I Am Ready

The last couple of days it has been cool enough to put on a light jacket - so with that autumn is just a week away.

I was asked by a friend of mine where do I put all the pumpkins that I have accumulated and add to each year - so I thought I would take pictures of my living and dining room to share with you.

I did go ahead and purchase a few more pumpkins this year to add to my ever growing collection and they are in every room of the house and are color coordinated with the room.

So in my powder room which is a slate blue - the pumpkin is blue with some tan and brown swirls - totally coordinates with the brown lace balloon curtain and rug.  The spare bedroom is a lilac and I have found a deep purple medium sized pumpkin and a lavender and gold pumpkin which I found this year.

The style I have always wanted in my home is welcoming, comfortable and warm - and I think I have achieved that.

Hope you enjoyed a peek at this year's autumn feel.

Looking Forward to This

A little known fact about myself is that I love history - any kind of history will do; so I cannot wait until tonight.

Beginning tonight and for the next 6 nights PBS will be televising Ken Burns, "The Roosevelts" that is a history of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.  What is even better is that all three of them are New Yorkers and I actually past Hyde Park on the Taconic State Parkway on my way home.

It is my understanding that this documentary demonstrates how the Roosevelts had a major influence on this country moving from a farm to an industrialized state.  I think that Eleanor Roosevelt was extremely progressive in her behaviour, thoughts and actions for a woman of her times.

And what could possibly be wrong with our taking a look at history and understanding the individuals who had such an influence.

Clean & Orderly

There is nothing that I enjoy more than a clean house and nothing in the hamper to wash.

Yesterday my cleaning lady and it was great to have the house cleaned; this is one of my luxuries or vices is that I pay someone to clean my house every other week.  Many folks have said to me that this must be her easiest job as I have no children, animals to clean up after and I always have everything in its place garbage, mail, etc.

If I am working remotely then I have a cup of coffee for her when she arrives.  She is done generally in 3 hours as the only thing I have her launder are the sheets.  I do my own laundry and yesterday I did 4 loads as I washed curtains that I had taken down, towels and then clothes.

Nothing is more enjoyable to me then sitting in my clean home and there not being any major items to do in it.

Glutton for Punishment

My day was quite long yesterday and then I can't stop - even when I get home.

I was out the door yesterday morning at 5:57 to catch the 6:18 train to New York City for work - it was a full day and I was on the 5:13 train home - I walked into my house at 6:30. There was a message on my home line from a work colleague so I took care of that and now it was 7PM.  I got on my computer and got some email messages out for work, went through my mail and reviewed this week's football pool.

Now it was time to go upstairs to my bedroom and change the comforter, the rugs, throw pillows and curtains.  On Tuesday I had turned the mattress as well as balancing the boxspring on my back as I attached a nut to a bolt on the bed frame.  It was 10PM when everything was finally done.

Am I a glutton for punishment - YES - but, it also feels good when everything is done.

Need to Get Warm

Yesterday was quite chilly through the day and it was a prelude to what the evening was going to feel like.

It was time to pull out my light down comforter and place it on my bed to make sure that I would be nice and warm last night.  I know that many people prefer to have the room a little chilly to sleep; but, I cannot sleep if my body is cold - I need to be cocooned in my sheets and comforter.

I know that it is supposed to go up again to 80 on Friday; but, the nights are in the mid-50's were I live and it is way too early in the season to put on the heat.

A nice light down comforter fits the bill and keeps me warm enough.

Sleep - Is It Important

I thought I should let you know what my average sleep pattern was for the last week, a total of 4 hours and 57 minutes.

I wear a Fitbit and every evening before I lay down to go to sleep I go to my iPhone and select the Fitbit App and select "Begin sleep now" - it then records my sleep patterns.  It logs how long it took me to sleep, how many times I woke up and how long I actually slept.

From my pattern information for last week it took me 50 minutes to fall asleep and I averaged wake up mode 12 times a night; therefore, only giving me 4 hours of 57 minutes per night.

Is that enough?  Probably not - I would like to get much more although I have no idea how to change that - any ideas?

Are You Ready

For some football?

Yes, the 2014-2015 NFL season has begun and once more Sundays belong in my living room watching the various games and having a conversation; albeit animated and colorful with my television.

I was certainly surprised by some of the wins/losses; but, the season is new and I really need to see a couple of more weeks of playing before getting a good read on each of the teams.

I hope that if you too enjoy watching football you had a great time yesterday and let's not forget the games tonight.