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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A GIFT THAT KEPT ON GIVING...

Tami and Tim 

always give such great gifts and

 what they picked out

 for our anniversary last week 

was no exception.

 On Tuesday afternoon,

 just after I had put out my blog post,

 a box appeared,

 as if by magic,

 on our front porch.  

(You've got to love Amazon too!) 

There were six of these 

beautiful solar lacy globes inside. 

 We took them out

 to the screened porch and

 put them together, and 

as we were walking back through 

the darkened bedroom 

we saw this...

Such beautiful 

shapes and lights 

being thrown around the room. 

 We were excited 

to place them out

 to absorb more sunlight and 

could hardly wait 

until it got dark.

When night came, 

they looked so pretty 

lined up along the front walkway.  

When it was time for bed

 we debated whether to leave them 

outside all night 

as we have had other pretties stolen 

from the yard in the past. 

 We decided

 to turn them off and 

put them up 

on the porch.

At a little after 3:00 AM 

I was awakened by the smoke detectors

 that always let off a beep 

when the power goes off.

  

Sure enough,

 we were a part of the 

"Great PG&E Shut-off" 

in case of bad weather. 

 Our power was off 

for approximately sixty-two hours - 

and not a sign of bad weather 

anywhere around us.  

Most businesses were out and 

are up in arms 

because of the money they lost 

for no apparent reason.

I'm just guessing

 a better plan will be made

 for the next time, and 

we are told,

 there will be

 a next time.

Anyway, 

in came the pretty lanterns and,

 at least, 

we had some illumination until bedtime.

  A beautiful and thoughtful gift

 that came at a time 

when it was most needed.

Thank you, Tami and Tim, 

they are so pretty 

and much appreciated.

Once the power came back on,

 I was in the mood for 

some light decorating and 

put together a small table setting 

of thanks and gratefulness.

I did get one more Santa done. 

 I think he is quite

 the pretty fellow.

"My kingdom 

for a spot of sun"

No matter how uncomfortable!

Now, 

I need to catch up on 

the news of the days, 

my favorite TV shows and 

all of you.

 Whoever said 

that you never miss things 

until you don't have them, 

knew what they 

were talking about.

You have been 

looking at some of the 

simple beauty that is fall

 around our garden.

May there be light and 

an abundance of 

greatfulness for everyone.

...Judy...

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