IT'S MY PARTY...

Christmas carols

 are playing in the background...

Hallmark Christmas movies

 are showing on the TV.  

By the looks of the 

dining room table, 

covered in paints and brushes,

 you would think that

 Grandma Moses was in attendance...

the only thing missing 

are chestnuts roasting 

on an open fire.

The "lights" of my life 

are again lighting up my life 

with the gift of these 

beautiful festive bottles 

which are entwined with 

the tiniest of lights.

  What a thoughtful and pretty addition 

to the party, 

now and always.

Some pretty "extras" 

that caught my fancy 

on the annual Home Goods trip.

What is the party? you ask...

Well, it's my birthday party and 

I'll cry if I want to...

but after surviving 80 years,

 I would say that 

I have a lot to be happy about. 

 Some hard tears

 have been shed along the journey, 

that is a fact, 

but the present looks bright and 

my eyes are focused on 

the future which, for now,

 is Christmas.

I am so dang excited 

about all the beauty 

that is to come.  

Having my family here 

for Thanksgiving is

 a large part of 

that joy.

Age is only a number

 but, 

I won't lie and say 

this particular number

 would be at the 

top of my list 

but,

 even though you've heard it before,

 repeat after me...

"It's better than the alternative".

So 

here's to my party and 

to all my friends 

that have joined in...

...I won't be crying,

 thank you,

 but - 

maybe chestnuts roasting

 on an open fire 

would be 

a bit much!

Have a great week.

...Judy...

Nobody

 will be crying 

the next time the power goes out...

We are prepared!

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ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD...

I can't tell you 
how good it is 
to be normal again.
  For a few days now 
we have had our power on and 
no calls from PG&E.

 Life feels right again.

It is a jarring reminder 
that there is always 
light at the end of the tunnel 
if we will only allow ourselves 
the luxury of patience.

 It isn't always 
an easy thing to do and 
there are so many
 different degrees of circumstances 
but, in the end,
 we can only hope 
that it will make us stronger and wiser - 
and better prepare us 
for the next round of life.

This is a tree 
that came down 
across from a neighbor's house, 
almost hitting it. 
I was just letting Robin out 
and I heard the crack and 
then the loud thud.

 A very scary sound.

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween. 
 We had lots of
 polite, sweet and cute children
 knocking at our door. 
 It seems a good time 
was had by all and
 a few pieces of good candy 
left over for snacking!

When the lights came back on,
 I had the cutest Santa 
in my possession.

 How did that happen? 
 No matter,
 he was at Rite Aid for half price and 
he just makes me smile. 
 Don't you just love the "sales"
 that happen before 
the event even gets here?

We took a ride 
around our town and neighboring Nevada City 
and saw some pretty fall colors and 
I just wanted to share them with you.

Have a great week.

Just heard 
the kids are coming 
to the Cottage for Thanksgiving.
 I can't wait and 
just playing around
 with table settings.


...Judy...

I'm pretty sure 
these ARE the last of the zinnias.
 There still are a few more buds and
 I haven't cut them back yet. 
We have had two frosts so far and 
yet they still survive.

A life lesson 
to be learned here
 somewhere.



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WHERE WOULD YOU BE WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT?...

Today is 

October 28, Monday, at 8:39 PM.

We just got back on power

 as of 2:30 this afternoon 

since Saturday night. 

 We just received another call 

from PG&E

 stating that we would probably

 lose power sometime during the night

 and could be off 

another 48 hours. 

If you don't hear from me 

within the next few days, 

just know that I will be back

 when I can! 

 Now, 

have a wonderful week and a

 Happy Halloween..

xxoJ

Yesterday,

 we did get to Auburn and Target and 

I found the cutest pumpkin plates and

 yes,

 my make up was askew.

 It is hard to see 

with the lights off! 

(As you read down 

you will see the meaning of this).

This is our street.

This is our street in 

full autumn dress.

This is our street's corner 

where the Cottage sits.

All of this

 is what we see 

in the full light of a beautiful fall day.

