Oh, and this, too.

I meant to post these earlier and am wishing I could get them a little smoother. The soundtrack goes like this "This is so fun, Mom!" said Eleanor. "I want to go too!" said Gus, "But, it's scary." "Here, I will help you," offered Eleanor. Lots of rippling water sounds and quiet concentration punctuated by eeks of fear/delight, and finally they are back on this side, happy and triumphant. A creek is a good thing to have nearby. This is the same creek that flows through the land we live on, but we don't have this kind of 'rapids.'

Alsea Falls

There is not much better in the summer than getting in cold water on a hot day. We have had many hot days lately and some friends called to see if we would like to go to Alsea Falls, which is outside the town of Alsea, the next town along the road to the coast. I did not get many good pictures, because I ditched my camera so I could get into the water--and ended up getting all the way wet, which was great fun. Eleanor was really interested in learning how to swim. It was very cold, though so she just kept screaming, loudly. The last time we were at Alsea falls was with my friend Naoki who grew up in urban Japan, and had never had berries in the wild before. The time before that, Lucy was in the sling, and I slipped, fell and got really scared that Lucy was hurt. She landed on me, so no damage done. This time, I slipped, fell and have a bruise that I can't see but can feel--all of us ended up falling down, but it amazed me how incredibly independent the kiddos were. Amazing how fast things change. Summer is in full swing, and we have chosen to fill July with activities: modern dance, ballet, gymnastics, violin and cello. Hopefully we can fit lots of friend time in there, and some camping too. Next weekend is the Oregon Country Fair, where we hope to see our friends the Ricochet Circus and Nanda, that is, if I am not at a birth, which would be lovely in a different way. My cool blessings to all women pregnant at this time of the year in the northern hemisphere. I remember, oh yes I do.

Goodbye, dear Tasha.

I just read on another's blog that one of my heroines has passed on. Tasha Tudor died at home in Vermont at the age of 92. Would that we all could live our dreams and passions as she did.

June be gone.

Well, here is another month, and me only posting a couple of times. I'm attempting to not have guilt. The beginning of the month was busybusybusy. There were two dance recitals. There was also a cello recital. I am trying to figure out how to make a flickr photo montage, but until then, i will add a page element that links to my flickr page.

more soon on june.

Summertime....

The livin is easy.
The temperature is high (90's today!)
Mama is hot
Daddy is cookin,
Hush little doggy, don't you bark.

Today we went to check out the charter school that is opening in the fall in our neighborhood. We have the registration papers, and now need to make a decision about whether to continue to homeschool or go to school. This is occupying my thoughts a bunch. I'll keep ya posted.

It was so so so hot, even in the woods, even at 8:00 tonight. So, at the suggestion of my pal Susi, we made some sponge balls. Ooooeee did the kids have some LOUD wet fun. Here they are in the front yard splatting:

By the way, the sponge balls are an excellent alternative to water balloons. Call me pernickity, but I don't like having all those little balloon bits in the yard.

We have also been enjoying summer food. Our CSA box is a welcome addition to our life, since the beginning of June. Gathering Together Farm makes it so I do not have to go to the grocery store very much, which is a good good thing. (But I should probably not wait until there is only questionable homemade (cold) hot fudge, wilted radishes, two tablespoons of leftover hummus, and assorted condiments in the fridge, huh?) And, it takes the pressure off of me for making vegetables grow before it gets warm enough, which is always an issue. We do have some luscious strawberries happening:Oh summer, you are hot, but I love you so.

Old Tech Meets New Tech

Nice to know that one can take a video with a tiny camera aboard a 1720's boat, innit?
(also nice to be able to figure out how to then put them on one's blog.... i messed up the youtube the first time, but I think they're okay now!)

Here are the videos:

At long last... ahoy mateys!

I had to wait to upload these videos because I took them sidways and had to figure out how to rotate them. It was so easy with iMovie. So, fret not if you take sideways videos!

