WWI flying aces on Veterans Day

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1.  Pecan pancakes
2.  We baked frissenes and the house is scented with anise.
3.  The glittering stars

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1.  Enjoyed fresh-from-the-oven donuts and coffee at the new shop on Moonridge Road
2.  Starting to plan holiday décor and activities :)
3.  Appreciating my warm cozy sweatshirt this cold evening

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1.  The silence and solitude of early morning
2.  New orange-clove soap
3.  Getting very cold overnight now -- they started snowmaking at the resorts

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1.  The musty aroma of fallen leaves.
2.  Birdseed on sale at Butchers Block, and we go through a lot of it!
3.  Feather pillows and bright quilts -- I've been sleeping well

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While yesterday's election results weren't quite as much as I had hoped for, they are more than enough to stem the tide of evil and corruption that's been drowning this nation for the past two years.  Checks and balances are now in place once again.  To be sure, healing and rebuilding will take place exceedingly slowly, but at least the direction has been reversed.  

Today I'm grateful for the lessons I've learned, and for the triumph of the power of good over evil. 

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Election Day

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Hope

Lessons I've been trying to learn and embrace during this abominable era in our nation's history:

1.  Have patience and faith in our society's institutions: depend on democracy, the rule of law, the Constitution.

2.  Have compassion for those who feel the need to act with hatred and ugliness.  Try to understand why they need to conduct themselves that way, and try to perhaps see how I might be instrumental in helping them experience a different version of their lives.

3.  Understand who my friends and allies are.  Be forgiving.  Share love and kindness.  Be humble and generous.

4.  Dig deep and know my own heart and soul … discover what I believe and why; what I might be willing to consider for compromise, and where I need to draw my line and say no.  Maintain personal sense of honor and self-respect.

5.  Paz y amor

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1.  Last dark morning!  Clocks turn back an hour tonight!
2.  Freshly baked rye bread
3.  First load of leaves raked

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1.  Cross-stitching in the sunroom
2.  We really enjoyed sandwiches from Jersey Mike's
3.  A peaceful evening -- early to bed

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1.  Orion is back!  I love the winter constellations :)
2.  My new glasses are excellent
3.  Halloween décor and kids' toys put away -- the house is calm again

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Best Halloween I've had since I was in grade school!!

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Enzo likes his desk

Lucci likes to eat

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I have abilities and skills that I can use to help others.

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1.  The morning moon accompanying me
2.  Lucci is walking -- look out, world!  :)
3.  Daffodil bulbs planted

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1.  Cinnamon toast
2.  A new ironing board cover
3.  More quilts delivered to Doves
4.  A thoughtful day

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1.  Enjoyed setting up the big telescope and viewing the gorgeous brilliant full moon last night
2.  Excellent appointment with the eye doctor -- everything's great!
3.  Lunch at Amangela's, sitting on the patio in the mellow autumn sunshine
4.  Picked another batch of apples -- third picking so far from the Newtown Pippin trees, and at least three or four rounds left!

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1.  The oaks and serviceberries are at the height of their autumn color, glowing gold up the road

2.  A baking day: chocolate porter layer cake and pumpkin sourdough bread

3.  A happy conversation with Nick

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1.  The aroma of fireplace smoke perfuming the neighborhood
2.  Chocolate waffles
3.  Anthony Bourdain

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Jake and Skippy

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1.  Frost on the rooftops
2.  Got the porch décor and Halloween lights up
3.  Salty pretzels

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1.  Ravens circling and cawing
2.  Pumpkin spice biscotti
3.  Serenity

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1.  Safe travel
2.  Bright fall colors and quiet crisp weather here at home
3.  Nick and Stacey are looking at houses!!!

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First batch of applesauce for the year. 

The house smells fruity and spicy!

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1.  The bright maples around town
2.  Found cute Halloween flashlights on clearance for the boys
3.  The promise of rain overnight

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1.  Quilts delivered to Doves
2.  Pumpkin fudge from North Pole Fudge Co.
3.  A Star is Born

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1.  Breakfast at Alpine
2.  Picking more apples
3.  Clear bright cool weather
 
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1.  Fun orange enamel plates from Doves
2.  Reuben sandwiches
3.  A good Monday Night Football program, and Drew Brees broke the record

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Found a desk for Enzo

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Synonym study

1. contempt , disdain , scorn imply strong feelings of disapproval and aversion toward what seems base, mean, or worthless. contempt is disapproval tinged with disgust: to feel contempt for a weakling . disdain is a feeling that a person or thing is beneath one's dignity and unworthy of one's notice, respect, or concern: a disdain for crooked dealing . scorn denotes open or undisguised contempt often combined with derision: He showed only scorn for those who were not as ambitious as himself.

