magic

These were taken by Alexi last night at our neighborhood business district. The boys are beyond thrilled that this year they get to trick or treat two different nights.

I hope your day is full of magic!

getting ready

Yesterday I heard about a great way to manage leftover Halloween candy. The parent I was talking to 'buys' the leftover candy from her kids after Halloween (and then it goes to work with her husband); everyone's happy.

What are your plans for Halloween? We plan to trick or treat at neighborhood businesses tonight, and at the homes of neighbors on Saturday. Abbott is going to be Anakin Skywalker. Cal has a shark costume and a Darth Vader costume; when he's dressed up a couple of times this past week he's worn a combination of these two. Alexi's Cat in the Hat hat has also ended up in the mix - we'll see what he decides to wear for trick-or-treating. I love his sense of style.

And let's talk about the holidays beyond Halloween for a minute. I've put together a calendar featuring some of my favorite photographs from the past year, available now from Lulu.

A Day That is Dessert: Through the Seasons 2010 is a collection of some of my absolute favorite seasonal photos at and around my home. The calendar is generously sized, measuring 13.5 x 19", and is printed on a heavy, high quality paper. You can buy your own calendar - and see a complete preview (I recommend clicking the 'full screen mode' button at the bottom right of the preview screen) - by following the link. I hope it provides a bit of inspiration to any who use it in the coming year.

Happy Friday!

in and out

The last photo was taken a couple of days ago on the street where our church is - the same church we got married in nine years ago. Autumn is a beautiful time of year for a wedding! Thank you all for your anniversary wishes yesterday; it was a great pleasure to read them over together. It was a happy and emotional day as we also received phone calls, emails and facebook comments throughout the day from those of you who were at our wedding and those who still have the 'save the date' magnets with our engagement photo on them we sent out.

Abbott told me last night at bedtime he's been reading after I leave the room, even though he knows I don't want him to. I can't tell you how happy I was to discover he feels comfortable telling me that; it feels like a major success and a testament to our relationship. (And it solves the mystery of why he hasn't been able to wake up in the morning for the past week or so. I've worried the flu virus has been lingering in his system; now I know better.)

Anyone have any suggestions for what to do with the green tomatoes I've picked and brought in?

Happy Thursday to you.

nine years

Our wedding was many years ago. The celebration continues to this day. ~Gene Perret

Happy Anniversary Alexi.

the rain

Yesterday I accompanied Cal's class on a field trip to a pumpkin patch. In order to fit everything in I wanted to accomplish, I started my day with a run in the dark and in a heavy rain before school (I found it surprisingly peaceful and invigorating). Despite Seattle's reputation, the rain here tends to be on the misty side and it rarely rains all day. This field trip ended up being just wet and cold and not-so-fun for anyone. I'm glad we had already made a family trip to a pumpkin patch. More typical of this city, the rain stopped by the time we got back to school and the sky was blue when I returned home from school. Later in the evening I heard thunder. We had such a dry summer, I'm still a bit surprised when I hear it on the roof as I'm falling asleep.

festive

It was a weekend that included pumpkin prowling, a party, a bit of lounging and a few storm clouds. Gorgeous sunrises, too. Yours?

the ginkgo

This tree is in my neighbor's yard. I don't notice it at all until fall, then it catches my eye each and every time I walk into my bedroom and the kitchen.

A few links that caught my eye:

I love this quotation.

A great realization.

Check out these Halloween food and drink ideas.

I hope your weekend is full of beauty!

fashion

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. - Coco Chanel

autumnal

I suspect that talk about autumn is boring by now, so I won't. Just take a look at the foliage at and around our neighborhood soccer fields yesterday afternoon.

My Grandmother was a painter; she painted still life and landscape. When I watch my boys with their incredible creative impulses, I feel her. If she had lived in Seattle I suspect she would have done a lot of painting in the fall.

natural order

I had a pang at the grocery store today at the sight of so many mothers with their children. Not because I want my children to be at home forever, necessarily; more as a recognition of one part of my life having passed, and another part beginning, as both of my children are now in school all day.

I think there is something about the finality of my Grandmother's passing that has given me a nudge to jump back into my own life. The waiting and watching was hard. I've been listing all of the projects that have been on my mind for as long as I can remember, and deciding what to take on now, and what can wait. It has also helped that it's been a foggy week...feels right to be inside getting my house in order. Summer sheets have been exchanged for flannel, screens have come off the windows, extra blankets are on the beds. Items to be donated are slowly making their way out the door.

found

Our first taste of persimmon - delicious with a surprise inside.

This boy enjoying my new book.

Leaves everywhere are making it hard to get anywhere very quickly; beautiful and distracting.

This note by Abbott to a neighbor friend.

Any interesting finds lately?

soccer season

Well, good morning. How was your weekend?

Thankfully Abbott is on the mend and gets to go to school this week. And, miraculously, the rest of us have remained healthy.

We love soccer, raindrops and puddles and all. (Kind of looks like last year, doesn't it?)

Happy Monday to you.