Full Moon, Full Sun

It has been a picture-perfect week, so-to-speak, in terms of weather. If we could choose this type of weather for the entire year, it would be "okay" with us.

And at night, for the last three or 4 nights -- a beautiful full moon. The moon shines through our roof window in the bedroom and gives quite a glow, creating lighted shapes and making it seem as though someone is shining a large-beam flashlight through the window.

"Hunter's Moon" must be named for the ability to enhance lighting while hunting at night, I suppose.

Whatever the reason, we see the moon in the early evening east of our house and then it crosses the sky and shows brightly just at dawn in the west -- amazing.

When we worked -- we could always sense when there was a full moon without having to check the skies. I'm sure that has not changed, but you have to wonder "why?".

Today is "day 300" in the year -- just 59 days until Christmas. Of course, we know Christmas is near because several stores have Christmas displays already up even though it is not Halloween.

Last night we watched game three of the World Series -- or should I say -- part of it.

We retired to bed in the 14th inning when the game tied at 2-2 seemed like it might go on for a while.

It did go on -- to the 18th inning when thankfully the Dodgers had a walk-off home run by Max Muncy to give the Dodgers their first win in the series.

For the people in Boston, the game went to about 3:30 am -- I wonder how big of an audience there stuck it out.

The game is the longest running World Series game ever and several other records were broken as well.

Our local paper delivered this morning also did not print the score as they went to press before the game was done. Fortunately for us, since we record the games and several shows that follow the game, we were able to watch the final inning and the big home run -- nice.

I am rooting for the Dodgers, but the Red Sox are a very impressive team. Apparently, the first time that these two clubs met it was 102 years ago and the pitcher for Boston was none other than Babe Ruth and the pitcher for the "Dodgers" was Casey Stangel -- wow!

So, I didn't get a lot of searches done on the family tree -- but did manage to spot the photo to the left.

Amanda Hiles, Rose Queen at the University of Texas in Tyler.

While I do see a lot more "Hiles'" in the news these days -- not all do I claim as being "family".

In this case, I'll do some research and see if I can make sure that she IS in our tree . . . somewhere.

Growing up, as I have said before, I just never heard of very many folks named Hiles in the news or anywhere for that matter.

 We did make progress on our puzzle du jour as seen to the right.

It consists of 99 smaller images of attractions from around the globe. All very fascinating and a surprising number that at least one of us has seen or visited.

The difficulty comes into play with the number of skies and the related hues of blue. Probably 70% of the pictures have sky in them so that is part of the challenge.

The other challenge comes from the appearance of the white framing lines throughout -- but we are probably going to finish today or tomorrow -- just in time for when the new puzzle arrives on Monday . . .

 
So, on our nightstand, is the book to the left. Sally Field, "In Pieces" and so far a very interesting book.

Part of the reason that it is so interesting (besides the fact that we sure do like her) is the fact that she grew up in California and specifically Pasadena in her early years.

I too lived in Pasadena, but several years after she did. But Sally mentions many places in and around Pasadena that I am familiar with -- including, PCC (where I went to school for a couple of years), Huntington Memorial Hospital (where I was an orderly for a while) and living two blocks from Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia (as I did as well).

There is even mention of Altadena and events there and I worked in Altadena too. So I find the book familiar from that standpoint. We are just in the beginning so look forward to getting to know more about Sally.

Lastly:

It should be obvious to all that -- no one in this house won the biggest lotto ever last week, Mega Millions, with one winner taking the $1.6 billion dollars big prize -- one person -- joining the ranks of the world's very rich.

And it may not come out publicly as who that person in South Carolina is because South Carolina allows winners to remain anonymous -- but it probably will be known around "those parts".

Apparently, the winner tried going to work normally the next day -- but quickly gave that up . . . who wouldn't?

So -- tonight though there is another chance at maybe winning "chump change" as a newscaster referred to it because it was only $750 million instead of over a $Billion -- we are going to make a trip to the dispenser of lotto tickets and "take a chance" . . .

That is a bit of our week, see you all "in a few"! 👫

It's All-Fall Again . . .

This has been pretty much a perfect weather week -- for a change. We only had to use the a/c once briefly and the rest of the time we did use the heater briefly in the morning -- "to take the chill off".

Our windows and doors remained open throughout the day mostly -- and that was so nice. Dino enjoys that too as he looks out an open door at the variety of things that interest him.

We have had small piles of leaves in the last week or so but unlike days of old, we could not burn them. The smell of burning leaves is something that I remember so well -- I even bought a candle that replicates that fragrance.

The vineyards are starting to turn and the landscape here in wine country is stunning. We do know that some parts of the country are forecasting winter soon along with even S-N-O-W -- can that be, it just seems like those areas were going through heat waves.

And if it is snowing in some parts of the country, we need to get ready for some rain -- and we welcome that.

Maybe this year we will get the appropriate amount of rain to keep us from being in a "drought" period.

I think we are ready for the rain -- except for some of the gutters and maybe parts of the roof -- next year we need to address the possibility of replacing the roof . . .

