I often quote a line from a column I read back in the day that encouraged women to look around themselves and consider what was right in front of them already. "What is in your hand?"  It is both a nod to Exodus 4:2 where God performs wonders with a simple stick that Moses already had in hand as well as a broader exhortation to make use of what you already own.  

Catalogs and magazines show us what we can purchase to beautify our homes, which poses two problems.  First, it requires resources to make the purchase.  Second, it makes demands on our space to store the newly purchased items. We don't always have both of those. Truth is, we often already have simple things that could be arranged differently to brighten up a space and give it a new look.  

We did that after putting away the Indian corn centerpiece and other autumn decor.  We aren't in full blown Christmas mode yet.  Just moving in that direction, gradually.  A few things came together when resetting the table.  First I had to reach behind a set of delft candle sconces which were in a cabinet since I don't have a place to hang them.  The ended up working well on the table to warm up these newly dark evenings.  I pulled a bowl of blue and white ornaments to the center.  We set the table with the Dollar Store dishes.  Then we added the collection of heavy cobalt blue glassware we have been picking up for a dollar a piece at thrift stores lately.  They don't all match.  It doesn't really matter.  

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."   Theodore Roosevelt

So grateful for:

watching the deer leap across the lawn in the early morning

a firstborn sitting at our table this week

able hands in the kitchen

a husband who is keenly aware of when I need to be done in the kitchen (and organizes a clean up crew)

loved ones who shared this day with our far away children

calls and texts just to say "you are loved"

full bellies, full hearts

"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." GK Chesterton

So, for a hundred and four totally legit reasons I have not sat down here much lately.  I'm pretty sure everyone is carrying on with life elsewhere just the same, but I've missed recording and reflecting.  Taking a few moments tonight to share a visit to the aquarium just because it was wonderful.  I don't like water much.  Or fish.  Or fish in water.  Nor gooey, slimy, wet creatures.  At least, I didn't think I did. This little field trip left me feeling super chill, however. Round and round they went – the fish that is. And there I stood, transfixed. 

See that fish just southeast of center?  (below) It's my spirit animal. 

As you can see others in my family are ok-ish with wet, slimy water creatures. Having just watched the Dora movie for the first time though I was cringing a little imagining the starfish muttering under their breath.

Overhead water? We did that too.  

The aquarium had an oddly soothing effect. I'm glad we made the trip. 1997 Homeschool Mom would probably have had the children complete a multipage follow up report by now. 2017 Homeschool Mom said, "THAT was incredible, wasn't it?  Where should we go for dinner?"  Like I said, it left me super chill. 

It got to be too long.  It was that sort of too long between visits where it didn't matter that they had tickets and the holidays are almost here.  We couldn't wait another day.  So, we packed up and headed over the mountains.  Good call, that. 

Sleepovers at big brother and sister's apartments are the best.  The very best.  They do your hair.  They feed you whatever you want.  They stay up all night watching movies you get to pick.  

The days before the trip we had been crafting like crazy.  Moira's wedding florals fit perfectly into the pumpkin we brought. 

It was every bit as wonderful to see the guys.  They played their new favorite albums for us and have me totally sold on vinyl.  Side note: one child discovered we were talking about records all this time.  

"THESE are VINyalls??"  

"Vinyall? you mean VINE-al?"

"oooooooohhhhh"

They made me fresh ground coffee.  

And we laughed a lot.  But not nearly for long enough. We didn't take nearly enough pictures.  I now have about five thousand things I want to talk to them and ask them about.  The holidays can't come soon enough.  

"We were together…..

I forget the rest."

Walt Whitman