Hi! I'm quickly stopping by to post a few photos of our fall here. Yes, can you believe all the color we've had? Absolutely gorgeous. These photos were snapped last week during one of our afternoon walks around town.
The commentary went something like this:
"Look at this beautiful tree Bea!"
"Woah...this one is purple." "Oh my gosh, look how yellow that one is!"
"Wow, red!!"
I fully expect her to take on autumn with as much enthusiasm as her mama. Or at least fake it when she's with me.
A couple of weekends ago, we took a drive out to the hill country. We got a late start, so by the time we made some distance west, the afternoon sun was upon us. The landscape was glorious and literally glowed in an autumn halo of gold. The heavenly hues inspired Byron and I to let ourselves daydream about buying a bit o'land out there and creating our own little homestead - one day.
Living quietly on the prairie with the big Texas sky above us. There's an unexpected beauty out there that I never, ever dreamed of (or knew existed) as a child. God's country, they say...
However, neither one of us is sure that we would want to leave our sweet little town and our cozy house for that dream, though. Which says a lot about our contentedness right now, I think. We may not have acres of rolling hills, but we do live a pretty sweet existence right in the middle of town - white picket fence, swimming holes, chicken, gardens, and all.
We stopped off at one of my favorite spots on earth. We walked around the grounds and for the short time we were there, we pretended it was our own slice of pastoral heaven. Beatrix and I got super excited at the sight of a baby calf named Daisy. Turns out, we met her mama, Buttercup, a year and half before when she was just born, as well. Cows sure do grow up fast. While I was moseying about the property, checking out the gardens and the kitchen, Byron and Beatrix ended up back near Daisy.
Byron said that Beatrix called her name and Daisy came running up to Beatrix. She rubbed and rubbed her little head and Daisy licked Beatrix's hands and fingers. Daisy stumped her back hoof in a playful manner and wagged her tail like a puppy. The two played with each other for ten minutes or so.
When it was time to leave, we began to walk around her fenced area to return to our car. Along the way, Beatrix would look back at Daisy and Daisy would then come running up to her looking to play and nudge Beatrix again.
It was so adorable. We didn't want to leave her. What a sweet, sweet calf she was.
On Thanksgiving Day, Beatrix led our family in the blessing before the meal. It went like this:
We are thankful for our food.
For rest and home and all things good.
For wind and rain and sun above.
But most of all, for those we love.
So much can be said in so few words.
I'm very grateful for this simple, good life we are carving out for ourselves.
::Photos::
1. Tuesday evening lantern walk. 2. the opening of a milkweed seedpod and her dirty, scratched up (well-used) hands. 3. leaves for our gratitude tree that she and I made. 4. our Thanksgiving Monarch. 5. Thanksgiving morning in the kitchen. 5. we tried to watch "the parade", but none of us were in to it. 6. pretty bird. 7. we ate on the porch. 8. us. 9. coffee with dessert. 10. evening walk through the park. 11. first batch of laundry on the new clothesline.
I suppose I can't let Halloween go by undocumented on the blog. Oh, it was a good one, probably one of our best so far. Though, we've only have a few to compare it to.
For awhile, Beatrix said she wanted to be ladybug. Then it was sunflower. About a week before Halloween she declared with some finality in her tone that no, neither of those would do. She was going to be a chick. A yellow chick.
Okey dokie. I was in the weeds with school and other life busyness stuff and doubted when I'd have time to make a chick costume. I was secretely wishing we could by-pass the whole Halloween ordeal. It's my least favorite holiday, afterall. Ah...what does that say about me?? That I'm stodgy and no fun at all!!! Eh...
I finally got the chance to think about her costume the day before Halloween. It took an afternoon to sew it up. And she was so happy about it. She stayed with me in the sewing room to help me the entire time. In the weeks prior to Halloween, she'd been reminding me "Mama, you haven't been sewing anything lately. Maybe you can start working on my costume?" I love how her mind works. That Mama makes my costume. That girl, she has a simple life. As quick and savy as she seems to me at times, her world is quite protected and so very safe.
We trick or treated on Main Street with good friends and their little ones. Big, old houses, decorated in spiderwebs and pumpkins. Beatrix walked ahead of us, with such confidence and independence. She didn't need to hold my hand. I didn't even have to walk up the sidewalks with her. For the most part, Byron and I enjoyed visiting with our friends and watching over her from a distance.
We walked home just as the sun was setting and she was sound asleep by her usual bedtime. And that was Halloween 2012.
Some days I write post after post in my head as I go about my days of tending and caring for Beatrix and our little home. Mothering... what a job. That girl can make my heart swell with astonishment, pride, and joy just as quickly as her little being can trigger frustration and bewilderment. I try to take plenty of notes on the former and forget rather quickly the latter.
Raising my exuberant little girl has me continuously questioning and refining my reactions and interactions with her. I've come to the conclusion that I can never have too much zen inspiration at hand.
Overall, though, life is good. We are healthy, busy, somewhat tired, and a most-of-the-time happy little family.
