October Writing Prompt — A dog in the middle of fall flowers — what isn’t there to love about this painting by Susan Alison? Thanks, Susan, for allowing me to use it as our October banner and inspiration for our new writing/photography challenge. Dogs — Doggos — Pups — Pooches — Canines — BowWows…

My week in photos — Many of our springtime Eastern Bluebirds fly north for the summer, but many also stay here; we just don’t see them often. Like most songbirds, they seek coolness from the scorching summer heat. …

Dedicated to Christine Morris Ph.D.

Beauty is everywhere — There seems to be a new trend on Weeds & Wildflowers and other publications — dead or dying flowers. I think Barb Dalton started it: From Birds to Buildings and Chunky ‘Monkeys’ to Skeletal Remains… My third week in photos for Septembermedium.com Then, Kim Zuch: Surgery, Fall Weather, Crafts, and Pollinators September 18–24, 2023medium.com And then, Penny Grubb: A Week In Mysteries An Inland Lighthouse — A Rainbow Of Cones — Emergency Dentistmedium.com

Our dialysis story — chapter 31 — I removed Ben’s catheter bandages on Tuesday. The bottom hole is still open — not bleeding but not healed — so I put a regular bandaid on it. The upper area seems to have a blood blister. I’m not sure. It’s rather odd, but it doesn’t bother Ben. The yellow…

Outdoors — sort of — It’s not the same as running through meadows, climbing bark and sleeping in the sun on garden stones.

Our dialysis story — chapter 30 — I started writing about our dialysis journey when Ben’s nephrologist said kidney dialysis was a certainty. My first post in this series was April 23, 2023. But I realize now that the journey started before then. The first sign that something was slightly wrong was in January. By February, I…

My week in photos — I caught the squirrel above having American Beautyberries (Callicarpa Americana) for breakfast on Sunday morning.

Our dialysis story — chapter 29 — One more step. One more accomplishment. Nurse N at the dialysis center scheduled an appointment for Ben to see the surgeon who did the angioplasty of his fistula in August. Doctor L will examine the fistula. He might do an ultrasound to confirm that there’s no blockage. …