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| source Jerology (Giphy) |
Autumn! Autumn! How I love Autumn! And we had a great one in the Pacific Northwest. Sunny skies every day and warm temperatures. I had lots of fun being outside, going for walks and simply enjoying the changes of the season. Even though the rains came in November, October was absolutely gorgeous!!
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| © Cleo @ Classical Carousel |
And in my pursuit of trying new and different experiences, I took a couple of dirt biking lessons and really loved it! The first instructor, in particular, was excellent and had us doing some coursework (riding through pylons), up and down hills and even let us go off track on a short trail ride. It's an expensive sport though so I can't see myself doing lots of it but my neighbour's son is pressing for a riding partner so, who knows! :-)
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| © Cleo @ Classical Carousel |
I'm still doing some construction work now and then, but the major renovation is basically complete, so I should start looking for something else. Should I go back to my usual bookkeeping work that is sedentary and uncreative or should look at something else? I'm wondering. And speaking of construction, I managed to cut the side/end of my finger off the other day while cutting drywall. Yuck! It finally stopped bleeding after about 30 minutes and then I went back to work but it was definitely not a fun experience. I will have to be more careful in the future!
And I can't remember if I shared this tidbit, but my DIY Tea Blends recipe from my Journey to the Garden food blog made UK Reader's Digest. It was exciting but now I have to get back to my much neglected blog!
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| © Cleo @ Journey to the Garden |
I've been thinking about next year's reading and am not feeling great about it. I'd like to use the excuse that I've been so busy, and I have, but when I do get time to read, I feel scattered. I start one book, get distracted by another, start that one, get distracted by another, start that, and on and on and on. Lately, I do feel satisfied that I seem to be getting some traction on The Age of Innocence for a Goodreads group read. Otherwise, I need to get going on Bleak House, New York, The Mysteries of Udolpho and The Four Loves.
And my plans for 2019? I haven't consolidated them yet but I do have some things flitting around in my mind, most of them books to complete or revisit. I do want to follow O's excellent example and finish The Faerie Queene. And I also have City of God and Plato's Republic to finish. My WEM Project has sort of gone by the wayside, so I want to refocus on that. I'm not sure about challenges yet as I've failed dismally this year on the ones I joined but hopefully I'll have my plans more formulated by the time I do my December post. Until then .......
i've done that finger thing; it kind of makes one stop and think... is that dirt bike thing on motorcycles or bicycles... i watch some of the totally amazing things young people do on mtb's and it's just mind-blowing... i actually hope you don't get into that, it looks dangerous... i've been riding around Longview every other day most of the year and have really enjoyed it... bike paths and back yard alleyways, trees, parks, water, ducks, ibises, other bicycle persons... plus doing some reading of bicycle adventures and tours; quite a few participants in that branch of the sport, now... anyway, look forward to whatever you post about in the future...
ReplyDeleteThe finger thing made me sick; I don't do well with blood. :-P
DeleteIt was on a motorcyle; I've never ridden a motorcyle before and didn't expect to like it but it was fun! I do love riding my bicycle too and you inspire me to get out and enjoy the weather on the sunny days we have. I'm often stuck inside nowadays getting caught up on paperwork. I'd much rather be outside!
Sounds like you are beginning to move to a new phase of life. More activity oriented and less book oriented.
ReplyDeleteHave fun :-)
I used to be both active and bookish but somehow I've lost momentum. I am busier but I have other things taking up my mental capacity, I guess that's it. But at least I have some more reading time lately and for that, I'm grateful!
DeleteAnd fun I plan to have!
What helps me when I enter the last weeks of the year and doubt if I have the energy to take on challenges:
ReplyDelete1. open a draft page or post on your blog (just for you)
2. write down the yearly challenges that come along that always tempt you at the last minute. Mine are: #Read Ireland (March), #Paris In July, shortlists ( Giller or Booker Prize), #RIPXIV (creepy reads before Halloween) and #NonFicNov. These are all things that pop up and stress me. I want to join but I'm unprepared.
3. Next I ask myself: what is the genre or project that I LOVE (..mine are reading plays, learning about poetry and reading #AWW Australian Women authors)doing? What are the yearly challenges that I usuallly feel like a chore (...Back to the Classics is mine...b/c I read so many classics already).
4. Now comes the hard part: You can post a challenge post or you can make one and keep it private. As you proceed if all goes well and you feel good about it..you can upload it to the blog. If the challenge isn't going anywhere you can just drop it from your private list and move on guilt free.
5. Lastly I try to limit myself to 3 BIG projects (Greek and Roman reads, Russian Lit or Reading England) and make a temporary reading list the the 'pop-up' challenges that I expect in the course of the year.
6. If the mood is right and life hasn't thrown me any curve balls I'm ready to participate stress free.
All in all if you just put a few ideas on paper....you're on the right path! I hope you find the right reading balance in 2019. Your blog as it is is a treasure of reference for me! Thanks for all the hard work over the years.
Thanks so much for all the advice, Nancy. I appreciate it and all the time you took to write it. I'll let you know what I decide. I'm getting busier again so my plans sadly will not be able to be as grandiose as I'd like but we'll see .....
DeleteCleo, I'll join you on your Age of Innocence. I'll check it out now.
ReplyDeleteWhere can I find the link?
DeleteIt's a private group and if you join, they expect participation. I have another group that I set up when Cirtnece and I were doing some reading together so I will send you an invite to that one and we can chat if you like. I seem to be the only one reading it in the other group anyway. The group is called Oh, The Places You'll Go! Sending an invite now and I'll set up the threads tomorrow.
DeleteLove your photos, especially the dogs! We're heading into summer here & I read on a neighbourhood FB page that a large red-bellied black snake was seen on a pathway between two streets just up the road from us where I usually walk.
ReplyDeleteThe only challenge I really made headway on this year was the Back to the Classics; actually I haven't done too badly with the TBR one but I don't think I'll finish it. I don't know what I'll do next year re reading. The challenge does help me as long as I have some room to play with book titles.
Writing has been my challenge this year - still reading quite a bit but I don't always get to blog about the books, which annoys me! Will check out your tea bag recipe - now tea is right up my alley!
Thanks, Carol! I read once that Australia has 135 different snakes and 133 of them are poisonous. Makes me shiver! Ah, I wish I had the time to write but now is not it. One day, again perhaps. Please let me know how you enjoy the tea!
DeleteP.s I commented on your food blog but it didn’t show up. I sometimes have trouble with Wordpress though. Will try again later. 🙂
ReplyDeleteRats! I'm having all sorts of problems with blogs lately, both Blogger and Wordpress. I'll check on my end and see what I can see. Thanks for letting me know!
DeleteHope your finger's mended! I managed to slice my arm the other day on an exceptionally sharp bit of loose metal on a computer table. It'll certainly scar, but I'm so clumsy I'm just thinking it's another one for the collection.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the Readers Digest! It's funny, I was just talking about the Readers Digest the other day.
Good luck with City of God and Republic. I hated reading them both, but I know Ruth enjoyed City of God so there's hope :)
And yes, the weather's been rather nice of late for us too - mild and spring-like. I gather we're in for another tough winter, though... :)
My finger still hurts like crazy if I bang it, but eventually it will get better. I can't wait! I do remember that you've said your clumsy. I always like to think that things get in our way, lol! ;-)
DeleteI haven't had much time to read lately but my car is acting up today so I might be home alot this weekend. A good time to take advantage of reading, right?
Good to see you commenting and so nice to talk! Hope you're enjoying the new blog. I just set up a self-hosted one so when I get things in order, I'll be moving over.
i was a car mechanic once... what's with your car?
DeleteWow, Mudpuddle! You've done so many things!
DeleteYou're going to laugh ........ some darling rodent(s) chewed through electrical wires causing it to go completely mental. It was showing every system was failing and wouldn't drive. However it's at the dealership and they should fix it tomorrow. If you have any advice about repelling rodents from cars though, I'm all ears! :-D
we have the same problem, living out in the country... we put traps baited with peanut butter(they love it) under the hood and on the front seat floor(that's where they usually get in). when you set the trap (the wooden ones work much better than the plastic ones), bend the hook that holds the retaining rod back just a little bit to make it more sensitive. but watch out for your fingers... also check behind the glove compartment to see if they made a nest there, if possible... depends on what sort of car you have... good luck!
DeleteThanks for the advice, Mudpuddle. I'll give it a try. I also have heard that mothballs might work and some sort of sour apple spray that I've never seen. Who'd have thought?!
Deletemaybe you've heard already, but: some car manufacturers, wanting to fit the "green" image, have made the insulation on the wiring out of soy products, so mice like that and hence... apparently Toyotas haven't done that yet: another good reason for buying older cars...
DeleteBig congrats on your Readers Digest appearance! It sounds like you're having a good autumn (except for the finger injury, ouch!!).
ReplyDeleteI don't have any definite reading plans for next year, either. Right now I'm very much living & reading "in the moment" with all its ups and downs. ;)
Thanks, Marian! The weather was so wonderful one couldn't help but feel happy! Reading in the moment is not optimum conditions, but I'll certainly take it over not reading at all. I hope both of us get some more traction for the coming year!
DeleteI gave up on City of God, but Plato's Republic was definitely worth finishing. I'll be interested to see what you make of either or both.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to take a look at your tea blends on the other blog!
I'm close to finishing the Back to the Classics challenge. I'm planning to read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by the end of the year (for "classic with a color in title").
I've come so far with City of God that I can't give up but I can't say that I'm enjoying it. The Republic, I'm looking forward to completing but it requires such mental energy. I need to take a week's vacation for that one!
DeleteYes, that would be great if you tried some of the tea blends! They're not only healthy but delicious!
I loved Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I've read it about three times and would love to again. Have fun with it!