It is my second-oldest grandson's 21st birthday, and he is being made a big to-do over. He is the shy, quiet one who is usually in the background and never asks for anything, so I am glad he is getting a big to-do made over him.

The government shutdown is over. I wish there were a way for citizens to stop this from ever happening again. It is a stupid way to get their way while people suffer, and the brats are still drawing paychecks and getting wealthier off of stock shifts that they are causing.

Music. I love how it threads through our lives, reconnects us to times and places gone by, as well as being able to lift our spirits, making a connection with us, making us want to move, and so much more.

Trees here are getting a bit of color. We don't often have much color on our trees. I call it green, brown, and down in a matter of days. I haven't been able to travel to my hometown or to the lake house while the trees have been so pretty there, so it is a boon to see some color here.

You ladies and the camaraderie that we have developed on this board over the years.