Autumn or Fall?

 Which do you usually use? Of course, it matters little, as the season is fully upon us. Trees are brilliantly orange, and yellow, and red, and brown, like a Bob Ross painting come to life. Breathe it in deeply, my friend.

For the first year ever, I had ripe figs on my tree. I greedily ate all 5 of them right then and there. So luscious and delicious! Amazing!  There are about 30 more on the tree, but I don't know if they will ripen in time.

My butterfly bushes continue to bloom, as if to say "to heck with thee, autumn hags. I will continue to be adorned in summer's beauty". No hummers, as they have sought safety and warmth elsewhere, but I do have a handful of fanciful blue jays. The bumbles have also retreated to their wintertime rest, and I am already anticipating their joyous return.

Old Business:

• Reading The Power of Engagement. It has been helpful, and I've picked 1-2 things to try and incorporate into life, right now. Mainly, eating bigger at the start of the day, and then tapering off.
• Started Shift. Again, it has been somewhat difficult to get going, but I've hit a bit of intrigue so I think that will help.
• Fallen off the Trail Guide, but hope to get back on it.
• Planning for Success is still a Fail LOL.
• Magazines, doing well.
• Running not good, but have been working on increasing walking. However, I have been doing a lot of cardio in the garden so not a complete slacker!
• Craft table is partially clean, need to keep it up.
• Cleaning is starting to get on a good roll.
• Guitar, I am now on a 7 week streak.  Not my longest, but close. It's always easier when I don't have to rebuild callouses!
• Sanding Booth - probably will hold off until I can't do work outside.
• Second brush pile is almost completely gone (I hope to get it gone this afternoon!) so I have been able to cover up the area where the fence was replaced (I had previously planted some butterfly bushes, arborvitae, and melissa there) AND continue to do weeding in the area by the west patio and get it covered. I also yanked out several invasive Asian honeysuckle. Mulberries used to be my arch villain, but it's been pushed out. While there is still lots to go, you can actually see where I've been doing things and that feels good. I always feel like the more I can get done in fall, the less I'll need to do in spring, which should then translate into being able to keep up with more. Am I wrong??
• Had Fall Education conference in Indy over 020's birthday weekend. It was a good weekend, and learned a lot! Was happy that I could (company...) pay for K to go too.

New Business:

• Mapping out 2024, and wanting to plan some trips. Since I know I'll probably never be able to officially retire, I've been thinking I just need to change my mindset to being semi-retired now.
• Working on a better management system of all the areas of my life. Sounds pretty ADHD doesn't it?  I need a system for my systems... sigh...
• Dad and Layne helped me round up brush from some folks here in La F which should help me build my leaf cages, and also be good mulch next year. Unfortunately a lot of it is still pretty green, so it's hard on the chipper.  Good thing it doesn't grow legs and walk off, but as I said, I'll be able to get the caging built.
• I've already raked up (and fetched from folks in town) a pile of leaves for next year's leaf mulch. It has reduced by half already (as it settles) so if I can get the stick pile done today, I want to go down the street where there is a big tree that has covered the road in leaves, and collect those to add. Or maybe just my neighbor across the alleyway.  There is a big tree there.
• Had a fun birthday weekend last weekend for 020.  She came up from BTown and her sib down from Grand Rapids. It was so much fun to have them both here again.
• Had PLA meeting this Thursday in Indy. There were a couple of sad cases this time.
• Although I will miss the outside, I am also looking forward to getting some inside projects done - sanding booth so I can get doors finished. And table/cart built for saw. And maybe the kitchen cabinet redo I want. And bathroom vanity/mirror cabinet. And garage cabinets. And laundry room cabinets. And, and, and...  And scrapbooking and painting! And did I mention crocheting...?