A post for someday

I just need to say, (and the timing of this is NOT relevant), that were I to die tomorrow, (and I have no such intentions), it would be okay.  I have accomplished everything I wanted- every burning desire has been fulfilled- there is no BIG item on my bucket list. I have it all. (Heck! I even swam with whales!)

 

 And this is not to say, that I don't want to continue to live, because, I do! And of course, there are all sorts of fun things left that I can do, that I want to do, that I probably will do! But that thing... that driving force people have.... "I HAVE to visit Italy!" or "I HAVE to climb that mountain!" "My dream is to.... (fill in the blank)"  I've done all that. I have all that. I hope to continue doing and having all that... but it's not necessary.

I'm just saying this because EVENTUALLY, SOME day, in the FAR future, this might be comforting to someone. I love where I live. I love what I have, and as long as my children are happy, I'm happy- but even that isn't a prerequisite to a life well lived. Life isn't about running around trying to make yourself happy. But that's a post for another time. 

Suffice to say- I HAVE lived well- been VERY fortunate ('but for the Grace of God, go I')  I've done all that which I've wanted/needed to do, and I have all that I want/need to have. 

It's enough.

I am grateful. 

The Last Months

 So, here it is- the day after Hallowe'en.

Yesterday, I was watching scary movies, listening to dark, bizarre stories, and eerie music on radio. Yesterday was all about jack-o-lanterns, costumes, and candy.

And today? I'm watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel!

Which got me to thinking! about these last months of the year... Each one is packed with so much feeling! so much personality! Moreso than their predecessors.

Take September, for example. 

August is HOT, and lazy and still carries with it that Summer freedom. But September is all about getting back into a routine. It's school, and work, sport's schedules, and calendars. It's harvesting, and canning, and preparing.

 But then... comes October!

and with October, comes Hallowe'en.

Hallowe'en is so much more than having a chance to "thumb our noses" at the spooky and macabre.  It's the magic of acknowledging that, despite, all our science, and all our technology and education, there are still mysteries in this world. There are still things we do not understand- things which titillate our senses, and intrigue us.

October is a month of lusty abandon. It's "pushing the envelope", and testing boundaries. It's venturing out into the dark, knowing we're still able to scurry back to the safety of our family. October is imagination, excess and greed, under a cloak of anonymity. 

 

And so, it's no wonder, that November comes with a bit of relief. Even children need and WANT limits to grow into their full potential.

 November seems calm to me- a month of reflection. Most of the work of preparing for the Winter is done. There is still time before the frenzy of Christmas in which to take advantage of being indoors, out of inclimate weather.

I find myself baking in November, and doing x-stitch. I enjoy working on Christmas presents, and making big pots of soup. November is a homey/family month. 

And then... December!

Which has it's own, very special magic! very different from October, and every bit as powerful. December's magic is love, and family, and giving from the heart. December is frenzied, and excessive, similar to October, but with gentler, kinder edges.

December is light! and glitter! and Shiny! right down to the glow of wonderment in a child's eyes. 

 

Where October has the potential to transform into mean, if you don't guard against that, December transforms into Love. Safety. Family.

I tend to embrace all the months and seasons- but these four are, by far, my favorite. If the beginning of a New Year starts out slowly, I can count on it wrapping itself up in a glorious, fervor of activity, radiant brilliance. October and Hallowe'en are over for this year. I miss them, but I, also, look forward to November and Thanksgiving, and December and Christmas.  As my mother used to say, "There are SO many ordinary days in the year, we need to celebrate every chance we get!"  

Bring on the Holidays!

The Great Hallowe'en Extravaganza of 2015!

Somewhere around 14 years ago, Bruce and Cade started going on special Father/Son hunting trips to Eastern Montana. They ALWAYS went over Fall break (which ALWAYS encompassed Cade's birthday weekend- so I would have to buy and wrap some small gift, some candies, a special dessert, and birthday candles and implore Bruce not to forget to make a fuss on Cade's actual birthday day- but that's another story) and they were ALWAYS  gone at least 3-4 days and it was ALWAYS just about 2 wks. before Hallowe'en. 

