Wednesday Hodgepodge: Autumn Gratitude

1. Are the leaves turning color where you live? Have they begun to fall? Will you have to rake when it's all said and done? Is that a chore you love or loathe?

Most definitely! The foliage is turning brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange. As I have gotten older I appreciate these special season changes, enjoying the newness of changing weather. When our maples, beeches and oaks drop their leaves, some are raked into the garden for composting, some raked into the chicken and duck run for ground insulation, and whatever is left is mulched up my our push mower to compost over the winter into the lawn. Nature certainly provides in interesting ways!

2. When did you last shake like a leaf?

Oh. Right now! I love cool, clean air flowing into my bedroom at night, but these nights it's getting a bit nippy even with a couple of soft blankets. ::shiver:: But I am still not ready to close my windows! I'll just add another blanket!

3. After 20 seasons with the NY Yankees, Derek Jeter played his last official game Sunday afternoon. Jeter has been described even by opponents as a 'class act', both on and off the field. The NFL is back in action this month too, with several players in that sport also making headlines. What are your thoughts on athletes as role models? Should a professional athlete be expected to act as role model or is that going beyond their job description? What responsibility do the organizations these athletes work for have when it comes to dealing with off the field behavior? Discuss.

Anytime a person puts themselves out as a public figure they are a role model, whether they want to be or not. People will be influenced by them. Why not strive to be inspirational? to be known for good morals, sound judgement, and kind spirit? Oftentimes athletes, actors, politicians, and other public figures forget just how POSITIVELY meaningful they can be to others!

4. What season of the year is toughest for you in terms of your health? Why?

Spring. I love spring, the rebirth of plants, the awakening from winter's cover, but my seasonal allergies don't! Pollen flies around here, coating the van, the driveway, the outdoor furniture, even the lake water with a film of green-yellow seeds that make me stuffy and sneezy!

5. The top six healthy food trends of 2014 according to Eating Well are-

clean eating (more veg, less meat, less sodium, limit alcohol and processed foods)
trash fish (you know those fish that get caught in fishermen nets and are thrown back? It seems chefs are finding creative ways to make them more appetizing)
cauliflower (this year's IT vegetable)
kaniwa (essentially baby quinoa, so like quinoa only smaller)
fermentation (think pickling except with twists on flavor we're not accustomed to)
community supported food (farms operating with community support/membership). 

Okay-so how many of the hot healthy food trends for 2014 have you experienced, encountered, enjoyed? Any you've tried and said ewwww? Any on the list you'd like to try before year's end?

I think it's important that we eat healthy, choosing less processed foods, more veggies and fruits, lean meats, and complex grains. I'm all for getting these foods through community supported farms or markets. Those people are a valuable source of every community! But I have no desire to try fermented foods or trash fish. Ew!

6. In seven words or less, bid September adieu.

Summery September slipped into Outstanding October Ochre.

7. What's something on your October calendar that makes you happy just thinking about it?

Would you believe that I don't have anything on my calendar out of the ordinary? There's nothing wrong with the "every day", but I can't say as it's that exciting. Perhaps before the month is out there will be at least one thing in October that makes wonderful memories.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.