Catching up with y'all

The last week of a month is usually squeezed for me, since I volunteer to edit a church newsletter. I always seem to get something on the very last day...and this time I found out an error I'd published as well, so I had to send out an addendum.

I realize most of the people in my church don't read my blogs, if any of them do. So technically, blog friends are a whole 'nother group. Hi guys and gals!

I'm so glad to have been reading your blogs while I'd already published something or another this last week. Not my best photos or even notes.

So...here I can share some photos from my latest lunches/or walks/or exercise classes (or whatever comes up!

Let's start with the ending of all our food stuffs, the peelings, parings, and leftovers from whatever we eat. They have to be placed in one of these bear-proof bins. You've got two little links to undo before opening, and then you need to close the hook and eye again afterwards. This bin has not been closed correctly, as you can see the wire hanging off to the right, but the left one is engaged (though at this angle it's almost invisible, just the wire protruding from the catch.

Our other trash bins are simple for non-food stuffs, with bears checking them out sometimes. Usually when a newcomer hasn't learned to separate their trash yet. Unfortunately diapers are also delicious to bears, so must also go into bear proof bins. Some elders do need that help.

Also a view around home, the bedroom window has openings in the maples enough that I can see the mountains on the other side of the valley. Whoopee! And that means I've got about 7 months to have a view with them. As this was taken last week, there are many more leaves turned orange since then.

You know how many wildflowers I know...yep, let's let the experts name them!

Looking up Walker Rd, where I still try to walk at least once a week...that's a big hill, though you can't tell by looking at it!

And looking down Walker Rd.  The vegetation on the right has all been sprayed with Roundup probably to keep it down, under the electric wires, not that anyone is interested in climbing those poles.

The car down the road is a new resident who wants to smoke, and since smoking isn't allowed anywhere on the grounds (due to having Federal subsidies helping with our rent), residents and staff have to leave to smoke. Our former maintenance man caught a smoke at various entrances or exits a couple of times a day.

I remember Pyracanths growing in great arches in Tallahassee FL. This may or may not be the same, since our bushes are all trimmed into these dull little blobs.

I can give myself credit for a couple of minutes of stair climbing, if I wish to walk back up the hill this way. Usually I don't, preferring a more gradual smaller incline to climb my hill. It's still the same height achieved, but a bit easier if each of my steps is only half as high.

Looking at my porch from the outside...before the ground crew cut back the hosta.

The Kalanchoes at the base of my steps.