For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Good morning everyone! Here I sit, with my cup of coffee, watching the morning wake up, and then I realize something. It is still dark. I cannot see anything out there. Except lights here and there in the darkness. Yes, it is early. I was up at 3:06 this morning. Why, you ask? Okay, it was me that asked, but I will tell you anyway. That is when I woke up.
I was worn out last night so I went to bed early. A little too early, at 8:20pm. That always guarantees that I will be up early too. Like this morning. But I was not the only one. One of the ladies that lives in the apartment next to mine was up at that time too and she went off to work at 3:45am.

This pic was taken on Sept. 22 last year, this year those 2 trees turned yellow and dropped their leaves before the end of August.
I also noticed how busy this street is at night, considering it is a residential street. It was also very foggy for a while, but that seems to be gone now. Hmm, I think Muffin wants my attention. Hmm, a crow just flew past my window, cawing as he went. I would not have known since it is still dark.
I am back again. Muffin was playful this morning. She chose her orange fuzzy ball to play with today. She was really running and jumping high after that thing. It is not a big ball, but Muffin prefers smaller toys so it is just perfect for her. She stopped playing so I sat down again. Now she is playing again. It is nice to see her still have so much energy at 12 years of age.

The yellow against the blue looks so nice.
I brought Muffin out onto the balcony with me and she sure enjoyed it out there. She went over to the edge and looked down, but she backed away quickly. That security netting would stop her from falling, which is good, otherwise I would not let her go out there. We will be going out there again this morning. I need to transfer some of my geraniums to smaller pots so I can bring them indoors for the winter.
This is a good time to do it while it is still warm. Less shock for them coming inside. And it is going to get cool beginning tomorrow. Might even get some frost this week if their forecast is correct. Considering their forecasts have not been doing so good lately, it probably will not get that cold. Which is fine by me. I am in no rush to get colder weather.

