The Queen’s Gambit

During this Covid time I am watching a lot of tv. I’m always on the lookout for a good series to watch and found it with The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. You don’t have to be a chess fan to appreciate this great limited series. Here is a brief summary. 

Based on the novel by Walter Tevis, the Netflix limited series drama The Queen's Gambit is a coming-of-age story that explores the true cost of genius. Abandoned and entrusted to a Kentucky orphanage in the late 1950s, a young Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) discovers an astonishing talent for chess while developing an addiction to tranquilizers provided by the state as a sedative for the children. Haunted by her personal demons and fueled by a cocktail of narcotics and obsession, Beth transforms into an impressively skilled and glamorous outcast while determined to conquer the traditional boundaries established in the male-dominated world of competitive chess.

Vote

Don and I took our ballots over to the courthouse in Smethport on Friday. We wanted to make sure that were in on time and counted. We did not want to stand in a line to wait to vote. This way we are assured that our votes are in. It is no secret that I am a Democrat. My views may not be your views but we all have a right to our opinions. This may be the most important election in my life. I do fear for our democracy if Trump gets elected again. He has divided this country in a way I have never seen before. I only hope that we get a new president who cares more about the people of this country than he does about himself. 

“I am only one,

 But I am one. 

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And I will no let what I cannot do interfere with

What I can do.”-

Edward Everett Hale

    Before we went up to the courthouse Don and I had lunch at the Corner Bistro. We enjoy eating there and the food did not disappoint. I had a turkey with cranberry aioli and carmalized onions. Don had one of the best steak sandwiches he has ever eaten.

    Today is a rainy day but Sandy and I sneaked a walk in between the raindrops. We have made a habit of walking every day and don’t want to stop. Today we walked on the University trail almost two miles. 

     Don has started a jigsaw puzzle and I am reading some library books. Tonight we will watch the Bills play the Chiefs. We love both teams so it will be hard to know who to root for. I must go now and put in some pork chops for dinner. Just an ordinary day as so many of them are these days. 

Fun in Carlisle

Last weekend we went to Carlisle to visit my son and his wife. It’s always a good time at the Karrasch Resort (so named by her family who visited on weekends to go swimming and play games). They make it such fun and we had a great time. We only went briefly out of the house to visit some stores but most of the time we spent right there at the house. 

One place we did visit was Aschombe’s a local nursery and gift store. WE didn’t come home with any plants but I did buy some apple dumplings and pumpkin doughnuts. Linda also came up from Virginia to join in the fun. We played Five Crowns and Pictionary.

These crazy animal face masks were lots of fun! We also watched a movie in Chris’ theater room. It was so much fun being with people. The Corona crisis has kept me at home most of the time so it was fun being with my family. 

Grands

My grandson’s wife posted this picture on her blog Gretchen Runs. It was taken when they vacationed in Japan a while ago. When they travel they really like to experience the culture of the country. This is one of my favorite pictures of them. 

Leaves

Yesterday The leaves were so beautiful. It had rained and they were shiny and glossy. I couldn’t resist picking up a few to bring home to photograph.

All dressed up and somewhere to go

Finally I had a reason to get dressed up. The Women’s Literary Club has begun to meet. Of course many accommodations had to be made. We met for a luncheon at the Pennhills Club with mask wearing of course. And we are only going to have one regular meeting a month for three months. 

This year I am in charge of the scrapbook which means I take pictures. This is a picture of all the past presidents. 

It was so great to get all dolled up for a change. 

Friendship

Sandy is not a new friend. We are high school classmates but not close friends at that time. When we served on our reunion committee we became closer. Now I have a friend to ride bikes with. 

Allegany Reservior

This is just twenty minutes from where I live. When the kids were young we would pack a picnic and wait for dad to get home from work, hop in the car and be fishing on this lake in about a half an hour. 

Autumn quotes

River ride

I am loving my bike and today went for a four mile ride on the Allegany River trail.  

It was so gorgeous and the weather was perfect. 

Autumn colors

It’s time for fall decorating and I love the bright colors of fall. 

Playing dress up

While so much remains precarious, our style is something small we have control over. ‘It’s an empowering way to put ourselves in a better mind set.'” —Fiorella Valdesolo for The Wall Street Journal,September 5, 2020

All dressed up and no where to go.  That’s how I’ve been feeling for about six months. I’ve always loved to dress up. Nothing pleases me better than putting together a cute outfit. When I was teaching I was the matchy-matchy queen. My scarf matched my earrings, my earrings matched my necklace, and on and on. That was the style then. Now of course it is not that way and a lot of my costume jewelry never sees the light of day. It seems that dressing down is more popular than ever and if you arrive dressed up a little you are the one out of place. 

As I put my summer clothes away I noticed that there were a lot of blouses that were too dressy for everyday wear and I didn’t even wear them once during the summer. With the world at a standstill for the last six months there just wasn’t a need. But every morning where my coffee group started meeting again I try to wear something that will make me happy. Some days I put on a scarf or a necklace but I still long for the days of brooches. 

