Heading To Florida - On The Road Again

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It’s that time of year and we are taking a road trip to Florida! 

In the past, we always powered through with just one overnight stop, but this time we’re slowing down, taking a little more time, and enjoying the journey with two nights in hotels and less driving each day, which will give us a little more time to stretch, explore, and take in the scenery along the way. It should take us 3 days traveling to reach Florida instead of two.

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Of course, Mother Nature always likes to keep things interesting. A Nor’easter storm is moving through, and I’m crossing my fingers we can stay ahead of the rain. Either way, the open road and palm trees are calling!

Spider Webs and Misty Fog- Nature's Spooky Halloween Creations

Move Over, Fake Spiderwebs—Nature’s Got This Covered

It's definitely beginning to look more like fall as the leaves turn color and pumpkins and Halloween decorations begin to appear all around the neighborhood. So far— I've noticed fake spiderwebs, glowing pumpkins, giant dragons and ghosts, and spooky skeletons. 

When I stepped outside in the fog for my early morning walk today, everything looked a little mysterious.  I noticed hundreds of spider webs on the bushes and grass — real spider webs glistening in the morning mist. They were everywhere: stretched across bushes, woven through the grass, and draped over rocks like delicate lace.

 It felt like nature’s version of Halloween décor — elegant, eerie, and completely unplanned. No store-bought decoration could ever match the artistry of a spider’s web on this foggy morning. However, after  the sun came out and the fog lifted, the spider webs all seemed to disappear!! 

But did they really disappear? I did a little research and found out. 

On foggy mornings or when there’s dew on the grass, spider webs become much easier to see because moisture collects on the thin strands of silk. The tiny water droplets catch and scatter light, making the webs stand out clearly against the darker background of bushes and grass. Once the sun comes out and the moisture dries, the droplets disappear, and the silky spider webs becomes nearly invisible again.

 

So, it turns out that the webs are still there even when we can't see them.! How many spiders are living in my bushes???

 Each web is typically made by one spider, so in the simplest case, one web ≈ one spider.

However, many spiders abandon old webs and make new ones regularly — sometimes even daily. So some of the webs you see could be old or inactive.

 

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Keep an eye out after a misty night or foggy morning — you might find your own patch of natural spooky Halloween magic waiting outside your door. 

I loved handmade by amalia comment "How wonderful that the spiders on your street are in tune with the holiday season"

 In the meantime, enjoy the majestic colors !

 Cozy Creamy Pumpkin Red Lentil Soup- Perfect for Fall

** Instant pot or stove top friendly 

Halloween Crudités and Dip 

My Gluten-Free Bread Adventure (Or Misadventure?)

Yesterday, I did something I haven’t done in over a decade—I baked bread. Sort of...

Not with a bread machine like I used to back when I made fresh, warm loaves more frequently. No, I didn’t even remember how to use the bread machine anymore, so I decided to just mix, knead, and bake the old-fashioned way. What could go wrong, right?

What's In My Kitchen?- October 2025 Post (IMK)

What ? No!! It can't be October already !! 

September really flew by and now it's time once again to join Sherry at Sherry's picking for the In My Kitchen Blog Share where bloggers share what's been going on in our kitchen the month before. Why not join in? 

Although I have had this pottery stoneware set since I married 53 years ago, I have not used it in years. The other day I took it out and used it as a chip and dip set. It's actually two different pieces from the same potter.