Harvest Garden Snippets...

This year was a tough one for my gardens! I was too busy to love and tend them properly and Mother Nature didn't even get my back with the rain. So for me to have these beautiful blooms just in time for Halloween, is a welcomed treat! My gardens go through a final bloom about this time every year - fall gives a break from the unrelenting sun that my property gets all summer. I picked these today, just a little bundle of joy before we are threatened with our first frost. We may not even get that cold, but I wanted to share these regardless. A varied mix of what's in my garden around the house. I started taking pictures of my flowers to share with Grampy, he's always pleased to see what others are growing. I love the colors, so bright and honest, the camera picked them up nicely in the afternoon light. I find that they only follow my children and dog as favorite subjects to corner with my camera. I end up out in the garden, camera in hand with each change of season.
Happy Harvest Season!

I almost forgot....

I painted the kids rooms too! Aliza loved her new pink room and Kaleb is digging the new Pirate motif! I know it's a little cliche', the pink girls room and the blue for the boy, but what are you going to do> Sometimes things just work out queer. These rooms needed paint more than any other place in the house! Izaak's room is next....last I knew he was thinking lime green, I'll keep you posted on that.

Halloween Starts Early 'Round Here...

These pictures are too cute not to post. Kaleb's school had an early Halloween festival - here are the kids in their costumes! Look how they are holding each other (completely unprompted! - those are the best!)Aliza was feeling a little shy in her costume, even though I assured her she is the prettiest witch in the western hemisphere!

This is one of several seial killer poses Kaleb tried on for the camera! He is so funny and so much like his father! Next step was to try that chainsaw out on the nearest available target....his sister of course!!! Who wasn't too thrilled at the prospect, she'd rather have a house dropped on her!

The Bottom Floor is Complete...well, almost!

It's been a long hard process, but it is coming to an end, THANK THE GODDESS! We still have to paint window casings, the top of the stairway, put the storm windows back in, and decide where the furniture works best, but the hard part is over!

The new spaces are an amazing benefit to our lives, and my Mom is appreciating being able to escape during homeowork time! The kids love to go down stairs and have one on one time with Eema and pick her brain. This morning Aliza noticed Eema had showered (the towell on her head was a dead givaway), but yet her glasses were on...of course she had to ask, "Do you take a shower with your glasses on?" My Mom got a kick out of that one...she is so sweet and innocent!

This is my laundry room...no, you can't see the floor - ther's LAUNDRY ALL OVER IT! Do you like the color? I think it is a nice clean blue! I'm happy with all the space for stain removal! The stairs being carpeted makes a big impact when you start down to the bottom floor! So glad that's done!This is Mom in front of our new door! She worked hard to make it so pretty! Polyurithane is a great thing! This is the family room area. It gets great sunlight and is quite cozy! Mom has her laptop set up in the left hand corner. What could she be researching now????Here is Aliza in her favorite over- alls. This is the area you come to after making a left at the bottom of the stairs. It still needs some organization but we are quite happy with the outcome!

Endless Potential

This past week I received a letter from Izaak's school informing me that...

"Your child has qualified through a rigorous selection process to be engaged in a special Language Arts unit designed by the College of William and Mary."

This is a great thing for Izaak! He has mentioned several thousand times how his current program lacks challenge, so onto a new challenge it is!

Congratulations Izaak! We are very proud of you, not only for your academic accomplishments but for the young man you are becoming. Your heart and soul are the strength your mind relies on to grow, no wonder you are sprouting so wildly!

With much love and pride,

Your Mom!

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."~ Goethe

The Tradition Continues....

Every year Gramma and Pop come for a visit in October, this year it happened to be on Luke's Birthday weekend, a total bonus, as no one can make that peach pie that Luke likes like Barb can! We also always carve our pumpkins on this visit! FUN! This year we had all the out-laws...I mean in-laws with us, with my Mom here too it was extra fun! She loved those spooky white pumpkins, so unique!

We found this really cool Mr. Potatoe Head thing that worked out for Aliza much better than wielding a knife and she loved her new friend!

Izaak was as creative as ever, I think he liked playing in the pumpkin guts more than carving though! Which one of these things is not like the others??? Who carved THAT one? And of course Matilda was in on the action! Awwww!