Oop it is not ready just yet, but I'll post this, which I sent around to tell about the trip:

On Mother's Day weekend we got in the car (on time) on Saturday and drove to the coast to be a part of an educational tour and sailing trip aboard the Lady Washington, which is a historic replica of a ship by the same name that was built in 1720. You can read about the ship itself in more detail on the website: here
We got there (on time) and were greeted by Holly, the educational director. We met a bunch of other homeschoolers from Corvallis, only one family we knew from before. They had changed the date, because the Lady had experienced some bad weather and they were behind schedule, so some of the people who were suppsed to go were unable to, I'm sure glad that wasn't us. Oh, I forgot to say that in order to quell the excitement that morning, I put Gus and El to work making hardtack. They did it almost all by themselves. It is made from flour, salt and water. That's it. No wonder it tastes, well, hard as a tack, as Ella said. It was break your tooth hard. The sailors used to dip it in their tea or stew or whatever. I also promised Gus that, although we could NOT take the hardtack on board (express instructions from our pre-trip info) and we would NOT be able to take and rum, or root beer on board either, we could indeed eat it before we got on, after we got off, and we would be sure to have some root beer somewhere while we were in Newport. back to the story
Holly was a 20 something dressed in her 'foulies', good thing since it looked like rain. We were all dressed in some sort of pseudo period wear, and some warm stuff, too. Gus almost refused to wear his sweater, because he was afraid it would spoil the look he was trying to go for, but I prevailed and suggested putting it under his 'pirate coat'. We looked good! We felt good. We had stopped on the way to the boat to eat some crappy fast food at starbucks and quiznos, which was probably a mistake for at least one of us, but we were feeling very good and ready to have an adventure. We walked up to the ship, stepped over the rail, and were welcomed aboard the Lady Washington by the other crew members. The pre-trip stuff had also warned the parents to 'back-off' and let the kids do the work, and Holly reiterated this. The kids plunged right in and started working with the ropes and learning about the sails. Once we launched away from the dock, it was harder to maintain balance, but Robert and I both followed the kiddles up to the quarterdeck to check that out and hear about navigation. The sailors were knowledgeable and friendly. Some are volunteers and some are paid. They are all interesting to talk to--although the captain was a bit snobby, which may be typical. They made sure that we knew it was NOT a pirate ship, and the kids (11 of them) chose the name for their crew, The Leeside Watch, so that the rest of the crew could refer to them and give them orders.
The Lady Washington, being a sailing-ship, is not very fast when moving on motor power, as we did when we were getting out of the bay, but once past the edge of the jetty, the sails were unfurled and we got to see at least a little of how they work. Robert also got to help with this a bit. That was before he started to feel a bit woozy. It also got a lot colder once we were out in the open ocean, and A LOT bumpier of a ride. Within the first minute or so, I fell down and slid across the deck on my hands and knees. So THAT's what real sailing is like. And it wasn't stormy or anything. The children were very autonomous at that point, just going with the group around to wherever they needed to be, and helping the big sailors out when they asked. Gus was totally blissed out and focused on his job.
After we got out into the open water, things started to get a bit hairy for many of the children, and several of the adults. The ship was rocking so much and one by one people started to need to be helped to the edge to either be sick or keep from being sick. Robert was included in this bunch. The kids that weren't sick were now heaving and hoing something or other, including Lucy. Gus and El were completely engrossed. Holly asked me to stay with Lucy to help her, but I was sort of cemented to my seat, because I wasn't sure if I was going to be sick, or not, and I didn't want to fall over again. I was a bit ungraceful in my period costume, too. So, I just held on tight, and soon enough Lucy came over and told me she was 'tired of working'. She started to tell me how much she wanted to go home, right now, but I just told her that we would be there for a while, and that I wanted to go home, too, but we would just hang, and stay warm and soon enough we would be headed home. The sickos started to outnumber the people that were not sick, so we did not stay out for that long, and didn't ever really have a chance to 'sail' properly since the motor was on the whole time, and the wind was kind of coming from many directions. Through everything, rain, slippery decks, and people throwing up all around them, Gus and Ella stayed interested and focused on whatever was being shared with them, and did their parts as good sailors. Although I knew it was just luck that they, too were not seasick, I was pretty happy for them that they were able to experience so much of it. They went below decks for a bit to check that out, and meet the cook, who was a gourmet (and pastry) chef. The sailors told me they eat better than anywhere on the ship--that bit isn't very authentic, methinks. No hardtack for them, oh no, galettes and croissants, it is, isn't it?? The kids that weren't sick before got sick when they went below. Lucy and I huddled in our blanket and tried to keep our eyes on the horizon and not on the sick folks. We could hear the sailors explaining to Gus and El, and maybe the last 2 others left standing about mending the sails. Interesting stuff. The sailors climbed up in the rigging and furled the sails again and we started to head back to the marina.
By the time we got off, we were soaked, tired and happy as could be, especially Gus, who was practically bouncing with glee. They learned a sea chanty and were singing it as we walked down the gangway. It was really so much fun, and I am sure we will remember it for a long time.

