2 day pass

this weekend was quintessential fall.
we carved pumpkins.
well, miss bit carved one and i got carried away carving numerous.
she dug right in and wasn't at all put off by the guts and the goo.
we snacked on the salty seeds fresh out of the oven and made a pact to pluck more from a patch for the fun of making them jack o'lanterns, and roasting their yummy seeds.
we ventured north for dinner out the first night and carried in the next.
there was baseball and football, although baseball came to an end at the end of the weekend for our home team major leaugers.
miss bit enjoyed visits with both sets of grandparents, a birthday party and a play date.
t. bone met up with friends to run some plays and make some tackles.
hubby and i enjoyed a walk along the lake while the kids attended sunday school.
it was the perfect fall weekend.
my only complaint is that it ended too soon.

October

October (click here to hear)

And the trees are stripped bare

Of all that they wear

What do I care

October

And kingdoms rise

And kingdoms fall

But you go on

And on

-U2

Last night the wind started whipping and the moon was swimming in a sea of swirling clouds. It was like Van Gogh's Starry Night only better because it was real and right before me.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks...

For the Sunday NY Times magazine.
On Monday morning, Miss Bit washed two freshly picked apples to take to school for snack. One for herself and one for her teacher.
T. Bone braved his shot. He got a little nervous when he saw the needle, which made me chuckle cuz' he plays tackle football and I'm pretty sure that hurts worse and longer.
Buffalo chicken enchiladas, scalloped potatoes with ham and roasted French tomato soup this week.
Booing. Our baskets are almost ready. (I'll be ever grateful if one of our friends returns the boo because it would literally make Miss Bit's month hence her mama's too.)
Deep conversations with T. Bone. This week's topic du jour: the Holocaust. He's been introduced to that horror in preparation for a work of historical fiction the 5th graders are reading in social studies.
I found the last letter my Mom wrote me just before she passed. It's been missing for a long time (years). I was pretty sure I tucked it away somewhere safe (Bible) and had hope I would find it eventually. Eventually came Sunday morning before church.
Fall crafts with my girl. This week we turned rocks into jack o' lanterns. Free, festive and fun.
Plans to head to my Aunt and Uncle's garden, or patch, to pick pumpkins and gourds after school today.
My leg seems to be almost healed, although it's not as good as new yet. While the infection is finally controlled, the MRI revealed that I have a tear in my hamstring.
Miss Bit's Halloween costume is coming together. She's going to be a rock star. and of course, she's going to be cute, and pink and sparkly.

Be.Here.Now.

Just before the gloaming yesterday, Miss Bit and I took a walk on the beach. I didn't really want to because in my head there were many other tasks that needed doing, but I cannot put into words how glad I was that we did...just because...just the two of us. The scene was a postcard. Naturally, I wanted to capture the moment even while admitting that my amateur skills and idiot-proof point and shoot would never do justice to the beauty. Looking back, I'm now grateful that I left my camera at home. In forgetting it, I was reminded of the sharpness and the softness of simply seeing the scene not through a lens, and without a filter. I was struck by what a difference there is in existing for and in the moment instead of trying to capture it or preserve it.

Be.Here.Now.

Be.Here.Now. It was the mantra that was pulsing through every cell in my body. Feel the cold water sting your bare feet. Feel that just when you think you cannot stand to step on one more sharp rock, you are suddenly on the silky, cool sand. Feel the lake breeze that when it blows sends a shiver down your spine even as it smells of summer. Smell the stench of beached fish mixed together with algae and know while it isn't pleasant, it is familiar and that in and of itself is agreeable. Hear the gulls caw caw overhead, your daughter's stones skipping......P-L-O-P!, and the waves rolling up against the pier. See the way the translucent water meets the opaque sand meets the teeming with every color of the rainbow line of trees on the bursting with color bluff. See the so soon-to-be mother baring her beautiful baby bump for a photo shoot, the newly engaged couple getting their photographs in just the right light, the girl and boy just going steady sharing an innocent kiss on a rock, the kids beach combing, the friends walking and talking and see yourself in each and every one of them for you have been them...there. Feel the energy of all of the beginnings and endings of the day, the season, this life. Feel the energy as the tide ebbs and flows. Feel the energy as the sun wanes to the west to reveal a perfect apparition of the moon on the rise. Feel the energy as you breathe in deeply and exhale deliberatley. Feel the joy as you smile from deep within. Be.Here.Now.

