Loss

It's been a sad few weeks. Our sweet Josie had a sudden onset of seizures without warning and within two days had to be released from her suffering. I am so crushed with this loss. For non-dog lovers I know it's hard to understand, and even for dog lovers my reaction might seem to be excessive but unless you received the kind of unconditional love and joy that she brought to my life, I don't blame you for not understanding. When the kids all moved out, when Jeff was hospitalized in 2012, when Jeff had open heart surgery and spent a summer recuperating in 2013, when I had some very sad, dark days she was my company and my comfort. I am trying very hard not to be the holiday downer, and having the time with my kids and family for those few days last week helped but I am back to my new normal life and feeling the crushing pain of her absence. I hate hearing that I should get a new dog  because it makes me feel like she is replaceable and that is not the case.  I am not saying I will never have another dog, but right now I can't even imagine it.

It's the Holiday Season!

Poor Josie is going to be on the receiving end of a lot of my holiday efforts, but it actually looked like she enjoyed her elf costume.

I am following my own rule: "No Christmas before Thanksgiving" but I am off to a bit of a late start.  Thanksgiving was wonderful- all my kids were home and Bob, Julie, Emily, and Bobby were with us for the day.  Alissa brought her boyfriend to meet Jeff, Barbara, Nick, and Michael and he seemed very comfortable with us.  This can be a challenge because invariably at some point conversations in our family veer into something controversial that can involve a spirited exchange of ideas- which we love, but I'm sure other families do not.  As usual reviewed the family plan for some catastrophe- this year it was the zombie apocalypse (these people watch Walking Dead- I do not so many of my suggestions are dismissed). Love my family.  Can't wait for all of us to be together with Gino and Andy's families at Christmas.

I had hoped to get pictures, but I was 100% occupied with cooking dinner and enjoying the time with my family and no one else got pictures.

I AM that type of blogger....

Once a month.  Can't believe that I can't manage more than once a month.  But, to be fair I did know from the get go that as soon as we get the first quarter of the school year under our belts it's crazy-busy until Christmas.

So to recap.  I got through parent-teacher conferences. It kicks up  such a conflict of emotions for me- the difference between the parents who are so devoted to their children (almost always to their benefit--sometimes not) and the parents who we can never get to spare the time to talk about their child. It's heartbreaking- kids who are really raising themselves. It's hard to realize you can only do so much without any support in the rest of their lives.  That is the part of being a teacher that I have never been able to really accept.

Followed up conference week with a trip to Chicago to see Alissa with Gino, Amy, and their girls. Traveling with three year old twins....well, actually they were pretty darn good for 99% of the trip.  Predictably, coming home was when the weekend caught up with them but it was fun to experience the city through their eyes.  Grant Park Zoo had a Halloween celebration going on and we had a great time.  And seeing Alissa--always the best time and I always wonder why we don't go to see her more often. And, I got to meet her boyfriend, who we all thought was very nice.

Lily enjoyed Alissa's bathtub with the Jacuzzi feature

I am enjoying this fall so much.  The first frost basically frees me from captivity.  I've been harvesting herbs to freeze and dry and  trying (in vain) to reclaim our gardens. I used to spend so much time working outside so it's great when I can get back out there.  I was just out in 30 degree sleet getting five dozen milkweed seeds in the ground. Those Monarch butterflies better show up.


Finished the pillows for all my grandma-friends.

And for the non-grandma friend who is our world traveler, I'm starting to chronicle her travels. She's been all over the world, but I'm starting with her latest trip.

  Oh- big family news.  Barbara and Nick adopted an adorable Boston Terrier, Gibson. They've been so anxious to get a dog and this little guy just fell into their hands. Meant to me.

Yes, I made him a pillow.

Completed Set for B&N (not Barnes and Noble)

100% handmade and I have the gnarly looking hands to prove it.

Autumn

I love the beginning of  fall.

