Fall Rolls On

I took off work on Friday to take our car to the shop. It has been having some issues and they are getting worse. Turns out they can't be much worse and we have to decide on a replacement. Poor Frank - we have been together 10 years (longer than my husband!) and I was hoping for a couple more. Can I just say, I hate car shopping - especially used cars. I decided to get my walk in by dropping off the car and walking home. 

In the shade there was still a thick frost. I honestly didn't realized it was this cold. The weather was perfect for walking.

How nice for the sewer company to provide a big smile for my walk home. I have a tendency to personify everything.

This area was a whole neighborhood that was demolished to build the interstate. Every time I pass it, I can't help but wonder about the lives that were lived in the neighborhood. I would love to have that orange tree in my yard.

Looks like someone "lost" their activity band. Seeing that it didn't have a device in it, I imagine they just tossed it out their car window. I feel a little guilty about posting a picture here of some junk on the road that I didn't pick up. Unfortunately, I would have needed a rather large garbage bag to pick up all the trash I saw. I will never understand why people think the side of the road is their personal trash can.

Hardy little plants growing up in the crack of the road/shoulder. Maybe we need to all be like weeds - flourish in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

Gratuitous pictures of road markings :)

Saturday we headed out to the farm for lunch. This was my contriibution - Deviled or should I say Spidered Eggs. I am good with any excuse to add black olives. Truth is I made some yucky eyeballs too - green yolk, green olive and red streaks on the white. They were hideous.

It was a soggy day, but the farm was still beautiful. Actually I think there is something especially beautiful when the rain darkens all the tree trunks/branches and brings out the other colors.

 

Poor soggy Millie and Zommie were on the outside looking in.  I don't think Millie quite knew what to do with herself with her Arry friend gone. We eventually took pity on them and let them inside.

Lunch was followed by a raucous game of Monopoly. I don't think my niece was one bit impressed with her uncle's power posturing at the beginning of the game. I promise he was not preparing to punch her in the nose.

In the evening, we hung out at my sister's house to see the trick-or-treaters. It was there we spotted the cutest jack-o-lantern ever.  My niece made this outfit for her and baby - it fit her cute belly perfectly.

Our pups are currently at the farm on a little "vacation".  Our neighbor's dog died on Sunday, possibly of parvo. We wanted to get our dogs as far away as possible for a few days. My neighbor also has another dog who seems healthy, but I am watching it like a hawk (from a distance) for any signs of illness. I took off work yesterday to scrub the house. Since we helped bury the dog, I wanted to be sure to eliminate any germs we might have carried in. Our vet said our dogs should not be in danger because they are up-to-date on shots, they are in good shape and they didn't share a yard with the infected dog. In the meantime, Millie is happily gathering every stick in the farm's timber.

Last night my niece scheduled us for a Child/Infant CPR class. Her mother-in-law, mother (my sister) and aunt (me) are now all trained. I know it is going to look a bit like I was goofing off, but I promise I did take it seriously. I just had to get a couple of pictures for her baby book and you guys, of course :)

 

When we worked on the baby we had to put this plastic mask over its face for sanitary purposes. It felt very counterproductive to put plastic over its face to save it. My niece assured me that only applies to Walmart bags...that mama has lots to learn :)

While working on the babies we set aside the child/adult dummies. It was a little creepy seeing them propped under tables around the room.

 Grandma-to-be listening and looking for breath. Spoiler alert - the baby dummy was not breathing

I confess this move was very awkward. I am not the most coordinated and I might have hit the baby's head on the table trying to get it into position.

There were some very emotional moments for me throughout the evening. The class was full of mothers-to-be and their entourages. The hospital also plays a little tune over the speakers when a baby is born...we heard it twice during the three hour class. There is something very intense about learning how to save a baby when there was nothing you could have done to to save your own. At one point, I had to stop CPR on my baby dummy. Thankfully, I was able to catch my breath before I totally melted down. I hope to never have to use what we learned last night, but if it ever happens, I am definitely glad I didn't chicken out of the class.

We are in the midst of birthday week at our house. With everything that has been going on I am off to a slow start. I hope to get things amped up and let my husband know just how much I adore him and our life together. Do you have any special birthday traditions for your spouse?