October, my favorite month of the year, flew by, once again. It's popularity, I believe will be its doom in my opinion. Dare I say that it was almost too full to enjoy ~ or at least, to full to savor.
It was a month full of friends, weddings, and festivals. A whole lot of fun. It's left me feeling over-stimulated and eager to burrow myself into our quiet homelife for the remaining holiday season. I guess that's the harvest season for you though - a great big, noisy, exhale before the quiet inhale of winter.
I could not of thought of a better way to spend the first morning of October than picking apples.
One has to look and listen closely for signs of autumn in central Texas. She's soft-spoken, I suppose. And after having an autumn five times in a row during our years up north, it took me awhile to make peace with this Texas version.
Seven years later, I find myself doing okay. But finding an apple orchard definitely helps.
I admit that I lose my gusto to explore during the hot, dry, summer months.
We still spend lots of time outside in our own backyard or at the pool during this time, but we tend to slack off from exploring much beyond the small, safe, radius that surrounds our home.
It feels so good to venture out again. Out of our backyard. Out of our immediate neighborhood. These photos are from a few mornings ago at Berry Springs, a nature preserve a couple of miles from us. After a rainy weekend, the clouds had not quite disappeared. It was nice to have one more morning of subdued light. The spring was overflowing and grasshoppers were dancing about. We saw a red-tailed hawk and so many bees and butterflies. Bea stopped along the trail for what seemed like every single roly poly and snail. And of course, she (and I) love to visit with Pancho and Amigo, the two resident donkeys.
My juices are flowing again. I'm swooning about the smells of autumn: the first gumbo, apples cooking, chicken roasting, wood burning, quiet evenings, windows open. It's all just around the corner.
With the temperatures falling below 90 degrees, this little family of mine has been celebrating by reuniting with the outdoors. The approaching fall season comes as such a great relief every year. I know we are still due to have some hot days ahead of us, but this taste of fall has me craving ever so more of it.
Today, we woke up expecting to take a nature walk in a nearby park, but spontaneously decided to hit the road to Austin to visit one of our most beloved little patches of woods. Yep, to the big city for a walk in the woods...And if our memories are correct, it's been a whole year since taking a long walk through Mayfield Park.
It was a picture perfect kind of walk. We seemed to have the whole place to ourselves at least up until we were on our way out. Flowers were blooming and the leaves on the trees seemed to be extra green thanks to the recent rain we received. There was even a bit of water in the creek. One thing is for sure, living in Central Texas has taught me to worship rain. These days, we go for such long stretches without a drop, it's like our world is one big moss bed just waiting for a few raindrops to bring it back to life.
As is typical, Bea had a splendid time. I adore walking through this patch of woods with her. We have so many good memories here, it makes my heart break just a bit to think about it. From the moby wrap and a diaper bum to where we are now...a contemplative, curious, and endearing young child. I've been taking her here since she was a wee babe. Even though it can go months without visiting, these woods have been a constant in our lives.
Today, she delighted in meeting the peacocks again and was busy counting them as she spotted them perched in trees, atop an arbor, in the gardens, and foraging in the woods.
She filled her pockets until they were bulging with little green acorns. She found a good walking stick for herself and Byron (and she looked for one for me, but couldn't find a suitable one). She hopped across stones and climbed rocks. And when we got the the stream, she washed her little acorns.
I daydreamed about what it would be like to organize a little kinderforest program that she could participate in. A hour or two, once a week, and a few kiddos that she could explore with. Week after week, month after month in the same patch of woods. As she has always been, my girl feels most at home in this world outside. A stick, some acorns and little flowing water is all she needs to fill her cup up. She inspires me so. Truly.
And because I could not help myself. A little walk down memory lane ~
September 2009, September 2010, November 2010, January 2011, February 2011, May 2011, September 2011
Right now, I feel all warm, cozy, and nostalgic as I let the wonderful reality settle in that fall is on its way. It's been a mental practice of mine to not become wistful too early in summer for something that I can't have - northern seasons.
But yesterday, today, and tonight, were just glorious. A front blew in rain (4 inches) and cooler temperatures. We threw the windows open. I wore corduroys. Bea wore a sweater, and I swear I just wanted to nuzzle her all day long.
I can't stop smiling.
We just got back from a long walk around town. Fall is best time of year to take those long evening walks that I love so much. I know I'm not alone to admit that my favorite time to admire my neighborhood is at dusk when the home interior lights get flicked on and you can hear the clinking around and chatter happening within because the AC's are off and the windows are open. There's something so beautiful about the simple everday moments whether their mine or someone else's. To me, the glimpses are just enough to turn the ordinary into something magical.
And also, you should know, the other reason I am smiling at this very moment is because I can hear Beatrix talking to herself as she settles into bed for the night. There are whispers and giggles and a very high pitch squealy voice, as if she's consoling or caring for one of her "girls". There is a "Hi! I'm Bea!". And I'm not sure who is talking to who in her little mind, but I'm sure Dolly is involved. That girl...is so darn cute these days.
