Alaska Autumn

I just came inside from sitting on the deck alternately looking up at stars and down into the fire. The air is just cool enough to make the fire seem cozy and the neighborhood noises settled down during the hour outside.

It was a busy, productive day. I went in to Aquasize and did some geriatric aerobics in the warm water of Mary Siah pool. Myra, a fellow exerciser, told me about the Wednesday night knitting support group. That might be fun. Then I walked over to Denali School with a friend to drop off the 4 kindergarteners under her care.

I arrived home in time to paint shelves off and on all day (sides and coats) and I made curtains for the new windows out of an old sheet- a stopgap until the window trim goes up and the walls get painted. The sewing machine out inspired me to start quilting some squares for Christmas gifts - no, I'm not telling what or who, just in case.

I joined some friends at Bobby's for moussaka- I'll have to make that at home again- eggplant and baked bechamel sauce. Laurie regaled us with stories of her climb up Kilamanjaro and her visit to Africa. Hearing about the open markets and the labrynth of city streets made me interested in traveling again.

Luke Hopkins and Tammie Wilson need a runoff for Borough mayor in our local election. They each garnered about 32% of the vote in a field of 6. I hope there is a good turnout for the runoff because the Borough funds the schools, collects taxes, has the power to monitor air quality and recycling, funds parks and recreation, manages planning and zoning and has a large budget (collected from property taxes) to manage. In these local elections, being Democrat or Republican is not as important as being honest and knowledgeable in my book. In other words, each candidate has their own platform.

We have a quiet weekend planned- working at home. It gives us time to plan our hike next Summer, a topic that works its way into almost any extended conversation.

Susan's bookclub is reading Garlic and Sapphires, Thirteen Moons, The Broom of the System, Song of Solomon, The Maltese Falcon, The Funnies, We Live in Alaska, Outliers and J.B. I hope to read them, too, even if I can't get to the meetings.