Trees

Well, the activity I mentioned in the last post went great! And I must give the credit to books and leaves. Displaying seasonal books around the room, surrounded by colorful leaves did the trick; it was so fun to sit back and see parents & kids come in and have fun together.

Saturday morning I woke early, as usual, but was able to take it slow and look at several of the books I had checked out from the library. They were so crisp and clean, I wonder if they are new and I'm the first one to check them out. I especially enjoyed these two:

The information inside is fascinating and I've realized I've become "addicted" to trees. I frequently take pictures of them from different viewpoints, but none ever do justice to their beautiful colors of green, or the 3-D ness of it all.

One weekend Reggie & I took a few hours together to drive down the coast and then through a county park to get to the highway to head back home. I was mesmerized by the trees - their beauty, scent, and the absolute silence and stillness in the air. 

Just like another primary activity

 Why am I afraid to do the things I know I can do, I know I am good at and I thoroughly enjoy?

As the young Susan Stone once said to her grown-up self, describing her fears:  "What does he think of me? What does she think of me? What if I fail and everyone says "Susan's a dope?"  Adult Susan responds with "I'm not like that" and young Susan tells her "Yes you are. But just remember, playing it safe is very risky business".  So there you are, and there I am. 

Today I am running an activity for part of the fall family festival at our school. When I stop to think about it for 5 seconds I know that it is just like running a primary activity - which I've done countless times throughout my life. But this is a different setting. When I was asked if I'd like to do this, one sentence from administration gave me the confidence to say yes - "We know you like to do this kind of thing and you're good at it". It's amazing how one positive comment can be so motivating.

So, here we go - it's going to be a great day!

(not mine, but I like this picture)

And I love this song

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF FALL!

 I just can't even adequately describe how sweet it is to hear a bunch of two year olds, who are just learning how to talk, try to sing the Autumn Time song as we crunch leaves and throw them in the air. 

We have two calendars in the house that I made from our photos of last October's adventures in Oregon. They are quite the motivators to get up and go!

Happy Autumn!

Up before the sunrise

 One thing I struggle with in the fall is the dark mornings - getting up before the sun. But I put this on and it brightens things up inside.

And this, below, - actually there are so many ambience music choices

from Harry Potter. I really like "The Most Autumnal View of Hogwarts", 

but couldn't find it for here. So this one is just an example of all the choices.

And this, below - there are A LOT of choices by Everlise

which have a Christian tone, which I just love - especially the first song on this one. A lot of

lyrics about being grateful, etc. which is exactly what

I need on those dark mornings.

Those lovely Hula Hands

 On Saturday of the long weekend we went to Sacramento to watch Hillary and her oldest 3 perform several Hulas with their dance troop, which is called a "Hale".  The night also included a lot of ukulele and guitar numbers.

Hillary, on the right:

Pictures in their costumes, after the performance, with Andrew's brother and sister-in-law

I will end this post with a country tribute to the hula:

ps - a few days ago we went to breakfast at a Hawaiian/Asian store/cafe and I couldn't resist a picture of the wide selection of Spam Musubis - a family favorite!

Waiting for my main event Halloween movies

 Until it is October I have been watching "pre-Halloween" movies, I guess. I'm trying out the kind -of spooky WandaVision again. We watched it in 2021 and I don't quite remember the plot - except for one very important thing: It is about a woman who has lost the love of her life, and is desperately trying to re-create a life for the two of them - a life of the normal, everyday things that most of us live and take for granted.

So as a new work-week is about to begin, it is a good reminder to me of how lucky we are.

(ps. I really like him)

On a side note, last Thursday I got so excited - almost to 

the point of embarrassment - about a huge pile of Autumn

leaves that had fallen in the 2 yr olds playground during

their nap time. When we went outside I showed them how to 

gather up the leaves and either jump in them or throw them

in the air while saying "ta da!" It was so fun. 

We're getting there!

One of my favorite presents we've given

 When we were at Dolly Parton's Dinner Show last May, in Tennessee, I was pretty excited to go into the gift shop. I got the cutest "hat stuffy" and just knew one of the granddaughters needed it. It sat in our room until the youngest's birthday came around. I also picked up a horse stable playset, pink horse shirt (that's actually a unicorn) and a couple of little dolls, and wrapped it all in a horse gift bag. 

This picture is especially cool if you notice the doll riding the horse; because at Dolly's Horse Stampede show a performer rode two horses standing up. 

Anyway, I just love it!

Monterey

On the way home from Carmel we stopped at Monterey. Luke and I walked down Cannery Row, which interested him as he is reading John Steinbeck right now. I'm considering listening to the audio book now, while driving. 

It was fun for Reggie & I to walk past our honeymoon hotel. It seems incredible that our wedding was almost 40 years ago. 

A Wedding Weekend

Brianne (Reggie's niece) & Jeremy have been planning their wedding for 2 years, which we were so happy to attend on Labor Day weekend. It was in the beautiful coast side city of Carmel. 

 It was "black tie" which meant everyone was wearing formal dresses or tuxedos. It was a beautiful wedding with all the traditions. They were both so happy, with huge smiles all night long. It was nice to share in their happiness.

I didn't take many pictures, except for these few of the dance floor. It was definitely a celebration!

Grateful for this non-laboring Labor Day

 The sunset seemed to announce that a few days of nice weather are on the way: