A Warm Christmas!

    We didn't break any records, but the last week has been warmer than usual for December. The high on Christmas Day was 75˚, not matching the 79˚ recorded in 2015.

    We planned to play pickleball on Wednesday morning, but when we arrived at the Y, the parking lot was empty! I thought the Y would be open for half a day, but I wasn't paying attention to any notices that must have been posted.

    We attended the 6:30 p.m. Vesper Service on Christmas Eve, which ended with candlelight and the congregation singing "Silent Night, Holy Night."

    On Christmas Day, we welcomed Kylie, Steven, and Jayden, with Dustin and Josh arriving a few minutes later. I stuck a casserole in the oven, and we played some Christmas trivia games that everyone enjoyed while snacking on cheese and crackers and sipping wassail.

    The Christmas Day meal consisted of tossed salad, Italian beef sandwiches, and corn casserole. Earlier in the week, I made figgy pudding, a dense, dark cake. Unfortunately, it was not popular, so I won't make it again. I should have used dates instead of figs, but the spices I used might have made it less palatable.

    Since I failed to get a photo of us playing trivia, I was happy to get this one as Dustin and Josh said goodbye.

    While writing this post, I've also been listening to the weather reports. We had a record-high temperature today, but a cold front is sweeping through the area. There have been tornado watches and warnings for severe thunderstorms and strong winds. With a high in the 60s today, we are expecting a frigid 16˚ tomorrow morning.

    We watched the Colts lose another game this afternoon to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts became the first NFL team in 30 years to start a season with an 8-2 record and still miss the playoffs. It didn't help that Daniel Jones tore his ACL. The Pacers aren't doing well either. They lost their star guard for the season and haven't found a winning combination since.

    Until next time, may you enjoy a New Year's Eve with good food and companions.

One Week Later

     A week ago, we were digging out after a 5-inch snowfall, but also enjoying the beautiful scenes in the neighborhood.  Today, all that snow has melted.

This was taken on Tuesday.
We're thankful for a cleared driveway and sidewalk.

    We visited the Y on Monday for pickleball. Later in the week, we had rain, and nearly all the snow had disappeared. After the rain on Thursday afternoon, the temperature dropped, and there were icy patches in the Y's parking lot, but we walked carefully and had no problem.

    This afternoon, I finally had a chance to rake the leaves that accumulated from our neighbor's tree. This tree didn't shed its leaves until late November, and then we had rainy days or snow that covered them. However, today was milder with no wind and sunshine. While I raked, I heard geese flying overhead in formation several times.

Blown in by the wind!

Three piles of leaves!

Four bags full of leaves.
Mission accomplished!

    When I raked leaves last spring, I made it my mission to take care of them this fall. For a while, I didn't think it would happen, but it will save me some work next spring.

    We've been watching Christmas movies when we have time. However, most free movies also have commercials. But when we use either Kanopy or Hoopla, provided by our public library, there are no commercials. That's a win-win!

    The Colts are playing in prime time tomorrow night, and that's one reason I had time to rake the leaves. We learned that IU will be playing Alabama on New Year's Day in the Rose Bowl. 

    Until next time, may you have joy and peace during this holiday season.

We're in a Deep Freeze!

    We had another significant snowstorm yesterday, followed by the Deep Freeze! The high for today was 11˚, and as I'm writing this, I noticed the temperature has dropped to 5˚. The high for tomorrow is 15˚, but we'll then have a brief warming spell, reaching the 40s by Wednesday, before another drop in temperature.

    I received the results of last week's bone-density test, and the doctor has prescribed a weekly dose to help strengthen my bones as I have osteoporosis. I took my first dose yesterday, following the instructions to take it first thing in the morning with lots of water and to wait at least 30 minutes before ingesting anything else. Also, do not lie down after taking the pill. I'm grateful I only have to follow these instructions once a week.

    The snowfall began in the late morning, but thankfully, we didn't need to leave the house. Ray bundled up and put on boots to take a letter to the mailbox. It was picked up, but we haven't checked the mailbox since to see if any mail arrived.

    When I woke up this morning, I checked the driveway and sidewalk and was happy to find the snow had been cleared overnight. We got ready for church and made the drive over snow-covered streets. Attendance was down, but I'm happy that we had a service. Dozens of churches had canceled services, but our church parking lot was cleared when we arrived. After the service, we sang Christmas hymns and had a Christmas party in the Fellowship Hall with a cookie exchange.

Angeletti (Italian Christmas Cookies)

    This recipe made about 4 dozen cookies. Some of the cookies were divided to send to shut-in members. I brought home a large plate of assorted cookies.

We'll have cookies to munch on this week.

    Until next time, may you have the time and energy to bake some Christmas goodies, and may you enjoy listening to Christmas carols as we draw ever closer to December 25.   

Brrr! It's Winter!

    Last Tuesday morning, we woke to 5+ inches of snow on the ground. I believe it's the most snow this early in the season in a long time. Because the temperatures were well below average, we didn't see much snow melt until Saturday and yesterday, when all the lawns were exposed, and there was no more snow.

 Snowmen

    On Thursday, our bridge group attended the Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast in Franklin, supporting a food bank and the city's Good Cheer fund. The pork chops are incredible, plus there are mashed potatoes, green beans, pulled pork, fried chicken, and homemade ice cream. After the meal, we drove a short few blocks to the clubhouse of one of our members for our regular Thursday bridge game. These snowmen met us outside the clubhouse.

    On Friday, since it had been two years since the last test, my doctor suggested I have a follow-up bone density exam. I also had my yearly mammogram, but I have yet to hear the results of these two tests. Depending on what you read, mammograms aren't required after a certain age, but some believe it's a wise investment.

    I kept busy on Saturday getting ready for Sunday's afternoon Advent Glow at Concordia by making a date-and-walnut bar cookie for the buffet line. I also had makings for crockpot candy, which makes a vast amount, but I had to wait for several hours for the chocolate to set before I could bag the candy pieces the next morning. On Sunday morning, I loaded the car with my Christmas plates, the date bars, and the ingredients for wassail. I used a gallon of apple cider, pineapple and orange juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, and whole allspice that filled my large crockpot to the top. The wassail simmered for several hours as we went home for lunch, and then I returned before 3 p.m. to finish decorating my table and plating the date bars. The wassail was a hit, as there wasn't any left in the crockpot when the event was over.

The Buffet Line

    The male quartet "Witness" presented a program of Gospel music and led us in singing a few Christmas carols. 

This group was organized by the man in yellow
and has been performing for decades.

    On the sporting scene, before going to bed on Saturday evening, we watched the first half of the Big Ten Championship game between IU and Ohio State. On Sunday morning, we watched the second half to learn that IU was victorious! They have had an incredible season!

    Yesterday, the Colts were trying to win in Jacksonville, where they've been unsuccessful for a long time. Unfortunately, Daniel Jones, the quarterback, sustained an injury to his Achilles tendon, and the last four games of a season that started so well are in jeopardy.

    Until next time, may you enjoy an afternoon of baking, and may you have an opportunity to build a snowman if that's something you like to do.

Thanksgiving 2025

     Early in the week, we went to the Greenwood Fieldhouse to walk indoors since it was a rainy day. I was surprised to see the Christmas decorations, but they added to a festive feeling.

A section of the gym floor that was part of the
old middle school hangs on the wall.

Decorated for the season, these chairs overlook the
indoor soccer field, which is also used as a play area.

        We were expecting Ray's sister, Veronica, to visit over Thanksgiving, so I had to get busy, rearranging the clutter, dusting, and sweeping the floor before she arrived on Wednesday afternoon. David, her son, and Carla, David's wife, were coming to Indiana to have Thanksgiving with Carla's sister, who lives in Plainfield on Indy's west side. Their son, Joel, came with them. We had a short visit before they left for Plainfield.

    The three of us, Ray, Ron, and I, attended the Wednesday evening worship service at Concordia. On our way home, we picked up a pizza I had ordered earlier to enjoy when we got back. 

Ray and Ron spent several hours looking at
scrapbooks of some of our travels.

    We headed out for our Thanksgiving dinner, but when we arrived at the Golden Corral, we saw a line out the door, and turned around to go home. It was cold and windy, and we didn't want to stand outside. I put together a quick meal, and that was our Thanksgiving meal. 

    

    David, Carla, and Joel stopped by on Friday to pick up Veronica and stayed for a pleasant visit while enjoying some snacks and goodies.

David, Ray, and Joel

Saying farewell

                

Carla, Veronica, Joel, and David

        

    Our usual Thanksgiving celebration was postponed until Saturday this year as Joe worked a 12-hour day on Thursday. When we arrived on Saturday afternoon with our pumpkin cake, we learned that Dustin and his friend, Josh, had been called into work. Dustin works for the city of Indianapolis, and Josh for Greenwood, but the forecast called for several inches of snow, and they were needed to help prepare the streets.

    Steven and Kylie smoked a turkey for 14 hours on Friday, and I thought it was the best turkey I've ever had. We were fortunate to bring a few pieces of turkey home, and I'm looking forward to enjoying a tasty meal this evening. 

    We were aware of a large storm moving across the country, and yesterday, we noticed that a weather advisory and later a storm watch were issued. As we went to bed last evening, our lawn was covered with a light coating of snow. By this morning, the snow had melted, and there was no accumulation on our sidewalks or streets. We don't expect to be above freezing today, but we have to endure strong winds. We feel fortunate compared to other parts of the state.

    Until next time, may you avoid snowstorms and icy streets, may your leftovers be tasty, and may the winds die down and the sun peek from behind the clouds.

From Gloomy to Sunny

     We didn't see the sun this past week until yesterday, when the clouds departed and we had sunshine. We also had a rainy Tuesday and rain on other days, which was needed since we haven't had rain for quite a while. Many trees have lost their leaves, as seen in this photo.

We walked through the leaves
on Thursday morning.

    When the sun came out, the tree across the street from our driveway caught our attention as we left for a walk yesterday morning. The sunshine added to its beauty, but there are still many leaves to fall and rake before winter arrives.

    Today, Concordia celebrated its 69th anniversary with a dinner immediately after the worship service. It was also the first time to use the completely renovated Fellowship Hall and kitchen. The remodeling began in August, and we haven't had a working kitchen since then. With new cabinets, appliances, and flooring in both areas, we had to search drawers for what we needed, but it was a successful meal. Turkey and ham were provided, with members providing a wide variety of side dishes.

The tables are decorated for the anniversary meal. 
Notice the new coffee bar on the back wall.

    

For dessert, we enjoyed a piece of cake!

    When we returned home, it was time to watch the Colts play the Chiefs in Kansas City. Fortunately, we had thought to record the game, but in the end, the Colts lost 20-23 in overtime. The Chiefs overcame an 11-point deficit in the 4th quarter to tie the game and eventually prevail. With eight wins and only two losses, the Colts are leading their division, the AFC South.

    Until next time, may you enjoy a walk among the leaves with sunshine on your shoulder, may your gloomy days eventually give way to sunny skies, and may your Thanksgiving Day be filled with gratitude for the blessings we have in this beautiful country we live in.

Indian Summer in November

    When I wrote last Monday, we had snow on the ground and on the rooftops. It seemed strange since many trees still hadn't dropped their green leaves.  We started the week with a low temperature of 21°, and five days later, we enjoyed an afternoon of 70°.

    Yesterday morning, after breakfast, we enjoyed the warm weather by taking a walk to Great Clips, where I got a haircut. Back at home, I pulled up the dead zinnias around the mailbox post and pruned the lavender bush, which had become overgrown. I tried to remove the hosta leaves, but my shears were not sharp enough, so I'll save that for another day and hope that after a few more frosts, I can pull the leaves away without having to cut them. 

