Ushering In

The past weekend was a perfect Thanksgiving weekend -- warm, sunny days for the entire weekend.  Perfect for visiting the apple orchard, exploring an Iroquois village, hiking around a lake, playing in a sandy pit and simply enjoying the moment.  It was the perfect weekend for ushering in a new season.  Even though fall officially began several weeks ago, it seemed that summer waited until this weekend to say a final farewell.

It was such a beautiful weekend that I felt the desire to decorate our home for the season, something I don't normally do.  Not for any particular reason.  Well, okay, maybe it's because I am a little lazy.  Whatever the reason, this year I wanted to bring a little of the autumn indoors.  So while Keegan gathered leaves, I melted beeswax.  Then we dipped and ta dah!  We have ourselves a fall banner.

I think there may be a little more seasonal decorating in my future.  Any ideas?

July

On the warm July river

head back

upside down river

for a roof

slowly paddling

towards an estuary between trees

from Inner Tube by Michael Ondaatje

Blossoming

It's that time of year.  Buds that have been sleeping through the winter are coming into their own, reaching for the sun.

I wish this hyacinth were in our garden.  Rather it sits on our windowsill, scenting the entire main floor of the house.

The boys seem to have entered a spring season as well.  Physically, they are growing ever taller.  New pants and new shoes will be on the spring shopping list.  One day I'll be looking up when I look in each of their eyes.  But what I am really noticing lately is how they are each coming into their own.

Our oldest, for years, was content with his circle being his immediate family.  Now I watch him forming new friendships outside of the home.  These friendships haven't weakened his connection with us but they have given him new experiences and new levels of relating to others.

Our youngest always had the confidence to take on any physical challenges facing him whether we wanted him to or not.  (He still tries to convince me that he should be allowed to go down the hill in front of our house on his scooter.  The creek at the bottom of the hill doesn't appear to be a concern for him.)  However, in a crowd, he was more likely to stay close to one of us.  Now I see his confidence growing as he asserts himself in groups of people.

So yes, there is a lot of blossoming going on around here.

Day 1 and Yarn Along

Over the weekend, Keegan realized how close December 1st was.  Since then, it's been a long four days for the boys as they waited for today to arrive.  Last night, our Advent calendar was hung.  This will be our second year using this Advent calendar.  Each stocking is made from upcycled denim, cotton or linen and embellished with wool felt and embroidery.  Many evenings last December were spent finishing the stocking for the following morning.  It's nice to just have to worry about filling the stockings this year.  As far as the filling is concerned, last year I put a small toy for each of the boys in each stocking, only to see most of the trinkets tossed aside shortly afterwards.  This year I've decided to put chocolate in each (yes, chocolate first thing in the morning) and a note describing a craft or activity for that day.

I thought we could all do the countdown together.  Each day I'll show our Advent stocking for that day since each is different.  As you can tell from the above picture, I didn't iron the stockings before hanging them.  Confession:  I don't iron.  I found out this weekend that my mother didn't even think we owned an iron and ironing board.  We do.  I just don't use either too much.  Oh, except to iron fabric when I sew.

Today when Keegan gets home from school we'll be making gumdrop trees.  Quinnie has already told me he'll probably be eating more gumdrops than making a tree.  I didn't pretend to be shocked.

I'm joining Ginny for Yarn Along this week.

I'm currently reading a book that I had started several months ago and then misplaced.  I found it under a pile yesterday.  The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel is about the role of libraries throughout civilization and it is a great book.  In addition to taking the reader into his own personal library, he walks us through libraries throughout the world and history.  On my needles is a pair of convertible mittens.

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to the season, maybe with little chocolate surprises too.

Embracing

I forgot how magical the first snow of the season is.  Ours happened yesterday.  It wasn't a big snowfall.  Most of it has already disappeared but it speaks of what is to come -- whiteness, snowballs, snowmen, hot chocolate. Watching a local Christmas parade last night from the sidewalk with a full belly of pizza was the perfect way to end the day.

I am embracing the cold.

Thoughts of Spring

It may be only the end of October but I'm already dreaming about spring.  Why?  Come spring, we will have a new outdoor space and I can't wait.

When we bought this house five years ago, I loved the carport off the side of the house with an entrance from the master bedroom.  But the rickety stairs and rotten boards did not make it safe to use especially with two little ones.  The years passed and I looked out from our window almost every day, watching the boards get even more rotten and yet wishing that we could somehow use the space.  We debated over what to do.  Tear the whole thing down did come up in conversation but I resisted committing to the idea.  We finally came to a decision and we ( being Mike and my father) have torn out all the old boards and staircase and are putting all new boards and railings up.

I have plans for a couple of little tables and some chairs.  I imagine twinkly fairy lights hanging from the railing. I see this as a space where we will eat, read, knit (okay, probably just me), draw and just enjoy being in the treetops.  This is why I am already looking forward to spring.

In the meantime, I am very much enjoying this beautiful fall.