Wed. Oct. 14, 2026: It’s a Whirlwind
image courtesy of Pexels from Pixabay Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Waxing Moon
Pluto, Neptune, Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, Venus Retrograde
Rainy and cool
This is my changeover day.
Monday night, my friend took me out to dinner at Brothers again, which was wonderful. The paving happened on time in front of the house, and they were even done early (but too late for me to head out).
The cats did not like the noise and vibration.
We fell into bed early, and I was up a little before 5 AM on Tuesday. I fed the cats, did the litterboxes, made sure everything was set up, ate a muffin, packed up, and was out the door by 6:45, 15 minutes before the pavers would have cut off the road I needed to use to get out.
I scooted into Fishkill, filled up the car with gas, got on 84, and then the Taconic. The weather was better than predicted for most of the trip. It was a gorgeous drive up the Taconic, with the foliage in full color. Really lovely. Not too much traffic, either.
MapQuest had another meltdown, and was useless. It sent me in the wrong direction when I got off the Taconic, but I figured it out and turned around. 295 to 5 to 20 to 22 was fine. They paved the bit that was milled on the way down, and it was a better drive. But I missed the turn from 22 onto Provost Road, and ended up going all the way up to Pownal, VT, where I caught 346, and then I knew where I was, and came down 7 through Williamstown. It was rainy and mucky from about Berlin, NY on up.
Home a little after 9:30. My parking space was there – imagine that! I parked, unloaded, got everything up the stairs.
Charlotte was delighted to see me. Tessa muttered I messed up the schedule again. Bea hid for about two hours, before becoming very affectionate. Willa didn’t really care one way or the other, because my mom was there the whole time.
Everything was fine at the house.
A bunch of packages had arrived while I was gone, and a big stack of mail. Got that all sorted out.
Unpacked what needed to stay home, and repacked some stuff I need for the residency. Several bags were already packed, and I’m taking fewer books than usual, but I have project research and accoutrements. Because I’m taking the kiddie pool and the wedding dress to work on for the installation, plus all the stuff for the reading, and the books that weren’t delivered to the studio, it will be a full car again. And I’m still taking less than last year, but it’s bulkier this year.
I paid the last two bills for the month, I put together the grocery list, and I wrote some cards.
I did laundry at my friend’s place, so that’s all good. I have to repack the clothes with heavier sweaters and switch out some pants, but everything else is pretty much packed. I will go through it again later today, just to doublecheck.
I took the COVID test and sent off the negative result. I knew I wasn’t sick, but I get anxious every time I do it.
We had a meal I’d cooked/frozen before I left for dinner, and I went to bed ridiculously early.
I slept pretty well (in my own bed!), although I was up twice with Charlotte when she had anxiety attacks.
Today, I have a lot of errands and grocery shopping, then some baking for the reading. My mom is still stocked with meals I made before I left for Beacon. I’ll buy her some more of the basics. This afternoon, I’m picking up a double batch from the CSA – our last box of the season. I will miss it. I plan to cook some of what’s coming in, and flash freeze some other stuff so I can use it when I come out of studio.
We had some personnel changes among the poets for the residency. One of our poets’ husbands is ill, and she had to drop out. A local poet stepped in, and I’m looking forward to working with her. She sent me the information I need for the program and the book sale sheets, so I’m working on those changes today, too.
Tomorrow, the residency starts. October is definitely a whirlwind!
#cats #changeover #cooking #family #organization #poetry #travel #writing