Just with owning a home, there is always something that needs attention. This week we had our share of things needing attention -- 1) Our stand-up freezer was acting up and not performing correctly 2) Our dishwasher would not drain & 3) Our wave responding kitchen faucet was on the "Fritz" . . .

It took three visits from the professionals, but all is back working nicely again and we can "sleep better" . . . what's next?

Many years ago, "what next" might have been the news that Sears was filing for bankruptcy and closing most of their stores.

Growing up in La Grange, Illinois in the 40s and 50s our usual Saturday consisted of my father driving my mother and some of us kids into town.

Mother did not drive in those days, so it had to be Saturday. Often while she cruised through the aisles of the A&P store, we kids (and our father) might head over to Monkey (Montgomery) Wards or Sears.

Sometimes we would take our allowance and head to Kresge's or Woolworth and look for "stuff".

Our father usually went off by himself into maybe the "Craftsman" tool department at Sears while I might have purchased a quarter pound of Spanish peanuts at the candy section -- to tide me over till lunch or dinner.

Sears though has not often been a destination in the last several years for us except for once in a while peek at their appliances. Too many other retailers both brick & mortar and online have replaced them.

Sears though did outlast Mongomery Wards as they "bit the dust" in 2001. I wonder what stores took their place in our old home-town . . . it is amazing to think that a store such as Sears, that may have even produced a home-kit that was used in building the home of my grandparents in the late 1800s, is going out of business.

The only people that should be interfering with our elections is "us".

This year may just be the year that voters will register AND vote in huge numbers -- at least that is what some are saying.

There seem to be so many reasons to vote against something more than to vote for something.

We will vote by mail again this year -- it is so much less of a hassle. But I still remember going to the ballot places even as a child, along with my parents for sure. It is hard to imagine such a complex and protected system that we have and yet the elections are being impacted by outsiders.

Maybe the influence just came about in unsophisticated ways in previous elections. It is something to think about.

But we have other things that need our attention.

We have watched many of the playoff games leading up to the World Series and tonight we will watch the final playoff game between the Dodgers and the Brewers.


The game tonight will, of course, determine which team will play against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series that starts next week -- Tuesday.

No matter who wins tonight, we will be watching the Series and rooting for the "best playing" team.

I always like it when the series goes the limit -- that is a full seven games. It is not satisfying to see one team "win in four". So, we look forward to the games and we often make a lot of progress on whatever our current puzzle happens to be . . .

Winning "a $Million" would be unbelievable -- BUT, winning "a thousand $Million" would be unimaginable -- yet, it could happen for someone -- in the next few days.

We had/have tickets for the MegaMillions that ran last night and did not have a "big" winner. The Powerball runs tonight so we can dream a little about that as we still have that opportunity.

Tuesday of next week brings another shot at the MegaBillions drawing . . . it would really be nicer if 1000 folks won a $Million rather than one person winning it all unless it was "yours truly" . . . just kidding.

And last but certainly not least:

Always a "Nay-Sayer" when it comes to genealogy . . . and as one forgotten politician used to say:
"Nattering Nabobs of Negativity" . . .

That is a bit of our week, hope to see you all "in a few"! 👥

Mornings, Cool -- Evenings, Cool -- Finally . . .

The middays though are still somewhat warm to hot. That'll end soon we hope -- it is so nice to just leave the windows and doors open to catch a fall breeze.

The leaves are starting to turn and some of them are finding their way onto the deck and into the pool. It seems like just yesterday that the buds were appearing on the branches and now . . .

We're picking apples too, lots of them. Makin' pies, tarts and drying them -- NOT, but we think about it. The apples, too, drop and find their way into the pool allowing us to "bob" for apples if we really wanted to do that. Maybe someone would like to try that, just not us.

And there is a harvest type moon coming around the end of the month -- the 24th or so. We always look forward to that as we go out back on a business trip with Dino in the late part of the day.

And the old "farm" outbuilding is looking good in the fall colors. There is something to be said for the seasonal changes and the effects on structures -- but I'm not sure what that is. Maybe I'll "Google" it . . .

Found while searching through old newspapers:

I've posted other photos of a "Bumgardner" house and related recollections that I had of that house when growing up in the Chicago area -- Dayton Bumgardner's house -- my maternal Grandfather.

This house has a similar setting -- and appears quite grand and substantial. It is located in Virginia but while I'm fairly certain we are related to that Bumgardner family -- I just have not proven that.

Our known Bumgardner ancestors came from the counties in Virginia near the above residence. Hopefully, I will be able to make the connection -- but if not, the story and the house are interesting.

♫ If I had a Hammer ♪ . . .

I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening . . .

That is what "our town" is saying today.

Sometime last weekend, someone somehow stole the artwork -- hammer, from in front of the Healdsburg Community Center.

The Hammer weighs around 800# and it would take major work to remove it.

And then you have to ask what someone is going to do with that hammer -- the local police thought it might be a high school prank or something, but have not found out about that as yet.

Will the mysteries ever cease?

Here is what the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat article stated:

And that is the "big" local news story, aside from the everyday op-eds re local elections . . .

