self portrait: food

its all about the choices we make.
tonight i reached for the soy milk and organic fig newmans
instead of the ice cream.

and it felt good.

see other people's relations to food here.

guess who's coming to town

my favorite superhero is on his way this week-end...
watch for photos!



p.s. now that i have broached religion, i will approach politics, too.
today i stood at a peace demonstration.
it was small, about 15 of us.
but the group gathers every thursday in front of the courthouse.
i borrowed a sign.
one man held the "honk for peace" sign and it was amazing how many people did.
it was discouraging how many people did.
i wish the government could acknowledge all those horns.
only one man stopped to express disagreement.
just smile.
it is a free country, after all.

in the mail

i have finally sent out the last of my fall postcards for the postcard swap.
i am eagerly checking my mailbox for the ones still on their way to me...

it was really a joy to create these,
mini quilts and all,
and to send happy messages
about the joys of fall.
apple picking, apple pie, apple cider.
pumpkin carving, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie,
beautiful foliage, raking leaves, jumping in piles,
candy corn, trick or treating, costumes,
cool air, evening walks, bon fires.

juice fest

with all the beets in the garden,
and local apples coming off the trees,
its been an great time for making juice.
and feasting on in.
yum.
is there anything better you can do for body?


and while taking caring of my body,
i also feel healthy in the spirit department.
while i rarely discuss or entertain topics
of politics or religion on my blog
i left service today at peace.
and at home.


i feel welcomed by this community that pledges to
"seek to nurture spiritual and intellectual growth for all ages,
to be actively involved in community outreach and service,
cherish diversity,
celebrate our oneness with all humanity,
and support each other in the spirit of compassion, respect, and love."

their principles remind me what i was looking for and why i am there.
i know you don't need a church for all this,
but in a conservative community
i feel lucky to have found people who value:

• the inherent worth of every person.
• justice, equality, and compassion.
• acceptance of one another.
• a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
• the goal of world peace, liberty, and justice for all.
• respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
  

fall saturday

easton came home from the vet today after losing his jewels and looks more pathetic than ever all wrapped up in this cone.
poor guy.
now he's cooped up and looks really silly.
it can only come off under direct supervision,
and when he has a new marrow bone
or ice cubes to entertain him.
what a good boy.


fall is also creeping in at the seams here.
the weather is only slightly fall like,
with the temperature and the sun still high.
the breeze brought in a slight chill, though,
enough to warrant pants or a fleece.

we spent the day
shopping for apples and goodies at the farmer's market,
walking an outdoor book sale in a waterside town,
filling the fridge and our bellies,
coughing, sniffling, snorting,
napping, cuddling, relaxing,
tending to the last bits of the garden,
bumping into friends on the street,
shopping for todd's new crocs,
and then all wrapped up for a evening movie,
babel, which i liked.

peace.

a boy and a frog

it's come to another week-end, and as i get settled in for a night of pizza, hot tubbing, beer, and friends, i finally have a chance to get back on the computer.
these photos are of little A last week-end.
what excitement is was to find a toad in the barn and be able to carry him around for a while.
he hopped in the apartment and made himself at home.


and a smile like that can just melt your heart.


in other news, easton is officially neutered, although he doesn't come home until tomorrow.
mollie is finished her antibiotics and better.
we've both had allergy/colds this week and are in recovery.

this week-end is also for us to recover and clean
getting ready for a visit from my sister and little W next week-end.
more pics soon.

price of admission

the price of admission at aunt emily and uncle toddy's includes:

hugs and walks by the water

pear picking

tractor rides

golf cart driving lessons

boat rides and tours of the local creeks

tickles and giggles

all the tomatoes you can pick

a petting zoo of horses


and dog walking.

when are you coming to visit?

comparison

well, in reading this post by karen, i thought it would be fun to do a comparison shot in my classroom. while karen teaches kindergarten, and i am teaching second grade, our kids do some things the same. white boards. kids love 'em. my kids have a bit of free time to use them when we finish a math activity that requires them, and so the other day, i took some pictures just for fun... just for comparison.


its so fun to see how such things change over time...


and how trends catch on...


and how they are all just so darn cute.


and does it get any cuter than this?
at parent night tonight (a teacher's most difficult day of the year in my opinion) a parent told me that her daughter came home on the first day of second grade and told her mom that the very best part of school was listening to my voice.
really, does it get any sweeter?

i adore these kids.

week-end loves

i love:

• candy corn
• cool autumn, breezy air
• pumpkins and apples
  

• tomatoes and mozzarella and basil from the garden
• pesto dip and crustinis
• chicken salad sandwiches
• leftovers
  

• a clean floor
• expecting visitors
• the red color of ripe peppers
  

• playing games
• giddy laughter
• tickling children

• boys holding hands
• a beautifully clean refrigerator
• hard rains
  

• friends and families
• the smell of cut grass
• sticky wet grass on bare feet

• morning coffee with cream
• making, writing, receiving fall postcards
• Tylenol p.m.

so many things to love.
too little week-end...

abundantly happy

i feel so abundantly happy that it is almost beyond words.
happy to have my basic needs met and my belly full if chicken and dumplings.
happy to have friends here and all over the country to love and who love us.
happy to be expecting two new nieces into the world this winter.
happy to be loving my job and to feel joy in the morning when i get up.
happy to be so in love with my husband.
happy to be back at the gym and going to work out in the morning and to yoga after work.
happy to feel my body happy.
happy to be looking forward to fall, and feeling the cool air return to our mornings and evenings.
happy to be on our way to a week-end spending time with todd and friends.
happy that the dogs are amazing little loving animals.
just brimming...
abundantly happy.