And now, for something completely different.

Since I haven't blogged lately, I also haven't downloaded my camera lately. And thus, I forgot that this little gem was on it. It's rather long, but I think you'll enjoy it:

A Visit to Boise

Well, since I haven't blogged in forever, I'm just going to have to do a bunch in one night. I need to go to bed soon since I have a baby on the way (no, sillies, I'm a doula, remember!) I wanted to post some photos from our visit to Boise. I packed up the kids a couple weeks ago and drove off to Boise to get in some Nana and Grandpa time. We were well over due! We had a really good time, hanging out, meeting new friends, going to the zoo, getting some sun, and just getting loved up by Nana and Grandpa. The pictures say more than I can. I think the highlights of the trip were: Playing dress up, reading Little House at night, going on walks with Bart, Jack and Nana, taking both of the dogs for a run with Grandpa, getting May Baskets--especially because I forgot it was even May Day, and definitely building a bird house and bird feeder with Grandpa.

Bloging again!

note to self: blog more often. it has been a long time, been a long time, been a long lonely lonely lonely lonely time, especially if you were waiting to hear what is happening in the cirque. circus life is a bit strange, you know. it has its ups, it has its downs. gus reported tonight that were he in a circus, he would like to ride a unicycle on a tightrope, while juggling 3 basketballs. now, this is surprising considering he was once very acrophobic. however, it could have something to do with the hero worship relationship our whole family seems to be cultivating with our friend bill the baker, who can actually unicylce and jubble (dribble/juggle) 3 basketballs. we haven't seen him on the tightrope but i'm sure it could happen.

winter is gone. it was 85 in the shade at 6:00 tonight. besides warding off meltdowns, there was some warding off actual melting that had to happen before the little ones could sleep tonight. the northwest makes us all rather, well, like pansies, not pansy-assed, but like the violet variety which can stand neither too hot nor too cold, but can live most of the year in the northwest. i dunno about 85 in may though. i'm just glad we didn't leave the big woods and take the wagon into town today. ooeeee. we did eat the seasons first watermelon, which felt right on our mouths but didn't taste so right. here's to eating seasonal produce! i just signed up for my BOX from gathering together farm! good dang thing, too, since i only have peas and garlic planted. and not much of those. here are some photos from our recent days at jenny's greenhouse. jenny is gone to australia for three whole months, and we have been missing her much, it helps to go over to her greenhouse and just be in her space for a while. We planted some lettuces with her before she left, and we were pleased that when we came back from boise they and been watered, thanks to the house sitter, and that there were even some growing up through the rocks in the floor. we planted basil seeds and they should be up by now. we shall go and check tomorrow and maybe transplant. the kids love to mix the perlite and coco hull stuff into the soil, mixmixmix. we still have plans for a big garden this year.

for helvede! for chocholade!

so, robert has been talking a lot about chocolate, and how most of the chocolate we eat here in the states is grown by slaves.  here's something by john robbins about it:  Is there Slavery in your Chocolate?  now, i like chocolate as well as the next guy, who happens to be my husband.  okay so maybe not quite as well, but since our first date, at a chocolate restuarant, Dilettante, i have become increasingly chocoholic.  sometimes i get to the point where i just say, okay no more chocolate for a while now, dear.  because my beloved has educated me well in chocolateyness, i do not usually eat hershey's or mars bars, or nestle (boo hiss) because i do not like milk chocolate.  but really now, slave labor?  child labor is one thing, and visiting india taught me something about that, which is that sometimes it is about apprenticeship and learning to make a living while you are growing up, and there is a lot to be said for that.  but slavery is a different thing, and as john points out in his article, if the biggies refused to buy slave grown and produced coffee, there would be some change.  even green & blacks and dagoba are now owned by big multinational companies-- green & black by cadbury and dagoba by hershey.  arrrrrgh!  i am not sure what to do with this information.  are you??  