Before pruning

    We had a busy Veterans Day on Tuesday. First, we went to Bob Evans for breakfast, and Ray had a big stack of pancakes. However, I had to pay for my breakfast, which included a $3.49 cup of coffee. Since we were still in the middle of the short-lived cold spell, we went to the Greenwood Fieldhouse after breakfast, where we walked/ran using the upstairs track. For our evening meal, we went to the Golden Corral, which had a party atmosphere with many veterans enjoying their free meal. The best deal of the day was visiting the newly opened Crew Car Wash for a free car wash! 

    On Tuesday evening, we watched a documentary about Angela Madsen, "Row of Life." If you conduct some research, you'll discover that Angela was a Paralympian, competing in the shot put at the London Games and winning a bronze medal. She discovered rowing, where she was able to compete without her wheelchair. She became a competitive rower and crossed both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The documentary was about her attempt to row across the Pacific Ocean, with the intention of reaching Honolulu solo as the oldest and first person with a disability to accomplish the feat. She was lost at sea, but her story endures.

    Another highlight of the week was the AARP-sponsored free streaming of Wicked on Friday evening. We got to bed late, but now we are ready to see the second half of the story to learn what actually happened to the Wicked Witch of the West. If you've read the story, then you're familiar with it. The second half of the Wicked movie is premiering this week, and I'll be interested to hear the reviews. 

    The Colts have a bye this week, so we watched Nutcracker: The Motion Picture. The dancing was beautiful, the costumes were colorful, and the music was memorable. After conducting some research, I found that this film was performed in 1986 at the Seattle Opera House. 

    Until next time, may your fall garden chores be easily accomplished, may you enjoy some late Indian summer, and may predicted rain not ruin the shine on your car.

A Bit of This and That

     Usually, I write my blog on Sunday afternoon, but it didn't happen yesterday. We generally play pickleball at this time each Monday, but this morning we have a video appointment with the VA and are waiting for the call. Overnight, we had a light snowfall and our first killing frost, so I'm enjoying some quiet time and glad that we don't have to go out in the cold. It's currently 27˚.

First Snowfall of the Season

    A week ago today, I had YAG laser treatment on my right eye.  Here's an explanation of the diagnosis:

After cataract surgery, vision may become cloudy again due to posterior capsule opacification (PCO), also known as a "secondary cataract." [Quoted from the Internet]

     The procedure is painless and only takes five minutes; however, the pupil is dilated beforehand to facilitate the laser treatment. I have had to put in drops four times a day for a week. On Tuesday, I had the same procedure for the other eye.

    Last Monday was going well after the laser treatment, when I had a catastrophe in the kitchen. I dropped a nearly full 32 oz. glass jar of maple syrup! What a mess! The glass shattered, and there were bits here and there. Let me be clear, the jar slipped from my hand. The eye treatment wasn't in any way responsible for the accident.

    Last Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Ray and I went for a short walk. Both days, the temperatures were in the 30s, but we were prepared. I enjoy these walks when there is no wind and it is sunny. Ray walks only partway with me and then heads home, while I jog for more distance and time, and then meet him at home.

    On Friday afternoon, I decided that most of the leaves had fallen from the tree in our front yard and began raking. When I had a large pile, Ray joined me in bagging them into two large trash bags.

Ready to Bag the Leaves

    I need to rant about one of the apps on my phone. I've spent several hours talking to someone because I haven't been able to sign in. I've followed instructions, such as deleting the app, then restoring it. There were other suggestions, too. I'm finally able to sign in, but it uses two-factor authentication and requires me to receive a text or call with a verification code. If I'm at Walmart and sign in to use the app, and it wants to send a code to my home phone, then it won't work. I've added my cell phone at some point, but it isn't showing up. I will have to call them again to see how to update the app with my cell phone number. This app is connected to our health insurance, and I use it to scan items that are eligible for purchase at no cost to us. I could have been cleaning the bathroom or baking pumpkin bread during the time it took to talk to the technical crew. Modern technology is excellent, but it can also be frustrating at times.