Unlike 99% of the teachers I know who are breathlessly anticipate summer vacation, summer vacation for me (although very needed) means that I am at the mercy of heat and humidity which are two of my worst triggers for asthma. So I although  I enjoy some summers when there is a nice mix of good and bad days, there are  summers where I am a prisoner of air conditioning.

I don't know if I've revealed myself as a list maker, but it's a habit bordering on a compulsion.

 Fall to Do and to Enjoy list:

Update wardrobe-  the summer purge uncovered some hidden clothes that have come back into style.
I knew it would happen!  But fall clothes- yes!  I'm sick of sleeveless tops and bare legs.

Spice cookies- I love that Susan Branch recipe.  Those cookies freeze so well and I generally don't freeze cookies, but 10 seconds in microwave and it's like freshly baked.

Tights- I love wearing tights. Time to scout out new ones, unearth the old.  I scored a bunch at Old Navy for 99% off this summer, so it's time to get 'em out!  I've always had skinny legs, so I am all about tights. And- under the heading too much info- my leg shaving schedule gets pushed back. Waaaaay back ...McGilla Gorilla back.


Fall food- My family knows this and tolerates this and I think they secretly agree with this- but I think certain foods should only be consumed during certain times of the year. Fall foods to me means comfort food- which covers a wide variety of the foods I love cooking and consuming. I am all over this.

School- Once those first hellish weeks of school are under our belts, I love this time of year with the kids. We've established our procedures, there are so many fun activities I can sneak into our day, books to read to start building enthusiasm for reading, getting to know kids individually....I especially love teaching at this time of year.

Pillow project- Still deep into designing, needle working, and sewing pillows. After the set for Alissa I am just finishing up a set for Barbara and Nick's new home.  I've started making pillows for my friends with grandkids- a pillow for each child with their name and birth date.  Mentally I am designing pillows for winter and Christmas. I actually have a callus on my thumb. If this continues unchecked in two years everyone I know will be hiding from me for fear of a drive by pillow drop.

Pumpkin Patch and Farmers' Market- Haven't been down to our local farmer's market since the  first week of June, but definitely going to get in a few visits. we have such a cool location right next to the Mississippi River. And then trips out to the old pumpkin patch!  We had so much fun with our kids at the pumpkin patches over the years, maybe I need to borrow some nieces and go again.

Michael and Barbara- October 1993

And enough of sundown at 8:00.  I love that enveloping feeling of  an early evening.

Figured it out!

I had to navigate the process of moving pictures around, but persistence won out!

So from the family picture session-

Jeff, the kids, and I:

My parent's grandkids:

Barbara and Nick's new home:

Ok..feel better that I figured that out!

September...Blogging took a hit

I will admit, I kind of get annoyed when I am used to reading someone's blog and suddenly they disappear. I start to wonder what the heck is making them neglect their faithful readership in such a heartless way.  Fortunately, I have no faithful readership, nor do I expect to attract one--but I now see how you can get so busy that the opportunities to blog are few and far between and when they do roll around the energy is not there.

September in review- 

Weekend 1- Family picture attempted.....mini dramas to which I am blissfully ignorant ensue so the extended family picture is a bust.  Bright side- got a few lovely pictures of my kids and Jeff.

Weekend 2- Moved Barbara and Nick to their new house.  Lovely remodeled home built in 1894 with a view of the Mississippi River. So happy for them!   I'll have to get a picture up....can't believe I don't have one!

Weekend 3- Went to Des Moines to spend four days watching the 5 littlest nieces while the two  sets of parents went to NYC to celebrate their anniversaries. Had a great time, but that nostalgic view of having the little ones at home got a reality check. Fun, though.

Weekend 4- Bob and Julie came in on their way to celebrate their 25th anniversary by retracing their trip up the river.  Cooked an Italian dinner and loved spending that quiet time with them looking at the old family pictures.

And then there was getting that first month of school and tutoring going....yea, September was busy.