It might be the changing seasons, cooler weather, longer evenings... it could be because it's birthday month for me... or it could just be the activities the month usually brings... but I like fall, especially October.
The first weekend in October was our annual Church Camping. We are blessed to have a very nice facility we can rent.
We always have 5 star meals, IMO.
And this year a bubble tea shop by the youth was a fun new feature.
Teamwork challenges are a highlight...
Jeremy's game, Cards Christians Like, was popular this year...
I found out who my puzzle peeps are! There was rain in the forecast for the weekend so I brought a puzzle for Saturday entertainment, however it was 2/3 finished Friday night already.
We had an epic campfire this year!
I donated blood the Monday after church camping. I've decided that was my last time. Apparently, the needle moved against the side of the vein, which acted like a stopper in a drain. Rotating the needle had the effect of unstopping the drain -and whoosh! Losing blood that rapidly left me feeling horrible. Like just let me die kind of horrible. Uh oh, I think I'm going to vomit kind of horrible. It felt like "forever" till I felt well enough to sit back up. I've had too many bad experiences. Time to admit I'm not young anymore and I don't feel fabulous afterwards, like I used to.
The 2nd weekend in October was our son's anniversary so we got to babysit our favorite little people while they went on a little getaway.
Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like
shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. -Phyllis Diller 
Besides making glorious messes, we played with Play Dough...
And had a tea party (in the basement, so spills wouldn't matter)...
Uncle JJ's motorcycle helmet is fun! Even if it makes you top heavy.
The following week I went to PA to help my mom with fall cleaning. I didn't take any photos. Flew through a rain storm on the way home; in a small commuter plane that meant bobbing around like a cork in a waterfalls and took twice as long as usual. I'm pretty sure my stomach was in my throat a couple times when we went scootching around in the clouds. 🤮 I normally love flying but this was rather a Tigger-ish experience.
He said firmly: "Tiggers don't like haycorns."
"But you said they liked everything except honey," said Pooh.
"Everything except honey and haycorns," explained Tigger.
Meanwhile, Jeremy flew to SC and got to drive around a race track, testing out tires. It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it! 😃
When the weather is just the right amount of cool, and the leaves are at their peak of showing off, I highly recommend biking on a trail. Invigorating!
I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. -LM Montgomery
What did I do for my birthday you ask? I had a delightful homemade brunch with a friend and worked on a puzzle (not pictured) with her...
Then Richard went grocery shopping with me (something we haven't done in "ages"), followed by going out to eat with the family. When one restaurant has better seafood...
And another has better dessert... You do BOTH!
Colton picked out a crazy cat card for me, which makes me laugh every time I see it.
And Jeremy got me the coolest lighthouse, with a working light. The keeper's quarters has amazing detail, right down to a Lego tea pot. 😍 I think he's got multiple birthdays covered with this one!
7 Rules to be Happy & Successful as You Age
1. Your 20s are mostly practice — they almost don’t count.
2. Your 30s are when you figure out who you’re going to be.
3. You don’t pick up speed until your 40s.
4. You don’t gain real momentum until your 50s.
5. You likely won’t have made your most significant, make-a-difference in the world achievements until your 60s.
6. In your 70s, you’re reinventing yourself.
7. You therefore cannot possibly be old until you’re well into your 80s. And even then, it’s iffy.
Our school has a benefit auction every October. It's always a good day for me- because it means I have money to pay the teachers. Of course, working at an auction is one of my very favorite things to do, so there's that too. This is pre-auction; I don't have any good pictures because I'm too busy during the auction to worry about photography.
One of my brothers brought my parents out for the weekend. They got here in time for the auction Friday evening. On Saturday we did some sightseeing, crossing off a bucket list item for my mom. You can read her full history version here.
We saw the Betty Zane monument and cemetery where she is buried.
We also went to the site of McColloch's Leap but the monument is currently removed for refurbishing. You can still get the idea of what a daring feat it was by peering over the edge of the hill.
On the same hill is an abandoned shell of a castle. Some folks feel the graffiti makes it a great work of art, others feel it is desecrating a historical site. I was there for the view, my artist SIL for the "art".
This past weekend was our biennial Miller "Camping". The siblings take turns being in charge; this year it was our turn. We really like this large 13 bedroom AirBnB.
And the pinata, too.
The patriarch of the clan turned 82 on Sunday so we had to do something to recognize the occasion.
The Miller offspring, in order of age.
Ruth, Marion, Wilma, Richard, Cindy, Wanda, Rita, Michael
Richard's parents with most of their grandchildren & great-grandchildren.
(I'm so pleased all but 1 made it for the weekend. It's an honor to have nieces & nephews that show up for family events.) The grandchildren range from age 33 down to 6. The greats start at 5, down to newborn and counting...
There you have it. These are just some of the things that kept me busy this month.
