hello october – Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs..

Hello October!! You had better bring cooler temps because September was confused about what fall means! I am so ready for my hoodies and overalls and sweaters and this weather has not been participating in fall.

October, October. Probably one of my favorite months. I love Halloween! I have always loved Halloween, even the years I got strep throat and had to miss trick or treating. Because for me it wasn’t necessarily about the trick or treating, it was the build up. The fun cartoon movies that we watched. Our family trip to the orchard with all of my cousins, and then following it up with chili at my aunt’s house where we all carved our pumpkins together. Picking my costume and my parents making it. I was a cat once, a Scottish dancer, Scooby Doo (my mom hand sewed the most awesome costume for this), Minnie Mouse. Batgirl, that was another great one. We had so many traditions, and that is something I have tried to form with Wyatt as well. These family traditions. My cousin Brian and Devin (my brother) have this same feeling of nostalgia, and now Brian hosts family get togethers during the school year, and all of our kids play together, or make things together and I love it.

Trick or treating with Devin and Mermaid Girl and now the Hurricane in their neighborhood feels like the 80s. The streets are packed with kids, the homeowners are out in front of their homes passing out candy, and the houses are highly decorated, and the feeling is just so cheerful and full of community. Our own little Stars Hollow moment, I guess! There are fires (contained fires of course, not the Detroit Devil’s Night fires from the 80s and 90s) and the mood is high. I should really change Mermaid Girl’s nickname on here, she is no longer into mermaids and hasn’t been for a long time, she is more KPop girl now and has been for some time, but she is staying Mermaid Girl.

We have so many fun things lined up for the month! We have the Detroit Zoo Boo, an orchard outing (or two), our Blackbirds field trip to Belle Isle, our Blackbirds Spooky Not Spooky party, of course cousin Brian’s get together for the kids, and a Halloween bonfire at the farm with Blackbirds as well.

As for myself, I am looking forward to all the spooky books, apple ciders, bonfires, and doughnuts. Because I do love a doughnut. I am planning a few extra things for the season as well, for our family but I am still in the planning process so hopefully I can get them done! And I am also really looking forward to Lisa at Boondock Rambling and my Comfy Cozy Cinema, and our crafternoons. (I have info linked at the top of my blog if you are interested!) I have picked my embroidery back up and am stitching away now at night while we watch our shows and movies. And my stepmom gave me materials to play with jewelry making, but maybe I am not creative enough or something because I can’t figure it out. However, Cat who attends crafternoons is a jewelry maker so perhaps I will try when we are zooming together and get some tips….

We had a jam packed September. I think we were making up for our lost summer! I feel like October will be the same, and then I can relax into November.

And that is it from me today! I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!

Hello everyone!! It’s FINALLY October. My favorite month of all. And it feels like fall here, y’know? I stepped out on the deck this morning, barefoot as always, and the wood under my feet was cold and the air was chilly. I checked the temperature, and was glad that I had coffee with me – it was a mere 49 degrees.

I see all these people talking about how they feel so much more alive in the fall, and I can relate. That is exactly how I feel, like I am fueled by cooler weather. Rusty colored leaves tumble through my soul, chill winds raise my spirits, and I thrive in this weather. The heat and humidity of the summer weigh me down, but in the fall I come alive again.

Away go my shorts and sandals, and out come my jeans and sweaters and boots, ready to walk down trails filled with trees blazing their colors before they go to sleep for the winter. Soups and stews and warming meals are making their way on to my meal plans, and I have told Billy it is time for him to wake his sourdough up, to begin baking our bread for the week. It is a time of transition and change, as we begin to settle down into a different rhythm. School has started and our days are spent reading and learning and creating, and before we eat every evening I clear the table of our day’s work, pencils and papers and books. Weekends are full of plans for pumpkins and apples and chestnuts; they are also full of plans for bonfires with family, cider, Halloween fun and this week, a vacation.

I also see so many autumn bucket lists online, and yes, there are things I want to do this fall too. But this year I am also trying to be mindful to not cram our every moment full of plans; I want us to enjoy the season, time with our family being together, because sometimes when you are spinning from one thing to the next, you forget to really enjoy what you are doing, to pay attention to that moment, truly pay attention to it. I have a list of things to do, but I am also trying to have an anti-bucket list as well.

Sunday, we declared the day to be a nothing day. We called a halt to running and doing and spent the day hanging out with each other, just slowly letting the day spin out while we read or painted or played, in the case of Wyatt. It was a rainy day, perfect do-nothing day. We ordered ramen from a local noodle house, which was delicious, and we finished up our ghost portraits. We finished up the night by watching Kiki’s Delivery service, which is part of Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and my Comfy Cozy Cinema. And it was a wonderful day. I want to make sure I save space for these type days this fall as well.

My favorite book has a quote about winter, that humans say they like winter but what they really like is being proof against it. And maybe there is some truth to that. I love fall and the weather and being out in it, but it is also so nice to be snug inside with my tea and a blanket and a book. And also, cookies and chocolate.

With that, I want to talk about our giveaway! Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I are cohosting a small little comfy cozy care package giveaway, to go along with our favorite season (fall!), and our Comfy Cozy Cinema! We have some fun little goodies to be sent off to one winner, with more surprises to be added as well! We want to celebrate the season and this is just one way we would like to do that this year.

You can enter anytime between today and October 15th, and the winner will be announced on our blogs Thursday, October 17th. Please enter via Rafflecopter and it is only open to those 18 or older living in the US.

Right now I can only post the link – the code is not working for me! Please let me know if entering is still an issue!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3614a4fa2/

And that is it from me today! I hope that whatever you do today you all do something that makes you smile!

Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs..

Tag: hello october

Hello October!

Hello October – plus a Comfy Cozy Giveaway!!