Just Fun

 It's been a long time since I've posted about any online games I might play. Actually, I gave up both of the ones I liked before the big hike, but Marie got me playing one different one again. Royal Match.

It's fun. It doesn't take the time commitment the other ones did. I usually play it to wake up in the morning. Anyway... recently they had a card set (you get extra stuff for collecting sets) with a hiking theme. I thought it was interesting what they chose.

Cabin, cliff, trekking poles, climbing rope, lighter, hiking shoes, rucksack, sleeping bag, "on top."

In other news: I edited, I did a bunch of behind the scenes work on my own books, bell choir, shopping. It's enough.

See Lazy Self-Indulgence

Last Time this Year?

 Remember that I picked up the mower on Friday? Gone Saturday, too wet yesterday. Nice weather today! My goal was to try to get everything mowed once before snow comes.

I got everything around the house.

And most of what we would like to keep mowed down by the road. At any rate, I did everything I could without cutting and chopping out more autumn olive.

I know this looks like a lot of space, and many people ask why I don't let it go to native plants. So I will state again, for those who may not have seen my answer, it goes to autumn olive, spotted knapweed, and sweet pea. There is plenty of native milkweed in the field next door, and I encourage it to grow there. I wage constant war on the autumn olive. We feel like this is minimum space to mow to keep the deer, mice, woodchucks, mosquitoes, etc somewhat away from the house, and hold those invasive plants in check.

I rarely mow it ALL in one day, but today was the good weather window, so...

This was only the second mowing of the whole season. Constant lawnmower troubles (not my laxity this year), and I have a hard time paying for repairs. I may have to get a sturdier mower.

I also managed to dry laundry outside. Yeah, I know the lines are sagging. Not much point in tightening them until spring, at this point.

Also got in some time editing.

See Climbing the Stupidity Ladder

November Handbells

 We played two songs this morning, "What a Friend," and "Raise the Songs of Harvest." Both are composites of two hymns. Sorry the camera isn't aligned very well.



"Raise the Songs" combines "We Gather Together" and "Raise the Song of Harvest Home."



We were especially pleased to get that long run correct (three measures, 19 notes) without messing up. It was hard.

In other news: I puttered at small things, not working on any of my big projects. Back at it tomorrow.

See Paddling and Playing Bells

Fruitport Library

 Today was a vendor event at the Fruitport Library. They really do a nice thing for authors. The tables are free for the first 12 who sign up. They have free coffee and provide free lunch (taco bar from Qdobas).

It was held in conjunction with the Friends of the Library used book sale.

There were tons of book options (and CDs and DVDs). The Friends did an amazing job of sorting their offerings, including a special holiday section and gift packages.

In my experience, books-only events don't usually pull in enough traffic. I thought maybe having it organized by a library would change that. Well, not really.

But, I've got no complaints. I had additional ideas for the day... take a hike afterwards (I thought it lasted until 3, but it was really 4), so there wasn't enough time to do that before dark. I thought I'd get some groceries on the way home, but I didn't bother.

Bottom line... I met a lot of new-to-me authors, sold a few books, but came home tired. I'm going to chill with a book because I have to be back out the door in the morning for bell choir.

See Date with a Polar Bear

Climbing the Stupidity Ladder

 So, I got a text today that the lawnmower was ready to be picked up. I was given a choice of ANY time to do so today. I chose 3 pm. Stupid. The pickup is exactly across from a school on a four-corner intersection.

There were buses and cars coming from the south. There was a large truck hauling a trailer with a backhoe coming from the north, and a line of vehicles backed up behind it. There was all the usual traffic on the highway. I was sitting in a driveway crosswise to the side street with the mower on the trailer.

Let's just say I had time to call Marie and chat before I got out on the road.

Got home. It started right up. Couldn't get it in gear. Checked the lever you need to move to drive vs. push it. It was fine. Darn thing wouldn't go in gear. Felt like an idiot. Texted the fixit guy. Parking brake was on. OK... in the three years I've owned this mower, I've never yet been able to get the parking brake to work. Got it released. Put the mower away. Still can't get the brake on. Do I feel dumb?

Everything is too wet to mow any today, but I am pretty sure I'll be able to mow one more time before the snow hits, which is my goal. Yeah!

I'm feeling smarter about plants. I'm almost done with the 2010 Flower Show pictures. With all the plants in my database, I have about 210 genera so far, and about 360 different plants. I have to say "about" because I'm not quite done with the Flower Show, and I could identify a few more than that. I have that many for sure.

Sound like a lot? Ha! There are over 2000 plant genera, and the estimate for the number of species is 391,000 with 2000 new ones being described every year (mostly in underexplored places of the world).

No, I'll never remember all of them. Hopefully, the ones that I see most often (in addition to the plants I own or are native here).

I'll show you three that look similar- succulents with thick overlapping leaves that aren't related at all. The first is Haworthia viscosa. Native to South Africa.

Then a hybrid called 'Buddha's Temple.' It is a Crassula, otherwise generally known as a jade plant. This was created in 1959 by plant tinkerers. You won't find it in the wild.

I'll bet some of you have heard of this one. It's Monkey Puzzle Tree, Araucaria araucana. Native to Chile and Argentina.

Closer to home, The bloody cranesbill geranium is still bringing some late-season joy.

Edited, worked on projects. No writing for the book... am working out a plot monkey puzzle in my head.

See Once More Unto the Breach