Beautiful Windows.....

Leaving for my early morning walk I went out a side door into our gazebo area.....looking up toward the original historic building at Eastcastle the stained glass windows in one specific staircase caught my eye.

These windows are "hidden" from inside the building and it took us awhile, after moving in, to find the right hallway leading to the door opening into this secret world of beauty. The windows were commissioned in memory of a couple's son who died in Paris many years ago. At one point, when the buildings were being re-designed, it was suggested that the windows be removed....luckily one of the architects (who now lives here) vetoed that decision.

The ending dark of the early fall morning meant the inside lights were still on and the colorful beauty was lit from within. Just a quick reminder to look for beauty in unexpected places.....often in nature....just as often in the buildings around us.

Watch Your Step.....

I am still taking my early morning walks....unless it is raining! I just do a short walk across the street from our apartment building around Gilman Park. It's familiar since I did it almost every morning with Fenway for the two years we had him here. Just some fresh air to start the day.

We had two days of rain but yesterday I was able to re-establish my routine. Crossing Downer Avenue I started around the triangle park and noticed that the wind and rain of the previous days succeeded in bringing most of the leaves off the park's trees.

At times I could hardly see the sidewalk. Aging makes me more aware of where I am walking and I've stubbed my toes and almost tripped several times because of crooked sidewalks. So what to do? Not only were the leaves still damp meaning they were a bit slippery under my gym shoes, but I couldn't see any cracks or sidewalk repairs. 

Yesterday's morning walk was a bit slower than usual and spent staring down just ahead of where I planned to take my next step. Success....morning walk without tripping. 

Today I realized that someone (city workers?) had been out and the sidewalks were clean. Perhaps not quite as visually interesting, but a little easier to navigate.

Fall in Wisconsin.....

....and the Next Morning

The morning after pink sky I walked outside and had a different view. Same walk around the block but a different view.

I came back into the apartment and told Dave it was a lovely day and the air actually felt "soft" on my skin. That's not a meteorological fact I'm sure....but that's how it felt to me. Two lovely mornings in a row and worth the early morning stroll. 

Today it's raining.

7:16....

I am still taking my early morning walk....just a dog-owner habit that I can't and don't seem to want to break. I walk around the block and just look at the grass and trees and picture that silly little Fenway butt trotting along in front of me.

Yesterday morning I was struck by the sky...looking up it was such a lovely pink. I should have walked toward the lakefront, but I just enjoyed what I could see outside on our block.

7:16 a.m.....thank you Mother Nature.

 

Again....Required Reading

As of today Heather Cox Richardson's new book, Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, is number four on the NY Times Best Seller List for non-fiction. I read this last week....purchased just a few days after it became available.

I've been following Professor Richardson's Letters From an American on line for several years and she has helped to clarify a confusing and frightening few years in America. She usually ends her daily letter with some kind of comforting comments about how we, as individuals, have the right to make our voices heard. She encourages all of us to contact our representatives when we find unacceptable "behavior" and to VOTE.

I encourage all of you to purchase this book or get on the waiting list at your library. Trying to make sense of hour our democracy got here in 2023 and where we go from here...reading the book helps to clarify everything.

To quote the information on the book cover: "In the midst of the impeachment crisis of 2019, Heather Cox Richardson launched a daily Facebook essay providing the historical background of the incessant torrent of news. It soon turned into a newsletter, and its readership ballooned to more than two million dedicated readers, who rely on her plainspoken take on the present and past in America." The description goes on to say, "May books tell us what has happened over the last five years.  Democracy Awakening explains how we go to this perilous point, what our history really tells us about ourselves, and what the future of democracy can be."

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Do yourself a favor....no matter what side of the fence you may be on....read it....and ponder.

Trying Something New.....

My friends know I spend as little time in the kitchen as possible....and since moving to Eastcastle I literally don't have to do anything that involves kitchen appliances. But scrolling through my Facebook page I found something "cute" for Halloween and thought I'd give it a try. 

After all....to make these pretzel mummies all I had to do was buy the pretzels and melt white chocolate in the microwave! Success!