Maizy Pumpkin Squash: Cast Your Vote over on the Right!!

(This one is for you, Karyn, my friend. Karyn, who has great confidence in my photography skills, says that I could find something great to photograph even in a decrepit end-of-season pumpkin patch)
Our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch was a hoot. Of course it always helps when a) we go on a cloudy, cool October afternoon and b) that afternoon is a weekday when all the rest of the kiddos are sitting at school so we can have the bounce house to ourselves for a good hour. Or should I say...the boys can have it & I can sit and chat with my mama, uninterrupted for a bit. ...and then get up off my laurels to chase me some boys in the corn maize that's full of old corn...these boys, who weren't bothered by the cold, spent more time husking than cruising. Fine by me.


Then we were off to a quiet hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. We already had pumpkins at home and I didn't want to pay a gazillion $/pound so we just looked over all the neato varieties there and I spent time day dreaming about just what kind of pumpkins we'd be harvesting next year. You just watch. :) So take a good look in the photo above and see if you can find my littlest pumpkin, he's in there! If you click on the image you should be able to find him for sure.


Since we didn't need to find a pumpkin to buy and we had time until our hay ride left the station, we decided on a hunt for the ugliest/ most rotten pumpkin. Please take time to vote for the grossest pumpkin, in your humble opinions. The boys would like to know.

Nate's pumpkin is nicely adorned with some late in the season rot, with a bonus bug habitat inside.

Joey's specimen is a beautiful, ovalish puddle of goo, mold and slime-seeds. Last but not least, Eli's squash is just that. Squashed. Moldy and oozing, a beauty!

Don't forget to vote. Children's votes count for two!! There is an easy vote box on the side bar to the right. :) Happy Weekend!

Moving Days

I thought I'd sit down for a minutes and drop a line. We are thrilled to say we got the keys to the house; the movers came Sunday and now the unpacking begins

We're loving the new house. Every.little.thing. Even the creeking of old floors and mysteries that are yet tobe solved, mysteries of a new home. (Does the hot tub work? Where does this door lead to? Was this a laundry chute once upon a time?) The boys are relishing the space, running from their top floor bedrooms to basement and outside. This morning I was getting ready to shower, I peeked into the backyard to see Nate out on his bike jumping a ramp Ralph made on the bb court. At 7:00 a.m. The space is just simply divine.

Of course, my nose has been to the grindstone, emptying boxes as fast as I can and finding places for each thing....everything else goes in the basement for now. A little school here and there but I started early to give grace to these next weeks.

My mom came up to help empty boxes, the boys and I are delighted to have the company (and help!)

I'll be back, posting again sometime soon. Until then...enjoy your almost Autumn! Until then, I found this photo of Eli helping out with our move from VA to OR. He's a little bigger now but man, babies are cute!!...and I wouldn't dare post that one without this sweet photo taken of the boys that same month. Just 4 short years ago. Cutie boys, don't you think?

Home

This is the house we'll be moving into in 7 days or so. I can't tell you how excited I am! It's such a sweet little home, this photo is one that I took while we were looking at it so it's not at the best angle, but I wanted to share anyhow.

This is a picture of my favorite room in the house (so far.) I can't wait to get inside and put our chairs and rugs, houseplants...

This home is one of many in this style. It was built in 1944, during WWII to house workers & military that came to work locally. The houses are called alphabet houses because there are about 26 designs that all were built within two or three years, houses all over town. Our house was originally a duplex, has been converted into a single family home. This adds to the charm for me, the symmetry of the home is wonderful. There are even still two basements, one finished, one unfinished.
This is our "A" house. That's all for now, I'm sure you'll get more photos later in the month. :) Thanks for sharing in my joy.

Monday's Favorite

This is a favorite way to write scattered thoughts, spinning them into a patchwork colorful as the end of summer season. I haven't written much in the busy recent past, I hope you can somehow pull together all that life is comprised of for us just now...
For Today...

Outside my window... summer is drifting off with the sunset, and I wait with anticipation for autumn, and all the rhythm that comes with: school, classes, bedtimes and routines.
I am thinking...that this is the birth of a new season. We are wiggling into a new life here, and I do think it's going to be wonderful.
I am thankful for...a home. There is much to catch up on, but I must tell you that we found a lovely little home. In a terrible renting market, we went for a purchase and succeeded; I am going to be moving into the most lovely little home in a few short weeks. I'm exceedingly blessed, I am. I can't wait to share with you...
From the learning rooms...we're still sneaking up to full school. Math, penmanship, language arts...and next week we begin CC! Horray!
From the kitchen...cereal boxes and plants litter the counterspace of this teeny apartment kitchen. I will make a birthday cake tomorrow for my sweet-five-Elijah-Jonathan. In some sort of a casserole dish, I suppose.
I am wearing...a sweatshirt. Not because hubby has the a/c cranked up. Because it's coolish and cozy. Shorts, too, no worries.
I am creating...comfortable living in this apartment, and space else where when the walls close in. Structure to our temporary-ish chaotic life.
I am going...to fall asleep grateful, again. I'll also share with you some sweet photos of my Eli.
I am reading...hm, just finished "So Cold The River" and will pick up another that I found at the library this week. I am reading The Core, My Upmost (of course), Proverbs, Psalms & Luke.
I am hoping...so,so much hope. For our home and yard & school. Mostly I'm hoping that God will work in me, to love Him more, to become His more and gain His sight.
I am hearing...Laura Sullivan with Chaco Canyon & the "whiiiishhh" of Eli playing in the tub.
Around the house...Doggy sleeps, laundry waits, ironing calls, oranges ripen, little boy gets clean, legos decorate, books are stacked and all is calm- just now.
One of my favorite things...the changing of the seasons. And seeing God's little treats for us.
A few plans for the rest of the week: CC meeting, library trip, taking the boys to a new spot I found on the river, where they can collect all the pretty stones they like. Awanas, Birthday cake & wishes. Doctor's appointment, and school.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...For Today...

