Day Three Hundred Six 2011

Hubby Neil has been working, off and on over the past several months,  installing old-fashioned tin (actually aluminum) ceiling tiles in our living room. Today he placed the final tile. I told him he should sign it, so he did—our names, the date, and a smiley face for good measure.

The last one goes in place. Hooray! Now he has to install the cornice all the way around. Stay tuned.

This afternoon, grandson Elijah wanted to jump in the leaves. So Grandpa handed him a rake, and Elijah got to work, raking a pile of leaves to jump in.

His mom got in on the action, too, to make the work go faster.

Elijah takes a leap! All that hard work paid off in big time fun.

Grand daughter Shelby jumps in with a hot pink flourish. Jumping in a pile of November leaves is a rite of passage for any child who is blessed to have a pile of leaves. Today couldn’t have been a more perfect day for it.

Day Three Hundred Five 2011

"If my heart can become pure and simple like that of a child, I think there probably can be no greater happiness than this." ~~ Kitaro Nishida

Day Three Hundred Four 2011

Halloween Group Shot: from left~granddaughter Shelby is an angel, daughter Kelly is a pregnant nun (the pregnant part is real), niece Sarah is a ‘Pink Lady’ from ‘Grease’, son in law Jerry is a hippie but bears a striking resemblance to Jimi Hendrix, niece Julia is a jelly fish, daughter Holly is a clown (her makeup is awesome!), and those two guys in front with the mustaches are grandson Elijah as Mario and his good friend Anthony as Luigi.  (Hubby Neil, sister Jane, son in law Kerry and I didn’t dress up but went along for the ride. Brother in law Don stayed at the house and fed the spooks and enjoyed some hockey and football games.)

My family LOVES Halloween! My kids, grand kids and nieces always dress up in the most awesome costumes. After a chili supper, they go trick or treating around the neighborhood. The adults have as much fun watching them collect candy. And it helps to have a cup of hot mulled apple cider to knock the chill off as we trek from house to house. Here are just a few trick or treating snapshots. I had a blast. This is my favorite time of the year, and I especially enjoy Halloween because it’s just plain fun! Goodbye, October. Once again, you flew by way too fast. I hate to see you go.

Day Three Hundred Three 2011

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, JANE!
My baby sister, Jane Foy, celebrated her 50th birthday today. Lots of  family on hand to help her party, including a surprise visit from our 90 year old mom, who doesn’t get out much these days (thanks to sister Ann and her husband Terry for bringing her to the celebration and getting her back home again). That red velvet cake was oh so very yummy, and so was the homemade punch. All those ‘flat presents’ (a.k.a. moolah) also made turning 50 a little sweeter, I hope. Still can’t believe my sweet baby sister has reached the half century mark (ouch!) because she still doesn’t look a day over seventeen. Love and Hugs on your special day, Jane! I’m so blessed to have you in my life.

Day Three Hundred Two 2011

On such a day each road is planned To lead to some enchanted land; Each turning meets expectancy. The signs I read on every hand. I know by autumn's wizardry On such a day the world can be Only a great glad dream for me-- Only a great glad dream for me!

Eleanor Myers Jewett