Week 43

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  Here we are in November--wow!  The new year will be here before we know it.  I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween.  We had a lot more treaters than last year which was to be expected and a joy to see but not quite as much as normal just yet.  Everyone had a fun night and the weather was perfect for it.  Now we're looking forward to what this new month will bring.  At least there is a nice holiday at the end and Justin will be home for a good week--Yay!

Until then, here are last week's pictures:

Day 298- Monday, 10/25/21

Yesterday's heavy rain and wind made most the fall leaves drop and the ground really wet.  Today the sun shines but looking down you can see that beautiful mess left behind from the storm.  That was outside and inside at work no messes allowed.  We're starting our testing of over 12 boxes full of samples so we need to keep it super organized.  This is just the first of what will continue for weeks.  Our goal is to finish before the new year.

Day 299- Tuesday, 10/26/21

Today in the mail Brandon's senior year class sweatshirt and a similar t-shirt showed up.  He loves the colors and the fuzzy warm inside.  I love that he has a new sweatshirt to wear instead of the same old one he's always in.  Also it's Halloween week so I'll be highlighting some of our decorations like this scull near the wine rack with a bottle that has a spooky label.

Day 300- Wednesday, 10/27/21

More fall goodness around.  It's cold out in the mornings so warm drinks are now a go-to thing which I avoid in the summer months because it's too hot even in the early hours.  The real reason I took this picture was to note the coaster that came from my new boss many years ago after one of her work trips to Bali.  I never removed the note she left on it because I wanted to remember where it came from and look where we are now--me managing her lab and her giving me the opportunity to continue my work after my long-term boss retired.  Full circle right there that was meant to be.  Back at home some more of my pumpkin collection that is not only for Halloween but will stay out through November as continued fall decorations heading into Thanksgiving.

Day 301- Thursday, 10/28/21

Can you smell them?  I baked apple-cinnamon fritters--a new recipe I've been wanting to try and today seemed like the perfect day for it.  Having the oven on to help warm the cold afternoon house and filling the stale air with a delightful fresh baked smell was just what I needed to destress from a couple days of tense school lockdowns due to false gun threats.  Seriously?  We so don't need this right now and thank goodness they were not real.  Getting outside for a good brisk walk to taking in some more fall color also helps clear the head and reset the soul.  Remember to always look up for a different perspective.  Love the contrast of the gold leaves against the blue sky and the lines the branches create.

Day 302- Friday, 10/29/21

We were greeted by a some fun/spooky fog just in time for us to head into the Halloween weekend.  It lingered on campus all morning giving off this cool/eerie feel.  The first picture is out the front of our building and the second is looking out our lab windows towards the back of the building.  Then back at home I find this on the loft floor, and I'm not sure if I should be impressed by Brandon's ambition to create something for his costume or if I should be concerned by what he's created--lol!

Day 303- Saturday, 10/30/21

Today we carved pumpkins and prepped the candy bowl among others things to get ready for Halloween.  Brandon had to work, but Tyler was able to join us for the fun and some dinner.  I also had to include a picture of our perfectly colored cat this season.  It looks like he's checking out the candy in the cauldron from the picture below. 🐱

Day 304- Sunday, 10/31/21

Happy Halloween!  Brandon was able to carve his pumpkin today.  I love that he picked a bumpy one with real character and free handed his design.  Then Bella got ready for the night ahead by sporting a bone necklace on her evening walk.  Two of the boys dressed up.  Brandon was so creepy walking around the house like this and also went out treating coming home with more candy than you can even imagine!  Justin got extra credit in his Zoology lab if showed up in an animal costume so here was his creation based on this character.  He called himself Sir Pack-HAM.  LOL!

Wait!--a couple more:

October's Family Photo 

and lit pumpkins

Taken after carving pumpkins.  Brandon had to work and Tyler needs to work tomorrow so I could only get 3 of us this month.  Curative is the current company Tyler is working for helping at Cal Expo to administer COVID testing.  It was a good move for him.  He makes way more than he did as an EMT, has a more regular secure schedule, no more long commute, and gets free lunches every shift plus paid holidays.  So happy for him.

Ok all done!  Hope to see you back next week.

 

Week 42

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  Well, we got the rain we've been asking for which is nice, but it was also a bit too much all at once. In some areas especially those with recent burn scars it created flooding and mudslides plus downed trees and a lot od car accidents. We just can't seem to win.  Hopefully, with this early start it means we'll have a good winter season with decent snow pack to get us back on track.  We got more rain in one day this week and we had in the entire past year! True to form we're in full on fall mode now as we approach the end of October.  Our weather always seems to flip that switch right around the week of Halloween.

Take a look at last week's picture to see how it all unfolded:

Day 291- Monday, 10/18/21

Looking out our side window I noticed that a low lying ground sprout from one of our trees that had this nice arched string of heart shaped leaves in various stages of turning color.  Then at work a bubble flaw on the front of this glass cat I recently got was bothering me so I was trying to figure out what to do about it when I discovered that the back side had this cute tail in the shape of heart.  Problem solved--I love it so much more facing tail out.

