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Last week I was at my father's house. As soon as I opened the car door, I could hear dozens of birds tweeting and chirping, not in unison but more like a multitude of soloists. I don't know what kind they were; I couldn't even see them in the foliage of the many maple trees.

But they were literally singing their hearts out....dozens of them. I decided it was their Ode to Autumn.

It just seemed so appropriate for the promise of fall, for the soft sun filtering through the trees, the calm air and the reminder that Summer will soon be ceding to Autumn's dominance and brilliant colors.
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A favorite thing: I'm outside at midnight or so putting trash cans out for tomorrow's pickup and all seems quiet. The night is beautiful and the stars are silently glittering.

Suddenly I hear a bird singing his heart out, changing songs without pausing. He sings loud and clear and the sound carries far. I spot him on top of the light pole, very high up. He never quits singing though I'm the only one to hear him as far as I know. An excellent show with no admission and I'm the exclusive audience to have witnessed this energetic singer!

The mockingbird
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Sendme2help,
I knew we had to be a small group who were fans of Don Francisco. I find it amazing we even discovered this in common. Thanks for the tip; I never suspected he was on YouTube. I'll check it out.
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My favorite thing today is that Veronica has posted 'on my mind', Veronica91.
Was it Blannie that posted how to get to Veronica's wall?
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My husband surprised me by posting my grand-neice as my avatar for today.
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There was definitely a happy bird out back having so much fun, I had to go look, early at 7 a.m. for several hours. It must have been a mocking bird, mocking me for dreading Monday. Lifted me up so much, we were able to get laundry done early, helped each other, the way it should be more often.
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Coloresue, that makes only two people I know who like Don Francisco. Just love his parody about churches. Can watch him on youtube, ya know.
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cwillie and staceyb1960:
A sunroom or solarium sounds just perfect!!! We have a smallish room like that (called a Florida room here) but had to convert it to a bedroom. But we've installed french doors all along our wall that views the backyard. A view of nature and it's activities is a must!! We can see well out of both the front and back of our house. We live in suburbia where side yards are small but the others are much larger.

Yes!...to being part of nature! We are near beautiful beaches and parks but I also wish we were near forests so I could take walks or simply sit and observe.
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Cwillie, A SUNROOM OR SOLAIRIUM!!! Oh how I would Love one for the winter months! After my parents passed away 11 years ago, my 3 sisters and I went to England and Wales on a 3 weeks vacation, and it was glorious to finally get to see my parents homeland. My Uncle and Auntie live in Swansea, Wales and they have a pretty big Sun room off the back of their house and we spent a lot of time eating and having tea and pastries out there daily. On the second to last day, a Sunday afternoon, we were out there reading the paper, and I was dreading having to come home, so I read in the adverts, for a Small Crystal Chandelier, which I of course had to have. Well my Uncle said let's go into town, and we did. It was pouring rain, and the stores were about to close, so we went to the lighting department, and the only Chandelier available was the one hanging on display, so my Uncle requested it be taken down and wrapped up for me. Yea! Somehow, my Auntie shoved it into my already overweight suitcases, and I managed to get my Crystal Chandelier home completely intact and no breaks or cracks. Yea! One of my favorite things!
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Coloresue, I am definitely considering the idea of becoming a snowbird some day and joining the annual migration south. Or maybe I'll just have to find a nice IL community and hide out indoors for the winter. I would need access to a nice sunroom with a view though, I couldn't get by without at least the illusion of being a part of nature!
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It is definitely Fall in the air here in the PNW, slight overcast and biting wind, brr! I love this time of year though, my favorite. Watching all of our trees and bushes turning color in the yard. I just received a super cute red corduroy barn/car coat I purchased on Ebay. Brnd new, 5 buchs, and 5$ shipping, not bad, and a perfect fit, I'm stoked when I order online and my item fits perfectly! Gosh, I will put it on now!
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Yep, fall weather is good. Now wife can do all her wonderful baking, house smells good, oven warms house, I'll be on MY 600 POUND LIFE TV show by next spring........
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Watching the leaves turn bright red, and all shades of gold then crunching through them on a walk in the forest
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cwillie,
I sympathize with your hate of winter! I can only guess how much it dominates your year since you're in Canada. It's entirely reasonable to be tired of a season that happens so many months of your year & causes so much extra work just to function.
Here in Florida I get so very tired of the incredibly hot & humid months that dominate our calendar. It may sound good to others, but the problems it brings get very old very fast. I still think we get the better deal because we can hide in the air conditioning.
Have you thought of coming south for awhile? Hang in there!
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As a Canadian I know it is almost unpatriotic to admit this, but I HATE winter, I hate being cold all the time, I hate the short hours of daylight, and I especially hate having to haul my a** out and shovel snow (at least I don't have to drive through it to get to work now, I hate that too!) So as much as you all are enjoying Fall days and the changing leaves, I am seeing the slippery slope toward winter... ugh!
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Sendme2help,
I'm amazed! I like Don Francisco, too! I haven't listened to him in ages, though, because everything I have is in cassette form. Yup, really old. He's so good at putting scripture to folksy songs. And some funny songs.
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The excitement of approaching fall, the comfort of adding another blanket or quilt at night, and the almost comfortable chill in the house when the outside temperature plunges to mid 40's so early in September.
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Waiting, waiting, waiting for that winter that may bring enough cold to wear flannel p.j. pants. 100 degrees, summer in socal.
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My Mama's smile

The smell of "fall" while standing on the back deck...our first real feel of fall this weekend here in the south...there is the sweetest "woodsy" scent drifting from the hills...

