"What are you thinking?"

So, we developed a plan. We would go to the farm “for a few days” on Wednesday. Mike and Ken went hunting Tuesday morning (Oct. 24), but when Mike returned, he said, “I’ll finish my chores and let’s go to the farm this afternoon. We’ll come back on Thursday.” I could tell by the aura of energy surrounding Mike that he had already made up his mind, but it constituted a major adjustment for me. I was just starting a machine embroidery project, so I took a deep breath, quietly laid the hooped fabric aside, and turned off the machine. Under the press of time, I knew I shouldn’t even begin that intricate design. I don’t work well under pressure or when distracted. And after all, I did want to go to the farm. I need to make elderberry jelly for the P.E.O. silent auction.

As we faced each other over lunch, I delved more deeply into future plans. “Are you and Ken going to hunt on the weekend?”

“Ken and I don’t hunt on the weekends,” Mike replied. “Why do you ask?” Hmmm. Odd that I hadn’t noticed they weren’t hunting on the weekends, but it makes sense. That’s when everyone else hunts.

“I just want to know what you’re thinking,” I said.

Well, it turns out that Mike and Ken plan to hunt again on Friday. Okay, so now I know – maybe. It’s always subject to change. It’s the flexibility of life in retirement.

What a beautiful trip up the Clearwater River with the autumn reds and yellows – mostly yellows – glowing in the sun. What a difference a week makes! Even our plain old maple in the front yard is cooperating to reflect the sun's rays.

But – we did experience one surprise as we moved down the road to our lane. Just at the point where we burned the slash during Elderberry Fest, one of the burned trees had broken and fallen across the road, apparently in a windstorm. Mike wasted no time taking care of it, so the dogs and I joined him there. Bess doesn't like the chainsaw, so she pleaded with me to move on from this troublesome spot. Eventually she resigned herself to returning to the house by herself. But Nellie said, “Hmmm, the chainsaw isn’t as loud as it used to be,” and she took the opportunity to explore the area.

So, now we have even more pine firewood, but it’s free and easy to get, and it works fairly well in the little stove. KW