It's almost 5:00 as I start this post - things are pretty quiet here and the sun is low in the sky. Bill has Earlybird out on a bike ride - and a long bike ride it is too, they've been gone more than an hour - while the older two are following their own pursuits. Bookworm is buried in his latest read and Crackerjack is playing Legos with a friend. Me? Well, I'm sitting here in my comfort corner, beneath the fairy lights and beside the birdfeeder windows ... I should be writing out bills, but instead, I'm here poking around online. I'm enjoying this rare quiet hour, thinking about what a nice day it was - and I thought I'd pop on to share those thoughts with you. :)
1. Bill had the day off. This is always a good thing, because our day is so much slower and, really, so much more fun when Daddy is home. Today was Bookworm's MIT class, and seeing as MIT is in Cambridge (which is only slightly less intimidating to navigate than Boston) I long ago petitioned Bill to take over the MIT reins. While BW was at class, Crackerjack got to spend the morning and lunchtime at a friend's, which meant a quiet day at home for EB and me. Nice. :)

BW showing off his Quizboard, this month's project.
2. I set up the October Nature Shelf, and as you can see, there are pumpkins aplenty.

These are all homegrown Jack-be-Littles - we've got them all over the house, lol! (And the vines are still producing if you can believe it!)

Aren't they sweet? They will make neat candleholders later this month, roundabouts Halloween ...
3. It was a gorgeous fall day. I say that a lot don't I? Lol, as long as it's not sleeting, I'm good with any kind of fall day. Today had a bit of it all - brilliant sunshine, blue skies, dark ominous clouds at times, too - and that refreshing crisp air. We even had a little drizzle when the sky was at its darkest. I snapped this tiny magenta morning glory blossom when I ran out to fill up the feeders ...

I've noticed the purply blossoms do not open as beautifully as do the blue. Still, I love the way the color scheme echoes the hydrangea plant just to the right of the gate ...

This was taken in the early morning light.
4. I made up two new notebooks: a small take-along holiday planner on the left, and my newest daily journal on the right.

How I love to play around with plain notebooks and scrapbook paper.
5. Our first pot roast of the fall is in the crockpot as I type. It smells SO good in my house right now. The pot roast - though delicious - really does not make for a very appetizing photograph, so instead I give you our side dishes, baking in the oven:

Maple acorn squash and baked russets - yum.
6. Somebody kindly nominated me for an award. I don't know who you are, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. :) I have been feeling a bit unsure of my blogging lately so this was a very nice boost! (You can follow the new button up there on the right hand sidebar to see my nomination.)
Well, that's all I have for now, but I thank you for stopping by. I truly hope you all had a nice day, too. :) It's now 6:00 as I finish this post, and all my fellas are home (the big and the small). The sun if officially down and the kitchen timers are going off in triplicate. Time to get that supper on the table!
Have a good night, and see you all again soon ...