Shit!

Those 10 days of beautiful fall are gone. Most people think I dislike fall. Hate it. That's what I tell them. The truth is, deep down - I love it. Now you know. I love the colors. Love the smell in the air. Love bundling up in sweaters and hats for a fall walk. Sitting in front of the fireplace or a bonfire. Love listening to the crunching and rustling of the leaves as the squirrels play chase in the backyard. Peter laughs at me as I stock up on apples, pumpkins, squash and pears. It's time to celebrate "The Harvest" - a much better holiday to celebrate than the traditional holiday that comes later in the month. (I am not so big on celebrating theft, rape and slaughter).

I love fall. It's just that I can't stand what creeps behind it. What has already crept. Shit! Last week, it snowed. Snow pelted me in the side of my face. The wind made a mess of my hair. Then I wore a hat. My hair was even messier then as it stood straight up from static. From the hall closet, which remains unopened all summer, I took out the winter coat that I have not worn in months. And forgot to check the pockets. I set of the security buzzer-thing in the federal courthouse. A lighter. No, something more than that. A reminder of something I haven't done in awhile. I hold it in my hand for awhile - contemplating. Then step into the warm room covered in mahogany.

It's winter. I told Peter we need to move. Why do we stay? Because our family is here? Because we both have pretty decent jobs here? Because we just put Julian through the crisis of changing schools? Because we have a house just outside of the city with ducks and deer living in our backyard? Because we just redecorated and created a train room for our little boy? Those reasons are not good enough! I am cold!

But, enough with all the complaining just for a little while. In those beautiful 10 days of fall, we managed to have a lot of fun.



The Little Libra turned 2 and had a fabulous party scoring Thomas the Tank Engine and His Friends . . .

We rode some horses . . .

We climbed a hay mountain . . .

Picked some apples for The Harvest . . .




Roamed the pumpkin patch . . .

And floated down the St.Croix on one last boat trip . . .






These pictures will be a great to look at someday after we relocate. A reminder that we DO NOT miss the changing seasons.