Isn't the above picture full of fall color?  The past few fall pictures I have been posting have come from around this area this year.  I could have isolated fewer trees but I wanted to let you see the large sweep of colorful trees even though it was extremely cloudy.

I managed to get about half of one side of the sidewalk cleared cutting the bushes and pulling weeds.  I plan to finish that side and get most of the other side done today.  I'm also making supper...an oven meal of roasted vegetables and chicken legs.  My favorite type of dinner although I also love making and eating substantial soups.

And speaking of food preparation, the 'Martha Stewart holidays' magazine has fantastic recipes for holiday meals with finished product pictures and lots of preparation pictures.  If you're new to creating a holiday meal, you may want to check this out for ideas and how-tos.

And I purposely said 'creating' above because making any meal is a form of creation.  And that goes double for holiday meals where generally there is more food made with special recipes and tables set with a bit more thought.  Although I have to say that for many, the extreme holiday preparation meals with several courses and tables set with multiple plates, glasses, utensils and centerpieces are a thing of the past.  

I wonder, is that a good thing or not?  The one aspect of those types of meals is the conversation that lasted for hours as family and friends sat around the table enjoying both the meal and each other's company.  I do miss that.  

I remember as a child listening to the adults as they continue sitting around the table, enjoying another cup of coffee and piece of dessert and sharing stories from when they grew up.  We don't do that too much anymore.  Television, smart phones, game platforms seem to dominate and take time away from the dinner table as well other times of day.  I feel that the result is the loss of family time which gives foundation to each of us as well as a sense of belonging.  We don't need the formality but we do need the time.

I haven't been doodling much but as I was exploring other ideas for holiday decorations, I decided I needed a break and created this...

Doodling for me is a form of relaxation and it frees my mind so it can work on other problems while I'm just doodling.  What do you do to let your mind rest?  Take a walk?  Listen to music?  Daydream?  It's important to give your mind time to rest because even when it's 'resting' it's working on other problems and you don't even realize that.

Halloween is Friday...do you have treats?  I purchased some this week and let me tell you there was very little to choose from and they were expensive!  But, if any 'trick or treaters' come by, I am ready.

Check the sidebar.  And have a fantastic day...

Talk with you tomorrow...