I have gotten (almost) all of my outdoor tasks done at work. Or at least, all the freeze sensitive plants have been brought in, nightshades that haven't been cut down for composting are inside, all the 20 bags (40 cu ft) of mulch put in the bed (though it's only half of what I need for the whole bed, and a thin layer at that because I didn't want to stop in the middle of a (relatively) clear area), the raised planter box that needs quite a significant amount of TLC (some of the boards have broken or wood rot from weathering AND this Spring one of the wheels broke off so it needs to be completely emptied of soil before it can be moved at all or and repaired either this autumn or after it comes out of storage in Spring before receiving new soil) has had over 3.4 of the soil (VERY nitrogen rich because that box has only had peas, nasturtiums, and marigolds in it the last three years and those are all nitrogen fixating plants) between the front bed and indoor plants and front planter boxes and should be completely done with moving that soil by the end of tomorrow even with a middday Packer game Zoom party with my sister's family.... I still have to harvest the remaining herb raised bed herbs that didn't get brought in and I'm waiting for my almond tree in a whiskey barrel to finish dropping its remaining leaves before bringing it in and bagging it for the winter. (They are winter hardy for all but our worst winters in my zone, but because it's in a whiskey barrel planter, leaving it outside would get ice crystal in the soil and along the roots that would kill it because the soil isn't insulated by surrounding soil and snow the way it would be if outside in the ground. So she comes in every winter.)  And of course the rest of the mulch if/when we get it before the first real snowfall. Less than eighth of an inch of flurries expected on Halloween day, but nothing that will last in the near forecast.

Funny enough, but 40s-50s gray days are some of my favorites for gardening. Which sounds very British/Irish of me but it's just really comfortable to garden at that temperature and haul things in jeans and a sweatshirt without worry about sun poisoning or overheating. I have redhead genes and very fair skin, so summertime gardening I easily sunburn which causes sun poisoning if I'm out during the scorching sun and heat of the day. I do it, but I have to be really cautious and aware of hydration and reapplying sunscreen. When it's gray days with some light rain and 40s-60s, gardening is much less of a constant checking on the time to make sure I self-care so I don't pass out and I can just state of flow hyperfocus on whatever tasks I need to get done regardless how much time passes or when I last drank any water or tea. Plus, it's really really lovely to come in with that sense of FINISHING the job and realize how cozy warm inside is and then make something hot to drink like hot cider or hot tea or hot coffee or hot cocoas and just cradle that hot mug in your hands and breathe in the aroma and bask in the joy of FINISHING the task instead of the weight of "things I still have to do quick drinking some water or iced tea or iced coffee and trying not to talk to people which would derail you but also trying to make sure you remember to reapply sunscreen... Summer gardening other than watering things always feels more like a chore to keep everything alive whereas Spring/Autumn gardening feels like the joy of completed tasks of plating/harvesting and finishing the job. 

Alright, I'm going to go finish topping soil on the indoor plants (turns out they eat it and the roots and water erosion don't completely replace it, lol) or at least the ones in the vestibule/hallway. And then I'm going to go through my veggies drawer at work and make a salad for dinner because I know I have some leafy greens to eat up and assess what I have here versus at home (my fridge at home is painfully low on food now that both CSA are ended, one where we choose and pay for what we want to get delivered and the other a small thank you box of surprises form a CSA that uses our store as their dropoff point/pickup point for this area of the west side...I need to go shopping or at least to farmer's market soon, lol) and then I will finish topping soil in the front sales floor and admin plants (I have a LOT of plants at work, most of which I've inherited form people who couldn't care for them or been gifted or found free from people who no longer want them because of their size -- the only ones I have bought to keep at work are ones that having at home would be dangerous if my cat chose assholery and chewed on them to tlel me he was upset I wasn't home often enough, lol) and then some more work at my desk (getting hours in for this coming week because I have plans to see Madiosn Opera's Tosca on Fri and then on Tues either heading to MKE for ghost stories at ICHC or will go to my mom's house for dinner and wine and to watch figure skating since Skate America was last weekend and we haven't gotten together yet) until whenever I head home. Tomorrow, back at work during the day to alphabetize some thing during the game and will put something together in the slow cooker for dinner and moving the rest of the dirt from the planter box that needs to be emptied into the bed, and watering the mid-cycle melodramatic plants (hibiscuses, fig trees, bird of paradise plants, nightshade plants) who get water every 3-4 days as opposed to every 8-12 days (and the succulents/palms get water every other 8-12 days), and some inputting/alphabetizing/filing until whenever I head home. And at some point tomorrow Crissy is going to stop by so we can get together for some discussion on my newest edits/chapters on the vampire novel because she's my accountability person who is excited for next chapters (something I need to keep me writing first drafts if I'm ever going to finish any of my real writing novels instead of getting distracted by shining new ideas) but it's been a while since we last met because life got super busy and her work has been stressful. 

P.S. I don't actually have anything to say right now to say about anything in my inner space or down the bond or regarding Eric. About all I have is that I would very much like to give him a big "I miss you and so I'm not going to let go til you're ready to let go" hug. I'd very much like that. Just physically. The bond is wonderful and a delight, but it's just not the same as being together IRL and actual hugs and in person being with someone, y'know? So I'd just very much like to give him that sort of hug, in person ACTUAL hug, and that's the strongest emotion in me toward him today/tonight. Mostly this afternoon/evening I've been dealing with plants and moving dirt/mulch and taking the dog on walks and playing fetch with the dog and munching on snacks and drinking hot tea and hot cider.