Sick

The weekend was good. I didn't make any bread and kept forgetting to get the Earl Grey tea for the chai, but E, Belalu, and I made the blueberry cornmeal cake from The Smitten Kitchen and last night J and I had a delicious meal of chicken curry and mushrooms that tasted as yummy as anything we could get for takeout, if our town actually offered Indian takeout.

Unfortunately, I also saw it necessary to make a batch of the Influenza Rx sorbet from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, because the kids and I are sick. I'm hoping it's just a nasty cold and not the flu, but we just got the shot last week, so it could be either.

We had lovely weather Fri and Saturday, so even got out for a couple of walks. Now it's insanely frigid and I just want to hibernate until April. I'm really glad I got ahead on the meal planning this weekend. I hope weather where you are is warmer than here, and your week is going well. Stay healthy!

Raking Leaves

Another beloved fall tradition for our family is raking leaves. I really enjoy doing it for the first few hours. I love the smell of the dirt and grass on the ground, the faint scent of decomposition from the leaves, their dry rustle as I walk on them and rake them into piles. I especially love hearing my raking echoed in that of my neighbors as we all work on preparing our houses and yards for those long dark days of winter when we'll barely nod to each other as we rush into the house as soon as possible to escape the cold.

This year, I recruited a couple of helpers.

When the leaves are collected, they are packed into the car and taken to a nearby farm, where they will become either compost or goat food.

At the Orchard

We've been going to the same orchard for the past few years. It's become a fall tradition. Last year was Belalu's first visit.

This year, we went the first weekend it was open, at the end of August, and it was too hot. It just didn't feel right- it needs to be cool, you know, feel like fall, to be there. The good thing about going this early, however, was that Juju was able to join us before heading home for the season.

 Then we went a couple of weeks ago when it was starting to feel like fall had arrived.

This weekend we were there for a birthday party and it was cold. Like, not even 40 degrees cold. I think it's the last trip for the year.

Happy October!

September went out with a bang. It was quite overwhelming for me- I'm more than happy with just one social event a week, but we have been out and about since Thursday.

Thursday we went to hear Dan Savage speak about his It Gets Better Project. It was a funny, educational, heart breaking talk. I'll write more about it in my next post.

Friday we had dinner with some new and old friends. It was so nice to be at the end of September and still dining outside under the stars. Essie had more than his share of cookies, though, and even though he got sick the next morning, he didn't appear to feel sick at all. We were supposed to go to a bowling birthday party Sat afternoon, but had to cancel because I didn't want to take the chance that it was the flu and get everyone else sick, too.

Saturday, after stocking up on this week's veggies at the farmers' market, we took the boat out to a sandbar on the river. There was already a houseboat there with a bunch of guys hanging out and a couple of other people by a canoe when we arrived, but within five minutes of our pulling up to the beach, a dozen or so canoes and kayaks also pulled up, and suddenly there was a party- bluegrass music and all. They stayed for a couple of hours and then left us with the silence of the water once again. It was an unexpected, but welcome addition to the afternoon with friends.

Today we had a birthday party at a local park for Essie and Belalu's friend who turned 2. Belalu had received this sweet dress for her birthday last month from some friends of ours, and I was so happy the day was warm enough for her to wear it. I think it'll still fit her in the spring, but just in case...

It was such a great weekend. The weather was gorgeous, we were outside a ton, we got a lot of friends and family time, and I somehow still feel caught up with work and ready to start a new week. Hope your weekend was also wonderful!