It's been busy!

Oh August! It would appear that the month of Leo will consistently bless us with the fullness of life. We've filled the last remaining "free" days of warm (read hot) weather with birthday parties, pool parties and birthday-pool parties. We've stayed up late around the firepit just because we know our mornings of sleeping late are numbered. We met Emagene's new teacher, shopped for school supplies and planned a fall vacation. We went to a few museums, started a new dance class, added soccer into our weekly lives again and made plans to head back to the pool once we get this school schedule thing under our belts. We got the kids passports and have planted the seed of a long boat trip and swimming with dolphins into their imaginations. But as our sleep patterns struggle to adjust and little bodies keep growing, I have had to put you, dear reader, on the back burner. I am sorry! I do so enjoy sharing tiny treasures of my life with you. I am full with my own learning agenda and the promise of weekly solo time! Mommy alone time is a family need that gets lost in the fullness of summer. It's the little things that refill me and keep my head from exploding as I go through life here in this strange land of Texas (who just voted to change the school history books to align with Republican Party agenda. *sigh*). On a brighter note: the Harvest Moon has visited. My favorite time of year! I will now go eat a moon cake and thank the autumn rains for their blessings, among other moments of thankfulness.

The harvest season is upon us. What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving part 2: new tradition

Trying a new tradition this year: the thanksgiving tree.

 

 First we picked out a fallen branch, devoid of leaves, and interesting in shape. Then we found an empty pot in our garden shed and put a handful of rocks on the bottom to weight the pot and create a foundation for the branch. While I held the branch, Emagene shoveled some potting soil around the stick helping it stand up straight. We didn't have a bag of play sand at this time, so we just used whatever "clean dirt" we found in the shed. (Funny concept, eh? Clean dirt.) We set a few more rocks on top to help keep the soil from spreading all over my house and brought the "tree" indoors.

 

We gathered some fallen leaves of various colors in our felt turkey basket (I found it in the dollar bins at target) and then set Emagene to work decorating. The cardboard turkeys taped along the outside of the pot were a craft project from another day and super easy. They involve circles of various sizes and glue. 

While she was busy poking holes and using tape and whatever other way she could figure out to keep leaves on the tree, I cut out paper leaves from construction paper. 

We refilled the empty basket with the paper leaves and a sharpie. When we sat down for Thanksgiving dinner, we required everyone to write on a leaf something they were thankful for before filling a plate with food. This meant when we went back for seconds, we had to fill out a second leaf. In reality, we just sat around writing until we ran out of leaves. 

I love it! I may keep the set up and turn it into a winter wishing tree, replacing the cardboard turkeys with paper wreaths, unless someone knows where I can find scrap evergreen boughs in Texas...

Season of learning

So we've entered the season of darkness. The time of year spent indoors. The perfect time of year for learning; specifically for learning a new handcraft or skill.

Last year I refreshed my embroidery skills with a little motivation from this project by SouleMama and this project I found at JoAnn's. And while I worked on it often, I was out of practice and literally had to pull out and resew nearly very stitch. So it still looks like this:

The previous year my writing and photography skills were developed when I start this blog. 

Before that I was preparing for my first days as a mother. 

Before that was mostly career and school related.

So what shall I look into learning this year? Well, I've always wanted to write a book of some kind. Perhaps this season will be spent researching a topic and engaging in writing practices and challenges. Perhaps when spring comes I'll have something to show from my practice and research.

Perhaps.

But then again, I asked Pete to get me a guitar for my birthday...

What's tugging at the edges of your curiosity this season?

Seasonal jealousy

I'll be honest: living in Texas has made me unnecessarily jealous of everyone else's autumn! This last week or so all I hear (well, read actually) on blogs, Facebook, etc is about leaf colors, cold air and even frosts.

Enter Jealousy.

It's been 4 years since I lived in the pride lands of Portlandia and I haven't experienced a proper autumn in all that time. Blizzard-y Winter, yes. Hellfire Summer, double yes. Hayfever Spring, plenty. Beautiful Autumn, not so much. Everything here is still green, lower 80s, tiny bit of clouds who may or may not rain. No fog, no mist, no sweaters, no cold winds, no scarfs or hats, no extra hot mochas.

Until today! It's supposed to get down in the forties. Finally! I may wear socks to the Denton Herbal Society's All Things Garlic class at the library (in addition to other socially approved clothing). I may drink hot coffee just to hold it in my hands. I may share a blanket with my girl and watch Mary Poppins. I may read up on how to keep the chickens alive in cold weather. I may stop musing about the weather and chat about real issues. Stuff that's kept me offline and in my journal. Stuff that's encouraged spending hours texting and calling friends, playing games and painting pumpkins with my family. Issues best discussed with those I find thicker than blood over a glass of wine.

In blatant, frank, plain honesty, this autumn has rekindled my longing to be close to my loved ones (friends and family). I mask this heartache by calling it jealousy and blaming the weather. But really, I'm tired of not sharing my life with the people I cherish. I choose to handle this situation by sending you mail, electronic and otherwise. Feel free to send me some, too. Maybe when I move back (someday. please?) we can melt smoothly back into the habit of hugging each other often and being present through the daily grind.
Know that you are loved.

shift into autumn

Last night I took a moment to really look at what I was cooking for dinner: Grilled chicken breast sandwiches, homemade sweet potato fries and kale chips. A couple days ago it was curry lentil soup, homemade beerbread and ice cream.

I think I may be feeling the seasonal shift with all this comfort food!

We've loaded up on books every time we've walked past the library, have started planning crafts, bought a lot of bulk dry goods and cleaned the bugs out of the closets. Swept out the garden shed, planted root vegetables, and gathered "school" supplies. I guess I could have noticed the change earlier but I wasn't paying attention.

Here's to 'tucking in!' May you have all you need in the coming season!

Hello, Autumn!

The last few days I've been noticing tiny hints of seasonal change in the air. Autumn may not be due for another month but the shift away from summer is upon us. And it couldn't be better timed!

I am not particularly attached to grass and well, honestly, tend to neglect it. My landlord on the other hand feels a green lawn is important. Due to temperatures well over 100, pending draught, and high utility costs, my lawn more closely resembles the color yellow than green. We have watered some part of it everyday, but mostly to benefit the chickens and not enough to breed mosquitos. I bet the grass couldn't be more thankful for this back-to-school storm.

Going into Summer as a new chicken farmer had me more than slightly nervous. Especially with this first summer being in texas! Fortunately, the chickens have made it through the horrid heat with secret tips known only to veteran chicken fanciers. I am thankful to have entered into this realm, armed with blogs, books and google searches full of the helpful hints of seasoned farmers. I will carry on egg collecting armed with this new knowledge and confidence. Oh the unending uses of vinegar, molasses, and baking soda!

The seasonal shift also brings a personal shift, one I've come to recognize and add to my personal Nature versus Nuture debate: I begin to grab at knowledge. I start acquiring reading lists, project ideas, #2 pencils, and creative inspiration. This dip in temperature is like all the ones in years previous: time to harvest the remaining summer experiences and prepare for the future. At the moment, we've hit the pool pretty often, started plans for a fall/winter garden, did repairs to the backyard before knowing a storm was coming, and gathered new cookbooks from the library.

What inspiration is the seasonal shift sending your way? What have you learned from the season left behind?