The weather has been so nice. The temperature is warm, the sky is blue, the leaves are starting to show their bright colors and everyone is happy. Brides who have been planning their weddings have been very happy and the fishermen have been happy. Now, I hate to spoil all the happiness but we need rain. So lets hope in the near future we see some rain for our gardens and ponds.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Ellie Dolby, who celebrated her day Sept. 28, Miguel Jarillo, Sept. 29, Jade Correll, Oct. 1 and to Julia Gomes who celebrates her day today, Oct. 4.

I am lucky to have some great neighbors. Ellen Blodgett and her husband Mark have been very good friends this past year. I can call Mark if I need something moved or started that I can’t get and he will be here in a flash. They have a daughter Ella who is seven, or if you talk to any other adult who has met Ella, you would think she is 30 in a small body.

Ella is a good child and loves to do her kid things with her friends and loves her animals. But she also enjoys doing chores around the house and is known to work in her garden and then sell her crop to neighbors. She has also learned that if you want things, you have to earn them and she is proud of everything she has bought with her own money.

She is also very practical. So when Ellen and I went to Vineyard Bottled Water to get our coffee Ella went with us. While we were looking at the different coffees, Ella approached her mother and told her she found something she wanted. Ellen couldn’t imagine what was there that she wanted. Ella took her over to the floor supplies and informed her mother that she needed a broom. We looked at each other and started laughing because only Ella could be among so many things and want a broom. We asked how much the broom was, expecting it to be $10 and we knew she did not have $10 with her. But the young man informed us that the broom was $3.50. Ella ran to the car and came in with $3.50 in dollars and coins. She very proudly walked out of the building with her new broom and her mom and I giggling, saying “What seven-year-old child would walk into a place and be glad she walked out with a broom?”

Tony Lombardi from Alex’s Place at the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard sent news of events they are hosting for the elder community. They hope folks will embrace these events, and if so, they will continue to offer them periodically. Their hope is that they can bridge the gap between our elder and teen populations. Here are the events: Elder Tech Fair — a monthly gathering for elders who meet by appointment with teen mentors who help them demystify smart phones, laptops and tablets. The fair is Saturday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Alex’s Place. For an appointment please call (508) 693-1676. The Theater Of The Mind special event is at 5 p.m. on Oct. 26. Relive the hysteria of the landmark 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. It’s a special Halloween event for elders and the entire community. There’s a free catered pasta dinner to enjoy while listening to the original broadcast in their state-of-the-art theatre space (fully accessible) and it is free.

I have never gone into the Edgartown Lighthouse to see how far we can see up there, but if anyone is interested the lighthouse is open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be this weekend and next weekend. Next weekend will be the last weekend open until spring.

Also, I mentioned the derby exhibit at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. Well, if you are entered in the derby this year you can take your number for this year’s derby and show it at the door and have free admission.

Have a great day and keep the home candles burning.