Bittersweet

We made cupcakes. We cut bittersweet.  It was a Friday that started off on the worst foot, with husband fishing, and daughter screaming, and son complaining, and mom missing. But somehow, right now, we seem to be doing ok.  There is a fire blazing. A friend over playing Settlers of Catan, and pizza in the oven. I am glad to see the weekend come, and I am sure I am not the only one.

Resurrection of the Ordinary

Yesterday afternoon marked the end of a time period that brought our family's level of activity to new heights. Heights never to be repeated again. It was full in a good way, and also a not so good way. Halloween came and went. Parties came and went. Bat origami came and went, accruing only a few grey hairs along with an insult or two. (A boy in Myles' class declared at a high decibel that the homemade cinnamon pretzels that I had slaved over were, "Gross!") I smiled back warmly, proving that I have come a long way.

Daylight savings time took its toll, but the prospect of long, cozy evenings by candlelight is a greatly welcomed thought. We had our first fire yesterday, and it felt so nice to be inside and sheltered. It is easier to be thankful for things when you are sitting in front of a fire.

Housekeeping cast it's spell on me this weekend too. I am reading this book across the miles with friends, and I couldn't believe that I was able to put my hand on the copy that I had found in a used, Cambridge book store with my mother several years ago.  She loved this book and after many false starts, I am determined to read it all the way through.

November is a birthday month in our family. My mom would turn fifty-nine next week and little brother Nathan is on the brink of thirty. Not to mention Grandfather West and cousin Claire.  It is also about this time that we pick up, Little House in the Big Woods.  Even if its just for a few chapters.  One first meets Laura right in the middle of this glorious season, and it is such a lovely read to hear of the attic filling with squashes and pumpkins and onions and cheeses.

I can also begin to enjoy the upcoming season knowing that I have beat the rush to Ikea for its choicest of holiday items before everything is picked over.   I am putting these ornaments away for just a few short weeks until I will need them again!

Happy November everyone. :)

Running Halloween Laps

Maybe I wouldn't quite call it a melt down, but I certainly could.  First Myles was going to be the Lone Ranger. He had just gotten cowboy boots. Easy. Then he started saying he wanted to be a Ring Wraith, which is some obscure Lord of the Rings villain. Eric thought it was a bit cultish.  Next, after looking through a closet he found my grandfather's old Coast Guard uniform. OK, perfect, a sailor it is. But, to toughen it up a bit, it became a zombie sailor after some inspiration from my Halloween sensei over at House of Habit.   The story does not end here though, and in fact has no ending yet.  But, after waiting in line at Joanne's we are looking at the makings of Gandalf the Grey Wizard. A full circle from who knows where. That pile right there set me back forty dollars. Not including the pattern. Ouch.
My melt down occured at the Halloween store when I learned that they no longer had the beard that  we needed, to pull this last minute idea off. So now he might be Gandalf with a Jerry Garcia beard. It was a very tidy melt down if I do say so myself.

Grammy is pulling out the pattern now and the construction is about to begin. Up until this morning things were pretty apathetic and that is when I realized that I did not want this to another one of life's little disappointments.  It is still too early to call, but the anticipation is helping a great deal.

And for the school parties, it is bat origami, and a good Halloween read-a-loud.

PS. Fiona decided weeks ago that she wanted to be a Pilgrim. Grammy made her an apron, collar, and hat. Done. No looking back. The only supplemental we needed was some corn to carry around. We found this blue bunch.

Autumn Treasures

The Salvation Army truck is coming today. My driveway is filled with things of the past. Things that need to go, and things that are hard to let go.  When my father sold our family home shortly after we lost my mother, there was a mad dash to pack up the things she left behind.  And then a slow and painful process followed to decide what to do with them. Many beautiful things fill the homes of my siblings and I, but many other things must be donated or passed along.  I found some forgotten treasures as I sorted through boxes this morning waiting for the truck to arrive.

It is a beautiful day here.  I feel filled to the brim with memories and emotions. Autumn is in its full glory.

"I fear that he who walks over these fields a century hence will not know the pleasure of knocking off wild apples. Ah, poor man, there are many pleasures which he will not know."
   - from Wild Apples by Henry David Thoreau

Autumn Reading List

1. And Then Comes Halloween by Tom Brenner
2. This is Our House by Hyewon Yum
3. Round is a Tortilla by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
4. Henri's Scissors by Jeanette Winter
5. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
6. When We Go Walking by Cari Best
7. The Surprise by Sylvia van Ommen

Everything in my life right now feels crooked and blurry like the picture above. Yet, in the background are beautiful things, like this crisp fall day, and delightfully, comforting books about tortillas and sweaters.  I hope you had a great first week in one of the best months of the year.  I realize that many wonderful things happened in the year 1987. But, this worksheet that Myles brought home on his first day of second grade was not one of them. Deep breath.  My friend who had this teacher last year, is talking me off the cliff.  Thankfully, tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it yet.