Fall

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Around here, changes in the seasons are more subtle. The air, instead of getting cooler, actually gets a bit warmer during the day (at least for a while). More telling than the climate is the produce, both in the markets, and in our garden. Things start to ripen, greens that love cooler nights continue to flourish.

As for the children...well, they seem to be busy year round... But now that school is in session, there seems to be even more creativity, the need to produce things, the love of paper and tape and scissors!

In the kitchen, I get to cook yummy squashes, stews and soups! And the house smells great again.

Change is definitely coming!

The Return to Grover Hot Springs, 2009

This was our third visit to Grover. This time we even got a real mountain thunder storm with lightening and all. We stayed safe and dry in the tent, reading stories, waiting for the rain to pass. The storm gave way to beautiful sunshine with the bluest of blue skies and a show of evening stars.

When we were here last May, the creek was raging with water from the winter thaw. This weekend, it was flowing at the perfect pace for us to explore and dip our feet and little bodies into. We also made the hike to the waterfall, a gentle stroll that became a small climb at the end.

When we had to leave, we said goodbye to Grover, knowing that we shall return again someday, to one of our favorite playgrounds of all!

The New Dress

I had to post this because I am a little bit proud of the dress that I 'made' for Claire the other day.

Actually, I did not make it at all... I found a skirt, for a 10 year old girl, in a garage sale a while back (for a few cents...). I knew it was too big for Claire, but I liked the fabric so much that I got it anyway.

When I saw it again, it occurred to me that I could make it into a dress by adding to small shoulder straps to it.

And voila, a brand new summer dress. She loves it quite a bit and has gotten a good use of it already! I love it when I can be thrifty. When she is 10, maybe it will become a skirt again!

Another year

Greyhound Rock, peeking through the reeds

Wedding bouquet: my favorite thing about weddings...

Rock drawings made by my daughter: a birthday gift to me!

My birthday this year was extra special.

It began in bed, with a lovely home-made breakfast delivered by my children and husband. There was even a tiny bouquet of flowers from our garden, which I am sure was picked by little hands.

The middle part of the day was spent at Greyhound Rock: the site of our wedding, and arguably my favorite spot in Santa Cruz. The sky was brilliant blue, the water was even bluer (is that a word?), and we found a protected spot away from the cool breeze.

To end the day, we attended one of our friends' wedding! I loved seeing beautiful flowers everywhere, happy people all around, and the bride and groom commencing their lives together.

We left before the beautiful cake was cut (it was getting late!), but I am sure it was as sweet as the couple!

Happy wedding day Madeleine and Rhi! And thank you everyone for another happy birthday!