MORNING ROLL CALL OCTOBER 2025

[DaveMcK]

MORNING ROLL CALL October 2025

Top of the morning to everyone on this First day October of 2025 

Happy Birthday to all of our October Birthday members.

[LisaS961881]

   ….I’m sitting here sipping coffee, posting, texting and emailing. 

     I’m a bit excited because it seems that the Autumn chill is here to stay! 🍁 I love the change of seasons - the hum of the steam boiler indoors, and outdoors - the crisp breeze carrying the scent of leaves!  

      As a young child, these were magical months.  All carried the promise of a grand celebration at their end - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas!

       As an adult, I am still sometimes astonished at how much comfort I now find in watching little ones enjoy these seasonal gifts.  Whatever sorrow the daily news brings, and while the world seems to have grown into a much more cynical place, I am grateful that I can still find joy in watching a toddler jump and clap in delight as her mother hands her a plastic Jack-o-lantern.

     

[LeeS4949]

 I too love the change that seems to magically happen this time of year.. I lit a small fire in the wood stove last night,not that it was all that necessarily but somehow it was just time to do it.. Sat by it for a while and reflected.. No TV,no lights but the stoves glow.. Thank you so much for your wonderful post.. Perfect timing lol..

[LisaS961881]

    ….so peaceful!

         Just the fire and your own thoughts.

       Oddly enough, as I’ve grown older, my initial appreciation for Autumn and Winter has ripened.  While I enjoy all of the seasonal changes, there’s a subtlety to Winter that I’ve only recently discovered.

       I’ll admit that I often just browse and look at homes for sale in small towns in New Hampshire.  While I recognize Winters are serious business up there, I do believe I might eventually head up North.  

     
       For now, I am just happy and cozy and enjoying these Autumn days.

                      🍁🌻💨
       

[LeeS4949]

New Hampshire is beautiful.. I live in a little semi coastal town in Maine.. The winters are long and harsh but its always been home to me..I particularly enjoyed your last line of your post.. Happy and cozy at this stage of life is perfect!!!!  🙂

[LisaS961881]

    Maine?  I thought everyone here was in southern climes! 😊

          I’ve only been to Maine once.  It was mostly a touristy trip to Portland to attend a conference.  Luckily, our group of friends decided to take a side trip to Cutler to visit someone’s aunt.  

         Cutler simply struck a chord within me, and I remember at the time vowing to return for a longer visit, but sadly, I never did so.  I did, however feel that same intense connection when I visited Loch Morar in the Highlands - it too had an unforgiving ancient vibe that you either run away from or towards.

        And yup - feeling cozy and happy at this stage of life is a gift.

[LeeS4949]

 Maine is no place  I would recommend moving to but aside from 4 years of Army duty and 2 months in Arizona its been my home.. As Gramps used to say "all my yesterdays are here".. 

[MsStretch]

@LisaS961881 , 💕 At the risk of sounding sappy, this is so precious.  I love it! 🤗🥰

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[LisaS961881]

   😇🎃🐱 

[MsStretch]

@LisaS961881 , this is so cool!  This 'big kid' would have a ball here.  But you know I gotta ask, where is the turtle? 🐢

[LisaS961881]

  Hi MsStretch!

       I placed my new turtle by my back door - so that she could chat with a kitten and a mouse!

          

[LisaS961881]

….just sending a smile to everyone!  🎃💀🙋

[LeeS4949]

And right back "at cha" and thank you....  😁

[LisaS961881]

    Lee, I somehow knew you’d reply. 🎃

            Last year, I had set up my skeleton bending down petting the animals.  I had secured him in position with fishing line to the left of my front door.  I noticed that the toddlers and the kindergarteners who were trick-or treating made a big fuss over the animals and pet them all, while their parents took photos, but that there wasn’t a lot of “wiggle room” for kids in costumes to maneuver.

         So this year I made it more user-friendly for the little ones - they can more easily pick the animals up, sit down with them, pose with them….whatever makes them happy.

         A little kooky, I’ll readily admit, but this world sure could use a touch of whimsy!

                                 🍁🎃💀🍂👺😉

[LeeS4949]

 Call it kooky if you want,I choose to call it giving to others to help them enjoy their day,and at the same time getting so much in return.. Thank you for all you give..

[LisaS961881]

    🙏🩵

[LaDolceVita]

@LisaS961881   I am sorry to have to tell you that I have not been contacted by anyone from  the 2 rescues  to which I had applied to be a foster parent.  I feel like I am being shunned.  Perhaps I have too many dogs, 9, to be considered a good applicant.   I did attend a meeting for a group which raises money for lowish cost spay/neuter certificates.   At least they were friendly and I plan to help/join in the Blessing of the Beasts on October 4.   Thank you so much for your kind thoughts also!!!

[LisaS961881]

   LaDolceVita,

      I am glad to hear that you are being welcomed in the low cost spay/neuter group!  I am certain that your experience and expertise will be an asset.  ….”When a door closes, a window opens” was one of my Grandmother’s favorite sayings!  🌈

       As for the disrespectful lack of communication from those two rescue groups that you mentioned, they seem to have a paternalistic, dismissive attitude towards potential fosterers and, I assume, adopters as well.   I remember once, when I was doing transport after Katrina, dealing with the type of groups you have described.  In one instance, I was proudly shown their “Adoption Application”  - they required a six-foot high fenced in yard, four personal references, multiple “home visits” prior to adoption, vet records for all current and past pets going back 12 years, no children under twelve, nobody in the family could be in the military or college, and no full time job for the primary caregiver!🤪.  (And, of course, this group only wanted small, young “perfect” animals.).

