A quiet stay-at-home day yesterday -- well, quiet except for using the noisy mower to mow the lawn, hopefully for the last time this year. Still, it was nice to see the lawn looking so trim and tidy again as it settles in for some long, dark months.

Today we took a 90 minute walk on Barn Island, and the scenery, as always, was spectacular -- white clouds in a blue sky above waving grasses and shining water. We walked briskly along, though Cia outdid me in simple stamina. I was bushed and footsore at the end of the walk, but she, I'm sure, could have gone a few more hours, at least.