Good Saturday to you from our small corner of the world here in north Iowa.  Fall has graced us with some chilly weather this week.  We woke to frost yesterday morning with the temperature around 30 degrees.  By next week we will see the high sixties, but as anyone who experiences all four seasons would agree, 65 degrees in the Fall is different than 65 in the heat of summer!  Our large planter of geraniums is blooming wildly right now and I am loving that!

Speaking of loving that, we are also loving all the squash.  So tasty.  Will soon be time to put a couple of pumpkins on the porch although this year trick or treating seems questionable.  All the kids and all the candy handed out and all the possible exposures have us saying no to Halloween here.  It has been one of Joel's favorite things to do...hand out candy and chat with kids and parents.  He has also put aside his favorite thing to attend ~ Rendezvous Days in a town about 45 minutes from here.  He enjoys everything about it, but made the decision to not go because of Covid.  Difficult decision like so many others we are having to make regarding "taking the risk or not taking the risk to ourselves and others".  

I finished reading the book, "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah this week.  It is such a powerful fiction read about two sisters during World War II when the Nazis took over France.  It is based on the history of the roles women took on during the war.  After I finished reading it I began googling some of the women during World War II who helped rescue or hide Jewish children, risking their lives and the lives of their own children.  Such courage they had to put aside their fear and do what they felt was right.  Powerful.  

It has been cold, windy, and at times rainy, so Joel has only gotten in one bike ride.  He has been putting the finishing touches on his book for self publishing and doing some fall yard work.  I have been reading, walking mostly inside, texting regarding Gr. Jo's recovery journey, and attempting to avoid most of the news whether on TV or Facebook.  Too much going on in my corner of Iowa to add in the political and religious rhetoric. We have enjoyed a few more episodes of "Repair Shop" on Netflix and have added a new show, "Grand Design" which is about people in England building their own homes.  Very interesting.........and definitely low key.  We are all about low key right now!

I saw a video last night on TV that showed a little toddler who had just taken a bath and was talking none stop about the experience ( I think) waving his arms and chatting away...........the only problem is that no one could understand one word of his gibberish.  I think you may know where I am going here......Anyone else feel like so many are speaking gibberish?  Gibberish with a spin?  It sooooooooooo reminded me of our country right now.  Sometimes I look at others waving their arms, ranting or talking but it is all like it is in another language.....and you want to say........WHAT????  Can we just all go to bed and wake up in 2021?  I am all for that!

Speaking of being all for that, lets think about what we are grateful for this week.  I am grateful for crisp Fall weather that has brought with it squash and pumpkins.  I am grateful for texting, phone calls, prayers, blooming flowers, fiction and history that opens my mind, laughter, love and light.  

Enjoy your weekend!