*Poke*

I've been gigged for not updating my blog regularly. Guess I haven't. Not all that much to report!

The weather has turned cold. Last year, it was November before it got cold and stayed that way. This year, October? We have been below average in temps and above average in precipitation. Had two days of solid rain last week...enough to make everything cold, wet, and gloomy. We had frost last night but at least the sun is shining today. Looks like the gourd plant survived the frost.

The gourd plant used to be TWO gourd plants that Grandma Judy had started from seed for the grandchildren. For awhile, they were in two foam cups in the bay window. I had to remind myself to water them and make sure that the children wouldn't drown them with water. Then there were four days in the hospital with my heart attack when the children were in Muncie for a week. I was just sure that the plants would be dead when I got home, but they weren't. (Pretty droopy, but not dead.) I transferred them to a pot outside. One eventually died; the other took off and now is spread across the lawn. (I didn't know that gourd plants were vines!) Anyway, in spite of the blossoms, only two gourds have formed. Since I'm not sure how big they should be or what shape, I'm letting them mature--although it's a slow process due to the colder temps. MAYBE there will be a gourd or two before a killing freeze...

Saturday was Tox-Away Day in Hendricks County. The county has these events four times a year in different locations so that residents can safely dispose of toxic wastes (including pharmaceuticals, which I didn't know about). The last time that I took part in one of those, quite a few years ago, there was a dumpster on the lot of the road maintenance facility. Just had to throw the paint cans over the side and move on. Not anymore! The location this time was at the local middle school. I went down there with ancient pesticides and pesticide containers in the trunk. There was a "gerbil" tube of cones to go through, and several stations to report to...and a line of cars/trucks. Big deal! Didn't even have to get out of the vehicle. The volunteers did it all. I'm glad I went. I'm too conscientious to just dump toxic stuff, but too lazy/unaware to drive all over the county to get rid of it. Guess they were also taking electronics...and even appliances!

I called the grandchildren yesterday. I'm always a bit hesitant. Nathan and Kendra don't have a house phone...just cell phones...and I'm never sure which one to call--his or hers. Then, too, the children can get windy, using up cell phone minutes. Anyway, Nathan called me back. Got to talk to Robin first. She had gotten her ears pierced yesterday. And I learned that she and Mommy are "pen pals". (Robin decided to tell me what pen pals are, etc.) She talked on and on. When I got to talk to Ryan, he was holding the phone too close to his mouth. I couldn't understand some of what he was saying, but none of it was important. He was merely commenting on things he was looking at...like his fish in their HUGE aquarium, etc. They are all preparing for a wedding next weekend--Daddy and Kendra's.

I went to early church this morning. The walls didn't even fall in! Once upon a time, I went to church every Sunday, all by myself. (In fact, did that from about 2nd grade, on.) Then, in 1993, when my father got sick, I spent a lot of weekends in Illinois. Church attendance fell by the wayside. When Dad died in the early spring of '94, I just never went back. Meg was in high school. I was still in the relatively early throes of making a post-divorce life for us in Plainfield. When Megan got married, I spent my weekends helping her with the grandchildren locally, then was driving to Muncie every whip-stitch when they moved there. Then she and the children moved here. Precious weekend time was spent doing laundry and cleaning. Now, she and the children are gone; I am retired. I have no further excuse for not seeking to improve my spirituality. (Sadly neglected!) It is my plan to continue to reach out to the Community of the Faithful to receive whatever blessings I can get. I am "needy" right now. When that changes, perhaps I can give back.

My life has changed forever. My experience is that it takes two years for me to adjust to major life changes. Three weeks down; 101 to go...