(2006- Cade is barely 17)

This was, also, the same time that Cass had gone off to Gonzaga to college, and so, Chelsey and I found ourselves alone for the weekend. We would decorate the house for Hallowe'en, and then, rent a scary Hallowe'en movie to watch while eating a Town Pump pizza- illuminated only by our Hallowe'en lights! One time, I remember getting so spooked, we didn't leave each others side until the next morning! LOL!

 (2006- Hwy 200 house)

 It was such a success, we looked forward to doing it, year after year. We added a few new traditions, as time went by. Chelsey would pick out a favorite dessert- usually cheesecake bars, or later, when those were nowhere to be found, she would get banana Zingers. Somewhere along the line, we added putting together a Halloween puzzle, and doing some crafts.

When she left for college, she was close enough to home, that we were able to continue our tradition! Even upon graduation, Chelsey served with the Americorps in Spokane, and she popped home for our annual get together.

It was when she left for medical school in Birmingham, AL that I thought I would die. I was so sad- the closer it got to Hallowe'en, the more nostalgic I became... and then, Chelsey came up with a wonderful idea! We rented identical movies, made pizza, sat on the couch at the same time (1400 miles apart) counted to 3, and pushed the play button on our DVD's, while we chatted on our phones to each other! And the tradition continued!  And one year, Chelsey actually bought herself a plane ticket, and flew home so we could be together for our weekend! It was THAT important.

 (2009)

Fast forward to 2015. Chelsey is a Pediatric Neuro-Psychologist in Oncology and Cardiology at Seattle Children's Hospital. She worked a full day at the hospital last Thurs., jumped into her car, and made the 7 hr. drive home. She didn't come in until 2 am. Friday morning!!! But from that time on, we never wasted a minute!!!

 We started out by taking advantage of a lovely day, and doing our Fall traditional picnic at the Power Park in Thompson Falls.

This is a GORGEOUS little park set by the river. We've been coming here for our Fall picnics ever since we moved to TF 29 yrs. ago! And I don't really think it's changed in all that time!

It's always crisp and cold, and we're, generally, the only people in the park.

Of course, Kaya came, too. ;)

After eating, we walked the loop trail- ablaze with color! So much beauty!

 

 There are a few places where I've taken a photo of the kids EVERY time they come to the park... this year was no exception.

At home, we started working on our craft projects.
The first was making cheesecloth ghosts!

For having NO clue what we were doing, I think they turned out pretty well!

(Chelsey's ghost)

Another craft was leaf lanterns

Hard to tell in this photo, but they are really pretty! especially when lit up!

At some point, over the weekend, we did our nails for Hallowe'en!

Chelsey put on spiders!

Mine are a graveyard!

We worked on a GREAT Hallowe'en puzzle, and finished it on Sunday morning!
And of course, we watched scary movies, and ate homemade pizza and cheesy bread!

Sunday morning, we visited Bruce at the check station

before saying good-bye to Chelsey

Another Hallowe'en extravaganza over-
another memory made and cherished.
Traditions tend to be VERY important in our family...
and this is why.

The old bean pot

When Bruce and I were first married, Aug. 18, 1979, someone gave us this stoneware casserole dish. It was the PERFECT size for the two of us, and I concocted many dishes in it- mushroom rice casserole, tuna noodle casserole, etc. but one of our favorites was using it for Beanie Wienies. 

:)

(Which is simply your favorite baked bean recipe with hot dogs cut in half, and stuffed in the beans to bake). It didn't start becoming too small until Chelsey was born. By that time, Cass was getting bigger, and eating a bit more, and the bean pot got pushed farther and farther back in the cupboard.

 Years passed. Incredibly good years, filled with laughter and love and family- Growth and change and bittersweet moments. Indescribably sweet and precious AND BUSY!

And then, we come to today.

Today was a perfect Fall day. Crisp and cool, with high temperatures in the mid 60's. I wanted to make something simple for dinner- something different- something we hadn't had in awhile, and I suddenly thought of ... Beanie Wienies! And, then, I thought about that old casserole dish we'd moved from home to home over the last 36 years.

The kids are gone- 

They've got homes of their own, as it should be.

And we're back to the beginning again. Just Bruce and me. 

And an old stoneware bean pot that's the PERFECT size for the two of us.