The coziness of flannel lounge pants with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa
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A nice, slow, relaxed drive on the "back roads" on a sunny but crisp Sunday in September.....heavenly....
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Thanks, Colorsue, for posting favorite songs.
One of my favorite singers kinda folksy, is Don Francisco of Rocky Mtn. Ministries, he sings as if he were the person, telling bible stories. He sings: (as Jesus):
"I don't care where you've been sleeping, because I already died to set you free."
Only one of my favorites.
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Madamebutterfly, I too enjoyed Downton Abbey. Watching it on the Roku box, not quite t.v., so must wait until it is released later, not live or at the times others get to watch it.

Falcon, nice find! Have seen those before, and enjoyed them. Funny to me. I also like the poem, " When I am Old, I shall wear purple".
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Reading, coffee, wine, watching Parts Unknown, Barefoot Contessa and looking forward to the new season of Top Chef and Downton Abbey. I normally enjoy cooking but lately it's been frozen or takeout due to the past few months.
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A Little Mixed Up

Just a line to say to say I'm living,
that I'm not among the dead
Though I'm getting more forgetful,
and mixed up in my head;

I've got used to my arthritis,
To my dentures I'm resigned.
I can manage my bifocals,
But, Oh God, I miss my mind.

For sometimes I don't remember,
At the bottom of the stairs
If I was going up for something,
or if I just came down from there.

And before the fridge so often,
my poor mind is filled with doubt--
Have I put the food away . . .
Or come to take some out?

There are times when it is dark
And my nightcap's on my head
I don't know if I'm retiring,
or just getting out of bed;

So if it's my turn to write you,
There's no need in getting sore,
I may think that I have written
And I don't want to be a bore.

Please remember that I love you,
And I wish that you were here;
But now it's nearly mail time,
So I must say goodbye, my dear.

Now here I stand beside the mailbox,
With my face so very red,
Instead of mailing you my letter,
I have opened it instead!
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Prayer for Senility:

God grant me the senility
to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do,
and the eyesight to tell the difference.
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Well I have been hunting for humour in poetry and found these :
don't know who to accredit them other than to Denny davis whose site I found them on
ABC's of Aging

A is for arthritis,
B is for bad back,
C is for the chest pains. Corned Beef? Cardiac?
D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight--can't read that top line.
F is for fissures and fluid retention
G is for gas (which I'd rather not mention--
and not to forget other gastrointestinal glitches)
H is high blood pressure
I is for itches, and lots of incisions
J is for joints, that now fail to flex
L is for libido--what happened to sex?
Wait! I forgot about K!
K is for my knees that crack all the time
(But forgive me, I get a few lapses in my
Memory from time to time)
N is for nerve (pinched) and neck (stiff) and neurosis
O is for osteo-for all the bones that crack
P is for prescriptions, that cost a small fortune
Q is for queasiness. Fatal or just the flu?
Give me another pill and I'll be good as new!
R is for reflux--one meal turns into two
S is for sleepless nights,
counting fears on how to pay my medical bills!
T is for tinnitus--I hear bells in my ears
and the word 'terminal' also rings too near
U is for urinary and the difficulties that flow (or not)
V is for vertigo, as life spins by
W is worry, for pains yet unfound
X is for X ray--and what one might find
Y is for year (another one, I'm still alive).
Z is for zest
For surviving the symptoms my body's deployed,
And keeping twenty-six doctors gainfully employed.
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Listen for the voice of mercy
Cast our all your fear and worry
Can't you see you've only got room for the cross?
And you live and you'll die
You'll be honest and you'll lie
Put your trust where the truth is
And you treasure where your heart is

So, welcome to life! I hope you enjoy
In between yesterday and tomorrow
Welcome to life! I hope that you get it

Hope that we get it right
Hope that I get it right

Welcome to life!
Welcome to life!

by Matt Maher
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Hello, good morning everyone
Underneath the glorious sun
I wrote a little song for you

Sometimes we forget we are
The image of the love of God
So please, if you don't mind
Let me remind you

That we were made to love each other
As a sister and a brother
Imitate perfection in this imperfect world

Hey, welcome to life! I hope you enjoy it
In between yesterday and tomorrow
Welcome to life! I hope that you get it right

On the way, I do confess
We stumble, fall, and make a mess
Everything we try to hold dear

So be honest when you pray
And maybe thank him for today
And let go of the future
So unclear
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No, correction. We should be 3 hrs. apart. 4:28 am.
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You're most welcome. It's 4:28am here, really 3:28am 'cause we're on daylight savings time a little longer here in Fl. I'm just staying up too late because I crave the quiet. Why are you up?

I'm now looking through some of my fave songs to see if the words are good to post here. YOU got me started! Great idea!
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