Day 292- Tuesday, 10/19/21

Speaking of cats, I'm super happy to have my morning critter friend back in good working condition and doing all the normal cat things he usually does.  It's just him and me in those early morning hours.  Later, I made some pumpkin bread for the masses.  I'll be sending some to Justin in a fall-themed care package, giving some to Tyler the next time he stops by, and enjoying some with Brandon as an after school snack.  John is not a fan, but that's ok because more for us ;0)

Day 293- Wednesday, 10/20/21

Wednesday at work I'm getting ready to swap my fall jacket out for my lab coat so I can get started on a huge sero-prevalence study involving 1200+ samples.  There are a lot of rain clouds outside so it's dark and moody here.  At home the sun was shining and Rusty found his sweet spot to soak it all up.  That shadow with those cute pointy ears is just too darling.

Day 294- Thursday, 10/21/21

We've had spotty rain on and off most of the week but not really enough to amount to anything significant just yet.  Apparently the big storm is coming soon.  This is perfect soup and sandwhich weather.  Grilled cheese and tomato is my favorite.

 Day 295- Friday, 10/22/21

Seems like over night all the neighborhood trees lining the street turned  a beautiful shade of yellow.  There have been hints of the color turn over the past couple weeks and now it's full on gorgeous.  Our Friday night movie was the new DUNE remake (part 1 anyway).  I saw the original in the movie theaters back in the day but only remember small visual details and not really the story line.  I might have to go back to watch and compare before seeing part 2 when it's released.  We watched at home on HBOmax while Tyler and Lupe saw it the theater.  Nice to have the option.

Day 296- Saturday, 10/23/21

Finally!  After his SAT and ACT test dates were cancelled 3 times each due to COVID this ACT test stuck so Brandon spent 1/2 his day taking a test.  Afterward we went out for lunch at In-N-Out.  Later back at home, John was planning on a motorcycle ride but decided that with the expected rain it was best to stay home, relax, and make some margaritas to go with our steak fajita dinner.  Wise choice as it got crazy out there real quick.

Day 297- Sunday, 10/24/21

Here we go breaking rainfall records today that were set back during goldrush times. The high winds and non-stop rain were the result of a "bomb cyclone" producing an atmospheric river that dumped a whole lot of rain in a short amount of time.  It was truly wet and wild--the perfect day to stay in, enjoy a nice big pancake breakfast, and hunker down for a nap while watching football.  

That's it!  We went out with a bang this week and we'll see you next week as we prepare to enter a new month.

Week 41

Welcome back and happy Tuesday!  There was all kinds of fall goodness happening last week as you will see. We're excited for this new season especially since it looks like it will bring that much needed rain. We have a nice string of systems lined up off the coast ready to head our way.  Bring it!

Until then, take a look at last week's pictures:

Day 284- Monday, 10/11/21

Our new pumpkins look great out by the front door.  I picked that multi-colored one and Brandon picked the bumpy one.  We also hung the giant spider that never made it out last year and are happy to have it back.

Day 285- Tuesday, 10/12/21

I am so glad this emerging adult is still a big kid at heart.  I usually buy these fun themed cereals this time of year but hadn't even thought of it until Brandon asked--it's the little things.  He's enjoying childish cereal while I'm ordering his senior portraits and graduation regalia.  Stay young at heart as long as you can kiddo. 

Day 286- Wednesday, 10/13/12

It was super windy all day making our pool a hot mess full of fall leaves and debris.  At least its also the perfect weather for a nice warm spaghetti dinner.

Day 287- Thursday, 10/14/21

I had to pulled out the winter clothes this morning and I'm feeling all those good fall vibes today at work.  Back at home it was cold enough for Rusty to want to snuggle.  He's off all his medications now and still doing well.  We're so happy he's back to normal but do still  need to be careful and watch for signs of future episodes.

Day 288- Friday, 10/15/21

TGIF!  John went to Costco today on a normal run and brought me back this wine advent calendar.   I told him to be on the look-out because I know they sell out quickly.  How fun for us!  Today I also noticed more and more fall color in the leaves.  The colder temps are helping make the change.  It was a beautiful, non-windy day and perfect for football homecoming.  I had to work the snack bar again so was happy it was nice out.

Day 289- Saturday, 10/16/21

Today we took some new friends to Bogle winery since they had never been and wanted to give it a try.  He works with John and and they ride bikes together on occasion so it was nice to hang out with him and his lovely wife on this perfect fall day.  In the evening, while watching some recorded shows, I tried out a new lit-up glass pumpkin I found at Bed, Bath & Beyond--love it!

Day 290- Sunday, 10/17/21

Yay for Sunday night dinner with the family.  We had chicken wings with salad and fries plus I made a warm fall dessert--apple crisp.  Great way to end the week.

That's it!  Thanks for stopping by.