a most extraordinary october

on the way to town.

turning left out of our driveway.

october blue.

a sentinel.

near peak colors, in the morning fog. first frost on the ground.

the hunter moon at our “bit of earth”.

small treasures.

on the road.

stormy day on the ridge.

corazón and wilma, rediscovering snuggles by the radiator.

old hay wagons at the neighbors.

spinach and other dark greens taking their place front and center in the kitchen.

free carpeting.

Friends, I am still feeling very pell mell!

October has been filled with joyous family news and fun. Sweet Matilda Catherine arrived safely in Detroit, to join her big sister Flora. We look forward to meeting her in November. My Mumsie celebrated her 90th birthday in Massachusetts. And wee Theo and his mama and papa came to visit us in Vermont! We even managed to get down to visit my Mumsie with Theo in tow. The grin on her face when we put her very first great grandson into her lap was something I will remember forever. So much love!

And my six week creative adventure, which I will write more about when it’s done, has really challenged me to make space for dreams. Even amidst such full days, I’ve had to show up for this commitment I made to myself. I really have been burning the candle at both ends. And the silver lining in all of this is that it's been “crowding out” time spent fretting about the news and all the things I have no control of.

We’ve been moving through the days of October and the subtle changes we see in the landscape as the foliage goes from peak to past peak and now into “stick season”. So much beauty as the light slants and becomes more gentle. The robins and jays have been feasting on the last of the crabapples, the wild turkeys have grazed in the apple orchard, and our neighbors down the road are in the midst of goat breeding season (kidding season in the spring will be such fun!) We’re taking down the screens, washing windows, putting the gardens to bed, getting the root cellar sorted…the human version of hibernation, I guess.

I do so wonder what you have been up to, dearest ones. Are you cooking into the season of soups and stews? Are you lighting candles at dinnertime as the sun sets earlier? Have you pulled out cozy bed linens? Or maybe like Kate over at Fox Lane, you are gearing up for growing things and opening windows!

Do, please, drop a note in the comments to let us know what is bringing you happiness these days. Finding happiness and joy these days seems countercultural. I say, bring it on! When we share lovely stories we cultivate courage and connection.

xo