Here's Jarrett and Chad sitting on the grass watching the baseball game. Andrew's standing on the pitcher's mound.
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Saturday, November 26, 2011 - The other day, I came across some pictures from the good old days with Chad and Jarrett and also Charlie and Andrew playing baseball.

On Thanksgiving, Chad mentioned that he didn't like baseball because there was no ACTION. It was just stand around and wait for nothing.

That was also Jarrett's assessment of baseball. B-o-r-i-n-g~~ So funny. see ya later, djb

Sunday, 11/12/11 at 4:45 p.m. I saw this stunning sunset! I grabbed my camera real quick and ran outside to take this shot.
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Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - We have some really gorgeous sunsets this time of year. Not sure exactly why... but more times than not, we're treated to a spectacular light show when the sun departs.

Can you believe that this month is HALF OVER????? No, me either. In 15 more days, we'll be writing December on everything (or 12). Brrrrr and yikes!!! see ya, djb

Last Sunday afternoon, I looked out the window and saw THIS. Elliot was helping his dad clean out the gutters. Nice clear telephoto shot.
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Sunday, November 13, 2011 - When I saw them up on the roof, I realized that I would have to clean out our gutters at least one more time. I've cleared out the one in front of the kitchen window twice already. First time was really gross!!

So, yesterday afternoon, I dragged out the ladder and cleaned the front one out for the third time. Then, I went out onto the deck and cleaned out the one that goes all the way along the roof from the front of the house to the spot where it turns into two stories.

Amazingly, it wasn't as full of leaves and sticks as the one in front was. What a nice surprise and that was good for me.

The only part where I had a small problem was right where the edge of the pool is too close to the downspout so I can't get a good angle to climb the ladder right there. As it is, that's the scariest part because it's soooo close to disaster on either side of the downspout. yikes!

And then sometime this week, I'll have to borrow my neighbor's ladder to do the gutters that line the garage on the east side of the house. Thankfully, most of the leaves have been blown down and if they haven't fallen off the trees yet, the winds today are forecast to be 45 to 50 miles per hour.

That should finish them off. oh boy. see ya later, djb

Here's the golden leaf carpet covering the front yard one day last week.
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Sunday, November 6, 2011 - Every fall, I am thankful to my neighbor, Ron, who told me about the mulching blade! As soon as I could, I got one for the old tractor. Then, when I bought Juanita Querida, she had one on as standard issue. WOW!

It's so much easier to mulch the leaves as opposed to sweeping them up and burning them. That was the bad old days. And everyone smelled like a smoky fire for weeks. Although, there's still a need to burn yard waste such as sticks and gigantic branches that fall on the ground. haha

Don't forget to change the clock in your car. bye, djb

"They landed among the stars." Whenever I see STARS, I think of Andrew and Jarrett.
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Friday, October 21, 2011 - This day has finally arrived!

Today is the day that I'll be fitted for my own personal PROSE - the prosthetic device for my right eye. OMG!!!

It's 6:38 a.m. right now. I woke up before 5 a.m. so that I could get my three eyedrops in my eye, drink some coffee, wake up, take care of my blogger business, and relax a little bit before the drive into the city....which ALWAYS makes me crazy.

Getting up and getting ready this morning reminded me of all the years I worked in downtown Chicago. It took a long time to get there every day -- but it was worth it.

When I worked in the Research Department at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the early 80's, it was the BEST job I ever had. Smart, witty people -- there were five Ph.D. economists among the staff. You'd probably think, b-o-r-i-n-g. But they weren't. It was always a hoot.

Gotta go. SEE ya later. I HOPE. djb

Here's a closeup of the almost full moon this morning - 6:41 a.m.
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - Here's another picture of the full moon that I took right after I took the one on my blogger blog.

Since I'm a day late (and probably a dollar short), I thought I'd put the name of the full moon yesterday on here for your amusement and edification. You're welcome.

October 11, 2011, 10:06 p.m. EDT – Full Hunters' Moon: With the leaves falling and the deer fattened, it's now time to hunt. Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can ride over the stubble, and can more easily see the fox, as well as other animals, which can be caught for a Thanksgiving banquet after the harvest.

Since the moon arrives at apogee about 10 hours later, this will also be the smallest full moon of 2011. In terms of apparent size, it will appear 12.3 percent smaller than the full moon of March 19.

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So, now you know the whole story. No wonder that moon looked so tiny. all righty. see ya later, djb

The ash tree BEFORE....


the leaves are going......


...the leaves have landed. Here's the carpet of leaves under the ash tree in the back yard near the burn pile.
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Sunday, October 9, 2011 - All this past week, the leaves kept falling off the ash tree. It looked like golden snow. Every once a while, the wind would blow them all over the place.

It really is a colorful fall this year. Plus, it helps that the weather has been so nice and sunny.

Pretty soon, all the trees will be naked and cold. Yikes! djb