Wintergrassed

We've arrived home safely from Wintergrass  and full of all of the sounds of it.  Our favorites were Väsen and Joe Craven--well, I liked Pearl Django, too, and Joe played a mean root beer box with them.  I haven't downlaoded photos or any video yet from that, because since we got back one or the other of us has been sick.  Today, we spent the day listening to "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic" on CD, and lounging and napping on various horizontal surfaces.  A down day, onemight say.  The kids were perking up by the end of the night, but I went to the grocery store and pretty much got stuck in the vortex, and couldn't make my brain think of what might be good to eat for supper.  Therefore, sick children ate smoothies (no dairy) and then some rice and nori later.  Isn't there some thing like "feed a cold, starve a fever?"  At least one of us had a fever today, so whether we're feeding or starving I do not know but, once again, thank goodness for smoothies.  

I was looking through some photos and I thought I'd post one of Gus using the sewing machine, because I think it's so cute, and because I haven't downloaded any new ones recently.  He's making a crayon pouch for Ella, a Christmas gift meant to appease her longing for one like his.  She likes it very much and rearranges her crayons daily. 

The other one is of a local pal, Mr. Rough Skinned Newt, held by our friend Lucas.  Newts are always such a delight to encounter.  They live in our pond, but lately on our walks we are seeing many of them.  The like the wet weather.  

I hope everyone out there in the blogosphere is happy and healthy.  Must drink more tea.....

Somethin's happenin here. What it is ain't exactly clear.

First: Dadun is now Juggling while balancing!  A movie would probably be more appropriate, but for now, you get the 'still.'  'Am I smiling in the picture?' asked he.  One must perfect one's clown act if one is to be in a cirque, non?  Me, I'm mostly afraid of the balance board, due to the yet protesting ankle.  However, I am getting a bit better, and soon will not be embarrassed to show the kids now 'good' I am getting.  

Second:  It has been snowing and then snowing, and snowing some more, lately.  This is normal for winter in other parts of the country, but for us here in the Pacific NW, not so much.  The kids think it's pretty cool, but the need some snow proof mittens.  However, they did not need their mittens to make MOLASSES ON SNOW CANDY!! 

 Which they must have thought was yummy because they were all covered in molasses that day, and it was gone by the time Dad woke up.  

Also, we seem to be getting into bluegrass music, a little more around here.  Well, 'we' meaning the kids.  I took Gus up to the Rivercity Bluegrass Festival in January, and actually do have a video of his

 bluegrass debut on stage.  Our plans are forming to go to Wintergrass, and for at least Gus to take part in the Kid's Academy up there.  Here is the video:

We have also had several very interesting shows in the living room theatre this month.  One very involved piece was called 'Knitting Music'  It seemed to revolve around a composer (Gus) and 'the girl next door'  (Ella) who really liked to knit.  The plots are getting much better.  We had some plot discussions after some of the very (very, very) long  puppet shows around Christmas.  The plays are usually followed by a dance performance.  I didn't get a good shot or movie of the play, but here is Ella:

And the text that was supposed to go with that...

We all seem to have caught hold of the energy of a new year.  On New Year's Eve, Gus announced his plan to rearrange his room for the new year.  And, before I was really even fully awake yesterday, he and Ella were busy moving furniture.  They continued the project for about 3 hours until it was finished.  I only helped a tiny bit by helping to move the bed and dresser, and by suggesting a new home for the wooden train so we could retire the cardboard box.  I think he's pleased with the results.  It was sweet to watch the two of them solving the problems of moving furniture.  Their cooperation has continued today as they built a whole world, including the train, and Pizza Hut and McDonald's.  However, those two establishments were not long lived.  They couldn't decide how to remedy the problem of wanting a drive-thru, and McDonald's not having healthy food.  Oh, how I know this dilemma.  I have often lamented for a 'healthy, good for you fast food option'  it doesn't exist.  They seem to have arrived at the decision to make a 'drive-thru American Dream'   American Dream is the local and yummy pizza place.  

I'm not going to write a lot more now but I need to post a few holiday photos:

A New Year

Cooperation!

Well, the visits from the 'rellies' commence tomorrow.  The past week has been a bit trying with me focusing too much on other things and letting my mothering slide a big bunch.  Today, I tried to take a different tack and insert humor when I could, and whadya know, it worked.  The checker at the co-op even complimented me, and helped me in a moment of not so much grace, when Gus started consuming something before it was purchased.  I would have liked to have shared with you the nearly final kid image of the evening (before the discussion of who would sit where for storytime) in picture format, but I will just have to paint a word picture, because by the time I got my camera out of the car and into the house and defogged, the moment was over.  