As we made our way along the shore, Miss Bit proudly presented me with a red heart-shaped rock. I couldn't help but share a little story with her and as usual she was all ears (and heart). It's a story she's heard before, but last night she was really listening. I told her that Nanny would collect rocks wherever we would go. My Mom would bring them all the way home to her garden. I shared with her how on the first Mother's Day after Nanny passed we were walking on the beach and my girl found the first perfect heart-shaped red rock of our collection. Miss Bit picked it up and proudly proclaimed, "I think Nanny put this rock here so I would find it and know she loves me." (Or something like that...she was like 4 so that was 3 years ago.) Let me tell you it made perfect sense to me...still does. So we brought this flawless heart-shaped red rock home for our garden last night and many others because when you really use your imagination many rocks look exactly like hearts, but very few are red. I've lost count of just how many heart-shaped rocks we have accumulated since Miss Bit found our first years ago. Whenever I find one though, I feel compelled to add it to our collection.

After I finished answering all of her questions about this little tidbit of family history, my 7 year old quipped, "Mom, I'm so happy I inspirated you." (Sorry Spellcheck...that is no typo. I report the truth.)

If she only knew.

Be.Here.Now.

2 day pass (2 days late)

this weekend felt like summer again...still.
we took advantage of the perfect days and pleasant nights.
time was enjoyed on numerous patios with various friends and family.
there was grilled food and chilled beer...brats, dogs and burgers although not all in the same meal.
there was baseball and football...we cheered on all of our teams.
t. bone's team ended their single game winning streak, but the afternoon's loss did not dampen any of the boys' moods at the team party that followed and lasted late into the mild evening.
t. bone and miss bit earned their allowances this week...they did all their regular chores and then helped rake and wash cars.
and they were both beyond excited to get invitations to go apple picking with friends at the end of the weekend...cortland for her and yellow delicious for him.
picking apples is yummier than raking leaves and more fun than washing cars.
the boys begged loudly to be let outside to play camouflage cat, and i felt a little crazy for staying inside baking...not 1, but 3 batches of cookies.
the calendar tells me it's fall even if the temperature doesn't concur.
weekends like this could last forever...should last forever.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

OMG these cupcakes...make them, bake them and share them. I added more cocoa and extra chocolate chips. You can halve the frosting or skip it even cuz' they almost don't need it.

Apple season. I'm trying to buy as much organic produce as I can and especially the dirty dozen, a group that includes apples. I'm torn, not so much by the higher price, but the lack of varieties available that haven't been sprayed by up to 60 different pesticides and then waxed to look pretty.

Indian Summer. It has maybe been the very best week of the year especially for this cooler in the morning and evening loving girl. There is no change in our immediate forecast.

A light and tasty lemon chicken dish enjoyed by the family this week. Because we eat so much poultry, I am always trying to change it up a bit.

During our coffeetalk one morning this week, Miss Bit said, "A person is born every minute." I wondered where she learned that tidbit, and then she told me she just thought it. When I suggested we Google it, her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree...so excited she was to have such knowledge literally at our fingertips. The answer was 255 people. She was wowed. Then she wanted to know how many people die each minute. 108. She looked a little forlorn for a moment, but then said, "God gives more people life every minute than death. That is an AMAZING discovery!" She is an amazing 7 year old.

Oh and her teacher thinks so too. At open house this week she gushed about how much she loves Lil Bit. I told her that she has a big fan in Miss Bit as well, and then she put her hand up to her mouth and whispered to me, "No, she's the one. The 1!" I cannot agrue with that or with a teacher who has favorites especially since it's my Bit.

T. Bone wandered in when I was watching Dancing With The Stars this week. He became completely absorbed in J.R.'s routine and the backstory. He is unbelievably compassionate and empathetic for a 10 year old. I'm really enjoying this season and this cast. Carson is wildly entertaining, Rickie is refreshingly a better dancer than her slimmer, more athletic contenders, and David Arquette is vulnerable and sweet.

Grapeseed oil and vegetables (especially brocoli) roasted in a little of it.

Evidence of Dad's do. Unfortunately these curlers are a don't. They do not work.

Personal pan pizzas.

The way this girl can rock her boots.

Chill time.

I had the patio door open much of the week. At one point, the leaves were coming down so fast that it sounded like rain. It was such a peaceful sound, but then it made me sad. Sad because I just wish that fall could last until December 24th.

Leaves covering the ground. They serve as camo for Little Red when the hawk is on the hunt and also for Peanut and Tigger when they are on the prowl for chippies.

i love it when they ask what i did all day