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.

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.

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.

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

This note by Abbott to a neighbor friend.

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.

saying goodbye

Thank you all so very, very much for the expressions of love and support you shared with me about my Grandmother's passing. I was torn about whether or not to post about it, and am so glad I did. As I read through your comments and emails and shed many more tears, I felt quite touched by the acknowledgment of my loss. Thank you. We're all quite sad around here, and exhausted (Abbott has been home from school all week with the flu and we've all lost sleep with him); to make matters worse, Cal can't keep straight who died, and has been weepy about the loss of his Grandma Margaret, who is still very much with us.

I took this set of pictures Thursday, the day of her death. Cal had to choose a leaf for a school project, and I happened to have a camera with me on our leaf hunt. I think they're fitting - of the passage of time, of the life cycle, and carrying on.

On a lighter note, our tomatoes are still producing at a ridiculous rate; I couldn't help snapping one more photo of them.

I'll be offline for the next couple of days and will catch up with you all next week.

the great unknown

(My paternal Grandmother with Abbott in 2003)

(My paternal Grandmother and Alexi's father with us at our wedding)

I know all your life you wondered
About that step we all take alone
How far does the spirit travel on the journey
It must surely lead near heaven
And it thrills me to the bone
to know Daddy knows the great unknown....

(April 24, 1981 by Rick Springfield, written about the death of his father)

My paternal Grandmother died peacefully yesterday morning, after suffering a stroke and subsequent coma a couple of weeks ago. This is the first time I've lost anyone that close to me. I've thought about the song lyrics above a lot today (the song is one that was on an album I had in high school), because someone I've known and loved all my life now is up there and knows what this is all about down here.

the end of an era

(Above photo taken at Delancey. If you're in Seattle and haven't been, what are you waiting for?)

By now I'm sure most of you are aware of the demise of Gourmet, announced early last week. I'm still saddened by the news. I'll miss the photography, the great recipes... If you haven't already, consider perusing and printing out some of the 'on line exclusives' while the website is still available. I spent some time yesterday morning looking through them, and some of the older MFK Fisher pieces. If you haven't seen this one (originally published in 1948) -- An Alphabet for Gourmets (via Viv) -- it is definitely worth a read; I printed it out.

An interesting debate has arisen in the aftermath. If you're interested, first read this Op-Ed piece by Christopher Kimball, then this well-crafted response.

fleeting

Abbott has been home from school, sick, all week. While the reason is unfortunate, I've quite enjoyed the time alone with him - precious and rare. He's distressed about missing school; he loves his teacher because "she has a great sense of humor, she's nice to us, and she makes everything fun."

Being home almost all day the past few days has provided me with an opportunity to notice the fleeting moments fall days are full of - sun intermixed with rain, wind...

Yesterday I was interviewed by my blogging friend Sarah Jio for Glamour's health and fitness blog; you can read it here, if you like.

life is full of surprises

I recently read somewhere a quotation by someone who said life has few surprises; the sentiment took me by surprise and made me a bit sad. Yesterday morning, I glanced out the window and saw this most amazing sight on my neighbor's roof. I've never before seen a heron with a whole fish (anyone know what kind of fish it is?). After I took a couple of pictures it started to fly off; I assumed I'd startled it until I saw the second heron approach, in hot pursuit. Life by the water, at least, is full of surprises.

the pumpkin patch

I think that, even after my boys are grown up, I'll continue to go to a pumpkin patch to get my pumpkins. I find it so enjoyable to leave the city for farm country - just a short distance - yet another world entirely. This farm is our favorite.

Happy Monday to you.