the days.

These are good days.

They are.

But they are just such busy days that I collapse into bed and find it difficult to find the balance of time management.

Cooler weather is blowing around our house.  (And through our house.  You know.)

The thermostat is reading in the low 60’s already and that seems all too early for that low low number indoors.

I stole almost a full hour this afternoon and crept out to our hammock and soaked up the sun in the breezy afternoon and spent a little time reading Madeleine L’Engle’s Circle of Quiet.  Goodness – I like that woman.  She feels …. kindred.

Today the kids in our co-op here at home traced out the actual size of a leather back turtle in painter’s tape on the floor of our hall.

It’s so enormous that I cannot believe it is true.

The tape’s still there but I’m pretty sure I’ll have to pull it up tomorrow.  One day is all I can handle of blue tape on the floor.  Maybe.  (My tolerance of all things bizarre and untidy surprises me sometimes.)

Lately I just can’t get enough of my own youngest son.  He’s just been so cute and funny – full of adorable phrases and quirky expressions.

He probably asks me at least six times a day to tie a string to a hook and then to tie that same string to any long thin piece of anything he has found to create yet another “eh-en” pole for him.  (Yep – that’s OttoSpeak for “fishing”.  He still can’t pronounce a large portion of consonants.)

I attempted black bean burgers tonight for dinner.  Sarah’s recipe.  (Plus rice with corn on the side and sliced avocados on the burgers.)

The result?  Kevin and I are big big fans.  The kids – less than.

 

The total meal cost for all of us was about $4.00 though.  I mean – you really can’t beat that – can you?

(And no – I have NO idea why this photo is minuscule.  And nothing I can do seems to change it.  And I refuse to spend more time on this silly photo of black bean burgers.)

Eagle has been missing in action for too many months to count.

He was discovered today.  

I unearthed the piles from the only closet upstairs and found Eagle and a favorite blanket shoved in an empty fan box crammed in the recesses of the closet.

I also unearthed winter boots for Piper, a missing warm blanket for our bed and a puffy vest for Mosely.

I keep trying to locate some cool place for Kevin and I to spend an anniversary weekend together later this month.  (Our anniversary was in August.  It takes us a long time to arrange group childcare on that level, you know.)

My very talented friend Jo is hosting a cool giveaway on her blog.

I’ve been staying awake too late at night to watch Season Two episodes of Parenthood.  I cry at every episode.

I’ve already broken out the winter boots because my feet are ready and I just heart boots so deeply.

I still love my faithful Keens but I was in REI the other day and spotted the latest model of Keens on display.

They were spectacular.

Bergen held them up to show me and said, “I bet you love these Momma.”

And I did.

Mosely added, “Not as much as your french fry boots.”

I held the Keens in my hands.  Stroked the supple leather.  Admired the leanness of the newest edition.  And felt my hopes crash as I saw the $179 price tag.

I do think I can afford some new arm warmers this winter sometime though.  There were at least three pair that caught my eye at REI.  I think the heat (or lack thereof) in our home all winter justifies that purchase.  At least, that’s what I tell myself.

This post sort of feels as if it has no beginning and no end.

Kind of feels like my days lately.