    While I was talking on the phone, Ray was watching the IU-Penn State Football game. I could hear the noise but didn't know what was happening. I've learned since that IU's Mendoza threw an unbelievable pass and the receiver made an unbelievable catch at the last minute to give IU the win in Happy Valley, 27-24.

    The Colts were in Berlin and played the Atlanta Hawks yesterday. We recorded the game, which began at 9:30 a.m., and watched it after coming home from church and making a brief stop at Kroger. Unfortunately, I had to leave for a women's meeting at church in mid-afternoon and didn't get to see the end. I learned later that the Colts won in OT, 31-25, with Jonathan Taylor, a star running back, being the hero of the day.

    Until next time, may all the leaves in your yard blow away, and may snowflakes melt quickly if they fall in your yard.

Halloween in Greenwood

     It's the first week of November, but I have a few photos of Halloween decorations that I'd like to share with you today. I've noticed a growing trend of Halloween displays featuring skeletons of all sizes. I've shared some photos in recent posts, and here are a few more.

What are they cooking?

Welcome to the aliens!

The cast of the Wizard of Oz

The carnival side show sawing someone in half,
cotton candy for sale, levitation, etc.

SANTA LEAVE OCTOBER ALONE OR
THE ELF GETS IT

Pillow Fight at the Sleep-in

Our mantel this month features
the newest gnome in my collection

    

    We've watched several streaming "Movies for Grownups" sponsored by AARP. Some of them have been documentaries, but last week we watched a movie about a Chickasaw woman. 

'Te Ata is based on the inspiring, true story of Mary Thompson Fisher, a woman who traversed cultural barriers to become one of the greatest Native American performers of all time." [Quoted from the Internet]

    She was famous in the 1930s, performing in the White House and in several European cities. She was a remarkable woman! This Wikipedia article provides an overview of her accomplishments. Since the movie is available on several platforms, you can search for it if you would like to watch it.

    On the sports scene, the Pacers are off to a 1-5 start early in the 2025-26 season. They are adjusting to the loss of their star Tyrese Halliburton. Indiana University is 9-0 after defeating Maryland yesterday. The Colts didn't fare well in their meeting in Pittsburgh today. They lost 20-27 and didn't seem like the team we've seen in the past few games. Pittsburgh's defensive play was instrumental in the loss. The Colts are now 7-2 for the season.

    Until next time, may you be inspired by the story of Te Ata, and may you have an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful colors of fall.

We Turned on the Furnace

    After a prolonged fall of warm weather, I noticed the house temperature was in the low 60s last Wednesday morning and turned on the furnace for the first time this fall. I can't recall when we turned it on in previous years, but it didn't take long to warm up. The next morning, we had a light frost on the rooftops and lawns, but it was not cold enough to kill any plants. The official 32˚ marked the end of the growing season, according to the weather reporter. 

    Yesterday, Ray and I drove to the north side of Indianapolis to Noblesville, IN, to visit the Russell Farms Pumpkin Patch, about an hour away. Thrivent Financial sponsored the event; we paid $2.50 each and roamed the many acres. Families not affiliated with Thrivent may have been there too. There were hundreds of people roaming and participating in all the activities, especially families with children and youth. We went on a hayride and then walked through a small corn maze, where we found all three hidden boxes with seeds. The prize was a Dum-Dum lollipop! Besides what we did, guests were playing mini golf, kids were sliding down a giant slide, jumping on a large mat, and many enjoyed seeing animals up close, including a small petting zoo. Russel Farms is a busy place with something for everyone. The temperatures were in the high 50s, with overcast skies, but I'm glad we had a chance to visit. 

After entering the gate, we were 
greeted by a large pumpkin.