So, here it is:   After doing as much of the mopping of the kitchen floor as she could possibly do by herself,  Ella joined Gus and Lucy, who had been miraculously peaceful and quiet during the mopping, and when I came upon them Gus and Ella were doing a new puzzle that Gus got and Lucy was combing Gus' hair.  Hmmmmm.  Peace through grooming, I guess.  It makes sense since they're such a bunch of monkeys anyway.  

 

In lieu of the grooming photo, I would like to share this one.  The kids are thrilled with the new washing machine, mostly because of the box.  It doesn't have a good place to be permanently so we have to fold it up behind the couch and bring it out when we can.  It is good to remember that they DO know how to share and cooperate!

OH and please check out this video about STUFF

Recent Craftiness

As the days get colder, we spend more time inside, and therefore have to find more things to keep our hands and heads busy.  I would say that 'handwork' and 'crafts' are two of the major subjects in our learning at home experience.  Robert is working on a huge paper-crafting project and so the kids have started doing a lot of those as well.  At first I sort of freaked, because I thought they would stop making their lovely homemade paper projects.  The truth is, it hasn't slowed them down any.  Now they use the stuff Robert downloads as fodder for their own creative inventions. We go through a lot of paper!  Also, growing out of my own desire to

 attend some sort of 

'stitch and bitch', I started a '2nd Sundays Handwork Circle' at my house.  It may be getting in way over my head, but I hope it will be fun.  Lucy started making a patchwork project, which she says is going to be a quilt for me.  And I made my very first quilt, using some directions from Amy Karol'ls Bend The Rules Sewing

I made it for a friend and it was a totally rewarding experience.  I especially enjoyed making bias binding with my new Clover bias tape doodad, and then finishing the quilt by sewing the binding onto the back by hand. 

Goodbye, Fall.

I awoke early this morning to the peaceful sight of fluffy snowflakes falling.  I do not have a photo of them, because by the time I got out of bed, they had all melted.  Nevertheless, the children were very excited.  Gus 'dressed warm for snow'.  We went out for an 'explore' at about 11:00 and there was absolutely no snow to be found.  Maybe if we went up the mountain.  We spent the rest of the day inside, doing cozy things.  Lucy and Gus built an entire village, or country maybe, which seemed to be closely related to Japan.  There was a train that led between the 'temple' and the 'tea house'.  Ella was odd one out today (which is unusual) and ended up spending most of the afternoon in her room, making some gifts for her brother and sister (!).  Then we started in on the December arts and crafts with some foldy stars from.  Very satisfyingly mathematical, they are.  I really want to find directions to make Julestearne or however you spell Christmas stars, which I learned to make in Denmark but forgot.  Before we launch whole-heartedly into winter, I will share a few more photos from our fall.  Each year, we watch as the European Beech tree that's right in front of our house turns lovely shades of yellow, then orange, then brown.  Then, one day a wind comes up and the leaves are gone.  We did have one day of jumping in the leaves before the rain made them too soggy for much fun.  I included the jack-o-lantern photo to remind myself that it was quite a momentous occasion this year:  each of the children carved almost all of his/her own pumpkin, sharp knives and all.  Only Gus needed help getting all the 'goop' out of his enormous pumpkin.  I guess we can check that one off the big list.

Thai Fresh Green Curry

Well, I don't know that I want to blog about food.  My job requires me to think about food way too often (there's breakfast, then second breakfast then elevenses.....).  However, I think that this time of the year cooking begins to get interesting because many things are not growing in many places.  A year or so ago I ran across this recipe in the book Real Vegetarian Thai .  I have told a couple of people about it and even promised the recipe to some... It is called:

Butternut Squash (OR OTHER VEGGIES) in Fresh Green Curry

This simple fresh curry paste takes only minutes to prepare.  It envelops sweet golden chunks of butternut squash  with a beautiful and savory green sauce in the time it takes the accompanying rice to cook.  Try making it with any prepared curry paste for an even simpler dish (see note).  (sarah's note:  I made it tonight with carrots, broccoli, green and red peppers--you can really put anything, including meat into this sauce.)

1 small butternut squash, about 1 1/2 pounds

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped shallots or yellow onion

1 tablespoon corsely chopped garlic

1 teaspoon peeled and coarsely chopped fresh ginger

2 fresh green jalepeno chilies or 1 fresh green serrano chili (I omitted this because of tender palates...)

3 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup water

3/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and stems

1 can (14 oz) coconut milk (about 1 3/4 cups)

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

Trim off the stem and blossom end of the butternut squash.  Halve lengthwise and scoop out and discard the seeds and fibers.  Cut into large chunks and carefully peel each chunk.  Cut the peeled chunks into 1-inch pieces.  You will have about 4 cups.  Set aside.

