Christopher Donahue

It is all fun and games isn’t it?   The beautiful foliage. Colorful leaves strewn everywhere. Scarecrows, corn stalk,  and pumpkins. Fall is a beautiful time of year.

But time is fleeting.    As I went out on the back porch I was confronted by the sure sign of upcoming winter: the constellations of Orion the Hunter and Canus Major.

It was a reminder that all this autumn glory will be transitioning to a white blanket.

Enjoy the beautiful Autumn and remember: 145 days until Spring!!!

copyright 2026 Christopher Donahue

Back home safe and sound!

I have just returned for a very fun week of King Fu training in Salzberg, Austria of all places.  The trip was a lot of fun and a big part of that was the camaraderie I had with my fellow students of all ages.  It was a special memorable trip.

But boy, am I glad to be home.

I am becoming a softy in my later years, but I missed my morning ritual of coffee with my wife and cat Quiet Rustle while in the Alps. Especially this time of year. Each morning we sit in our little sun room. From that vantage I am witness to the season inexorably turning. One day at a time.

This time of year, the yew berries are out green piney bushes in out front yard.  I’m not the only one to notice because the birds and squirrels have been Feasting.   A blazing red cardinal visited. Where I grew up there’s a tradition that a cardinal appearing t like that is a sign of a departed loved one saying hi!  I will go with that!

I am glad to be home!!!

copyright 2026 Christopher Donahue

Once again, I have been thwarted in my pursuit of the Perseid meteor shower.  It is not for lack of trying. For the past week or so, I have been waking up and sticking my head out side to determine if I can observe the annual Perseid meteor shower. Unfortunately, and true to form, each time stuck my head out it was cloudy.

This is not surprising, at least in coastal New England,it starts getting cloudy at night in August as the first hints of Fall start coming our way. Maybe next year I will get inland and observe. Perhaps Vermont.

Instead, I stick my head out and go back to bed!

copyright Christopher Donahue 2026

It always feels good to get things done!

I don’t know why,  but for some reason I couldn’t get motivated to plant my tomatoes.    Each year they usually go in for Memorial Day.  That way I can be sure there won’t be a late frost.  But this year, the tomatoes were on the back burner until I realized we are almost half-way through June!

Well, the tomatoes are finally in and I feel great. And as a  bonus, I was overdue for a blog post and now…here it is!!!!

Have a great summer day where ever you are!!!

copyright 2026 Christopher Donahue

Tonight, I am enjoying the view of a blizzard outside my window.   The snow is coming down in swirling and blinding sheets. The street-lights reveal how fast the snow is coming but somehow there’s no darkness. And there’s no sign of it letting up: the snow started in the morning and will go through the night.

All my snow-gear and boots are on a towel in the kitchens drying. Quiet Rustle, my cat and I sit in the dark with some Christmas lights still left up in the windows. I clack away on the laptop. The first big storm of the season is always fun and this one is a big multi-day cozy event.

For sure, I will wake up several times in the night to see how it’s coming down.

I will then fall asleep and dream of the brownies my wife will bake for my snow-blowing this morning!

copyright Christopher Donahue  2026

The snow is coming down nicely on Christmas Evening. My wife and I are relaxing after a nice Christmas Day.  We stayed home instead of traveling because of the weather.  Our cat Quiet Rustle purrs happily on my wife’s lap.   All three of us are together for another Christmas!

But it didn’t look that way in the September when Quiet Rustle was ill. We didn’t think he would make it a month!

Consequently, My wife and I didn’t exchange big gifts this year.  But we both agreed, the money spent at the veterinarian was worth it: Quiet Rustle’s recovery is the best gift of all!

Tiny Tim agrees!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

copyright 2025 Christopher Donahue

We are rocking Gratitude Month here and here’s my latest!

Back in September, we thought we were going to have to put our dear cat Quiet Rustle to sleep.   He had been a robust fifteen-years-old until he suddenly got ill and lost two pounds! It was terrible. We were taking care of him and helping him get through his day.  But things didn’t look good.  He was thin as a wisp.

Then, miraculously, he rebounded! (with the vets help!)

Quiet Rustle’s appetite came back. He quickly put on weight! Then he started doing athletic activities we forgot about.  He leapt off the cat tower, flew over my head and landed on the couch (A few times).  All kinds of fun stuff.

And one of the best things was when he sits on your lap in the morning, we don’t feel like we are going to lose him.

Thanks for sticking around  is what my wife said.

Another reason to be grateful this November

copyright 2025 Christopher Donahue

Every morning, my wife and I have a wonderful routine.  In the pre-dawn gloom, we sip coffee and watch the sun come up with our cat  Quiet Rustle who sits on my lap.  I suspect Quiet Rustle sits on me to get a better view of my wife.

We started doing this during the pandemic when not commuting  freed up an  hour each morning to chill out. Previously, we only had time on the weekends.

All three of us love it!

But life is transitory.  Outside the window, I notice the arbor vitae is bearing little red fruit.  The sparrows have noticed too. Farther, away, the foliage has fallen off my neighbor’s tree and I can now see the local red hawk family landing at their roost a tall pine.

Consequently, I try to always stay in the moment.

And be grateful for everything really!!!

copyright 2025 Christopher Donahue

Summer weather is arriving early today. The red, blurry orb of the sun is slowly, rising over the local hill. I can look directly at the sun’s disc  directly through the haze, but soon our friendly neighborhood star will be blazing away for the rest of the day.

Quiet Rustle, my cat, is taking the whole scene in from the vantage of my lap. My coffee is holding out and everything is good for the next several minutes before I have to get up and go to work.

And that’s when I notice the rhododendron outside the window.

I have a sinking feeling because the blossoms are just past prime and I wanted to get a picture.  Wait! I wanted of picture when the buds first popped!

This is another reminder life keeps moving.

Maybe next year!!!

copyright 2025 Christopher Donahue