They are telling us that this warmer weather will last for a few days yet, before it begins to tell us that the cooler stuff settles in... to be specific, Thursday.  At this time of the year, I will take whatever good days I can get.  I won’t say we haven’t had any cool weather yet, but nothing has frozen at night yet, which is a bonus.  Strange how the weather patterns seems to have changed over the decades.  I remember having to cover the plants in the garden, so they didn’t freeze, at the end of August, and here it is, nearly October and we take it for granted that there won’t be frost for another couple of weeks.  I can also remember snow at Halloween, which was a proverbial pain, because we had to walk through that stuff to get our teats.  Halloween in the country isn’t as profitable as it is in the city.  But, it is easier on the waistline.

The apples are all gone, the tree gave a great sigh of relief when one of the neighbours picked the last one.  The branches are now pointed up at the sky, rather than at the ground.  I counted the cases of apples that came off that tree, 11.  Granted, they weren’t big boxes, but hey, that is still a lot of apples.  I have enough apple pies to supply the neighbourhood for a while.  I need to go shopping now for baking supplies… you know the type… flour, sugar… I know at least 1 brother that will want cookies for Christmas, although even that is getting scarce here.  There is no reason to bake any more, not with only 1 in the house.  There was a time baking used to start here at the end of November and not quit until Christmas even, when the tree went up, along with all the decorations.  Shaking head, I can’t believe I am talking about this, it is months away.  What brought it on you ask?   Simple.  When I took my nephew to the airport yesterday there were signs in a few places advertising Christmas craft sales…. I mean, I ask you, this early?   Then again, it is only a few more weeks until October and, for us, Thanksgiving.   Got to remember to buy a turkey to feed the Turkeys who will be coming, if they will.   That is also when I will be getting my baking supplies, because that is when the sales happen.  Works for me. 

I am getting ready for my trip to Ottawa next year.  Yes, it is early, but this will be my first signing.  I think I am up to it.  I have things checked off on the list, some of which will be bought at the last minute, or thereabouts… prizes, basket, books, bags, costume (a bag for my head that extends to the floor... that’s it, that is what I will go as for the costume, Charlie Brown at Halloween.  I will cut holes in a sheet and put it over me… PERFECT!!!!  The things we don’t think of when we are desperate.

Tath and Thena want to go too, but no, I am not going as a cat lady, besides, I have been told on good authority that 2 cats does not constitute being one.  I wondered about that when I agreed to a second cat after Snoop died.  Poor old Snoop, still miss that cat.  He was such a Snoop.  Anyway.  These 2 are making up for a lot of things he never used to do, like bouncing on me in bed.  I still have to teach them not to extend their claws when they do that.  Thena’s remind me of needles when they strike.  I swear there are times she doesn’t know what she wants, she runs in circles around the kitchen floor in the morning (wanting outside, but not knowing what to do when she is out there)... It isn’t rocket science cat, outdoors, mice.  They move, you pounce, no more mouse.  Tath is different that way, he could care less about the great outdoors.  He is the epitome of the saying “There is nothing lazier than a Tomcat, except a fixed Tomcat.”  He should wear a sign on his side, ‘Have cat, will purr, hold me and see.’  He never used to be this cuddly, and boy does he play rough with Thena, she just screams at times.  I told him gentlemen don’t do that… he stuck his tongue out at me.   What can I say… sigh.  Which reminds me, I just heard a crash in the other room, they are playing jet cats right now, and bouncing off the doors on either side of the house.  A yowl tells me that Tath caught Thena, and she objects.  A hiss says his fur will be hanging from the clothesline.  Should be interesting.

Well, according to UPS, my books are in town, which means delivery on either Monday or Tuesday, so we know what I will be doing those days.  Signing books.  Hunter’s Challenge and Kings of the Empire.  Eniko says she has been working on the edits for Intercession.  Sarah has been going through Dance Ballerina Dance, to take care of the errors we missed on that one.  The rest of the group that does edits for me are waiting for their turns at things.   Eniko will pass what she is working on to Candy and go on to Merika’s Story.   I am currently writing Lost Kingdoms of the Empire, which will complete next year’s list, and it will be ready for Eniko after she is finished Merika’s Story.  I am also working on ‘The Phoenixes Choice’.  I haven’t gotten far, only to Chapter VIII so far, but it is a beginning.  I am hoping to catch up with the typing today, so I can get some serious writing done again.  I also have to shake down the house.  You would be surprised how much hair these 2 cats shed, everything seems to have a layer of it.

Anyway, it is time I left, before this turns into an epic.  Heading for broom, or keyboard?  Decisions, decisions.  Have a good week, and I will stop by again with more news next week.  I am hoping to be at least 25% finished with ‘The Phoenixes Choice’ then, as well as have the cover for Merika’s Story.  Yes, another book done.