In a small food processor or the jar of a blender, combine the shallots or onion, garlic, ginger, chilies, the 5 tablespoons water, ad 1/2 cup of the cilantro.  Grind until you have a faily smooth paste, pulsing the motor and stopping often to stir down the sides of the container and incorporate all the ingredients.  You will have about 1/4 cup bright green paste  Set aside.

Shake the coconut milk can well.  Spoon out 1/2 cup into a medium saucepan and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.  Cook stirring occasionally, until it thiickens and releases it sweet fragrance, about 3 minutes.

Add the curry paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, mashing scraping, and stirring until the paste is dissolved into the coconut milk and is heated through.  Add the remaining coconut milk, the remaining 1/2 cup water, the sugar, salt, and butternutsquash.  Raise the heat to haigh and bring he curry to a rolling boil.  Stir well, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle boil, and continue cooking until the squash is tender and the sauce is smooth and evenly colored a soothing green, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile cut all but a few of the basil leaves crosswise into thin strips.  When the curry is cooked, stir in te basil strips and the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro.  Remove from the heat and transfer to a serving bowl  Garnish with the reserved basil leaves and serve hot or warm.

SERVES 4 TO 6

NOTE: This recipe makes a moderately hot curry.  If you like your curries very hot, increase the amount of fresh chilies to suit your palate.  • To substitute prepared curry paste, omit curry paste ingredients, and begin by cooking 2 tablespoons prepared curry paste in the 1/2 cup coconut milk (start with ONE, if you don't like it too hot!!)  •  Butternut squash and other hard winter squash are a challenge to peel.  Use a chef's knife or a Chinese cleaver if you are handy with either one of these tools, or use a good paring knife, holding each chunk steady on your cutting board and cutting down along its side to remove the peel

Ghosties, goblins, ghoulies and things that go bump in the night

The one blog I read faithfully is always right up to date, which must mean that Soulemama is way more on top of the blog thing than me, duh. I think that's one reason why I procrastinate blogging... there's so much that I could have blogged about and didn't, that I just don't. Hmmm.

Well, anyway, the stuff everyone has been waiting for is of course, photos of the kiddos in their Halloween get ups. Here they are, my friends: A pirate, (after the impractical, yet easy to make ghost costume was ditched for some more familiar togs; Snow White, complete with hair as black as ebony; and Lucinda the Good Witch.

A new little one...

Lest I jump straight into costumes and Halloween parties, let me pause and remember my lovely week in Texas, with my sister and her family, where I was fortunate enough to 

 be a part of the birth of my new niece, Kailey Anna Ruby. As always, the birth was miraculous, inspiring and left me filled with hope and lots of positive energy. It was also just nice to hang ou

t with my sister and her family for a whole week, since I never get to do that. I feel like I know them all at least a little bit better now.

My job of being a doula is always rewarding and wonderful, and working with my sister's family in that capacity was pretty amazing. It wasn't really 'work', now was it? I felt like I was on vacation, most of the time, because it was really just like being at home, except there were two other adults and one less child, so it was fun and easy--a feeling that I really wanted to take back home with me.

I could go on and on and on about all of the little details, but I think I'll let the photos do the talking:

.

Fall is....

Well, for one thing, fall is nearly over, isn't it? I guess we have about one third of fall left. However, yesterday and today, the weather has turned so tremendously cold, that it really seems wintry outside. Mittens are in order, and hats, and possibly long johns.

Fall is always a busy time, perhaps for everyone, but I seem to tend to kick the creation part of my life into overdrive starting around the end of September. And, usually around about this time, I'm ready to go to sleep until January 1st or so, because I've already burned my candle at both ends, albeit in celebratory ways. This year has turned out to be not much different than most in this regard. I've had a few recent reality checks, from the kiddos, from Robert and from my own body and (lost) mind.

With all this creativity happening, I often have the thought, "Oohh, that needs to go into the blog," and then, it is 1 or 2 o'clock am and I need to sleep instead of blogging. That is pretty much the case tonight. But, since we have just returned from a nice Thanksgiving with Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, and Honorary Aunt and Uncle, who haven't even seen what our Halloween costumes were like, well, it seems like possibly the rest of the relatives may be in the 'want to know' about how fall has been before it's dead and gone, too.