  But, at 3:28 PM sharp,

 on last Wednesday 

all of that changed - again. 

 Our power was shut off.

First,

 we heard it would be off sometime Tuesday,

 then sometime Wednesday. 

 All you get on the message 

that they tell you on the telephone is 

that you need to go online

 to find out more..

then all you hear online is: 

 "We have, or we may, 

shut off your power". 

 Very informative!

I have certainly found out

 a little something about myself though.

  It seems that when 

all the amenities are restored and

 in working order, 

I am happy to just sit and 

let it happen, 

but when all those distractions 

are taken away, 

the only thing I want to do is

 to be up and doing, 

so that's what we did.

 We moved furniture around 

in the dining room.

We switched places

 with the settle bench and

 the large cupboard.

We had to take everything

 out of the cupboard 

as it is really heavy.

  That made for a good opportunity 

to dust, clean and rearrange.

I put all of the white dishes

 on one shelf and

 all of the blue and white 

on another.

 It seems that I have 

a dish fetish. 

 I have so many "theme" dishes 

that I never have a chance to use 

so now I have freed up a shelf

 for displaying more of those. 

 This is as far as I've gotten 

in putting this room back together 

but - hey - 

there will always be 

another day and time - 

that we are sure of now!

The next morning 

we got in the car and 

drove to Hobby Lobby and 

then to Jack's for a turkey sandwich. 

 (The Captain deserves something 

out of all this). 

 I picked up a few Christmas items 

but no dishes this time.

 This therapy works out really well. 

 It is better to spend 

a little money 

then to sit and fume

 over something that can't be changed.

  At least this time 

there was some windy weather.

  

Our power was back on 

when we returned home. 

 Only 23 hours this time.

I didn't paint

 any new Santas this week

 but in order to keep you from withdrawals,

 I did change that blue one

 that I painted before 

to red. 

 I just couldn't leave it alone.

As I write this today, 

we are expecting another shut down 

sometime this early evening 

so if you happen to see 

a candle in a window somewhere and 

a crazed lady, 

with make-up askew, 

standing in front of the dish isle

at Home Goods 

don't be alarmed.

 It's only an experiment in therapy.

...Judy...

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THE STRANGER...

Hi Everybody: 

Just was notified 

that we may lose power again tomorrow 

so am putting out my post now, 

while I can.

Enjoy!

I know I said 
the Cottage Witch
 would not be joining us
 this October month 
but in light (no pun intended) 
of the stranger that was 
found in our midst,
 her expertise could not be avoided.

 I will let her 
tell you the story 
in her own words...

THE STRANGER

Once upon a time

On a cold October eve

A stranger came

Asking at the door

The hour was late
No one yet knew their fate
Still the stranger kept
Asking for more

The lights had turned dark
Everything looked the same
Only a sliver of path
Could be seen

It was down this small path
That the stranger advanced
Like a moth being
Led to a flame

As he knocked on the glass
It was obviously clear
What he wanted
Was something to eat

He kept touching his mouth
And the ones from inside
Were left wondering if 
They were his treat

The stranger moved on
No one knew where he went
Or why our Cottage 
Was picked

In years to come
When the question is asked
The answer might be
You were tricked!


The Cottage Witch



Has this stranger 
ever come to your town?

 I had never seen
his likes around here before.

  Is he a praying mantis, 
do you think?
  
The Cottage Witch is smart, 
but she doesn't know everything. 
(but you never heard that from me)

On a lighter note, 
I did paint yet another Santa. 
What's with the flag you ask,
 you will find out 
at Christmas.

...Judy...



P.S.
  
The Cottage Witch is smart after all.

 She just googled our stranger and 
it is, indeed, a praying mantis.

 It is sometimes called 
a spiritual insect and 
holds a meaning of peace.

 The Chinese say
 that if one is found in your home
 the angels are watching over you. 
That sounds good to me, 
just so they watch
 from afar.

Yes, Virginia,
it is safe to
 open the door now.



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