raking leaves

I was outside raking leaves today. The kids joined me for a little while and we raked up a big pile for them to jump into. They wandered off and I was still enjoying the raking, so I kept raking out into the street. There is a leaf service that comes by to get the leave and they turn them into mulch. This, I believe, they do to keep the leaves from building up in the sewers, it being the rainy season and all. I won't tell the whole story of my neighbors giving me a hard time about raking the leaves "late" because I am enjoying being in a good mood and if I go over it too many times in my mind, well, my good mood will go wherever their good mood went.

The way I see it, raking leaves can be a really enjoyable way to spend a little time outside, if you are in the mood- but isn't that the way with most things? People are in such a hurry to get things cleaned up that they never wait to get in a good mood about doing the things in the first place. And then they go around scowling and complaining about things like raking leaves, when let's be honest here, no one needs to rake another leaf, ever. The best part of the whole scene with my neighbor was that I said, "Well, maybe it will rain!" because really what she is worried about it my leaves going into her yard (such devisiveness makes it hard to enjoy neighborly love, or neighbors, really.) And she agreed! "Yes! Maybe it will rain and they will get all clumped down!" She was so excited by this thought that she walked off smiling. Do you think I will ever be able to get her excited about rain again? [huge grin].

OK, onto the photos.



raking and jumping



Samuel and Eva



done!



Small parts- mushrooms, what the squirrels are after, box elder bug's forest



where they came from; flowers still blooming even as leaves cover them

The christmas cactus started booming! This plant is a clipping from a plant that my grandmother's grandmother had.

sibling love

I had a picture of the kids sitting together in the new chair but Samuel really didn't like the picture (because he was scowling) and I took it down. Anyway, we have a new chair and everyone loves it and last night they were sitting in it together. Jack had the couch to himself...



I found this pile of weapons near the chair. Was there a plan to oust Eva from the chair?

And then I found these photos of candy from Halloween. So many ways to organize candy...



Eva put her candy into a pattern and Samuel organized his by type. Every time we look at these photos he mentions that Eva got more candy and it is hard to deny it. But how could that be? They went to the same houses, I saw them put candy into their bags. It's true that Samuel eats his candy more quickly. I pointed out today that he put his in piles and the 3-dimensions of the piles didn't show up in the photo. See the kit kat pile and the m&m pile?

Another glorious day AND I finished the hat I have been working on. This is the third hat I have made with this lovely angora yarn (eggplantish color looks more purple in photo; the mustard and orange yarns are both wool; all at 6 sts/inch) and I think this one is a keeper. I wore it all day to get used to it, because as Samuel mentioned, I was feeling it was a little bright, at least for my head. He said I will only knit brown things for myself and that I am under a brown spell. Interesting, because I do wear a lot of brown but I have a purple vest and blue shoes so maybe an eggplant hat won't be too much after all. I finished up Samuel's new red hat as well (also 6 sts/inch). This year's red hat is knit in three shades of red- the bottom half is alpaca and then a little left over orangey-red from my stash and some new worsted weight for the top which I intend to make mittens out of as well, hoping they will keep the snow out a bit more than the alpaca, which was really soft and not a bit itchy but which also absorbed moisture too easily.

This weeks produce basket is amazing! There are several tomatoes and I have a few brandywines from my garden that I have been ripening in the kitchen. Brandywine tomatoes in November! Also potatoes, collards, leeks, peppers, romanesco, cauliflower, beets and would you believe, chard! So of course I am making chard with chickpeas tonight and beet risotto later this week? I want to find some brown arborio rice for the risotto and wonder if such a creature exists? But I am torn because I would love to juice the beets as well, particularly with the carrots AND apples. Oh, and there is also a kabocha squash, not to be confused with kombucha.

And speaking of kombucha, I have been checking it out and my mother is about ready so that I can try making my own kombucha!

We went on a tour of the Candy Basket today. This is a giant chocolate fall just inside the building.

Did you know they make 180 different flavors of salt water taffy? No two bags are ever alike.

The kids picked out several different types of candy from the extensive candy shop out front and Samuel even found a chocolate policeman set, complete with a chocolate billy club, badge and handcuffs!

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which opens for us."
- Alexander Graham Bell

My friend Kate and I were talking about this today. People are very out of sorts (here) presumably because of the rain coming, of the shorter days, of autumn in general. Autumn is so many things that summer is not. And the not is what is closely observed.

Here is a daily groove by Scott Noelle about taking the path of least resistance, going with the flow, using an example of rain, no less. How appropriate.

The Path of Least Resistance

by Scott Noelle, posted on 2007-05-04

"Take a moment today to observe the motion of water drops descending on a window, windshield, shower wall, or sink.

Each drop follows its own "path of least resistance" toward Ground, which is rarely a straight line. It flows around obstacles in the easiest possible way. When the obstacle is another drop, the easiest way might be to merge with it.

Sometimes the easiest path is that which has been established by previous drops. Sometimes it's easier to stay put until another drop comes along.

In every case, there is no trying, no effort. There is only ease and surrender. That's Nature's Way. Evidence of this is everywhere — in the growth patterns of wild plants, the movement of animals, and the behavior of children.

Today, set the intention to flow like water through your day and with your children. Notice that when you feel stressed, you're resisting in some way.

And when you feel good, you're going with the Flow."

Today Eva wanted to make meringue cookies for Matt's birthday. She wants them to be a surprise, so they are cooking on very slow in the oven right now. I don't know how they are going to turn out because for some reason they were not firming up the way they do and I remembered that you aren't *supposed* to make meringue when it is raining but surely I have made meringue in the rain here before? Then it occurred to me that it isn't the rain per se, but the dew point and it has been very warm here lately- in the 60's rather than 50's and that in conjunction with the rain is what was probably making it difficult to make meringue. Not sure and I probably won't look it up right now. Anyway, the meringue would not be good for a pie, but for cookies it should be just fine.

What came out of the meringue experience, though, was even better than the meringue itself. The afternoon became all about eggs. Eva looked intently and closely at egg yolks (again) and held them and bounced them from hand to hand and there is still one in a bowl on the counter that we are keeping an eye on. Samuel got out an egg or two and whipped some up with various other additives (including the shell crushed in the mortar and pestle) and out came the litmus paper. Lime juice is definitely more acidic than egg.

And now everyone is really relaxed. Samuel even went as far as to say he was in a good mood and was enjoying his day. How is that for getting out of the way and going with the flow. So so glad I didn't mind about egg yolk all over (not that I usually do, anyway, but you get my meaning about getting in the way...). So glad I turned the music on and got us moving. It totally changed the day. Now we just have to eat. And I am so excited because I made this chicken and rice soup with celeriac, carrots and yes! even fennel and it was good.

japanese gardens

The kids and I went to Portland's Japanese Garden today.



tiny tiny mushrooms; leaves in the pond; Samuel posing as Sheriff Sam



Samuel and Eva- she found a secret spot by a waterfall



Parts of the whole