Happy Halloween

Just about to head out to a full night.  Candy and spirits.  Costumes from the toy trunk and costumes from the store.  Make-up for all.  Some scaaaarier than others.  Ready for a spooktacula evening!

Soccer Cheer

Fall has brought us lots of soccer and cheer.   Cheerleading is new and we just wrapped up the season.    Cheerleading has been great with lots of performing at games and competitions.  When not actually cheering they are standing at attention waiting for the next move on the field so they can supply the appropriate cheer.  Another bonus to this sport is that they get their hair done in beautiful french braids with a
big bow on top.       

Eli is sporting a new look on the soccer field.  To go with his fancy footwork he has a headband to wear.  It sort of dates back to the tennis players in the 70's.  It works, for he can play a mean game of soccer and his hair is out of his face.  

Autumn Trek

We made our trek up the coast to the pumpkin patch.  Actually we went twice.  Once with all of us.  Well, almost all of us.  This was the first year we went that Nate hasn't gone with us.  Then we went again with the day care like we always do.  The colors were brilliant  and the sun warm.  Both times the wheelbarrows were a big hit and Eli didn't want to get a pumpkin.  He wants to carve the volunteers we have in the garden. 

Sewing and Canning

The pears that I showed earlier have now either been eaten or canned.  Everyone helped harvest them before they all got eaten by the starlings or raccoons.  Though I canned these a while ago I haven't been able to put them away because they look so lovely sitting there on the shelf.  So much of what I do doesn't result in a product so when it does I like to look at it for awhile.   Also, I haven't had access to a camera for a while but we resolved that so now I have some pictures of things we've doing around here.  That is when we aren't at cheerleading events or soccer games. 

We also celebrated apples this weekend.  We ate some of that delicious caramelized fall topping, that was featured at mayamade, on waffles and  made apple crisp for the about the fourth time.  Served with vanilla ice cream, can't beat that.  Ian was home so we canned some applesauce for him to take back to his house to enjoy with his roommates.  Our neighbors got out their classic wooden juicer and Ian and Eli brought over a bowl of apples and made it into a tasty container of juice.  So fresh and delicious!

Here are some of the new napkins I made.  I got inspired by some napkins we bought from Girl Scouts a while ago at an auction.  They are colorful, small, double sided and a variety of patterns.  I made them for the table and for picnics.  Most of them are about 10"x10".  I loved piecing together the bright scraps of fabric!

From Here to There

Really.  You want to go to school all the way across the country.  Really.  It's been almost a month.  Nate is so far across the country and we miss him so.  Stretched across the country.  We often think about him from here to there.  Eli can hardly stand the lack of wrestling and Magic games.  Emily gets away with a lot more picking at things.  Though the house tips a little when Nate isn't here I am thrilled at the connections he's making and how he seems to be just soaking in every ounce of that school.  That's what bouys me up and keeps me afloat.  A Gary Snyder poem here and there helps too. 

                                                               

How Poetry Comes to Me

It comes blundering over the
Boulders at night, it stays
Frightened outside the
Range of my campfire
I go to meet it at the
Edge of the light

New Pillows

Here are a few new pillows.  They are great for reading on the coach on  Saturday mornings.   I started to make a few for our coach but the first piece I made was too dark.  It didn't go well with the color blue of our coach so I was going to make it into hot pads.  But Eli loved it and wanted a pillow.   I finished some lighter ones for the coach and went back to make his for his cozy bed.

  Then I had to make one for the girl.  Pink is in again.  So I found lots of pinkish pieces of flannel for hers.  I liked making these-taking small bits and sewing them into something, piece by piece.  I had the ironing board up in the kitchen for weeks and would just pluck away at it whenever I had a chance.

County Fair

This last weekend we went to the county fair.  We saw some beautiful Japanese inspired gardens, huge Dahlias, amazingly large cows and pigs, goats in delightful attire, racing pigs and well-trained Sea Lions.  Then as we were leaving we always make a stop in the arts and harvest buildings and I think that is what made the biggest impression on Eli this year.  The photos.  He came home and set up these photos and was really inspired to start taking pictures.

Here's a few of his photos.  The one of the juice bottle is his favorite  I had to pry my camera out of a sandy sock to get to them.  That's okay though because I think I'll be handing that camera down to him.