Autumn is truly here and I came across this picture of Lily on the Boat. She loved it so very much. We would put on the girls little life jackets and off they would run to get on the boat. She didn't get a ride this year and has left us to check up on my Dad and Mom. We will miss her every day.

I love the fall, the smells, the colors, Halloween! But I find it a difficult time of year as I start to reflect on all the things I wish I could have accomplished on the long days of summer. It takes me a little while to actually realize that so many "things" got done; but I fixate on the ones that didn't. Do other people feel that way? Or is is just me? 

The end of summer projects and clean up. Keeping up with the little things inside the house. The past few years have taught me to pick a single thing and do it well. Then move on to the next thing. But every now and then I find myself reverting to the frenzy of earlier years. Fold the laundry and half-way there take a pile to the bathroom and as I put the towels into the cabinet I see that it needs organizing so I sit on the floor and pull everything out and start to organize, but then I think I should start a bag for trash and another for donate so off I go for the bags. They reside under the kitchen sink which I see has our coffee cups from the morning in it, so I start to put them in the dishwasher only to find that it is full of clean dishes, so....you get my drift. As I am getting older I am doing better, but sometimes......

Do you ever wonder what would happen if you were gone tomorrow? Would the toilet get cleaned? Has anyone else ever actually cleaned the toilet? Just me? Hm. Who would make sure there is bread in the freezer, cream for the coffee or even the coffee for that matter? 

Who would wash the windows? Vacuum right to the corners? Trim the puppies nails? Trim the pups? Would someone else make sure that there was toothpaste, razor blades, dog food? 

My mind goes "there" sometimes. The things that nobody really notices are the things that I do every day or every week or once a month or twice a year. They are solitary chores and I don't mind doing them, but once in awhile I wonder if I should make a list to leave behind; like a Will of duties. 

The pet peeves that I have would go undone. The sink drain would need to be emptied. The cobwebs in the cellar in need of vanquishing. Change those sheets once a week! Wash all of the bedding 3 or 4 times a year.....at least!

People don't notice the clean windows, but I feel like they would notice dirty ones. Magic drawers full of folded clothes. Deodorant and razor blades are always just there, right? Socks match.

Sugar and spice and everything nice are watched over and replenished by house elves; right?

I never thought that I would take pleasure in all of these little things, but as I get older, I enjoy these things. The process of folding and dusting and washing and straightening. The magical things that nobody notices, but benefit from. Making life comfortable in a simple way; under the radar. Being useful and quiet. 

So, I wonder sometimes; if I was gone; would anyone notice? Just in case I have decided that I am not going........

Happy Fall.