Tag Archives: autumn

All good things must come to an end

10/02/2021 Charmeine Leave a comment

It’s nearly 10 am as I write this and I’m sitting down for my first cup of coffee for the day. I’ve been awake since 8 but it was so cold today that I decided to stay bundled up in bed with my phone and browsed TikTok and other social media platforms for a while. Next thing I know, it’s 9:30 and my tummy is growling.

The tree outside has lost most of its leaves and for the first time since moving in, I can see more of the church across the street. This great big maple tree has provided lots of shade and privacy this past summer. I’ve enjoyed sitting out on my balcony on hot summer nights while staring up at the stars. On really clear nights, around three in the morning, there are so many stars out here. The other night I saw the tail end of the little dipper and the three sisters. It was glorious. And freezing cold at the same time.

Fall is ending soon just as my friends in the US are starting theirs. The days are shorter with the sun that disappears around 7:30 pm. Pretty soon it will be dark by dinner time. That’s the worst part of early winter months. The long dark days. It always makes my fatigue that much worse.

But that wind this morning is cold. I had to shut the balcony window. And I know what that means. It’s October already fall will be over soon. This always makes me a bit sad. Maybe even depressed. This time of year is almost magical where I live. Once the leaves are gone, that month before the snow comes – it can get dreadful here.

And as the seasons change, so does my way of life.

Colder days means wearing fuzzy pants, heavy sweaters and using blankets at night time. I’ve got my bulky comforter on the bed already and a quilt. It’s almost a little too cozy. But the comforter is much too big for the bed so my legs get all tangled inside. I’ll have to shop around for a smaller one at Christmas time when they go on sale. Money is tight and my savings account is dwindling. I need to be more mindful of my spending for the winter.

My dreams have been all over the place. The night before last I had this strange continuous dream about a man I’ve never met. We met in the dream. Dated. Had a relationship. He met my family. I woke up. Went back to sleep and found the dream continued. That never happens to me. It left me with dark feelings and thoughts all day yesterday about relationships.

This morning, it was dreams about the end of the world and zombie wars. I blame spooky season. I’ve been binge watching supernatural and horror shows and movies. Things always get a little…. weird this time of year.

Home projects and recipes

September seemed to fly back like a flash of lightning. I got my kitchen and bedroom organized. My music room is mostly organized, I’m still trying to downsize and get rid of things I don’t need. My pantry is a work in progress. I ordered a pack of 12 Mason jars and maybe I got too many. I’ve had some fun emptying plastic bags and storing things like quinoa, pasta and coffee grinds in these jars. It makes me feel a little more organized, and a little more prepared. You know, just in case a zombie war happens.

The good thing about this month is that I did a TON of baking and cooking. 99% of the meals I ate were meals that I prepared or cooked myself. I did treat myself to pizza one night because it was too late to cook when I got home from a visit with dad. I’m currently snacking on a chocolate oatmeal loaf for breakfast. I’ll see dad later, and I have leftover meatloaf for dinner tonight. It was delicious. Maybe the best meatloa f I’ve ever made.

One thing I am looking forward to is Thanksgiving next weekend. That means a family dinner, and dinner with a friend. I think maybe I’ve been too cut off lately from the world.

The future of this blog

My business plan here expires in January and I’m not renewing it. I’ll go back down to the premium plan so I can still use premium features. Plus I need the storage. My media bin is packed with pictures. I wanted to start a new instagram account but my family would definitely find me.

So, I have lots of things keeping me busy right now. Lots to focus on other than the pain and joint stiffness that happens more frequently now. I’m waiting for appointments and referrals. Our healthcare system is a mess right now.

Good Reads

I’m working on a list of Good Reads for October and hope to share that this week. I’m still trying to find new books to listen to or read. It’s October which means it’s spooky season here and we do celebrate Halloween here. I usually turn to scary movies and sci-fi classics this time of year. I’ll share some of my favorites with you through the month. And maybe some spooky stories too. I had a strange experience last night that has me scratching my head today.

And on that note, my coffee is getting cold. I’m itching to get my day started. So, thanks for reading wherever in the world you may be from. I appreciate you.

I have been binge watching the original Twilight Zone and forgot how great this show is. I’m trying to get through all the episodes. There’s a lot of them. This show is the OG of all sci-fi shows. It inspired a lot of other great tv series like Supernatural, Outer Limits and Xfiles.

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Saturday thrifting adventures!

Aside 09/11/2021 Charmeine Leave a comment

Thrifting is not something that I grew up with in my life. My mother always enjoyed the finer things in life. We weren’t rich by any means but she sometimes acted like we were and would spend so much money shopping. I think she passed on the habit down to her girls because it’s definitely something that I like to do as well. I spend many hours on Amazon each week looking for new things to try.

