24: SNOW!

They seem mildly excited about it.

23: The Evans Cocktail

For my birthday, Julie Evans gave me a bottle of cabernet called "The Three Doves." I cracked it open and it is the best tasting cab I've ever had. Good timing. I needed to taste "good" in the middle of a "not good" week.

22: Hello pillow

Never have I been happier to fall into bed after a weekend than Sunday night.

21: Float

It's a ritual with us: gaze on Kentucky from the Ohio side with out-of-town guests. Saturday, Stefano, Liam, Caitrin and I watched the slow-moving, heavily loaded barge move up the river. It's tempting to make this into a metaphor for my life right now.

20: Day after pie

Best breakfast.

19: A (mostly) Vegan Thanksgiving

Thankful for all the ways we have received the love of family and friends this year. Thank you.

Left to right: Noah (23), Jacob (nearly 19), Stefano (cousin, 21), Johannah (21), Caitrin (14), Amanda (Noah's gf, 22), Liam (16)

18: Stefano

My Italian cousin is here! He's 21, studying in GA as a rotary student. While he spends Thanksgiving with us in Cincinnati, my 30 year old cousin is in Italy at his house (from California) to spend Thanksgiving with Stefano's sister and parents. My aunt and uncle (the parents of the 30 year old, who live in southern CA) are in Santa Cruz with my mom, her husband and my sister's family. My dad and his wife and all her family are celebrating in Catalina, and my brother and his wife flew to Hawaii for the holiday and a hula competition! Got that? ;-)

The great Thanksgiving family scramble!

17: The last best day of fall in the 70's

I was so excited to capture this photo before the clouds covered the house in shadow, I fled my car... and forgot to close the door! I like to get one shot of my home in each season. Interestingly, the very next day has been glum, gray and rainy. Caught the clarity of fall light in the nick of time!

Forecast for Thanksgiving over-night: snow!

16: Turn up the heat

Single parenting is hard enough. Single house-maintaining is even harder—for me anyway.

Yesterday, I raked five bags of leaves (that's after we have already done nearly 30 to date) and mowed the whole front and side yards. Caitrin finished mowing the back yard. I had the bathroom tile caulked and cleansed of mold by our handyman, and the Recker and Boerger guy came to drill, wire and install a new (ouch—expensive) green AC/Heating unit. I've got a new-to-us refurbished vacuum ready for today's tasks after the old one conked out last week. Company comes tomorrow!

It's a lot to manage alone, this house, all of its maintenance needs. But I'm doing it. I'm paying for it. I'm making a home. It felt good to end the day and know that all is as it should be... today.

15: Tis the season...

to be shopping, tra lalala laaa la la la Joe's. 

The baguette bags look like wedding veils in the sunlight. Maybe that's because the store in Kenwood is next to David's Bridal.

14: Follow the yellow-curved line

This is my view, mile after mile. I like it.

Note: Legs are about all I see of on-coming runners too.

13: Watches over me

The moon rose last night, keeping a watchful eye, while the sunset flashed it's farewell in our back windows. This is my favorite view of my home—from behind: red brick chimney, split rail fence, tall fir towering over the corner, scattered leaves on the greenish grass, Rocky standing guard on the deck. I walked the perimeter of this yard when we moved in eleven years ago, pleading with God for permission to stay here as long as I needed. I've now lived in this one space longer than any place I've ever lived.

Permission granted.

12: Midnight Muggles

Epic.

11: Socialite Media Mavens

Business networking: where have you been all my life? Cell phone use during meetings encouraged, dressing up in clothes from Limited Express, free drinks, entrepreneurial girlfriends and twinkle lights!

Featured here at Ignite Cincinnati: Debba of Girlfriendology (blonde) and Michelle of C3: Creating Connections Consulting (manicure).

10: Checkmates

Multi-cultural chess team: Indian, Asian, White, Black, Redhead...

9: Heeling

There's very little new red heels can't cure.

8: Windows

One to my local world, one to distract me from it. 

(And rats—Footsies (my fantasy team) needed Eli and Hakim to run up the score... Giants lose to Cowboys in "turn around" game under Jason Garrett.)

7: Therapy

Tying the knot helps me untie the knot.

6: Just blue

The tears come through, I'm blue, just blue.

5: The Cone Off-Season

Even West Chester's icon, The Cone, changes. The addition of orange stripes to its white soft serve top is meant to attract more attention from local ardent ice cream fans. I like how the off-season enables the owner to re-invest his business with a little whimsy.

I'd love an off-season for life, where I'd be free to paint orange stripes on my rooftop just to entertain the neighbors. Why not?