….In retrospect, being “ghosted” saved you, but I too most certainly would have felt hurt, and somehow subtly deemed, “lacking”. 🩵.  

     (….their loss)

      While the image of the first battered scarred bait dog I rescued is forever seared into my memory, and I remember feeling so fiercely protective and holding that broken soul and vowing, “Never again will you be hurt - I will find you a safe, loving home!”, I simply cannot fathom turning away anyone who wants to help homeless animals.  In my mind’s eye, there’s a difference between being reasonably cautious and being insular and judgemental.

    Thanks for letting us know how you are doing.  I am currently trekking  over hill and dale, but saw the notification that you wrote, and jumped right on the porch to write back! 🩵🙋

     ~ Lisa

[LaDolceVita]

@LisaS961881   I  tried to send you a private message in response to your post, but it was rejected.   I explained some things about a recent event regarding pets which I do not feel free to share in open forum.  I noticed some PMs from Nicole which I will respond to immediately.  I am not getting emails so I missed her PMs. Please PM me if you decide to allow that type of communication. 

[LisaS961881]

Enjoy Everyone!

   
     ….launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment….

                                                                             ~ Thoreau

[LaDolceVita]

Whew, finally made it here!   Getting to this site and then to the Porch is ridiculously hard, compared to how I used to access.

All is well here.  Two of our old chickens died, freeing up 2 kennels and 2 puppy houses.  I signed up to be a foster home for puppies at the shelter.  I have not done this for many years and I am looking forward to getting started.  I usually handle the loss of an old pet best when I can watch young ones frolic.  

Counting the days until a nice cool night when I can open the windows and feel that mountain air rushing in.  Hope everyone is well and looking forward to fall.  

[LisaS961881]

     Oh, it’s just so nice to hear from you!

     …..That goofy, tumbling joy of pudgy little puppies brings moments of sheer bliss! - definitely chicken soup for the soul.  I haven’t fostered bottle babies in quite some time, since I left rescue, but maybe it’s time to do so again .  My all time favorite moment is when one of the puppies does that gradual shift from being awake, to slowly tilting into a standing nap! ….( you have been in my thoughts this past month, and while I can’t heal your grief, I hope that there is some comfort in knowing that many of us “here” have known the unique love of someone very much like Moose.)

     I awoke to a bright, crisp 52 degree morning up here!  Fingers crossed that your windows are all flung open and a cool breeze is wafting in as you read this!  Those “ber” months are just around the corner!

    ~ Lisa 🩵🙋🐶

[LaDolceVita]

Hi folks, @MsStretch   I am no longer getting emails and had to switch browsers in order to visit. Hoping I can keep accessing on Brave. 

Moose has passed after a violent episode of not getting enough air.   His brother has a similar condition on top of being a diabetic for 5 years.  I still have 3 large dogs over the age of 12 and every day is a gift.

@DaveMcK   Sorry to hear of Mary's ordeal.   Seems to have come up suddenly.

Looking forward to the cool down that is coming tomorrow.   I hope emails from this site start back now.  Have a good weekend everyone and sending prayers for Mary's recovery.

[LisaS961881]

  LaDolceVita,

      I am a little teary as I write this - I am so very sorry.  Yes, every day is a gift - and if I might add - we are bettered for having been loved by them.

      ~ Lisa 

[MsStretch]

To @Fall2025VA , if you see this, I tried to respond to your PM, but got this message:

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You have reached the limit for number of private messages that you can send for now. Please try again later.

Will try again later, but I've been having problems with this forum lately. *sighs*

[MsStretch]

Wow, am I out of the loop.  Darn (disappearing) notifications.

 @LaDolceVita and @LisaS961881 , bless you both for giving love and compassion to your beloved companions in their time of need.  It is always so hard to watch them decline, but rest assured that they know you love them. 🥰 Love the Will Rogers quote, but I want to add cats. 😻

@DaveMcK , thinking of Mary and wishing for a speedy recovery and return home.  Of course, it must be a relief to both of you to know that you are only a few steps away.

[LisaS961881]

    MsStretch,

         Of course we include our kitties too! 😽

….one of my favorite quotes about cats is an obscure one:

     Cats are the visible soul of the home as the time spent with them is never wasted.

                                     ~ Jean Cocteau

 ….when I first read this quote, I had to pause and savor it, and then I just smiled.  🙋…..   And I love the fact that Jean Cocteau said this because his film “La Belle et La Bete” (Beauty and the Beast) is one of my favorite foreign films - it is enchanting! 

     Everyone enjoy the day - Life is good! 🐈‍🐴🛶🐶☀️🏊☕️🙏

     ~ Lisa  

[DaveMcK]

My wife Mary is in the hospital recovering from major back surgery

 She will end up with  a 10" scare on her back. She should be able to transfer to a rehab center which is part of our  full service retirement complex. I will be able to walk over to visit her from our independent living condo. 

Cannot wait for her to return home. 

[GailL1]

@DaveMcK, I wish her a speedy recovery and hopefully one that has more relief than acute pain during the recovery.

Can you manage to be without her for this interim period?  Are you pretty much self-sufficient or do we need to send a chief cook and clothes washer your way to help out.  

Get the place all nice and clean for her return.  She will be happy 🤓

[DaveMcK]

We have housekeeping twice a month at our independent living complex.

We also have a dinning room where we can get breakfast and dinner. We also have our own clothes washer and dryer.