Luckily I don't live in a snow zone, but it has finally started to rain, which may ease the drought of California somewhat. Because it has not rained in so long, the roads are slippery with oil and auto exhaust, and the sidewalk underfoot requires some tread to walk safely on it.
The leaves have turned color and fallen too, which doesn't happen every fall or winter here. It makes you think of the eastern United States.
My dog stops and smells and I wonder if she enjoys the sensation of actually walking on the leaves instead of the cement sidewalk. She knows to avoid big puddles and jumps over obviously wet patches.
Lately we've been burrowing in, as I crochet while watching films and try in my off time to get organized for the New Year. An old sofa is on its last days but I want to wait until the weather clears to put it out on the curb for pickup. An old TV set is no longer fashionable - it's not a thin screen - but still running fine. It's the DVD/VHS player that needs to be replaced and with a replacement I will most likely donate the VHS tapes to a library, senior housing or community center. So I want to watch some of these films just one more time.
I stayed home for Black Friday and I'm not buying electronics today, though I may be missing some deals. My quiet and private time is too precious to me and I don't want to be out among the crowds, compete for products, or stand in lines. I love staying under the blanket and I notice my dog has been staying under blankets too.
After so much heat in the summer, many of us here look forward to the opportunity to wear a sweater and hat, and to pull out that umbrella. We're just glad that shoveling snow and truly freezing weather is not part of our lifestyle.
