onto November

What's safe these days? Are you back in the swing of life, or are you one toe in and the rest still out? Surely that's me -- nine toes are hardly even skirting the waters of normal life.

I have an appointment at my whoop-tee-do-for-my-Subaru dealer. Some factory recall issue that, I'm told, will take up to two hours to fix.

What's a person to do...

I leave the car at the Subaru shop and head out for a stroll.

If it is around 40F (4/5C) and windy, you need to bundle up. I did not do that. Walking through the wasteland that is Odana Road, home to most of Madison's west side car dealers, social security offices and other equally unattractive entities, I feel that bite of cold air. Had there been a cap shop, I would have gone in and purchased one. No cap shop. I walk bareheaded.

Eventually I come to a coffee shop. Such a dilemma! What warms you more, a continued brisk walk, or a cup of hot tea, but at an outside table? Those are your choices -- pick!

You may feel confident in your movements, in staying in the heated coffee shop on a comfy cushion chair. I don't. This week Sparrow's entire class has been told to stay home. They're being monitored for Covid because a classmate tested positive at the end of last week. I noted that in the entire Dane County (home to Madison), there are on the average only four infections in the age category 0 - 4 per day. So you think -- what are the chances that it will be in your kid's class! Ho hum. (Masks work: Sparrow so far is testing negative.)

I sit at my outdoor table warming my hands on the warm cup of tea, wishing still I had a cap, and then the sun comes out and I think  -- well now, this is okay! And just at that moment, the dealer calls to tell me the car is ready. I give up my spot in the sun and walk back to reclaim my Blue Moon.

The nice thing about traipsing about in the cold, soulless blocks of Odana Road in the morning? I have no guilt in spending the afternoon on the couch ruminating about the forthcoming holidays. Not many photos for you. No surprise there! My camera refused to be dazzled by my walking route. My Fitbit, on the other hand, was excited.

Photos from before the car project:

(Still missed that frost by a degree. But tonight, we'll get a deep freeze, which will, unfortunately, retire these blooms for good.)

(Inside, of course.)

(Autumn gold)

(Evening chat with Primrose!)

Happy November to all!

with love.