Inside the country store with candles,
fudge, t-shirts, etc. for sale

We took advantage of this photo op, one
of many throughout the farm.

Two little girls screamed in joy as
this wheel was spun around and around!

Path to the corn maze

We found all three seeds:
Soybeans, Oats, and Black Sunflower

    We participated in a service project and enjoyed cider, a hot dog, and chips while coloring cards for children in the hospital. We colored two cards, noticing that this was a favorite project for many of the children, using felt pens.

                 

    IU football continues its impressive season, defeating UCLA 56-6, and is ranked #2 in the country with an 8-0 record. This afternoon, the Colts dominated the Tennessee Titans, winning 38-14, and are now 6-1 on the season. Another Hoosier team in the spotlight is the Purdue men's basketball team, ranked #1 in the preseason. 

    Until next time, when I'll post some more Halloween photos, may you enjoy the trick-or-treaters on Friday, and may you find a fun corn maze if you are so inclined.

It's Fall, Y'all

     We had rain overnight, which was welcome after a long dry spell. The cold front brought lower temperatures, too. After several weeks of warmer-than-usual temperatures, but cool overnights, we have noticed the leaves are changing color, a sure sign that fall is here. Yesterday, we were wearing shorts and short sleeves as we celebrated three birthdays, but today it is definitely sweater weather.

Singing Happy Birthday to
Ray, Dustin, and Samantha

    Dustin's birthday was earlier this month, but he was visiting Gatlinburg and didn't celebrate then. Ray and Samantha, Dustin's first cousin, share the 17th for their birthdays. Dustin's friend, Josh, made three cakes--one for each. It's hard to see in this photo, but Dustin was celebrating his 30th.

    I had a busy week, helping with the annual ingathering for Lutheran World Relief. My church hosts the site where churches from southern and central Indiana bring their donations of quilts and various kits. We had 25 different churches bring 670 boxes, which were loaded onto the truck for their eventual destination in St. Paul, Minnesota, with two stops in Missouri. Throughout the week, we had sixteen volunteers helping throughout the week. Here's an idea of what 496 boxes looks like.

Twelve of our outstanding volunteers

    About two weeks ago, I had a text from a fellow pickleball player, congratulating me on my photo in a local community magazine. After that, I've had several other people mention that they saw the same article. 

    I won't reprint the entire article, except for the two paragraphs where I'm mentioned. I'm actually one year older than the 86 reported in the article.

The Indiana State Games at the 2025 National Senior Games had several participants from Johnson County -- Ruth Everson (86) and Janet (61) and Leja Simpson from Greenwood, Joe Shumaker (4) from Franklin, and Thomas Marcotte (77) from Nineveh.

Competing against women in her division of 85-89, Everson won Gold in the 5K Run, 10K Run and 5K Power Walk. Janet Simpson placed 7th in Women's 60-64 in a very competitive Bowling Singles competition. The Indiana State Games is open to any 50-plus Indiana resident. 

    On the sporting front, Indiana teams are still in the news, with Indiana University, ranked #3 in the nation, defeating Michigan State 38-13, and is 7-0 for the season. This afternoon, the Colts played the Chargers in San Diego and came away with a big win, 38-24, and are 6-1 for the season.

    Until next time, may the leaves turn a bright red or orange, and may you find the perfect pumpkin for making a jack-o-lantern.

The Invaders are Demolished

     A week later, all the yellow jackets have been wiped out. Late last Monday afternoon, the pest control technician came and sprayed a non-repellent outside where the wasps were coming in and out. It was behind a gutter. He explained that repellants from Lowe's or Home Depot won't accomplish the job. The yellow jackets carry the non-repellent into the nest. When wasps encounter the residue from the spray, they contaminate the other members of the colony, eventually causing the queen to die too. There was a setback because the overnight rain washed off the non-repellent spray, even though we're in a light drought and welcomed rain; it was unfortunate that it rained. The yellow jackets were still flying in and out of their nest when I checked a few days later. On Friday, the technician returned and treated the area again. Since then, I haven't seen any flying around. 