But in an effort to remain “frugal” and be more conscious of how much money I’m spending, I suggested that my bestie and I go thrifting today. I’ve been so excited for this, that I went to bed at midnight last night and woke up bright eyed at 5:00 am. I sat outside for a bit but it was so cold – I bundled up and went back to bed.

I’m sitting here with my morning cup of coffee, a bowl of Special K cereal, my water, almond milk and some piano music in the background. This – is my new happy place.

My bestie has a booth at a local antique mall. We’re going to hit that and then check out some garage sales. She’s the one who got me into thrifting a few years back. We would head to the mall after work or on Saturday morning, go for brunch and have some quality time together.

Because of the pandemic, we really haven’t been able to do that in a couple of years. It’s been since 2019 at least and I didn’t realize how much I missed thrifting and looking through people’s treasures until this month.

The Hygge life and thrifting

My journey to a happier life is a work in progress. Something I learned this week about being Hygge, is decorating your home with things you love. One YouTube channel I discovered suggested that finding vintage items like canvas art, candles or other decor items adds more history and character to your home. So, that’s what I’m on the hunt for today.

We’re going to hit Good Will as well. And before anyone jumps down my throat and accuses of being “trendy” – I’m still on disability leave. That means I’m taking home less money than I would if I was working full time. I can’t afford to buy new artwork right now at the prices they charge on sites like Amazon.

And besides, I’ve found some great furniture over the years via places like Marketplace and Kijiji. It’s where I got my last piano. And the piano I have now is one we bought for the church in 2005. It sat in storage unused for many years when we got an acoustic piano and so I asked if I could use it as a practice piano.

There’s nothing wrong with buying second hand items. Especially if money is tight – which this year especially, that’s the case for a lot of people. Most of my living room is full of second hand furniture and items from my parent’s house. The only new item I have is my sofa. And as you know, the reason I bought that is because my last couch broke a few years ago. I haven’t bought new furniture since 2008 save for a few things for my bedroom from Ikea.

What not to buy

If you are new to thrifting and are looking to bring items to your home, do be forewarned. Some items are better to buy brand new. Things like sofas, mattresses and even clothing can have bedbugs in them or worse – cockroaches. Those suckers get into everything. Mattresses are definitely not something I would ever buy second hand. Unless you know the home it comes from – I would highly recommend getting a new mattress and linens.

Other things to consider when buying second items:

Look for yellow or black stains. This could indicate that the item came from a smoker’s home. The smell of smoke can linger on fabric items and can be hard to clean.
Check for holes in wood or fabric of furniture. Look for rodent droppings, white stains (urine) or tiny little black marks which could be from bedbugs.
If buying from Facebook Marketplace, ask for the history of the item. If you can, check out the seller’s profile and their other listings. I’m more inclined to buy from someone with a well kept home. A well kept home, is a good indicator that the item you are buying has been properly cared for as well.

One of the reasons I prefer thrifting or garage sales compared to using Marketplace is people play too many games on Facebook. I gave up trying to sell anything online because of the 20 question game people play and then decide they don’t want the item. And then there are the low ballers who will offer you half of what the item is listed for. I wound up giving away so much stuff when I moved because of that.

Things you definitely want to buy

Today I’m on the hunt for vintage artwork, lamps, lanterns, and anything I can decorate my home with. More specifically, the bedroom and balcony.

Things that are definitely worth buying at thrift shops or garage sales include:

Vintage artwork (canvas art, photo frames)
Vinyl records – these have made a comeback
Art supplies (scrapbooks, paint brushes, paints, etc)
Books – I’m definitely going to be looking for old music books to replace some I’ve lost
Decor items – garden gnomes, lanterns, statutes, etc
Jewelry – rings, gems, stones, beads, (sanitize before wearing)
Signage, and posters
Trading cards and other collectables (stamps, coins, etc)
Dishes (plates, bowls, etc)

You just never know what treasures you might find in a thrifting store or antique mall.

One man's trash is another man's treasure, and the by-product... | Picture Quotes

COVID Safety

The pandemic is still going strong here in our city. The city council brought back a mask mandate and so we will be wearing masks today. I strongly recommend that you wear masks and gloves when going thrifting at best of times. Or carry hand sanitizer and wipes with you.

While many shops are really strict about the quality of items they accept, shelves can become incredibly dusty. Plus you just don’t know the history of the item you’re picking up. If you have allergies or are sensitive to dust, then gloves are definitely recommended.

