Short Story Long

I love taking family photos!  It's so fun to see people spending time laughing with their kids.  Here are a few groups I've had the priviledge of shooting in the past month.  You may have seen one or two of these on my Flickr page but I'm having so much fun with them that I thought I'd do a little post here, too.   

I'm enjoying a delicious tea that my mother-in-law recommended while BFJ is loading the back of the garage with firewood, and turning my garden beds over for the winter; two boys are watching cartoons, and one is coloring.  Someone pointed me to the perfect barn and giant tree for my afternoon photoshoot.  This evening, I'm invited to a birthday party for one of my favorite little girls.  If I were just binding off the perfect sweater, or sewing down the binding on a sweet little quilt, it would be a flawless fall day. 

It's almost jack-o-lantern time! Are you working on a Halloween costume?  I would love to hear about it!

I've gotten several knitting projects finished up lately.  I have not taken the time to post about them because most are gifts, but maybe I'll take a moment this week to get some pictures of those that aren't or have already been given.  Or make something for myself?  Hope you're all enjoying your fall preparations!

I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet but what if .  And I know that 83 experiments won't convince everyone.  But what if you knew for sure, that this is true ?  Would it change your lifestyle, or would you just think, "that's too bad," and continue on?

"Kathleen, you are a lone reed. You are a lone reed, standing tall, waving boldly in the corrupt sands of commerce."  -Frank Navasky Do you ever have that thing where you say something out loud, and the moment the words leave your lips, you wish you hadn't said it out loud?  Almost like you jinxed it, even if you don't believe in jinxes?  I just had to go and say that my word for this year is 'contentment.'  What I have been struck with this week, several times, is the irony that I am seemingly alone, or perhaps one of very few people, looking to have deep, meaningful connections with real friends.  I invited every friend I have that a) lives in my relative corner of the world that I b) thought would be interested, to join us in some of our traditional fall festivities.  With the exception of my parents, and one VERY wonderful pair of friends, everyone has declined.  Everyone is too busy,  or in too much of ...

In trying to persuade loads of friends to go with us to Miller Farms , I looked all over for pictures I've taken, and did not find many.  I will be sure to take many this year.  In the meantime, as we were making Mr. Shagnasty yesterday, we discovered a previously untouched pile of indian corn from last year's excursion to the Farms.  We don't have loads of friends, but we do have a select few of the best! On the schedule for today:  church, lunch, applebutter-making.

One person woke me up this morning singing, "We get to decorate for Halloween today."  The next person plotted to find some branches.  Yet another sewed...  We borrowed a shirt from this Grandpa , some pants from that Grandpa , and a couple of buttons from Marie .  Not quite done, but meet Ukulele Threadneedle Shagnasty.  More to come...?