Yes, this summer lover just said that. I’ve had a nice summer but it’s time for a new season. Time to embrace the inside of the house and the coziness of the season. Of course, I need to do a bit of work to make that possible. 
Today, however, I choose to go slow as I celebrate and embrace the first day of autumn. By the way, fun fact, our calendars all say the first day of autumn or the autumn equinox is tomorrow. My Farmer’s Almanac says it’s tonight at 9:04 EDT. We were curious about this last night and I looked it up: Note: Dates listed above are based on Eastern Time (UTC-5). Due to time zones, the date of the equinox may differ by +/- one calendar day in your location.(Click on the link to read more about the Autumnal Equinox). 
My plans for today involve living in my pajama pants as long as possible, baking a Honeycrisp Apple Cardamom Cake (without the walnuts though because yuck, maybe I’ll add pecans), fresh green beans and new potatoes in the crockpot for dinner (with ham), and a slow, mindful cleaning of the house. If I have time and can get to the bin, I’ll bring out some small fall touches. 
Here’s my short gratitude list.
Thankful List For The Past Week (Thursday to Thursday) 
- A chance to go into work and spend time with my favorite age group
- Watching the Chiefs win last Thursday night
- Plenty of nice, warm sunny days (I think even I have had my fill of the hot days though)
- A great book to read
- Watching G build his own computer from parts he ordered. I’m just amazed by this. He says he’ll never do it again, ha. He did have a friend come help him a little bit but he did most the work himself.
- J’s very understanding and compassionate private baritone instructor
- That I forced myself to go to Bunco and be around friends on Tuesday night (It was a day of ups and downs with encouraging and then discouraging news regarding J’s school. We’re back in waiting mode. SIGH)
- Time spent talking to a good friend I’d not seen in awhile after Bunco plus plans made to get together again next week
- Plans to go to the art gallery with friends tomorrow, once again forcing myself to get out
- A chance to go with J to look at a euphonium (baritone=euphonium for simplification purposes) yesterday. The kind shop owner let him play a high dollar model as well. Wow, even my untrained ear could hear the sound quality difference.
- The Masked Singer being back on TV. I don’t know why I love that show so much. It’s silliness just makes me happy.
- Seeing an owl fly across the backyard on Monday morning just before the daylight arrived. And having the window open to hear it’s “Who cooks for you?” call from our tree last night.
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Are you celebrating the first day of autumn? What things are you grateful for this week?
Happy First (Full) Day of Fall, Jean, and what a beautiful first day of fall it is!!! Yesterday it was a 100 degrees; this morning in the mid-50’s and rainy! I love it! I’m glad that you’re getting to slow down and enjoy it. Have fun at the art gallery tomorrow. It’s one of my favorite places. Amanda and I were going to go the last time I was up there, but, sadly, they were closed. I had never known them to be closed before. I love your list of things to be thankful for. I need to start focusing on specifics again myself. I’ve been drowning in grief for so long that sometimes I overlook the little things. Thanks for the reminder! Blessings for a great day and a lovely autumn season.
I know you are loving this weather and the new season! We didn’t get much of the promised rain. Hopefully, tomorrow. I think the art gallery is closed on Sundays and Mondays if I remember correctly. Well, no it looks like Tuesdays and Wednesdays now. That’s new. I think they started being closed a couple days a week when they switched to free admission. Tomorrow we’re going to see a special art deco exhibit. Hope things are slowly getting a bit better for you, grief is so hard and I can’t imagine grieving a spouse.