Cleaning and sanitization

Wash your item as soon as you get it home from the shop or garage sale. Wood furniture can be wiped down with a wet cloth and cleaning solutions – or just vinegar and dish soap. I did this with my sofa when I ordered it from Leon’s because it had that musty warehouse smell. The smell has disappeared from the cushions. I used a wet cloth and warm water and will do this about once a month to keep the sofa clean.

Wood, metals and hard materials are easy to clean. Use products like vinegar, baking soda, dish soap or ammonia for deep cleaning.

Follow cleaning instructions for clothing and fabric items. Check insides of bags and purses for signs of bugs. Machine or hand wash all clothing items before wearing them. One tip I learned is to toss in some vinegar with your laundry. This helps to get rid of some stains and lingering smells.

Saturday Thrifting Adventures

And that’s it for today. I’m excited to just go out for a few hours and be social. My bestie just texted me so I should get ready for our day. I’m hoping to get to see dad later but might have to wait until tomorrow or Monday. There is a COVID case at his residence so maybe we need to be careful of who visits him.

I’ll come back later this week and share my finds with you! I think we’re planning on stopping for lunch today. We have been trying to get out to Elk Island park to go for a walk and take some photos but my knees haven’t been cooperating for that. Hopefully we at least get out for a drive to take some amazing fall photos. It’s a glorious day outside right now with the sun shining and the golden leaves outside my window.

Have you ever been thrift shopping? What kind of treasures have you found at an antique mall? Let me know in the comments.

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500 followers!! Welcome to fall with mostly single!

09/03/2020 Charmeine 5 Comments

I FINALLY hit the 500 mark! It’s taken over a year – but it’s worth celebrating! I was at the 500 mark, then lost a follower? But I gained a couple of more today!

So, THANK YOU!

Now that fall is here – which is obviously my favorite time of year – I’ve revamped this blog and changed up the colour schemes. I’ve always hated ultra white backgrounds as it’s hard on the eyes at night time. So, hopefully you find the website to be softer and more “fall” like.

I’m also working on some new banner art and other graphics and things. I’m trying to make the most out of the blog .

What do you think? Does it put you in a festive mood?

Fall is my favorite time for year for many reasons. Some you know already – but for my new readers – it’s worth sharing again!

Sweater Season

The weather is cooler and we can bring out our fuzzy sweaters and my favorite pajama pants. There is nothing finer than sinking into bed and snuggling up under a warm comforter. Of course, a body would be nice at times – but you know how that goes!

Fall is beautiful

When I was in better shape, I would go for urban hikes with my camera. The River Valley is just so beautiful this time of year. The leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange and crimson red. I get lost in the natural beauty.

Yes, the days are shorter. But cloudy and cool days are perfect for sweaters, hot chocolate, and snuggling up with a blanket while watching a movie on Netflix.

Fall Cooking

I love fall cooking – as you may have guessed with my sudden desire to get back into the kitchen. Casseroles. Soups – I made a delicious chicken noodle soup today and will share the recipe with you this weekend. I made a blueberry loaf the other night – and it’s GONE already.

I got brave and decided to try some baking. I’m not good with dough. My mother was the baker in the family and I spent hours watching her in the kitchen as a kid. I squealed when the scones I made yesterday came out nearly perfectly. My diet went out the window as I ate like five of them.

I love stews and casseroles. Butternut squash, zucchini muffins, beet stew, pasta casseroles — there’s just so many recipes out there to try.

Scones – I didn’t have a pastry brush tho

I spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen. I was sweating by the end of it. My condo is nice and toasty warm after having the oven on for most of the day. And this chicken noodle soup – while it’s not perfect – it’s hearty and delicious.

So yes! I’m excited for fall. I have a whole bag of tomatoes in the fridge – what do you think I should make with them? Bruschetta? Or a casserole? The choices are literally endless.

Even though life gets busy in the fall with kids going back to school and parents going back to work – especially right now with COVID — for me – this time of year feels less hectic and less rushed. Maybe that’s because I’m not working right now.

The cool crisp air in the mornings is refreshing and reminds of being in the mountains. I love getting up early on Saturday mornings, sipping a hot cup of coffee and starting my day with some music.

I hope I can continue this routine when I go back to work in a few weeks.

Can you believe it’s September already? Where has the year gone? Time doesn’t slow down even when we’re at home. This time of year, makes me appreciate the days a little more.

For the month of September, I will be working on a “positive” challenge and thinking of all the things I’m thankful. I’ll be sharing things like poems, inspiring quote and art.

Thank you all so much for being here! If you’re a new reader, welcome! For long-time readers, THANK YOU. I appreciate all your comments and engagements – even if sometimes we disagree.

What’s your favorite thing about all?

Charmed Reflections