Category Archives: fall

a season of sowing

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Fall has finally arrived here in the Central Valley. Last week the temps were in the 90′s or more but over the weekend, slowly but surely, there was a cooling trend until finally there was but a trickle of rain by the end of the week.

It was about time! That’s all I can say!

But Fall here in the Central Valley often finds me feeling a little down and a little homesick. Sure there are pumpkins galore and a fabulous corn maze. The vineyards and orchards are being harvested and the grapes are being crushed. It all creates the most amazing, fruity, almost syrupy smell as I drive around. But the colors are so pale, so anemic compared to back home. I was reminded of that seeing friends posts of Fall color on their Facebook walls.

I wish I took this shot! I wish I was there to take in this incredible view! Alas, but no. This image is from my dear friend, Sue’s Facebook wall. Like me, she longs for the vibrant colors like these that can only be seen back East. Nothing out here in Cali compares. Sorry.

So instead of trying to find Autumn color in an area where everything pretty much is brown, I decided to sow a little with a nod to Edwin Teale.

For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad.

Next to the glorious colors of Fall that I miss so much from back home, I love the colors of Spring, especially when the daffodils and tulips break through the frozen ground amongst the melting snow with their blooms. I can’t wait to see the colors that these will bring come next Spring here around the Big Top.

This week’s Focus 52 prompt is Autumn Color.

oh October!

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This was today in my neck of the woods this afternoon while picking up a couple of my clowns from school.

Oof!

It is supposed to be Fall. It is October! I did not complain at all in September about the heat…not at all. But now it is October and I have pretty cardigans to pair with pretty tops and skinny jeans and closed toe shoes.

Come on October!

Work with me here!!

But regardless of the fact that October can’t seem to recognize that it is Fall and time for the seasons to change in my neck of the woods, one thing is changing here in California…like it or not. The CHP is cracking down on distracted driving…

all distracted driving…

cell phone use

texting

fiddling with your music playlists

or your GPS

eating

putting on makeup

breaking up World War III amongst the kids in the back of the mom-car

shaving

anything that takes your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel for even a second.

Oof!

Commence the whining, bitching and moaning over your personal liberties and the right to pursue happiness while texting, talking on the phone, eating, putting on makeup or shaving while driving is being infringed upon…

Shaving?

Really?

Personally I am on Team CHP on this issue. Not because we need to be policed on common sense issues but because we do need to be because we all believe such things apply to everyone…everyone but us because we CAN multi-task and drive a car safely…even if statistics and traffic studies and road tests prove other wise. I thought so eleven years ago until I reached down on the floor of my mom-car next to my feet to retrieve a toy one of my much younger clowns tossed…

and crashed my car into a pole while driving only 20 miles per hour.

I totaled my car.

I scared my kids.

I cracked two ribs.

I was distracted for but a blink of an eye and as an expert juggling mom I am a multi-tasker goddess.

Yeah.

But you still have an issue with the CHP policing what you can or can not do safely while driving a car. Lets not even consider the mayhem caused on the road by distracted driving or the tragedy…because that would NEVER be you. How about the hefty fine…and the points on your driving record?

Yeah.

Just suck it up and obey the law.

Yeah.

 

in a fog

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The last few days we have literally been in just that…a fog.

Ah, life in the Central Valley.

Sadly, just yesterday we were reminded to be extra careful out there on days like these.

This is this week’s Wordful Wednesday post. Wordful Wednesday is like Wordless Wednesday, only WITH words. It’s for those of us that can’t contain the chatter, but in a good way. Have something to be Wordful About this Wednesday?  Head on over to Seven Clown Circus and Parenting by Dummies to link up and share.

mischief managed

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It was a great day and night of Halloween hijinks, joy and mischief.

Lumpy Space Princess announced that she is, indeed, pregnant, not just lumpy; and we were just as surprised over her announcement as we are about Jessica Simpson’s happy “surprise” announcement. But the Lumpy Space Princess one-upped Jessica because she announced that today is her last day of work…let the maternity leave commence. Whoo-hoo!!

Meanwhile, it was time to carve Hazel’s jack-o-lantern. Scary eyes and a happy smile is what she asked for.

So be it.

And while they waited for the trick treating hour, my boys made spectaacles of themselves.

While Hazel burned off some pent up energy and excitement with some heavy lifting.

At last it was time to put the costumes on and get ready!

Princess Rapunzel

Harry.

Sister…Waldo.

And time to practice.

And pose for an awkward family portrait.

Oh yeah. Awkward!

FINALLY! It is time!

The Wizard and the Princess covered the whole neighborhood and came home with heavy bags full of treats. Treats like these:

We tossed the Easter candy and Sister Ben took the tract for the good sister’s own personal stash…I think.

Mischief managed.

Happy Halloween/Reformation Day and Happy All Saints Day one and all!

precious autumn sunshine

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I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

While Fall is bringing bursts of glorious color along with the cool, crisp air and boots and sweaters in other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, here in our neck of the woods the only indication of it being Fall is the rumbling of the trucks loaded down with pumpkins from local farms just south of us. Daniel is still wearing shorts to school every day that he can get away with it and with temps in the high 80s this past weekend, he took one last dip in the hot tub…after we turned the temp down for him.

But I am so happy to report that today I am wearing a cozy, albeit light sweater over my usual uniform of t-shirt and jeans while I am enjoying this precious Autumn sunshine.

Wordful Wednesday is like Wordless Wednesday, only WITH words. It’s for those of us that can’t contain the chatter, but in a good way. Have something to be Wordful About this Wednesday?  Head on over to Seven Clown Circus and Parenting by Dummies to link up and share.