For some unknown but very welcomed reason, my mood is decidedly brighter today. Perhaps the vestiges of that poisonous medication is finally working itself out of my brain tissue -- I’m beginning to feel like myself again. Though that condition of being may be somewhat less than perfect, after a month of suffering the unwanted side effects of the medication, it is most definitely BETTER. (Coming from an ex-hippie that used to LIVE on brain-altering drugs, isn’t that a hoot of a declaration?!)

I have a tendency to feel things entirely too deeply. Not sure if that is a blessing or a curse. The bottom line is that regardless of whether things go our way or not, one must never surrender to negativity -- to do so will only lend it power -- and God knows it has gained enough of that on its own lately. Though there is much wrong with the world this day, it seems there is more right than there is wrong, at least for the moment, and in my little corner of the universe. It is an absolutely GORGEOUS fall morning! Following a week of unseasonably balmy weather, it is finally beginning to FEEL like fall.

The mares seemed to go from sleek, shiny summer coats to woolly fuzz-balls overnight. Though decidedly ‘PRETTIER’ when sporting the typical, sleek summer coat, they are so ‘CUTE’ when they are fuzzy -- they look like big teddy bears. I used to own a big galoot of a gelding that grew such a thick winter coat, he looked like a woolly mammoth every winter.

Sadly, there’s not been much fall color this year and what little we’ve had was very short-lived. Just last weekend I noticed how pretty was the path between the barnyard and pasture, literally covered with bright yellow maple leaves. I determined that at the first opportunity this weekend, I would take some photos. Now, just a week later, they are dry and brown -- arghhhhhh!!!! I MISSED it!!!

Maybe there will be some SNOW this year to take pictures of -- oh how I love SNOW -- that is, if the power doesn’t go off. There’s a certain charm and excitement to being without power (particularly if you have gas heat and can stay WARM while enjoying it) -- cooking outside on the grill, huddling around the fireplace or stove, reading by the light of an oil lamp, watching DVDs on the laptop until you’ve drained the very last charged battery. But when the charm is dragged out TOO long, it really begins to lose its novelty. When we were out of power for a total of 2 weeks a couple of years ago, you couldn’t find lamp oil or wicks, batteries or ball caps within 20 miles of the place. I’ve stocked up early this year...just in case -- you know that peculiar ‘law’ of sorts -- if you’re actually PREPARED for an event, it won’t happen.

 Enough said -- I’m off to enjoy all that is good in my world today...