Fall is my favorite season and I loved getting out my sweaters and vests. There are scarves to be worn too.

My family

I haven’t posted pictures of my family lately. I haven’t seen them since last Christmas and the kids are really growing. Sean is twelve and Sara is ten. 

 He is and Wendy recently went to Tennessee for a visit. These are my two boys.  

A poem that spoke to my heart

I was reading the fall issue of Oprah magazine and one of my favorite columns is What I Know For Sure. In it was a poem by Harmon Rashid that sums up what I’ve been feeling. 

We fell asleep in one world and woke up I another.

Suddenly Disney is out of magic Paris is no longer romantic, New York doesn’t stand up anymore, the Chinese wall is no longer a fortress and Mecca is empty. 

Hugs and kisses suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents and friends becomes an act of love.  

Suddenly you realize that power, beauty and money are worthless, and can’t get you the oxygen you’re fighting for.

The world containers its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages. I think it’s sending us a message:

“You are not necessary.  The air, earth, water, and sky without you are fine.  When you come back, remember that you are my guests.  Not my masters.”

We got a time out. We required a reset so we could see without obstruction what is essential. We need to heal our planet. 

Fall is here

Crisp mornings...leaves falling..yes, fall is definitely here. 

Fall weather

I know there are lots of places still having hot summer weather but in north western Pennsylvania the nights are nippy. It’s getting hard to  motivate myself to get out of bed in the morning when those blankets feel so warm. But I get up and go for a walk every day with my friend Sandy. One morning it was down to forty two. But we only walk a twenty minute mile so it wasn’t so bad. 

I’m trying to get a little bike riding in this fall before I have to put it away for the winter. Today I rode all alone for the first time on the University trail. The joy of riding outweighs the intimidation I feel riding an electric bike. I love to have the freedom to ride without the struggles of heavy pedaling. There were just a few people walking today on the trail today. 

Last night we went to my in-laws for a soup supper. Charlotte had made my very favorite soup....unstuffed pepper soup. The cheddar bay biscuits were a great accompaniment and Don’s strawberry pie was a big hit. Afterwards we played Five Crowns. It is good to enjoy some company after so many months of confinement. 

Questions

It is Wednesday and time for question prompts from This side of the Pond 

1.What's one thing you learned at the ripe old age of whatever age you are now?

I finally learned that you can’t change people and just to let them live their own lives without my interference. Let them row their own boat...as a wise friend once told me.  

2. Do you know any foods that can help you look younger?

  No, I wish I did because I’d eat a bushel of them. 

3. Something you miss from the 'good old days'? When were the good old days anyway?

I miss how you could just drop by your friend’s house unannounced and sit and visit. Now I feel I have to call first and give them a heads up.  

4. What are two or three of the most rewarding things to be found in growing older?

You feel more at peace. Little annoyances don’t bother you as much.  You are more content. You have longtime friends who have supported you for years. You don’t try so hard to be liked by everyone. 

5. What's your favorite part of your life right now?

I am learning to enjoy being at home more. Since Covid I haven’t been traveling. I have found home activities to be extremely satisfying. 

Sunflower time

Today I started decorating for fall. With a low temperature this morning of 38 when I got up a Fall is certainly in the air. This year I decided to use restraint when getting out the decorations. I wanted to see if I could simplify. I’m not the kind of gal who can just hang a wreath on the door and call it done but I do think that I’m beginning to get the idea that if you don’t put so much out you don’t have so much to put away.  
I began with a new theme for my mantle. It started with a picture I picked up at a consignment store at my sister’s town in North Carolina. It had sunflowers in a blue and white vase. Perfect for me. I added two sunflower pictures I had painted and vases full of sunflowers. 

Fall

Do you believe in magic?

I believe in magic. Subtle, everyday magic. Each morning before I give myself a chance to to doubt otherwise, I smile knowing that this day is laced with wonders, and it’s my plan to focus on finding them.”

– “Mining Magic” by Suzanne Robbins, 

I believe that magic is all around but you have to look in the right direction to see it. Sometimes you have to seek it out. If you do the same thing stay after day maybe you won’t ever find it. You have to be willing to have an adventure.

That is what happened today. I asked my friend Sandra if she would like to take her bike and ride with me. We travel to a nearby town because I knew a place that had a walking trail. It is behind the University in Olean New York. The trail winds its way along the river and it is pavedwith just a few low hills. I was able to put my new bike in the back of my van. When we got there I unloaded it and put a few things like water in the new basket. And so we took off. It was such a wonderful time traveling on the bike. I pedal the bike when I wanna do and when I didn’t are use the pedal assist to push me along. It’s the perfect way to ride a bike at my age. I get all the enjoyment of a bike ride with less effort. We rode 5 miles and I was very proud of myself. Afterwords we stopped at a store so Sandy could get some paint brushes for her new paint by number kits. Then we stopped at a farmers market for Apple. It is that season. Next we had lunch at Sprague’s .  It was a magical day. Riding along the river was so peaceful I did enabled me to get out and enjoy a beautiful fall day.