October Days, Friday Fave Fives

 A new Day.  A new Friday.  And a new Friday Fave Fives (follow the link).  Last night, as I pondered what to post today for my five faves, I easily chose two things for which I am thankful.  The other three...well, I couldn't think of anything 'special'.  Then I realized, Blessings are often simply basic parts of my day.  A good reminder.

1.  I am thankful for Friday Fave Fives because this weekly 'exercise' helps me stay grounded.

2.  I am thankful that I can be out in my garden doing weeding and other jobs to care for my plants.  Currently, I am doing a big job of digging out more grape hyacinths from the bed in front of the house.  Weeds and bulbs and debris.  Even if it doesn't get all done this fall, I still enjoy having my hands in the dirt.  And no photos.  You really don't want to see what it looks like...

3.  My daughter-in-law's sister and a niece are here visiting from Arizona.  The main reason is PAL'S upcoming birthday party.  While they are here, they are doing many fun things.  I joined them on Wednesday for part of a 'coffee shop crawl' that they made up themselves.  It was so fun!

4.  I am thankful for reading time.  Currently, I am reading So Big by Edna Ferber.  This is a book that my book group Well Read Mom chose.  At first, I was not excited.  But as I read more, the more I have enjoyed it.  Set in Chicago area, centered around a young woman who ends up marrying a farmer and learning to love farming, it is so much more than that.  I won't give any spoilers, just that I am enjoying this book very much.

5.  I am loving the cool mornings and mild days of autumn.  The leaves are turning beautiful colors.  My favorite season!  I scrolled through my October photos from other years and remembered how I have loved October in Ohio for the past six years.

I hope you are finding beauty, rest and blessings in this autumn season, too.

I Love Autumn

 Blogtober Day 8

I love Autumn!  And walking all the paths where the leaves cover the trail.

Alaska, Day Seven-C

 During the afternoon after we recovered from our hike, we explored an area of Skagway that was off the beaten track where most cruise passengers were wandering around.

We happened upon this lovely building.  It used to be a college, then a US court house.  Now it is the city hall and museum. Unfortunately, it was closed, so we didn't get to visit it.

So we continued wandering along the quiet streets and discovered the Skagway Cultural Garden.  The garden is new and still not completed.  However, it was already filled with sculptures depicting various parts of the Native culture.

Inside the visitors center, a woman was weaving a traditional blanket.  Eleanor and I were very interested in hearing about the traditional styles and materials used to recreate an old piece of weaving.

It was very intricate.

Then it was time to find some dinner and retire to our hotel room because we had a very exciting and busy day planned for the next day:  A Train Ride up to White Pass following the trail of the 1898 Gold Rush!

Blogtober Day 6

 A break from the Alaska trip.  Just one photo for Blogtober today.

A grey barn

Alaska, Day Seven-B

 Fortified by our coffee and cinnamon rolls, we decided to take a hike.  The weather was amazingly clear and the sky was blue and cloudless (unusual for Alaska).

We crossed the Skagway River and hiked up and down the hills to Smugglers Cove.

Yes, the terrain was hilly and steep.

We hiked up and down and over rocks and roots.  Finally we arrived at Smugglers Cove.  Why is it called Smuggler's Cove?  Smugglers brought alcohol into the cove on boats during the American Prohibition era of the 1920s.  Today it is a lovely place to enjoy the quiet beach and maybe have a picnic and bonfire.

Even the ravens and the squirrels enjoy this little haven of a cove.

After a short rest and a snack, we hiked back to Skagway.

Alaska, Day Seven-A, Skagway

 

Before one goes exploring, one must have coffee.

Eureka!*  We found it!

And amazing cinnamon rolls.

* "No, Eleanor. We are not in Eureka.  That's in Northern California."  "Oh, I see.  You understand the meaning of the word eureka...

I FOUND IT!"

Infirmary Mound and Blogtober Day Three

 I didn't realize until yesterday, October 2nd that Blogtober was happening.  Coastal Ripples mentioned it.  So I decided I would give it a try again this year.

In comments on Friday Fave Fives,  a couple of people asked why Infirmary Mound used the word 'infirmary'.  I didn't know.  What did I do?  I looked it up.

Evidently, in 1850 a Poor House was established at that location. Later, the name was changed to The Infirmary.  Why was the word mound added to it?  It is also the site of an ancient burial mound built by an Ancient Native American culture.  There are many mounds all over the state of Ohio.  In fact, just 3.5 miles from Willow's Cottage there is a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Great Circle Earthworks and Museum.

So that's why the park is called Infirmary Mound Park.

A few photos from the years we have walked and hiked there. (The park is 316 acres!)

The actual burial mound is not very high any more due to centuries of erosion from farming and plowing done there.

The Fairy Trail is located there...

I could post dozens more photos of the fairy trail, but I don't want to bore you.  If you want to view more, THIS LINK will take you to a post I wrote in 2021 about the Infirmary Mound Fairy Trail.