Thursday, October 23, 2008

Headed Out today

I get to drive to Chicago all by myself. In the rain. Boohoo.

Ok, It's true.
  • I will get to listen to whatever music I want, as loud as I want, the whole way there.
  • I will stop at rest stops and not worry about what little hands are touching (Stop that - eeeewwww!)
  • I get to stop at the outlet mall on the way to buy a new pair of shoes. Hey - I need stretch breaks too. Grin.
  • I will get to sleep in a bed ALL by myself, no little feet or hands whacking me, or complaining when we try to put her in her own bed. Which never works anyway.
  • I will get to spend a little time with my parents looking at Norway trip photos.
  • I will get to eat good food and have real conversations with grown-ups without being interrupted and learn new things.
  • I may even get to do my nails and have them stay looking nice for a few days. Well ok. Maybe after Friday's Organic Farm Tour.
  • When I get home Tuesday our new mattresses will be delivered. Is it mean I'm happy that Rich won't get to sleep on them before me?
But I will miss those warm little cuddles and sweet smiles and kisses and reading books at bedtime.

In the meantime, Rich will take over all the crazy drop-off/pick-up school times, picking up and delivering Birthday snacks to school, etc. etc.. The girls will spend Saturday at Aunt Vicki's, who has a broken foot. Sounds like recipe for fun doesn't it? Natasha can take care of Mira's little girl needs though and hopefully they won't make too much of a mess. Rich will be marching with the alumni band at homecoming. I hope the weather stays dry and warms up a bit for him (and all the other Cyclone fans as well).

I'll be back just in time for Sarah's Birthday Dinner Monday night. Don't worry - her presents are already wrapped with love. Then we'll get ready for her Faerie Birthday party next week. Can't wait!

Did I say anything about last weeks school conferences? All good. Perfect. Love these kids.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Apple goodness

Still happily sewing while the family is out playing and mowing in the sunshine. I promise to be out in it tomorrow, celebrating fall and leaves and the warm weather while it lasts. We'll head to an orchard we found last year (the one we went to religiously every fall for years was sold a few years ago and is now a housing development, harumph). This new orchard has a corn maze, a hay bale maze, hay rides, pumpkin patches, goats, sheep, chickens and old school room, and of course, many many different types of apples. We're the pick-it-yourself kind of family.

Doubtless Mira will take a bite out of every 3rd apple she picks :). She's been helping herself to the neighbors bag of apples several times a day already. Oh yes, we are picking more even though we have such bounty here. You can't have too many locally grown fresh apples, can you? We must have enough for lunches until Christmas, applesauce, and to can much more for tarts, pies, and this yummy cake that I made yesterday. We each had a slice with Christmas Egg dish for breakfast. I know, I said the C word twice. I'm not ready to go there yet. Just know that it was the perfect dish for a cool Fall morning when for once we were all here to sit down and enjoy breakfast together without having to rush off somewhere.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Fall Hiatus

Sorry that I have been gone - I keep thinking of things I want to share and post, but we have been busy:
  • Sewing on that beautiful silk (I now have the Baguette silk in my possession too). I think silk is my favorite material to sew with!
  • Canning harvest - tomatoes, and apples. Our neighbors tree is laden with fruit - as she said you could almost hear it groaning. I've heard several people in our neighborhood say that this year! It's been wonderful for us : apples with caramel, baked apples, apples fresh from the bowl and apple tarts have been gracing our table and we haven't yet been to the orchard. Yesterday I canned the remainder of our pickings as cinnamon apple slices in syrup for pie/tarts, and just as I started them processing, our neighbor knocked on the back door with another bagfull! Blessed bounty - apples AND neighbors.
  • Suffering. (only me) Had a good two weeks but the arthritis is not playing nice. Pooh. Just restarted one of my meds half strength - had to stop for a few weeks due to side effects.
  • Nature walks: Mira and I have been pressing leaves like crazy, and the weather has been just perfect for Fall walks - cool and breezy and yet just warm enough to go without jackets most days. The girls have started raking small piles of leaves, and shaping them into thin curvy rows to delineate rooms under trees & such. Rooms for Faieries of course!
  • Scrapping: My friend wonderful friend Karen travelled from Omaha Saturday to scrap with me at Memory Bound. I managed to decorate travel journals for each of the girls (upcoming New York Weddding, you know), and finish 8 pages.
  • Committee busy-work. Between church, the girls school, and my professional volunteer work, I've been rather busy. All my committees seem to be ultra busy in Fall, but it's all good.
  • Softball. Sarah missed a few practices due to rain, fingers smashed in the car door (amazingly they were only slightly bruised, much less than my nerves and heart were at the time it happened), and a recent fever. But she has played in a few games and has enjoyed them immensely. What a great group of girls (and parents) on her team.

I promise to be back soon - I still have much I want to share!