Good morning, everyone. It's a nice fall morning here in Northern California. Compared to last week's 100 degree temperatures (where were those temps during the cool summer?), this is a welcome break. As we did yard work this weekend, we noticed the leaves starting to fall. We don't get the color-changing leaves, just brown and dead!

This week is filled with things for my oldest son - counselor appt. at school to discuss colleges, college night on Wednesday, and senior trip meeting on Thursday. Busy, busy. Plus some work on one of the cars is scheduled for Wednesday.

Here are a few questions for the week.

1. Do you take care of your neighbor's place when they go out of town and vice versa?

2. Any special fall traditions/activities in your area?

3. Have you started any travel plans for the fall/winter holidays yet?

4. What is your favorite part of fall?

5. What is your approach to budgeting? Fly by the seat of my pants, plan carefully by paycheck, balance my checkbook to the penny?

Off to wake up kids and start lunches.

Sharon
13 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son

1. Do you take care of your neighbor's place when they go out of town and vice versa? Yes. It usually consists of cutting the lawn, watering flowers and the occasional letting out of a dog.

2. Any special fall traditions/activities in your area? Our community just had it's annual Octoberfest. Other than that, we just enjoy this time of year more than any season. Wisconsin is gorgeous this time of year!

3. Have you started any travel plans for the fall/winter holidays yet? Nope. Unless dh plans to surprise me with a trip? LOL!

4. What is your favorite part of fall? The color changes and Halloween. I already have my decorations up! Nothing like getting cozy in front of the fire and watching a classic horror movie---no gore in this household though!

5. What is your approach to budgeting? Fly by the seat of my pants, plan carefully by paycheck, balance my checkbook to the penny? I'm usually pretty careful, but with older children unexpected expenses come up. I really don't balance the checkbook very often, but I play close attention to our checking account on-line.

Last week was homecoming for our school district! So much fun! Dd and her friends decided to go single and had a blast! We took pictures at a local landscaping business and those pics turned out amazing.

Yesterday we had something extremely scary happen. My Dad was fishing at an area lake and collided with another boater. Dad was thrown from his boat into the water. He was dressed in jeans, boots and a coat. Because Dad's boat was still running and making circles, the other boat had a difficult time reaching Dad. My Dad swam to the other boat and hung on. The couple in the other boat were older and were not able to get my Dad into their boat until help arrived. According to the other boater and a witness, Dad was BARELY able to make it to the other boat and would go under the water and then get his head above water and then go under again. My Dad, who is by far from being a wimp, was convinced that he was going to drown. His first words to me when I arrived at the scene was "I thought I was going to die." and he burst into tears. I've never seen my father that rattled before. To think that he was moments away from drowning......
Have a great week everyone!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

Oh, Gina. That sounds so terrifying. I'm so glad your dad is okay. What a scary event.

I have to get started on some Halloween stuff. Just no time quite yet. And in CA, we're still having nice weather and the leaves don't change to pretty colors.

Sharon
13 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son

I am so sorry to hear about your Dad - what a relief that he is ok. Sounds like a terrifying experience though and I am sure he will be shaken for awhile.

1. Do you take care of your neighbor's place when they go out of town and vice versa? yes - plants and garden and general checking.

2. Any special fall traditions/activities in your area? I am SOOOO missing all things Fall - but another family who was in India last year has assured me that I will savor it all the more next year (she is in Wisconsin too)

3. Have you started any travel plans for the fall/winter holidays yet? Big Nov break here so we will go to an ashram for a few days to celebrate Diwali (festival of lights) and then trek in Darjeeling (Himalaya)

4. What is your favorite part of fall? Cool, crisp air, baking pumpkin bread (or anything), apple picking, making chili, trick or treating and decorating the house fall like!

5. What is your approach to budgeting? Fly by the seat of my pants, plan carefully by paycheck, balance my checkbook to the penny?
I follow pretty carefully - use my debit card and record everything immediately - but can still do impulse spending! Now that we are in India and I am not working, I am being very careful and attentive - hoping that carried over when we get home.

Dh is in hospital with Dengue Fever this week - it has been a little scary bt he has rec'd great care and will go home tomorrow. It has been hard on the boys to not see him, but he is now in a room they can visit so tonight they will come, have pizza and watch the Commonwealth Games!

I am really missing being home on this nice long Autumn weekeend!

Happy Friday
Suzanne
BBB 4/00

Thanks Sharon and Suzanne! Dad is doing well. Pretty sore and still a bit shook up. He's been having trouble sleeping though, which is to be expected.

It just goes to show ya that you need to treat everyday as a gift and live life as if it were your last day on earth.

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson