by Judy Handley | Oct 3, 2026 | 2026 Life Logs |
2026 Life Logs, Day 276: Beautiful Day
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Weather: Sunny and Warm; High Temp 68, Low 50 degrees F
Location: At Home with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Weatherwise, it was a beautiful day. I spent two and a half hours this morning knocking on doors for Jack Richardson who is running to be a State Representative and Dylan Fernandez who is the incumbent running to be the State Senator from this area. I have been canvassing with a woman named Julie that I met on the Green. We both volunteered to knock on doors on the same day in August before the primary election, and we have been canvassing together ever since. We both find it striking just how many people have no idea who their State Senator or State Rep is currently, much less who is running in this election. They know their Reps and Senators in Washington, but not at the state level. I have to admit I was like this just a few years ago. I pad very little attention to local politics, only national. But Donald Trump jolted me into activist mode. I always knew it was important to be in the know, but now it is a matter of survival for our democracy. So, I knock on doors and have wonderful conversations with people who for the most part are truly appreciative of the information. It is a good way to spend my Saturday mornings. It does mean I am late getting to the Green, but Julie and I got there to spend about half an hour before everyone started dispersing.
I then came home and started prepping ingredients for making soup and I made chicken salad for lunch. I went to Heather and Jed’s to get help with the footpads from Patsy’s wheelchair. I bought footpads that can be raised and lowered so that her legs get a break from hanging down all day. But right after I put them on, one of the aides must have tried to lower them and jammed one of them. Heather and Jed figured out the problem, and it is working once again. Then it was home to play ball in the sunshine with Shadow for a bit. When I came in, I finished making the soup and that was it for my day.
by Judy Handley | Oct 2, 2026 | 2026 Life Logs |
2026 Life Logs, Day 275: It Really is October
Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
Weather: Sunny and Warm; High Temp 71, Low 56 degrees F
Location: At Home with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
I am still reeling from losing an entire summer and am finding it hard to believe that is already October. But the weather and the signs of fall are convincing me that it really is October. I worked all morning on Indivisible projects for NO KINGS Vote Early day on October 17, went to visit my sister, came home to have a late lunch, and was then off to a soccer game. All the while the sun was shining and it was gloriously sunny. A bit windy for the beach, but otherwise, it could have been a great beach day. But tomorrow afternoon might be my chance at a beach afternoon. I am doing political canvassing in the morning, but just maybe, I’ll spend the afternoon on the beach.
I had not picked up the October schedule for Bridges so was surprised when I arrived and everyone was out in the garden area. A local animal rescue group was there with two of their ponies and the residents were getting a chance to pet them. Despite the wind, my sister Patsy was enjoying her time outside petting the ponies.
By the time I got to Falmouth High School for the soccer game, a few clouds had come in. But that was a good thing. From 3 to 6 pm every afternoon, sitting in the bleachers to watch a game when the sun is shining is almost impossible. The bleachers face the low lying afternoon sun, so without sunglasses or a visor, you really can’t see. But the clouds this afternoon were just perfect. I didn’t get to see the end of the game as it was time for me to go pick Ollie up from the golf course, but Heather texted that it ended 0-0.
I had planned to go to the Falmouth Forum tonight, but just as I was ready to leave, I could not find my phone. I looked everywhere, even out in the yard with a flashlight to see if it had fallen out of my back pocket while I was playing with Shadow. I knew I had it in the car when I arrived home, so it had to be somewhere. I had to go over and get my neighbor Andy with his phone to come over and call my number. I had left it outside on the deck railing which is a long story you don’t need to hear. But by the time Andy left and I got into the car, it was almost 20 after 7. The Forum was to begin at 7:30 pm and there was no way I was going to get there, find a parking place, and get in the doors on time. So, I abandoned the idea. But Heather texted to tell me I could watch it on Zoom live. So I did. It was great fun … a Jeopardy game about Falmouth.
by Judy Handley | Oct 1, 2026 | Cape Cod, USA |
2026 Life Logs, Day 274: More ‘To Do’ List and a Great Evening at Coonemessett Farm
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Weather: Still Mostly Cloudy but Warmer; High Temp 70, Low 61 degrees F
Location: At Home with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
One of the easy tasks on my ‘to do’ list was to go get blood drawn for my annual physical exam. Last year I got this done at the Falmouth Hospital because the Quest Lab that is just down the street from me had closed. I learned today that actually it was probably reopened last year, but I didn’t know that. Same for today. I did not know that it had reopened, so I went to the hospital lab again. That was a two-hour mistake. It literally took two hours of waiting to get blood drawn. But at least it is done.
For the rest of the day, I did everything from writing and delivering checks to the library, doing the research to find the just right place to get a massage gift certificate for Heather for her birthday. I gave her the promise of the massage last night at her birthday dinner and asked for her preferences. She suggested I check with her chiropractor, so I did and got the appointment made. I did some editing and printing of things for Indivisible, walked and played outside with Shadow, picked Ollie up from golf practice, and tonight I went to a Newcomers social event at the Coonemessett Farm.
I used to take the boys there when they were younger, and I buy my Christmas tree there some years, but I hadn’t been back to see the animals and walk through the farm for quite some time. I enjoyed that while listening to couple playing the fiddle and a guitar with music that instantly made you want to dance.
And after a great dinner provided by West Falmouth Market, people did dance. Doris Lachapelle, Encore’s line dancer supreme, led anyone interested in an evening of line dancing while others sat around a fire and toasted marshmallows for s’mores.
There were even hayrides. It was a really fun evening. And I cannot believe it is already October! Where did September go?
by Judy Handley | Sep 30, 2026 | 2026 Life Logs |
2026 Life Logs, Day 273: Happy Birthday, Heather
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Weather: Mostly Cloudy with Some Sun Peeking Through; High Temp 67, Low 58 degrees F
Location: At Home with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Happy 51st birthday to my beautiful, talented, brilliant daughter. Can you tell I am her mother? 🙂
We celebrated as a family at the new Indian restaurant in Mashpee. Jonah had a soccer game this afternoon and Ollie had golf practice, but we were all able to get to Mashpee by 7:15 pm to celebrate.
I spent my morning in meetings. First I had an Indivisible Falmouth planning meeting for NO KINGS Vote Early activities on October 17. I went from there to Coffee O to meet with a couple who are going to be visiting Timor ‘Lest. It is an independent county on the east side of the island of Timor and West Timor on the west end of the Island is part of Indonesia. Mark and I visited Timor West on our sail around the world, so we spent an hour and a half talking about sailing in general and then that part of the world. I west home to eat lunch and then I was off again for a meeting with the acting Town Clerk to go over Indivisible Falmouth’s plans for October 17. Then by 4 pm I was in the stadium at the high school to watch Falmouth take on Nauset. We lost this one 0-1. Hopefully the team can bounce back to go for a win over Martha’s Vineyard on Friday.
by Judy Handley | Sep 29, 2026 | 2026 Life Logs |
2026 Life Logs, Day 272: To Do List, Sister Patsy, and Wine Group
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Weather: Some Misty Rain, Overcast; High Temp 63, Low 57 degrees F
Location: At Home with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
I kept chipping away with that ‘to do’ list today while dealing with my sister’s diabetes issues. I spent part of the afternoon with her at Bridges and she continue to amaze me. She does know who I am, but she has fleeting memories of the people in our family. But the strangest thing is her attempts to be funny which is the opposite of the quiet, shy person she has always been. Then tonight I met with my wine group. That is always a good time.
