Y’all the wind today is gusty and blustery. Love that word blustery! Another exquisite day on the porch swing. Penelope and I are letting the wind swing us. Sky isn’t winter dark blue today but light blue, pretty, with white fluffy clouds. The clouds are moving fast. The wind chimes are getting a good work out. Just decided the wind was not driving me inside. My neighbor across the street is having his wall by the street pressure washed…so loud! Penelope is scared the noise and is sitting by me in the swing. Mail truck just came so she jumped down to woof at the mailman. My hair is blowing all over my head, extra hold hair spray can’t compete with this wind. It’s 82 degrees at 1:20 PM. My house feels like it’s air conditioned. I love it!

I think the pressure washing noise is disturbing my birds. Actually haven’t seen a bird on the feeders and I’ve been sitting here over an hour. All the magnolia leaves are blowing down the street, end over end, clicking on the street like they’re running away. Just saw a whirlwind of leaves across the street. Haven’t seen a whirlwind since I was a child. They look like little tornadoes, blowing leaves around in a loose funnel shape. Kept watching but never saw another one. Finally in late afternoon, when the neighborhood noise calmed down the birds started coming to the feeders. I kinda wondered if the wind was too much for them today. I think they were hunkered down in the foliage around the yard.

Went to town today, for my monthly grocery shopping. Did a Wally World pick up and a meat buying spree at the only grocery store in town. Going to town involves makeup and a bra, two things I usually do without. Did not see a soul I knew so guessed I spruced up for nothing. The bra is a key component of the global multi billion dollar lingerie market. Don’t know how this tortuous garment gained popularity but it replaced the corset, so for that we should be thankful. America actually has a National No Bra Day. We’ve been celebrating this holiday since 2011 to help raise breast cancer awareness. Women are encouraged to go to work braless on the holiday. Mark your calendar for October 13 and support breast cancer awareness. I did some bra wondering research and got tickled at a photo of the bullet bra. Not dangerous as in gun bullets but pointy enough to put you your eyes out.

I can remember the first time I wore a bra. I was in the six grade and we were having those long hot summer days of marching band practice where we learned our Friday night half time show. I remember I was wearing a sleeveless plaid shirt. I was so proud to be wearing a bra for the first time, like most preteen girls. Better change the subject before I’m packed off to Shady Oaks!

Had the most delicious supper tonight. Cooked a filet mignon, baked potato, roasted asparagus, and made a spring mix salad with blue cheese crumbles. The filet mignon was on sale so I couldn’t resist. Chief and I always cooked steaks on the Friday nights we came to Roanoke for the weekend. Still trying to learn to cook for one. I need to learn to eat for one, too. Smile! I don’t think Chief ever failed to thank me for cooking supper or tell me he enjoyed it. He was such a gentleman. I’m in a food coma now. I’m so happy that my pantry is full, my fridge and freezer are full, and the snack basket runneth over with chewing gum and Redenbacher microwave popcorn. Penelope is happy to have doggie bacon treats and some little cans of wet food. Stew has his pizza makings so all is right with our little world. I love social security day! Just hope we can make our groceries last a month. We did pretty good with this last month. Just had to get coffee creamer and milk and bread occasionally. It’s just me and Stew here and I only cook supper every other day. Can’t imagine trying to feed a family with several children. I’m seriously thinking of getting a little flock of chickens. Gonna ask my friends, the handyman couple, about chicken pen building. Baby brother said he had some wood I could use.

You know, joy comes from the simple things in life and nature. God gives us a new day and we decide how to use it. When tomorrow comes, this day is gone and when we look back at yesterday, I hope we see we have done well and not thrown a day away. I hope we’ve put some happiness in the world and put a smile on someone’s face. The world is not without heartache and sorrow but these storms can be weathered. The hopes and joys we’ve known help us believe that hope and joy can be experienced again.

“Love…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endured all things. Love never ends. —1st Corinthians 13:7-8