The big news in the nation is of course "Michael coming ashore":

My family has ties to Florida. I've lived there, my brother has lived there, my sister lived there and my folks lived out their final days in Florida.

It is a beautiful state -- but Michael has changed how some parts of it look today. Millions are without power or other basic needs. The images of destruction are non-stop on TV.

I'm not sure how people can get "whole" again, for a very long time -- sort of like the thousands here in Sonoma County rebuilding their lives after the year ago fire destruction.

I can not imagine trying to just make it through the day without the bare necessities. We were without Internet and Cell phone service for a short while last year and felt totally vulnerable and unable to do much -- for us we were back in service in a short period.

Forget most football teams in our part of the country if you are looking for winners and professional like play . . .

Instead, we're concentrating on baseball -- at least for about three more weeks.

Last night's MLB playoff NLCS game between the Brewers and the Dodgers was exciting -- probably not-so-much for the Dodgers, but certainly for Milwaukee.

The game went right to the last out of the Dodgers in the top of the ninth to determine that it was not going to turn out well for them. I was rooting for the Dodgers but, the Brewers were so impressive including their pitcher hitting a towering home run off the Dodgers best pitcher . . .

We'll see how today's games go -- we've recorded them (or will) and then watch probably as we finish up yet another puzzle.

And again, Earl, of the Pickles, has the last say in this post:

The news this week is reporting that even if you never turned in a saliva sample to one of the DNA companies, your identity can be found -- that to me is obvious since I'm sure that the "Golden State Killer" never submitted his, nor any of the other recent captures or soon to be captured villains.

Anyway, that is a bit of our week, see you all "in a few"! 👨👩

Happenin' Now

It is one year since the fires in Sonoma County changed the lives of so many residents forever. Thousands of homes were lost, many people have chosen to rebuild and some have chosen to move and start over elsewhere -- who could blame them. There are just a small number of houses that have been rebuilt, it is hard to imagine coping.

And today's weather is eerily similar to one year ago and as a matter of fact, there are red flag warnings for the same areas as last year. It is mildly warm, somewhat windy and lower humidity -- all the wrong measures.

And -- just in -- the Senate vote is complete, 50-48, so we have a new Supreme Court Justice. No matter in favor of or not, it is good to be OVER with this process -- until the next one . . .

It will be interesting to see the reactions this week starting today. The vote could have gone either way as late as yesterday.

So, the least extreme activity going on just now are the post-season playoff games of the MLB. Unfortunately, a favorite team -- the Cubbies -- did not win their wild-card game so they will be looking to next season for another chance.

And if last night's RedSox/Yankees game is an indication there most likely will not be a classic Yankee/Dodger World Series . . . such is the sporting world.

Sadly, just after publishing last week's post, we received the startling news that Gail's younger sister, Jenifer,  had died.

Apparently, she developed pneumonia and could not overcome that. She had also been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Gail and her other sister Laurii are both in shock and Gail goes in and out of the realization that Jenifer is gone. She was 74 years old and had lived with Sandy, her mate, for over 30 years in Seattle.

We will all miss her "being there" even though we did not have the chance to see her that often. Whenever we did visit it was always a fun time.


One of the activities that we engaged in again this week especially was with puzzles:

The puzzle on the left is one that we just finished and enjoyed every bit of -- there were so many different objects and colors. It was also smaller than most of the puzzles that we have recently worked being "only" 500 pieces instead of the usual 1000.

The artist, Aimee Stewart, did a great job recreating "Brown's General Store and Emporium". Every conceivable type of snack, flowers and other food items were represented.

So, we started another Aimee Stewart Americana collection puzzle -- another general store relating to all the requirements needed for the family vacation for fishing, camping, surfing, and so many other activities -- this one though has 1000 pieces, so it will take a few extra days to complete.

The picture on the right is of the puzzle that we completed a few weeks ago and because it came out so nice and we did not want to dismantle it, we had it framed.

It is "The Dream Garden" by Maxfield Parrish and we love it and especially how it appears in the frame that we now have hung above the table where we work on puzzles so that we can enjoy it daily -- we're old . . .

Once again, I have to say how impressed I am with CeCe Moore who has solved another decade's old awful crime via the use of DNA matching.

The same year that Gail and I were married, 1992, a young woman, Christy Mirack in Pennsylvania was murdered. She was just 25 years old and was recently starting her dream job of being a school teacher.

The murder happened in her apartment before she could leave for work and has been a cold case for 26 years. The detectives on the case were still attempting to solve the case.

CeCe got involved with the case, and in just TWO days found a suspect through matching DNA left at the crime scene.

A well known 49-year-old "family" man and DJ active in the community was identified and arrested
and shocked the community that he had been living a "normal" life amidst them all these years.

I applaud the use of DNA and if I was a younger person I would love to be a part of the DNA team that could solve these types of crime. CeCe says that there are many more certain to be solved cold cases coming up . . . we can hardly wait to see that happen!

And lastly,

Luckily I found another "Pickles" comic related to DNA. I too love broccoli, but if offered "Cheetos" I'm not sure that I'd say "nope" . . . have that DNA checked.