Image Crafting

Leaves every shade of the rainbow.  I'm not sure if there's ever been a fall so brilliant and magical as this one.  I keep thinking, this must be the color peak.  Only to discover that I'm wrong.  Some of the maples are starting to lose their leaves, but then the elm, chestnut and sycamore are doing their thing.  Quite nice.  Makes for some lovely morning walks. 

I've been doing a lot of thinking on the subject of Image Crafting.  It's a term that's been used in reference to Facebook and the impression you can give simply based on your profile statuses.  I know that it's something that can easily happen with Twitter and Blogging as well.  There's a strong desire to put the best foot forward, be optimistic, to give the impression that you've got it all together.  There's also a conflicting desire to keep it real, to let it all hang out.  It's pretty fascinating--the dueling inclinations.  I'll be honest, I like posting happy things, pretty things, good things, funny things, because it helps keep my mind in a better place.  I've struggled with depression for so long that I try and utilize everything I have to keep the movement going forward.  But, I also don't want to give the impression that my life is pure bliss.  I almost laugh at the thought, just recalling this past week.  The kids were fractious, particularly near the end of the week, and I was weary.  I think I even remember locking myself in the bathroom so I could order a cheese pizza for lunch--they were clamoring for my attention to such a pitch (read: screeching and crying).  Oi.  We struggle.  We despair.  We make horrible decisions.  We are momentarily brilliant.  We laugh at each other.  We learn to be kind.  And soak up those special moments of beauty. 

I'm a big advocate of marking Great Days(s) on the calender.  So you don't forget when you're in the trenches and ready to do something drastic--like duck tape your children to the wall.  You can look at the calender and think, oh, that's right, not every day is like this.  I think my blog is another way for me to mark those beautiful days.  When brother and sister are kind to each other, sharing their toys, smiling and happy.  Sometimes it's fleeting, and they fall and bonk their knee, or push each other over.  But, that picture, snapped that second, is a keeper!

Chilly Morning Walks

 

I love those morning walks when the kiddies need their blankets with them--for the extra warmth!  I usually walk out the door with mittens and a scarf.  They prefer "ka-chow" and "bankie".  Whatever makes them feel cozy enough to keep the layers on!  Anyone with a toddler will understand the frustration of keeping the warm stuff on their little hands and feet.  

Autumn is my favorite season.  Hands down.  The leaves, the pumpkins, the butternut squash soup.  The ease into chillier temperatures.  Temperatures that demand blankies, mittens, and multiple cups of tea.  I cut out leaves from a sheet of water color paper I had my way with and assembled our fall door decoration.  Also, those mini pumpkin muffins?  William will grab one in each hand and call it breakfast.  M will grab one and leave a trail of soggy crumbs throughout the apartment--which no one will know about until we step on them. 

Good Morning

Madeleine woke up early this morning.  I pulled her into bed with me to see if she would go back to sleep.  Or at least rest.  I gave her Andrew's old cell phone we use as an alarm clock and that entertained her for 10 minutes--open, close, giggle, open, close again.  She would sit up, eager to start the day, I would settle her back next to me and whisper "go back to sleep."  Regardless of her energy and her lack of awareness of how tired her Mama was (is), I adored the feeling of her close to me, her curls tickling my nose.  Good morning, Monday!

Foliage

Although we have the air conditioning on today-way too humid and sticky for me--fall seems to have arrived in Chestnut Hill.  At least in the form of changing foliage!  Maple trees are always the first to start the transformation.  The rest seem to follow suit shortly after.

With my shop closed for the fall I'm finding my creative energies being channeled in other directions--making Happy Birthday garlands, hanging pictures, writing letters for my Correspondence Project.  Feels good.  Like a deep breath that fills your whole body.

Sending love,
Jewels

Simple Life

This last shot should be my profile picture--it encapsulates our mornings so well.  The red double-decker stroller meandering the streets of Chestnut Hill, baby girl digging into her gummies while her older brother dictates from the front, my coffee spilling over onto the treasures I've found along the way.  Every day, come rain or shine, we get out.  For their sake and mine.  Over hill and vale we explore and adventure.  We watch the seasons change, the landscape shift, each marvelous in its own way.  We befriend dogs at the park, gather acorns and chestnuts, and say hello to our neighbors on the avenue.  We sing songs along the way--silly camp songs and old favorites of mine.  You can hear William request the Star Wars theme song, or "Baseball" or "Sunshine".  Madeleine throws her hands up in the air when we sing "I am so BIG!"  Her little voice squeaking out, making her Mama laugh.  We meet up with friends at the Water Tower Park, William muttering "play nice, don't push Mad-a-wyn" as we swing in.  By the end of the morning, the little ones are usually muddy or sandy.  But, in my book, that's a good sign.

It's a simple life.  But, one I treasure. 

Flowers

My sister Meg calls flowers "flauffies."  It makes me happy--just saying it.  Like a mix between fluffy pillows and puppies.  Can't go wrong there.  Madeleine and I had a date this weekend while the boys went and got hair cuts.  We walked up Rex Avenue, soaking up the morning sunshine and all the pretty blossoms.  I've never seen so many Morning Glorys!  Sky blue and radiant.  Roses, on their last full bloom.  Jasmine, ever fragrant, like summer sunsets and honey.  At the top of the hill we stopped off at the farmer's market to check out the Mums.  Embarrassingly, it took me years to figure out that autumnal Mums were related the Chrysantemum flower, were actually all Chrysanthemum flowers--that curiously tricky word to spell, according to Gilbert Blythe--just in pots and not vases.  Like I said, embarrassing.

I'm trying to tie up loose ends with my Red Otter shop right now--outstanding orders and pending conversations.  But, then, my plan is to go on hiatus.  Close down the shop.  Give myself some time to heal.  And, hopefully rejuvenate creatively.  It's needed.

Off to go watch more Harry Potter--one of the best series to get you in the mood for the fall season!

Much love!