We mostly have yellow and gold leaves here, but we do get orange and red, like this tree, as well.
I am enjoying this abnormal warmth we are having right now. Our fall colors have not been so good this year, so I have picked out pics from other years to show for the next little while. The last really nice year we had for fall colors was in 2019. Unfortunately that was the fall I injured myself so I did not get as many pics as I would have liked.
But I am still happy with the ones I did get. The pics today are from the last couple of years. There are still trees full of green leaves, so some nice colors might show up yet. Hard to believe this is October, we had cooler weather than this in July. Just beautiful. I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
Β©2023 Steve McLeod.
Loved the dual-colored leaf at the top. Nice pic.
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Glad you liked it Sharon! Thank you! Have a great night!ππ»π€π€ππ
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Frost!
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Yep, it is possible, those temps are getting cool the next couple of days.π€ππ
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It’s staying warm this fall because I am still in the NOrth Country keeping it that way!πΉπ Sorry i’ve been away fir awhile. Between my friends death and my brothers illness I just don’t have the desire to make the trip back south. I want to be near to family this winter as I don’t know how long he has and would like to visit him as much as I can before he goes. My evenings are so full I can’t chat then anymore. But it seems my work day provide more time these days. So look to hear from me more often as the weather turns us all into Stevecicles!π₯Άπ₯Άπ₯Άπ§
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The warmth is leaving us now, a cold front is moving through already and tomorrow will only be around 55, and today it was over 80. Then colder weather the next couple days!
That makes sense, it will be a mild winter anyway. More fun to be closer to your family anyway.
Daytime is fine with me for chatting. I usually sign off early in the evening now anyway.πππ
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Okie Dokie!π I’ll be reading in the mornings π π
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Sounds great Dusty!π
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Good Night π΄ π₯± π π β¨οΈ Sleep Well π€
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Well sleep! Night good!π€π€
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π Nice one!π
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Thank you!π
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It is my pleasure!ππ How’s today going? Getting all settled in? Any of them cupcakes π§ I like so much left for me to have with my coffee βοΈ π€
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Sorry, no cupcakes since I moved here. Still have to figure out how to use the oven. It’s all push button, but everything has been worn off so I don’t know what buttons are for what. Sigh. I will try it one of these days because I would like to make some cupcakes again.π
Yep, getting settled in nicely. Getting the finishing touches done, like hanging pictures. Have to put drapes up too, they give a nice cozy feeling to a room. But I need help for that one, too high for me. Need to put up a drapery rod too, they do not supply that.
I’m in a lot of pain today, likely the change in weather and it is a big change, 82 yesterday and 52 today!ππ¬π
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Yes, you should get some assistance with the window coverings. You don’t need another fall!π«£ Well, as far as though cupcakes go, you need to start pushing buttons and get’em made! Cold weather is now here I’m afraidπ¨ It was quite a change in temps when I went to check the bird feeder this morning!π₯Ά
But we did have a very nice fall so far!
Does your building have someone who can assist with the window coverings?
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Yes, that cold weather has arrived, the next couple days for us are supposed to be in the 40s for a high and low 30s at night, so we could get frost, or even that white rain! They did say possible flurries this weekend.
Yep, I will be pushing buttons soon, I need some food!ππΉ
There are 2 caretakers here that will help with certain things if they are not busy with regular duties, however, putting up curtain rods is off the list since it is not “officially” something the building owners want.π Everyone has drapes and curtains though.π So I will have to get someone else to help. My pastor said he would.π
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That’s very nice of him!π How has your health been? Are feeling any better these days?
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This move was very hard on me, I have to admit that, just knocked me right down. So I can’t do much in a day right now, but it does seem to be getting better, slowly. A lot more pain lately too. The joys of getting somewhat older!ππ
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The weather had a similar effect on me yesterday, too! Went to bed early last night!
8 pm!!!π¬π₯±π³
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Yep, I have been going to bed between 8 and 8:30 nearly every night since moving! Hard to believe really.π¬ππ
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It’s good, though… unless you’re up in the middle of the night?ππ¬
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That is one problem, I am usually up by 4am, sometimes earlier!π
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Yuck! That makes for a long day and another early morning the next day! Tough to get back on schedule again too!
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Yes, that’s a problem, I have tried to get back on my normal schedule, but this has been going so long I just can’t do it. Sigh.π
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Well, try not to fight it to much. It will only make it worse. Eventually, you’ll get back to the usual time. I know that doesn’t help much, but with all the change recently it will get better again. Are you able to walk much during the day.
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Yeah, maybe this will just be my new normal! I do go for short walks most days. Not very exciting walking down a residential street, but I get some exercise and fresh air anyway. It’s raining today so I’m inside all day.
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That’s the important part moving and fresh air! Rainy days can be a bit depressing. There is some filtered sun down here in MN today. And windy! Are your neighbors friendly? Maybe you can find a chess ir checkers partner to spend some time with?
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I have met a few people, but it will take a bit of time to really get to know them. I am slow at that sort of thing. The guy across the hall is scary, he really shouldn’t be living on his own, he can’t look after himself, he gets confused and doesn’t know where he is. He could start a fire. He needs full time care in a nursing home. The caretakers here agree, but it’s the family that has to do something. Sad really that his family just neglect him like that.
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It is sad. But I’m sure it’s less expensive in an apartment than the nursing home… It seems it always comes down to money π₯Ί you’d better keep an eye on him. I guess that fire alarm drill is a good thing?π¬
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Yeah, the rent here would likely be about 25% the cost of a nursing home. He has tried a couple of times to get in my apartment, but I keep my door locked at all times.π¬
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With a chair under the door knob too!!π³
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On this slippery floor I don’t think it would help too much!π
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Just be careful.π¬
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I am, I am, I think.π€
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Ok then… just making sure!!π π
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Don’t say anything, but the other evening I forgot to lock my door after coming back from getting the mail!!π¬π¬π
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It’s a good thing Muffin is there to protect you!!πΎ I might need to send her an email telling her to remind you!!π€¨(chomp! Chomp!)πΉπΉ
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She does good enough with that already!ππ¬
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Someone has to! You seem to forget to remember!!π
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I do not, I always remember to forget!π€π
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Forget what?π€π€
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Exactly right!
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See? I knew you could remember!!π€£
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I forgot what I said.
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Me too…π€£π€£π€£ must’ve been very important!!π€
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That’s what I thought too.π€π
Think I will have to call it a night, I’m tired already. Good night Dusty!ππ€π€
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Good Night π΄ π₯± π π
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The power π just went out here about 1/2 an hour ago. The whole street both directions is dark.π¨π«£
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Cool, ours was out on Sunday from 6am to 2pm.π¬
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Oh, sure, more Canadian exports you’re sending us!!π€¨ππ
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We do like to share. And we didn’t think you would notice.
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Kinda hard to notice anything in the dark!!ππ€£
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You should turn a light on, that’s what I did.π
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Ha!π and HA haπ€π€
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What’s funny about that? I always have a light to turn on in emergencies like that.π
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I think that they should bring back the kerosene lamps like we had when I was a kid! They were really nice and gave off a nice glow! We used to turn out the lights on Christmas eve and light the lamps and have Christmas supper by lamp light. Ah… the good old day!!π
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They still sell them here since a lot of cottages do not have electricity out on the lake. But I use an electric lamp when the power is out.π
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It’s definitely safer! As long as the batteries are charged up. Is it an LED lamp? Those last a long time!
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Yep, it is and it’s supposed to last 12 hours on a charge, though I haven’t tested that part yet. Takes a long time to charge it though.
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Those are great! Plus, they’re bright π
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Yep, where I had it sitting, it gave light in every room.
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Well I suppose I’d better do a little work to earn my pay. I’ll try and chat some this evening. Have a great afternoon!π
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Sorry I left suddenly, Muffin wanted food, then the phone rang, then I remembered I hadn’t checked the mail so I went to do that. There was the usual lobby crew downstairs and a cat that made friends with me right away, then I came back and lay down for a while, then it was time for supper, then writing my story chapter, then I’m here. Whew!π
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And you get bored??π³ No wonder you get tired and go to bed at 8!!ππ
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Yeah, not much to do around here. Just kind of sit and look out the window and fall asleep.π
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Ha! And HA ha!ππ π
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Oooooo, I told a funny!π
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Don’t quit the day job yet!!π€π€
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Too late!ππ
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Uh oh!!π¬π€
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Whoa, Steve, I’m amazed. Such beautiful places and I see a lot of autumn colors ππ.
Thanks for sharing π
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Yes, that was a better year for fall colors than this year, although there are bits and pieces here and there this year too. Just have to be quick to get the pics this year!
Glad you enjoyed them Katherine! Have a great day!ππΊππββ
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Make sure to take in the scenery and enjoy it for yourself before taking the pics.
Thanks, you too! π€ππ
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Oh yes, I always like to enjoy it too, sometimes first, sometimes after the pics.
It is sometimes easy as a photographer to get carried away with the pic and miss the true beauty of the scenery.
Thanks Katherine!ππΊββπππ·
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