Happy Haunting Everyone!!!!

My Crazy Dog...

This past week I had a scare with Matilda, in more ways than one! She had a nasty reaction to her vaccinations which left her lethargic and in extreme pain. We were off to the Vet and she got some meds to help. She's back to normal now, but it was very scary to think of losing her, she is such a major part of our lives and our hearts. I'm so glad she's better now!

Recently I purchased Matilda's Halloween costume...Isn't she adorable!? She leaves it on as long as it doesn't bump her ears, then she'll shake till it flies off her head...silly girl!

These pics crack me up! If you've ever been to Narleeville, chances are you've seen my dog in a crazy position on the couch. Well, this time she was twisted up and happened to have her tongue hanging out of her mouth too! Sooo funny!

Now, Matilda has NEVER shown me her teeth, EVER! I was snapping her pictures and she woke up and licked her lips...Isn't this terrifying???!!!! She must have looked like this for just a split second and I happened to catch it. I guess this is what 'Tildy would look like if she had rabies or something...Scary! I'm glad she's just a lovey dog!

Our Bedroom, version 2.0

For years our bedroom has been a hodgepodge of all the things we owned that never really fit in anywhere else in the house. I've been wanting an adult looking bedroom for years. Well, while
I was waiting for the basement to get done enough by others for me to get my hands on it, I redecorated our bedroom!!!! I put a taupe color on the walls it's such a nice color my Mom coppied me in her room! And we even bought matching dressers and a bed! The bed is really high, which I have found deters young children from bouncing - bonus! The dressers are great, we finaly have room for all of our clothes and don't have piles of them all over the place! We are very happy with our "grown up" bedroom!

Home Improvement Updates!

Everyone has been asking for some updated photos of the progress in our home, so here it is! Right now we have two rooms completely finished. My Mother has now left Kaleb's spare bed and is now resting comfortably in her own bedroom! As you can see below we chose a taupe color for the walls, I love it... There is a great window to let in some sunlight and she has plants in the sill already, of course! Now, for some window treatments...Here is the bathroom! We are now a two bath house hold! Thank the Goddess! It was getting scarier and scarier around here with only one potty!
Mom chose a very pale pink color from the shower curtain flowers and I LOVE it! I wasn't too sure about a pink bathroom, I think I was having 70's Pepto Bismal issues, but this shade is nice.
Now to the "other side", as I've dubbed it these days. Not so finished. This will be the living area and it still needs sanding, door nobs, primer and paint. Give me a week, I'll impress you!
I just finished with priming the laundry room today! We'll have final drywall touch ups tomorrow and then to the paint. This room will be a very clean, light blue color. You can't see it in this pic but there is a blue hue in the slate colored tiles on the floor.

The duct work in the upstairs is coming along. The kids rooms should be done tomorrow and then off to painting and decorating them! Good times! Aliza wants her walls pink and Kaleb is still thinking about it. I'll keep you posted and in the pics. Tell me what you think!

I love you Nan...

This past week we lost Nan, Luke's maternal Grand Mother. She was 79 and in poor health for the past 10 or so years. It wasn't a surprise she passed, but no matter what, it is a pain you are never ready for. I am aware that everyone feels their family members are special, but Nan was extraordinary in many ways. I remember the first time I met her, about 9 and a half years ago now, maybe even more the way time tends to fly. I was nervous around Luke's family, I always felt like my hard past was tattooed on my head to warn everyone of my troubles. The day I met Nan that feeling changed in me. I walked into Aunt Joey's house and sat at the table with Luke and Nan came in. She looked at me with such immediate acceptance and a genuine interest in what made me tick. She complimented me on my hair and skin and was so genuine about it...I'd never felt as instantly comfortable with anyone in my life. I learned that day that she was an Upstate NY-er too, from Massena, NY, a place even colder than my hometown of Rome. She had so much positive energy in her I couldn't help but feel good about life after a chat with her. The thing I loved most was her ability to be real. She never minced words about her feelings with me, never feared that the strength of her convictions would be met with resistance, she may be the one person I have met in my life who felt things as strongly as I do. For better or worse, she felt it, strong and deep.

I feel the loss of her deep. I will remeber her with strength and use her memory to keep my family strong, because nothing meant more to her, and nothing is deeper.