymore, and washing it in the tub is just too clumsy and difficult.  It's a lot easier this way anyhow. 

And lastly, today is the last day before it freezes tonight, so I'll try to pick the green tomatoes, drain the garden hose and put it and the sump pump away for the winter, bring in my herbs and flowers growing in pots, turn over the birdbath, and rescue the large potted plants that have sat outdoors for the summer. 

Yesterday, did I mention, I made that apple crisp out of the apples from my trees and it turned out very good, but the recipe came from Good Housekeeping, not me.    

Again, big swing, the temp yesterday was 79 deg. and dropped to , well, it's 46 deg. mid-afternoon now.  I did sleep rather well though, and have been taking afternoon naps, especially if the dogs or mice keep me awake at night.

I've been staying in today, doing housecleaning, laundry and cooking.  Yesterday, I went to town and shopped for my monthly supplies of dogfood and human food.  We have had 2 inches of rain yesterday and day before, and that makes napping in the afternoon so pleasant.  But other places are really getting a lot of rain and snow; I suppose we are lucky here, but the lakes are so low that the fish may not survive the winter.  So I am all in favor of more rain.

I do have some peppers, tomatoes, cukes, and other things out there in the garden, waiting for me to go out there and get them.  I think I'm going to make a big pot of chowder today and also an apple crisp.  It still won't freeze tonight, so if I don't go out there, it won't really matter.  I think I am still recovering from the firewood gathering - just not up to snuff yet.  

What has happened to me?  I have picked the peppers, pumpkins, melons (all very small but tasty nevertheless).  I have sprinkled the garden with 50 pounds of lime.  I am picking up things and stashing them for winter. 

Two oak trees fell across my driveway and had to be cut up before I could get out.  I picked up and stacked all this firewood by the door of my house.  And then my back gave out completely.  This is why I went to natural gas in my fireplace in the first place.  Bush promised when he took office that natural gas would be plentiful and cheap.  And my back just couldn't keep on doing the firewood thing anymore.  But now that natural gas prices are scheduled to go up 70% or more, I will have to take out the gas innards and go back to wood heat in my stove again.  But it is killing me to do this work again.  I'm serious.  I haven't been the same since the firewood gathering.  There are a number of dead trees out there waiting to be brought in.  But can I do this?  Although the pain is subsiding, I have a "dead zone" in my back around the right shoulder blade area.  So, thanks, Dubya.

Mice are attacking the house again, moving in for the winter, bringing their acorn bowling alleys along with them.  I can't sleep nights with them scritching and scratching in the walls and ceilings.  I'm at my wits' end.  Or is it wit's end.  I only have one wit left.  Today, I boarded up one of their places where they get in.  Hopefully, I'll be able to get a good night's sleep tonight. 

Other than that, I feel like I'm waiting for the other anvil to drop.  Just the old October feeling, before the really cold weather sets in.  Maybe I'm just going into hibernation mode.  I'm not myself at all.