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

Oh how I love autumn.  And pumpkins.  Lots and lots of orange pumpkins.  Pinterest suggests a coat of mercury glass paint would look fab.  And it would.  Daughter reminds me that, "It's just not right for this house. It's not you."  Whether that is a good thing or not it is true.  I have a well known, deep seated affection for all things orange and spicy and warm, so every corner is full of that right now.

The mums my husband brought home early in the month are still going strong.  The pot is just slipped into the planter so when they have run their course, we can pull it back out with no hassle. 

The pillows are out.  I have shared before about upcycling thrifted placemats into throw pillows.  I am no expert seamstress but can sew a straight line around and stuff them well.  

And seasonal hand towels.  I can't pass them up at the thrift store. Scarecrows, jack o lanterns, and acorns are waiting at each counter.

Printed muffin liners? Naturally. 

And seasonal kitchen mitts.  Because…88 cents, yall.  It's not magazine worthy, but it is worth every one of those 88 pennies to make them smile when they dry their hands or reach for cornbread or rest their heads. 

"Parents, your children are worth more to you than the unrealities so many of you follow. See to it that you give to your young children a home worthy of the name.  Giving them that, you give them all.    

There have been many as choice Homes.  There have been many as true Parents. In many a soul their memory shines, like a star, and in many a heart they have lit an undying sunshine of gratitude."

Harriot Kesia Hunt

In the aftermath of the canyon fire, the county set up dumpsters in our community to encourage homeowners to clear their property of debris and undergrowth which can ignite and fuel damaging fires under the right conditions.  We were talking with the neighbors about just how MUCH crud there is to clear out once you start to dig – stuff we lived with pretty obliviously. It is a such a self-discipline thing to get out there and roll up your sleeves especially when you aren't actually finishing a thing but rather just keeping a little bit ahead of the game. 

This may be one of the biggest revelations of adulting for me – just how much pruning and weeding all of life requires.  I have always been more focused on planning and envisioning, planting and harvesting. Reality is those are brief lovely beginning and endings.  Celebratory.  The real meat of any project is the maintaining. It's not terribly glam, no matter what you are maintaining.  

We won't finish this job this year but we have hauled off a lot of weeds and brush and broken branches. It's much better than when we started. I'm trusting that steady effort is cumulative.  I am looking around at what else could use some digging out. One project here and there.  Garbage hauled out is always an improvement.