Goings On- the Good, the Bad, and the Creative

1. The fact that it was Halloween wasn't forefront in my mind during the day. So, every time I saw a costumed person out in public I was taken a little off-guard. The result was a day punctuated with little surprises for me.
1a. Just a reminder of what's not OK- An adult delivery man who approaches an elementary school with a bandana tied over his face. No blood, no gore, just a bandana. This was probably the scariest thing I saw all day.(We refused him entry until he removed the bandana.)
2. We had a quiet evening with Tess and Ian hanging out at home. Tess thought we should listen to The Edgar Winter Group's Frankenstein so we put it on the turntable. Then we got into searching some other songs with Halloweeny titles. I couldn't find the Alan Parsons Project, The Raven, but I did find Lucifer. Ian put on ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition with it's classic pipe organ which fit the mood of Halloween perfectly.



2b. We dined on pancakes and bacon. In my mind, this is a Halloween meal because my mother happened to make it one Halloween when I was little and it stuck in my memory as associated with Halloween. Simple as that.
3. I had a good and hot cup of coffee with dinner. It was comforting on this chilly, damp evening.

Happy Hallowen!, Read to Someone, Flavors of Fall

1. Our Awkward Family Photo made it to the Hall of Fame at awkwardfamilyphotos.com. You have to know Steve to know his sense of humor...
2. Daniel's conversation with two-year-old Jack still makes me laugh:

Jack, running up to us with a book in his hand: Read to you! Read to you!

Daniel: Say, "Read to me."

Jack: Read to you. 

Daniel: Read to ME. 

Jack: Read to you.

Daniel: Read 

Jack: Read

Daniel: To me

Jack: To me you.

3. I chose a fall menu for our lunch with Autumn Bisque made with butternut squash accompanied by grilled sandwiches made with cinnamon swirl bread, apple butter, paper thin slices of MacIntosh apples, and American cheese. I think lunch is my favorite meal.

I Love..., Left Behind, Still Around

1. There is a Milkweed seed floating by. They are such soft and delicate little structures that I'm compelled catch them and stroke them on my cheek before I send them on their way again.
2. At the back door I notice the imprint of a little mouth on the glass. It definitely belongs to a little child I wonder whose tiny mouth kissed the glass.
3. I'm still amazed by all the blooms going on around here. My Otto Van Luyken laurel is covered in white blooms (and an occasional honey bee), the red begonias that I thought I would dislike, but now love, stand cheery and bright, and our friends have cosmos blooming in their yard. My inner calendar will forever be on New York time so this all continues to be a surprise for me.

Touring, Just Us, A Bit of Porch Time

1. Tess and I toured the campus of Hollins University. One hundred year old red brick buildings are nestled among huge, old trees on idyllic grounds. The beautiful scent of age graces the interior of many of these structures, reminding me of the rich history that has gone before us.
1a. The library's third floor contains all books authored by Hollins graduates. The shelves are full to overflowing with authors such as Annie Dillard, who wrote Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and Margaret Wise Brown, author of Goodnight Moon. This space was truly inspirational.
2. Audrey and Jared came over to join us for burgers on the grill. It was just the four of us tonight and I enjoyed the intimacy of such a visit.
3. The weather has turned mild enough to be out on the porch this evening. Eventually the wind kicked up and drove me inside, but it was nice while it lasted.

Autumn Dinner, Guests, Shelter

photo courtesy of southernliving.com/food

1. I made Rosemary-Garlic Pork with Roasted Vegetables for our dinner guests tonight. It was a perfect autumn meal. Just to smell this dinner roasting is worth making it.
2. Daughter #2 phoned this afternoon and asked to come spend the night. I had just enough time to pick her up and get back in time to cook. I was so glad she could join our dinner party and spend the night at home. The extra helping hands didn't hurt either.
3. The colder temperatures are accompanied by gusty winds. I'm grateful for every little windbreak when I'm walking Henri, whether it's a hedgerow or dip in the landscape. Anything to be sheltered from that wind!

Youngest is Older, Pretty Dessert, Cute Movie

1. Youngest turns eighteen today. Oh my goodness, where does the time go?
2. I made fruit pizzas per her request. The brightly colored fruits arranged in starburst patterns are a treat for the eyes (and taste buds).
3. We watched Thirteen Going on Thirty, which was apropos for the occasion.

Gathering Fall, Choosing Surprises, What's Cooking

1. I was inspired into creativity by the variety of little pumpkins and gourds at Southern States. Later in the day, Henri and I brought home some bittersweet from our walk and added that to the mix. Lastly, I found an old cast iron griddle at the antique shop I like to browse while Tess was at her piano lesson. I put it all together and voila!
1a. The little pumpkins have cute little tendrils on them 
2. I also gathered up little surprises for Tess' birthday tomorrow.
3. I made Slow Cooker Pork Cacciatore for dinner. The pork cooks to tender perfection and falls apart on your fork. It's delicious over pasta.