"Lest I ever lose perspective on what's important, may the small details of daily life serve to remind me:
The sweetest memories are right here, in the moments we create and share with one another."
– Mitten Strings for God, Katrina Kenison
I began a longer post but finishing is going to take from tomorrow which is promising to be full enough. So instead, little 'details of daily life' lately.
"The kingdom of home, as the kingdom of heaven, is within us. It is pleasant and happy or the opposite according as our minds and hearts attune themselves to the beauty and joy around us or vibrate to thoughts of ugliness and discomfort."
- On Wisdom & Virtues, Laura Ingalls Wilder
Kicking off November with a gratitude challenge. Thanksgiving is not for the fortunate few. It is for those who are tuned in.
When I looked out the kitchen door one chilly, damp morning the mare's blanket against the recently reseeded pasture took my breath away. So today I am grateful for little bursts of color in gray days. Figuratively and literally.
By all accounts it was a banner year for Halloween around here. No doubt it helped a lot that we began to think about costumes sometime before the week of.
We've seen a lot of great ideas over the years. Every year as we follow the kids around we muse about all the potential group costumes we could pull off. Every year we shelf those plans until we are walking around the next time. This year we started tucking away props well in advance. We won't always have the numbers at home to be able to pull this off so I didn't want to put off good ideas any longer taking for granted there will be other years.
"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence
I have more to say about that, though it won't all be said yet tonight. Suffice it to say that is an important line right there. I saw a beautiful sign hanging in a hallway the other day that read, "The world does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds." This is firmly fixed in my mind these days. Onward…
The farmer brought us a load of pumpkins last week. It isn't a British "thing" so it was especially sweet they saved some for us when they were harvested. Some of the family went to Ireland so we're waiting until tomorrow to carve them.
Yes, it's the end of October and yes, my sons will be wearing shorts all winter. File that thought away for any future pictures of them ok?
This is Abbie Rose's official, sweet as pie, autumn picture.
This was pretty darn funny though….
I know a lot of people say their kids hate taking pictures but I have a big group of hams which makes my job a lot easier.
I have a thing with shooting vertical shots. My husband almost never, ever turns the camera. Ever. Random, totally useless bit of information there. Just noticed is all. Hope your month has been filled with candy corn and sweaters and all good things.
I have this little window of connectivity, hence the mega-share tonight. We aren't sure what is happening with our service. It was pretty much non-existent all weekend and may well return to that. It's fickle that way, euro-internet. ; )
These images came from our first 24 hours in Lisbon, wandering around the waterfront where the marathon was held. The boys and I hung out down here while Allen ran. (he ran the half prepping for tomorrow's Dublin marathon)
This is my boys being brave. They are supposed to at least give a try at ordering food or buying souvenirs. Let me tell you, this is a little intimidating even for grown ups. I am really proud of them and this picture sums up alot of what we hoped for them when we began this journey.
Here he is coming down the finish line.
If you made it this far we are now half of us in Dublin and the other half here at home in our pjs watching a lot of movies and drinking copious amounts of cocoa. Can you guess which half I am in lol? We are expecting this big St Jude Storm to hit the UK during the night. We have the garden furniture and pots put away and the trampoline tied to the fence. We aren't in the direct line of fire so hoping this just amounts to a windy day at home.
{this moment}
A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
linking up at Amanda's
Buried in autumn, blooming in spring.
The hydrangeas were all that was left in Wales this month, but I smiled when I passed this bag of bulbs. Springtime in a sack.
You're ok with me doing this all random and out of order, right? I so want to share what we have seen but haven't gotten to sorting all the images yet.
We met this group of children taking their lessons one morning in Wales. They had waterproof pants and jackets but they weren't wet suits nor were they warm as evidenced by the "oh! my's" that escaped from a few of them when they pushed out into the open water. Fresh sea air, exercise, good clean fun. Awesome way for kids to spend a morning. Makes you wish you were Welsh, I tell ya. Unless you are as terrified of water as I. Then it just makes you glad you have your camera along. : )
"God…made childhood joyous, full of life, bubbling over with laughter, playful, bright and sunny. We should put into their childhood days just as much sunshine and gladness, just as much cheerful pleasure as possible.
Pour in the sunshine about them in youth. Let them be happy, encourage all innocent joy, provide pleasant games for them, romp and play with them; be a child again among them. Then God's blessing will come upon your home, and your children will grow up sunny-hearted, gentle, affectionate, joyous themselves and joy-bearers to the world."
– Homemaking, Rev. JR Miller
“October proved a riot a riot to the senses
and climaxed those giddy last weeks before Halloween.”
Kurt Donahue
I am not sure giddy is the prevailing adjective for me this week. Giddy sounds way more appealing than frazzled however so I am going to aim for that instead. : )
There are appointments to get to, calls to make, dogs to be groomed, hair to be cut, apples to be processed, cakes to be delivered, latin to be memorized, and costumes to be finished this month. My suitcase is actually still packed from our last trip. Fortunately there was a washer at the cabin so they were laundered and folded before packing but nevertheless, they are lingering in the luggage. I have taken note of that every morning as I pass them…
Up side is we have purchased bridesmaids gowns for the girls. We have several round, fat pumpkins sitting at the steps waiting to be carved. Abbie Rose is learning to read. I finished a book, picked up the very awesome vintage swing coat above, and one bathroom is sparkly clean.
The ends of my days are not seeing me with a completed to do list but I am clocking out and sitting with my husband either way. I am picking red berries and making hot pumpkin drinks.
October won't wait for us to finish our lists you know.
Starry Sky Journal 