The cutest baby of 2005, no doubt. Go ahead, try me!!

I'll take you with me....

Here we are, in the middle of this whirlwind. Do you want to come?

Two weeks ago: 5 days with my in-laws, sitting poolside & nose in a book
Last week: @ Yosemite with sweet friends & their little ones. Catching a view of the beautiful falls, mountains made of rocks & building a dam and splashing in the river & encouraging conversation.
Today: Unpack. Pack
Tomorrow: on to Spokane for the 3-day Classical Conversations practicum and tutor training I'm so excited to attend. Yes, tutor training, because I'm teaching next year. And I'm so, so excited!! But I'm leaving one of my sweet boys to keep company with his dad and it just might break my heart. My umbilical cord is not so long...
Next Friday: going away party...for us. :(
Next Saturday: Much anticipated family reunion...4 hours away
Next Sunday: Breathe

Intermission: two weeks of packing and readying to move

Last week of the month: Load up our truck, doggie and essentials to move to provided (Thank you God) temporary housing.



I hope your head isn't spinning. Mine does, sometimes. Maybe I've done this too many times or maybe I'm covered with overwhelming grace...I feel all I have to do is today. Mostly just peace
But,
Some days I cry a little about leaving our sweet home. (We're selling) Some days I'm just overwhelmed with all the blessing that comes with this change. Some hours I cannot.stop.making.lists. Mostly I'm covered with amazing peace that all the details are just falling into place.

I'm grateful to get time with friends here before we go (we don't have to pack--amazing!!)
I'm grateful for housing when we get there (time to find a rental home)
I'm so grateful my husband gets to change to a job he's going to love.
I'm so, so grateful for a Classical Conversations community to go to. Did I mention I get to meet new cc mama's this week?
I'm so grateful, and I'm a little exhausted.

So many photos to come. Bear with me. Until....October.

Backyard

We've had so much rain and hail this May, it's amazing. While I'm ready for it to dry up I know it's fantastic for our yards and all the grass we keep in this desert, and of course the wildfires that plague us come summer.

Anyhow, I slipped outside today to see what's buzzing in our backyard.

My sweet peas are already so very sweet. Nothing un-sweet about these little leaves and tendrils:

Our three year old lilacs are blooming this year...for the first time. What a dream come true!
This little spider found a home in the lower part of our treehouse. We've been watching him for a few weeks. I don't mind spiders a bit.

I had a lovely time photographing this bumble bee. These huge bees come and stuff their pockets full of pollen every year when this bush blooms. I love how he tucked himself in the petals. He moved so quickly it was tricky getting a good shot. Enjoy your long weekend!

Lady-In-Waiting

This post is partly in response to my bloggy friend Amy's post, "What I learned this season." I'd love for you to share too, what you're learning. It's rich stuff.

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

I am a lady in waiting. Come to think of it, I don't think I know of any of my friends that aren't.

Waiting for babies
waiting for a home
waiting for a job
waiting for a husband
waiting for peace
waiting....

I've never been much for waiting. But I look back over the last 20 years of my life and I see that I've been doing just that. Waiting.

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Not surprisingly, when I look back I also see that it's in the waiting that I've grown. Well, waiting and in pain & grief. (I'll take waiting anyday) And in the waiting, I turn to God over and over because I know He holds the future in his hand.

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20

....and I want to lean into God. I want to be seeking manna from God every day. He's asked that I hang close to Him. When I'm waiting, it's easy to stay close to God, waiting with expectation for what He's got up His sleeve.

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

So I'm going to keep waiting, & do so hoping in God. You wouldn't believe how much crazy peace I have after I spend the morning with Him. I say crazy peace, I don't think I should have any peace at all, but God gives that to me. Have you experienced that? The real 'peace that passes understanding?' The waiting part hurts, a little for me. I'm up and down, sometimes trusting and in peace and sometimes feeling nervous and wanting to try and take control by worrying it to death, but I'm finding that more and more the hoping in Him wins out because the peace, it's like a light hearted-ness that I don't even have when life is....unwaiting.

I'm 35. Halfway to 70. If I'm learning it a little more now, then maybe when I'm 70 I can just sit back and wait with a big grin on my wrinkly face and wait with the fullest expectation, all the years of answers behind me.

And this is my new favorite scripture, I can't get it out of my head;
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17.

So I hope this encourages you if you're waiting. Waiting for enough cash to pay the bills, for wisdom in parenting that tricky child, for knowing just how to comfort a friend, or for the answers of what to do next. Whatever your waiting for, I hope you can hope in God...and remember that He is mighty to save. He delights in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing...

If that's not enough to keep you going give me a call or drop a line because I want to be praying for your wait.

Playtime

Autumn berries against the sweet High Desert Sky.

I'm loving autumn this year. I can't get out enough. Perhaps it's because the season is so short, and I know that Winter is around the corner I just want to be out...and I'm completely enamored with the nature that is changing before my eyes; all of summer in it's glory is quieting itself to sleep into long Winters night. These are samples from my backyard. A little art inspired by my neighbor the Eclectica Chica. It's so fun to get my hands in the crunch of the leaves. The textures the sounds...feeling like a little girl again hiding away in my big, big backyard in secret corners. The wonder of it....

All tucked in for Winter's night.

Do you see Old Man Winter?