    If you recall from last year and last week, I posted a photo from a nearby neighborhood that has skeletons doing various things. The display is changed daily, and last week I posted the first one I saw this year. Here are two more:

The supervisor instructs his helpers carrying 2x4s

Gender Reveal: Will it be a boy or a girl?

    On the sporting scene, we watched the fifth game in the Cubs vs Brewers series yesterday evening. Unfortunately, the Cubs lost 3-1 in the National League Division Series. The Brewers are heading to the National League Championship Series, and if they win that, they'll play in the World Series.

    Yesterday, we watched IU defeat Oregon in Eugene. It was an epic game with IU scoring 30 to the Ducks' 20.  Earlier in the week, I was amused when I saw the IU Graveyard and took this picture.

Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, Indiana State, Illinois, Iowa

    On our way home from church this morning, I was able to get a photo of the latest team to be interred in the IU Graveyard:

Who will be the next team in the graveyard?

    The Colts played the Arizona Cardinals at home this afternoon. The former Colts quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, played today since the Cardinals' regular quarterback was injured. The Colts eked out a 31-27 win and are 5-1 for the season.

    In a few weeks, I hope to get some photos of fall colors. Most trees are still green, but I've noticed a tinge of color on some, probably caused by the low morning temperatures.

    Until next time, may you enjoy blue skies, and may your favorite teams play well.

We've Been Invaded

     On Friday afternoon, I noticed something flying in our living area and asked, "What is that?" It was rather large for a housefly. Not much later, I glanced into our sunroom and realized there were more flying insects. 

    Dozens were flying around in the room. We opened the door to the patio, and some escaped, but Ray got busy with a fly swatter, and we eventually were free from what I believe are yellow jackets. One of the dark spots on the ceiling is the hole where they entered, and I covered it with tape, thinking there would be no more wasps.

    Yesterday afternoon, when the sunroom was sunny and bright, I realized we had more yellow jackets flying around. I also noticed another hole in the ceiling, as shown in this photo. I put up another piece of tape. It was late in the afternoon, and all the pest control companies were closed for the weekend. I did leave a message for one, and didn't think I would hear anything until Monday. This company sent a text saying he understood the problem but was unable to help until late in October. He suggested I try other companies, which I'll have to do tomorrow when they are open again.

Two entrance holes and one wasp under the tape.

    Over the past week, I've been taking photos of some of the Halloween and fall decorations in the neighborhood, thinking that would be all I had to write about. 

Can you see the black cat?

The entrance to our subdivision

Skeletens Producing a TV Show:
"Cooking with Bones" S1 E1

    Now, an update on the sporting scene. We didn't watch the game due to the late West Coast start, but when our clock radio sounded on Wednesday morning, one of the first things I heard was that the Fever had lost game five in overtime to the Las Vegas Aces, who advance to the championship series. 

    The Chicago Cubs won their wild-card playoff series against Las Vegas and are now playing the Milwaukee Brewers in a five-game series. We watched the first game yesterday, and Milwaukee was on the offensive, winning 9-3. The Cubs' three runs were all home runs. Milwaukee scored most of its runs in the first inning.

    This afternoon, the Colts defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 40-6. In one of the last series, Daniel Jones, the regular quarterback, was on the bench, and Anthony Richardson played. Richardson lost the starting quarterback position to Jones during training camp this fall. 

    After the game, it was time to go to a park in Indianapolis, where church members were meeting for a hayride and a weiner roast with s'mores, too. The park was only 35 minutes away, but when we arrived home at 8 p.m., it was already dark, a sure sign that daylight hours had diminished over the last month.

Ray and I are on the left (I am wearing a cap with orange pants)

    Until next time, may you enjoy the colors of fall and spot pumpkins, may you enjoy a s'more, and may you be free from pests invading your home.