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Personal
The weather here in Florida finally dipped enough below 80 (with some mornings even falling into the 60s!) that I could break out my autumn carols playlist!
Earlier this month, I got to participate in a surprise party (I’d previously only ever seen them on TV) for my mom’s birthday. It was every bit as fun as it always looks. She was so surprised and teary-eyed to find that her family and friends had secretly driven a few hours to come and see her! It was a special moment.
Last week, my company had its annual fall festival. I invited my sister and her family, and we decided not to tell the kids (a two-year-old and an infant) that I would be there. My niece ran over and greeted me with a tight squeeze around the neck, head buried in my shoulder, for something like two minutes straight, only ending abruptly because a colleague with whom I needed to coordinate the costume contest came to find me. It was so heartwarming. My nephew, who can’t speak yet, gave me a puzzled look for a moment like he thought maybe he had seen me before (never outside of his house, I don’t think). After a few seconds, his mouth fell open in complete and utter shock (I guess because he put two and two together?) and then his face filled with absolute delight. The cuteness of it all was almost too much to handle.
Last week as the farmer’s market was closing up shop, we came across a little store called Bone Appetit (owner Sandy Doss) that sells homemade dog treats. She had one last bag, liver, and offered it to us. That bag turned out to be a major breakthrough for us! Our sweet, gentle girl, who has some trauma from before we met her, has never taken treats out of our hands or anyone else’s before, for 10 years. No matter how much she has wanted them, we have always had to set them down in front of her and then back away so she feels safe and comfortable. We told Sandy not to be offended because she would not take them from her hand. Sandy said, “I’ve never had a dog refuse treats out of my hand before.” And then our girl took one right out of her hand! We both gasped. She gave us the bag, and when we got home, we tried it for ourselves, and now she is taking them and all kinds of other treats right out of our hands, even licking up the crumbs. It has given us a new way to bond with our girl after all these years. I highly recommend Sandy’s liver treats! She doesn’t have a website, but you can find her at 904-571-5215 or DossSandy823@gmail.com. Here is her Facebook page, as well.
Had a blast at our first Halloween party this year! I’ll talk about our costumes next week, since we’re repeating them for the next party.
Found a list of unique grocery stores in the area I’ve got to explore to satiate my adventuresome palate!
Saw an amazing double rainbow (all the way across the sky!). Here it is, along with the view on the other side of the sky. (No filters here!)
And speaking of great skies, here’s the Harvest Moon from earlier this month. With these clouds and the tree, it reminded me of something out of a children’s story. Maybe Wynken, Blynken, and Nod?
Entertainment
I read Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot for the first time ever, after the second season of Castle Rock intrigued me with it last year. Now to determine which adaptation to watch first: this original film from 1979 which I’m sure will be delightfully bad and nostalgic, the Rob Lowe miniseries from 2004, or this new version starring Alfre Woodard and Bill Pullman’s son that just came out last year.
Finished watching Rome, an exceptionally well-written and -acted show with great characters I couldn’t help but develop some affection for despite them all being horrible people, and convinced my fiancé to start watching Gilmore Girls with me, as autumn was starting and it seemed like a good time! I think he’s enjoying it. I have a love/hate relationship with the show and plan to end our viewing either at the end of season three or just before the end of season four. After that, he can finish it on his own if he really wants to.
Discovered this organization that exists to preserve and and promote classical art and architecture. It whispers sweet somethings to my pre-modernist heart! On that same subject, I also learned some interesting facts about spolia architecture!
Fashion & Beauty
I found this striped rugby shirt from J. Crew that looks so cute tucked into a pair of shorts with either tennis shoes or boat shoes! Also loving these Baird McNutt Irish linen shirts, these 100% European linen pleated trousers from Quince, and eyeing this flannel ruffle skirt and Harrington ruffle shirt from Kiel James Patrick.
In the News
Was pleased to discover that I am already successfully avoiding almost the entire list of nine foods you couldn’t pay this cardiologist to eat, almost 100% of the time.
I always knew sleeping in a palace would be more soothing!
If you were tired of being ghosted by bad dates, try dealing with it from hiring managers.
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