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1.  A coyote and brilliant red maples this morning
2.  A quick nap in the sunshine
3.  Out to dinner to 572 Social

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LEO - You are not one to just follow the crowd for the sake of popularity. Others might be able to get you onboard by presenting solid evidence and a terrific plan, but if the essential pieces are missing you're happy to go it alone. Charting your own course comes naturally to you, and your independent spirit makes a powerful statement about the kind of leadership you're proud to exemplify. In the words of entrepreneur par excellence, Coco Chanel, The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.

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First pumpkin of the season!

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1.  Afternoon sunshine in my workroom
2.  Funny pictures of the boys
3.  End of month refrigerator clean out

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1.  Apple yogurt
2.  End of the month and I completed my To-Do list
3.  It gets dark so much earlier

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1.  Last Farmers Market of the season -- summer is officially over in Bear Valley.  I'm all stocked up on bread for the winter :)
2.  Sitting on the front porch
3.  Falling asleep to the sound of coyotes howling and yelping at the full moon

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1.  Sleeping later this week cause it's dark in the morning
2.  Perfect September weather
3.  Baked a beautiful apple bundt cake

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1.  Coconut soap
2.  Oldies playing at Sizzler
3.  Cool weather - good for sleeping

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1.  Rye toast
2.  Finished my September dental work today (yuck!)
3.  We got a new Honeycrisp apple tree, and had such a nice visit with Christine and Gema

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1.  A bit of excitement here in the 'hood -- they're repaving Fox Farm Road for the first time since we've lived here, more than ten years.
2.  Changed to my long sleeve bath robe, a sign that summer is indeed over :)
3.  Life is humming along peacefully

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1.  Holcomb Valley trip
2.  Apple cider floats
3.  Monday Night Football

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1.  Sunrise on the treetops
2.  The new Starbucks is nice!
3.  Crickets chirping as I fall asleep

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1.  First morning of the season wearing cozy sweatpants on my early walk -- it's been in the low 40s overnight for days now
2.  Soft September sunshine
3.  Relaxation

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1.  Navy bean soup for lunch
2.  A day alone -- Tony is at fire tower
3.  Ripening apples scenting the air

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1.  Memories of 2001, and of 1962 … September has its own meaning
2.  Tony started cutting the yard -- huge bouquets of yarrow and lambs-ear gathered
3.  Taffy apples at North Pole Fudge Co

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1.  Starting to think about autumn yard clean-up -- I love that the seasons change here
2.  Stacey received her package
3.  Opening Day -- Monday Night Football, with our traditional Black Forest ham sandwiches and apple slaw.  This dates back nearly 20 years!

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1.  The delicious aromas of brisket simmering in the slow cooker and apple-cinnamon cake baking in the oven
2.  Longer shadows and mellower sunshine, it's starting to feel like autumn
3.  Relaxed and happy -- living in the moment and not thinking about the world out there this evening

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1.  Green apple shampoo
2.  Living in the forest
3.  Patience/resignation
4.  Blind Side -- starting into the autumn movies!

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1.  The last of the blackberry pie
2.  The new Sift magazine arrived
3.  Cool nights

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He's still partying!

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1.  Everyone is here together!!!
2.  Beautiful bright blue weather
3.  The zucchini galette was enjoyed by all
4.  My family

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Granddaughter on the way!!!

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1.  Safe travel
2.  Being together with my whole family
3.  Joy, love and gratitude

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... and suddenly, the birch tree is going gold!

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1.  The clock tower chiming in the distance
2.  The house is perfectly ready
3.  My soft bed -- I'm tired!

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Hmmm, encouragement ...

LEO - The flip side of the fire element is apathy. Your lack of motivation can create a feeling that even the smallest task is a drag today. You need to get in touch with your dreams and visions again. Replace forced obligation with free will. Trace your tracks to see where it was you lost your spark. Seek out those things that make you smile again. Everything is about to move forward soon. Thankfully, you have endless energy to successfully manage your world when your actions are in alignment with your core values.

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1.  Starting an early change to fall décor in advance of Nick and Stacey's visit
2.  The apples are beginning to ripen
3.  Starry skies

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Successful colonoscopy with good results,

and soooo glad that's over with!

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1.  The sharp smell of tomato plants
2.  Bright breezy weather
3.  Lorenzo is starting to be successful with potty training!

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1.  The aroma of fresh-cut grass
2.  Getting organized for family fest next week
3.  Cooler evenings, the season is beginning to change

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1.  Feeling more hopeful about political news
2.  Popcorn
3.  Mellow moonlight

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1.  Went through Nick's baby memory box, and then sent it to him
2.   A group of vintage aprons I ordered arrived today -- very charming!
3.  Crickets chirping

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1.  Ripe tomatoes
2.  Root beer floats
3.  Fun working on Sgt Pepper costumes

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Today is a palindrome date:

8-18-18

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1.  Finished with dental work for now :)
2.  More rain -- the precip totals are looking so much better this season
3.  Another carton of stuff to Doves

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Cooper's Hawk right outside the sunroom window

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