An unwanted 'break'

My typically Teflon-coated immune system slipped up this week, big time. I came down with a bad cold, source unknown (unusual in itself; I'm usually "last man standing" among the germy), that got progressively worse through yesterday. I spent more time in bed Wednesday and Thursday than any able-bodied person should, but this morning I woke up feeling mostly normal, so I guess I'll live. (I think Jackson was worried!)

If you follow me on Instagram (button at right) you probably thought everything was normal from the photos I posted. It doesn't take much strength to push buttons on my iPhone and I mostly tried to keep up with my usual activities (until I couldn't), so I have lots of photos to share. I even started pecking away at fall sheep maintenance, but will do a separate post for that.

It's been unusually dry for October, so I've still been watering the garden. Checked for harvestable things the other day and ended up wishing I'd taken a bigger bowl! (Hmm; maybe I'll make a frittata for tonight's supper....) As I was closing the garden gate, I looked right to see the light shining through a curtain of fall maple leaves:

Feathers are flying and egg production is dropping; the soft gray feathers from molting blue Wyandottes are everywhere.

There was a "Showdown at the OK Corral" episode on the Chuckie Channel the other day. A fat gray tabby I didn't recognize was stalking our boy in the pasture. When he noticed me watching and taking pictures, he slunk off, but returned shortly for a closer confrontation. That time I chased the intruder away, not wanting Chuckie injured in a cat fight. Fortunately, I haven't seen the aggressive gray again, and Chuckie continues his charming ways.

Still wallowing in the wonderful light and fall colors.

That's our house, taken during an evening ride on the hill

Here's a cute photo (hummingbird tongue!) to caution you that I'm ending this post with a short rant (because, like I said, I do keep up with the news):

While most of the world reels from the horrific details recorded of a journalist's torture and assassination, Trump says he will wait to pass judgement until the assassins are done investigating themselves. (Why is no one reminding our citizens that 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis?!?) Then on Thursday at a rally in Montana, he praised the congressman who attacked a journalist last year, saying "Never wrestle him. Never. Any guy that can do a body slam, he’s my kind of, he’s my guy. We endorsed Greg really early, but I heard that he had body slammed a reporter. And he was way up, and I said, ‘Oh, this is terrible, he’s going to lose the election.’ But then I said, ‘Well wait a minute, I know Montana pretty well, I think it might help him,’ and it did … He’s a great guy and a tough cookie.” Trump has been hard at work throughout his campaign and presidency to TEAR DOWN our first amendment (among a great many other things), over and over and over again. As Dan Rather posted on FB this morning: "Pres. Trump's celebration of a congressman who assaulted a journalist is disgusting. The rapturous cheers from the crowd are deeply disturbing. The silence from GOP officials is the sound of cowardice. This has not, must not, will not be my America.

A free and independent press must be part of #WhatUnitesUs"

That's it for today from . . .

Fan Fest / Feline Fest

We had a fun time with friends at the Trail Blazers Fan Fest Sunday night. This is a free opportunity to see ALL the Blazers on the court, even the rookies, because they divide into two teams and play themselves. And of course I took a spindle – my 'fidget spinner' – to make good use of the downtimes.

Love that dad is covering her tender ear

Even though Chuckie apparently wasn't within the sound of my voice Sunday night, he was johnny-on-the-spot Monday morning
. . . and Monday afternoon . . . and Monday night . . . and this morning. I haven't filled our black oil sunflower seed feeder because he's coming to the deck so often!

Proving that cats are cats are cats, here are photos of the beautiful barn cat at the stable where I gave a riding lesson Monday in the same poses Chuckie struck in the last two photos above:

The clouds were putting on a rapidly changing show this morning,

and my big Japanese maple is just beginning its 'slow burn':

Later, I caught this stunner outside my dentist's office:

Don't you just love autumn? 😊

Chuck E. say Cheese

We have a new resident in the tackroom, who we hope will be a new resident in the barn and vicinity eventually. Meet Chuckie!

He is infested with fleas, tapeworms, and testicles, but Rick has promised to eliminate of all of the above ASAP. Chuckie has been hanging around the house of some friends in a nearby town for the last couple months, begging for attention. They knew we lost Oreo, so asked us if we'd be interested in him. Rick brought him home tonight.

For now Chuckie is ensconced in our tackroom with litterbox, food, water, and a soft saddle blanket on top of a bin of sheep suits. We'll spend as much time loving on him as we can, in hopes that once he is free from his infestations and allowed out of the tackroom, he'll stick around. Oreo did; a second tuxedo cat Rick and Brian brought home did not. He's young, around six months old, and very, very friendly. It could be a long and mutually beneficial relationship!

 That's it for now from . . .

Creature comforts

Dozer, doing his resting tree frog impersonation:

Myrtle, the violin teacher's in-house music critic:

Bear, the man-child's cherished companion for over 15 years now:

(Sshhhh; don't tell him I told you!)

That's it for now from . . .