Autumnal

The first day of Autumn finds me listening to the rain and eating fresh made vegetable soup with ingredients from my garden.  It is aromatic and filling and I am at peace.

Yesterday I harvested figs, raspberries, potatoes, leeks, and baby kale.  I had the figs and raspberries in my grits this morning, and the rest went into the soup today along with herbs of all sorts from the rain washed beds.

It is delightful.

Today, my colleague from work assisted me with the pick up and transportation of more craigslist treasure: a 100 year old oak ice box.  It goes nicely with my big oak furniture and there is something about it’s steadfast survival that makes me feel good.

The unpacking is progressing and with each load of boxes carted off to the garage, it starts to feel more and more comfortable.  I ordered rugs from the big furniture store back in Kansas City at 1/3 what I would have to pay here.  So – with the free shipping I get  as a ‘regular’ customer, I am feeling very happy with my resourcefulness and frugality. There is something about the treasure hunting I’ve been doing lately that gives me such smug satisfaction.  This plus the proclivity to buy antiques may mean that I am becoming an old woman. 

But then – I am about to log on and play Star Wars the Old Republic, so then there’s that.

My Aunt Sally died this week.  A lifelong smoker, she left this world unable to see (macular degeneration), unable to swallow (throat lesions), unable to breathe without assistance, and unable to process oxygen from normal room air (COPD).   My cousins, brother, and son & daughter still smoke and I wonder if they saw in her passing a faint glimpse of struggle for them to come?  Probably not. 

We always think we have enough time.