A Light Glows on October 3

It's a gray, cloudy day today and it rained quite a bit this morning - very fall like. I'm lighting a candle today in honor of my mother; today would have been her 86th birthday. I usually try to do something special on this day, but with a lesson right in the middle of the day, it's a bit difficult to very much. Perry Como is singing in the background...he was her favorite. I miss her terribly. 

Today I'm trying to catch up on correspondence, blogs, emails and letters as well as sort through some computer files. If time, I'll work on some cards. 

I'm enjoying the cooler temperatures, but not the lack of sunshine. I'm not quite ready to "hunker down" just yet, so I'm hoping for more sunny days ahead. I still have a few chores I need to do before the weather turns bad. We made a total of 22 1/2 quarts of applesauce and after giving away 2 boxes of apples, we still have  a box full to deal with. I decided to juice some and put that in the freezer as well. 

I'm enjoying my students; each one is a joy. I could still use a few more to fill the days, but in the meantime I plan to use the time to get myself organized around here. I'm still trying to get my Etsy store up and running and make more cards to put up for sale. I hope this weekend I can get several made and get pictures taken of them for the website. 

The new organ has yet to be picked up, but they are predicting we should have it sometime in the next couple of weeks, then the work really begins. I have been spending more time at the piano recently which is a good thing. I have been trying to work up a piece of Christmas music my college professor arranged. It's quite challenging and my brain just refuses to wrap itself around some of the patterns and surprises it holds. Still I soldier on...I would really love to play it this Christmas in his honor. Please continue to play for Dr. Gordon Page, he has his consultation today. http://drgordonpage.tumblr.com/ One of the things on my to-do list is to make him a card and send him a real letter. 

Hubby continues to worry me. He is restless in his sleep...when he sleeps - I know he has so much pressing on his mind that he refuses to discuss and I don't know how to help. We continue to pinch our pennies and to no avail. Now with the healthcare requirements...UGH! We can't afford insurance, nor can we afford the penalty. How they figure it's affordable for everyone is beyond me!! Our country is in such a mess and between that and the other discouragements and sadness in my life I struggle to stay positive but I keep going back to Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble." 

For some reason I keep thinking today is Friday...wishful thinking? 

In Between

Summer is over and true fall has not quite arrived, so I feel like things are in an in between stage. My new background, I think, expresses that; it's got some leaves there for fall, but I'm not ready for the fall colors and pumpkins just yet. Perhaps I'm just putting off the inevitable as long as possible.

Fall piano lessons will start next week, but I won't have everyone returning until the following week...again, in between. The good news is, as you know, I added 2 students this summer and now I've added 3 new ones for fall. I will have a total of 16 students this year which is wonderful, the only drawback being, 7 of them are only coming every other week, so a few more to fill in the gaps are still needed.

The church advisory board met this week and will suggest to the congregation that they vote to purchase the organ we have been looking at. You can see it and hear it in the video...this is the actual instrument that I will be playing at church if they vote to purchase! I will know for sure tomorrow night after the business meeting. If they go ahead, and once it arrives, my work will really begin! So as with other things, I'm waiting in an in between stage.

There was a skunk in the yard this morning when we took the dogs out. It was still darkish, so we didn't see it at first. I was able to off Mae, I don't know why she didn't get sprayed unless the skunk could tell she was crippled and not a threat. The vet is coming up this coming Wednesday after lunch sometime to put her to sleep. The geese are flying circles around the lake getting ready to leave. One group flew off and didn't come back...not a good sign. Our days go from nippy ones to ones that feel just like summer and back again. 

I had so many plans for my Saturday, but I somehow wound up talking to my neighbor for most of the morning. I'm hoping in the coming days and weeks to be able to get to know her better. I think she needs a good friend here. Friendly, but not quite friends...in between. 

I have many goals for this winter, here's hoping I can stay focused enough to get them accomplished.  I'm still working toward getting my Etsy store set up. I will share when I get it operational. With the Etsy store, the new organ, new students and my usual cleaning, laundry and cooking, my life will be quite busy, especially until I get into a routine. I am thinking my computer time will have to be put off until evening from now on, which is hard for me as I enjoy doing my emails and blogging along with my morning coffee. 

Until next time my friends,