So, despite the fact that I have an additional 1,000,000 gray hairs…and given that I made the decision to let Auggie be an outdoor cat (daytime!!!)… I put on my big girl panties, stiffened my upper lip, said a LOT of prayers…and allowed Auggie to choose to go outside or not… the day after.

As it happened, Auggie did go out, but he stuck close to Bear or I and he was not out long this day after the difficult day. He seemed to be extra cautious as well as hyper-sensitive to noise … especially the noise of the ravens. Hmm. I don’t think the ravens would “attack” him, but they do swoop down over Bear (and Karl before) …and steal treats left lying around. So, maybe they taunted Auggie.

A mystery.

I am grateful that Auggie is cautious and vigilant. I am sorry that he has been SO frightened.

But.

Onward.

This evening, we all walked together in the woods:

A lovely, early Fall evening…

… the day after Auggie’s difficult day.

Good grief!! – just LOOK!!!

I missed so many markets because of heat/smoke/summer traffic and my own wimpy-ness in dealing with the aforementioned.

I (and Bear) went to town yesterday and I hadn’t thought I’d go today (Saturday!!!), but I looked at the calendar and after today there were only 4 Farmer’s Market Saturdays before the market was done for the year.

It is prime time for local produce, so I told Bear that in the mode of Big Dog, i.e. “if you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch” … off we went to market, because WE are BIG DOGS!!!

YES, we are! The traffic was not as bad as it has been since some of the summer tourist stuff is done. And even though it was forecast to hit 84F this afternoon, this morning was cool and beautiful.

AND, we came home with sunflowers, carrots, a GIGANTIC leek, purple cabbage, the greenest and most luscious broccoli I’ve ever seen, heirloom cherry tomatoes, PEACHES (Montana Peaches!!) and golden plums.

The peaches were the big surprise. The grower is from Rollins, Montana which is a town on the west (west-southwest) side of Flathead Lake. Peaches!!! – from Montana … and from a town near me. The peaches are destined for a peach-ginger sorbet and also for a peach aqua Fresca. I might just eat the golden plums – they are super sweet and delicious. (I actually have about a dozen peaches and plums…only a few were added to the photo above.)

Not sure about everything else, but this week…this week, I will be eating fresh and local produce – and loving it!

This morning…

… a sliver of moon in the morning sky, nearly obscured by clouds.

And then it was in the clear.

I had an annual eye checkup in Whitefish: 33 miles to my northwest and where I lived once upon a time. I’ve been going to this eye clinic and the Dr. and his assistant for 22 years! They always greet me like an old friend. All is well with my eyes. I had the fun of ordering new glasses and sunglasses and then off I went to have lunch with a friend/former neighbor. I wasn’t pressed for time and we enjoyed a great lunch and chat. The day was like a vacation and I arrived home refreshed.

A day as beautiful as the morning sky – that’s what today was!

I am so happy that it is September! NOAA says that September 1 is the “meteorological first day of Fall”. This is different than the astronomical start of Fall on the Autumnal Equinox. Wow – first, I ever heard of this. But, I’ll take it! It is Fall.

My exercise plan went off the rails when I hurt my shin on July 6. It has been 8 weeks and high time to get back to more moving about. Neighbor Mel asked if I wanted to walk with her mornings. We have a walking plan. It started Monday, except she had to cancel and I have to cancel tomorrow, but we DID walk today! The idea is that we keep each other on track. I hope we do better as we go along. Sheesh :)!

This morning was beautiful. I walked to her house as she was getting her boys ready for the school bus. I got to see them aboard and then off we went.

The moon was still high in the morning sky … a morning sky that had blue sky and beautiful clouds and crisp, clear air.

Perfect morning walk, this first day of Fall!