Day Two Hundred Sixty Eight 2010

Pumpkin Time!

For me, Autumn is the most wonderful time of the year--pumpkins and gourds, scarecrows and pumpkin people, Indian corn, candy corn, and leaves turning their true colors.

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"Back into your garden-beds!

Here come the holidays!

And woe to the golden pumpkin-heads

Attracting too much praise.

Hide behind the hoe, the plow,

Cling fast to the vine!

Those who come to praise you now

Will soon sit down to dine."

~~ Grace Cornell Tall

To Pumpkins at Pumpkin Time

Day Two Hundred Sixty Seven 2010

Decisions decisions ...

So many to choose from! Elijah surveys a most excellent choice of pumpkins and gourds at a local farmer's market this afternoon. He picked out something small for himself and also for his mom, dad, and sister.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Six 2010

Jump, Flip, Bounce

Elijah Man bustin some moves on the trampoline this afternoon.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Five 2010

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Daughter Kelly sent me this picture of ornamental gourds she bought at a vegetable stand down the road from her house. 25 cents each. Not too shabby. Even better--they're for me! She knows I love gourds. The gnarlier the better. It's nice to be thought of. Thanks, Kelly! Welcome, Autumn! The most wonderful time of the year.

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"the air is different today

the wind sings with a new tone

sighing of changes coming

the harvest gathered

a flower, a nut

some mead, and bread

a candle and a prayer

returning the fruits

in thanksgiving

to the grove

and receiving

it's blessing

again"

--Rhawk, Alban Elfed

Day Two Hundred Sixty Four 2010

Goodbye, Summer

The sky over my backyard around 12:30 today.

The last day of Summer sunshine was already stretching my shadow along the grass even though it was only lunch time.

My waiting-for-Shelby sky (in Solaris).

Elijah had the best time putting stickers on a sheet of paper today. They came in the mail with a magazine offer. Free fun.

Shelby's thoughts are already into October. She's been drawing Halloween related pictures for a couple of weeks now.

The boys of Summer. Elijah waits his turn at bat in his fifth T Ball game this afternoon. He only has one more game. His game was at the same time as Shelby's fast pitch softball game. Since she has many more games to play, we opted to watch Elijah's team.

He hit the ball hard and he got to play infield and some first base and he played well. The kids still don't have much of a clue about what to do with the ball once they have it. Elijah scooped it up and was immediately tackled by one of his own team mates who must have really wanted the ball. Funny stuff. I can't think of a better way to say goodbye to Summer.

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"Not that I have any objection to autumn as a season, full of its own beauty; but I just cannot bear to see another summer go, and I recoil from what the first hint of autumn means."- Vita Sackville-West