Wayward car keys and toxic jellies

Wayward Car Keys and Toxic Jellies

This week has been irritable as the time change unsettled everyone in the house, but comfort is found in music, the Leap Scarecrow Festival, and daily dog walks.

The Impact of ‘The Hour’ on Our Mood

As expected, the shift in time, or “The Hour” as we call it, has left us all exhausted. Who knew that our circadian rhythms are so fragile? We’re a complete mess—irritable and restless, like a chaotic group of cats. The situation is so frustrating that I’m considering starting a campaign to abolish this time change once I find the energy to do so.

Early Christmas Takes Over Halloween

It’s hardly surprising that many things are making me frustrated this week. For example, Oíche Shamhna (yes, I had to look up the spelling) hadn’t even happened yet, but retailers had already “cancelled” it in favor of Christmas. Good luck finding a last-minute pumpkin or monkey nuts. Inflatable snowmen, gingerbread men, red ribbons, and Santas were everywhere, but not a single pumpkin in sight.

The snap apple didn’t even get the chance to brown before its moment was gone.

In a brief moment of madness, I was even tempted to take the Christmas tree down from the attic while putting up skeletons that never really got their moment to shine.

Author's Summary

The time change has disrupted the household’s mood, overshadowing Halloween with early Christmas décor, yet small joys like music and festivals still bring comfort.

The Southern Star — 2025-11-04