Little & Big

Happy Halloween!

more to share later....

first snow (7:30 a.m.)

and more

 

and do we ever love to dress up

Two Halloween parties tonight.  And so:

One pirate + one galactic mercenary (Bobo Fett) + two space pirate parents = an awful lot of silliness.

oh how fun to set up for a Halloween party

at a friend's. tonight.  can't wait!

(ironic) Halloween

For Halloween this year big brother really wanted to be this:

And I was going to build that.  Yes I was.  I bought 6 yards of black fleece.  Six.  And 3 yards of white.

At the fabric store, the woman at the counter asked me what I was making.  "A penguin costume," I said.  "Looks like you'll be able to make a lot of penguin costumes," she repiled. 

What can I say?  I was nervous.  Indimidated.  And more than anything: overwhelmed.  But I couldn't admit that to my son.  Because he wanted to be a penguin.  (And if you know our history of Halloween, you'll know how clear and exacting he is about his Halloween costumes.*)

In the days previous to the fabric-buying trip, I had actually suggested some alternatives.  "How about a mummy?  Or a superhero," I suggested, (and here's the enormous irony) "Or even someone from Star Wars?"  No no no.  He wanted to be a penguin.  Period.

I should have listened to my anxiety over my clear sewing inexperience.  And my tiredness.  And the fact that my calendar was showing exactly 1.25 hours of free time in the coming weeks.  AND the fact that the pattern was sold out across the country. (Though amazingly one of my best friends had it and mailed it to me.)

Well, to make a long story very short: last weekend, after much badgering ("WHEN are you going to work on my HALLOWEEN COSTUME?"), and many lectures about being respectful towards your tired and hardworking mother ("As soon as I can find some time between my two jobs and all the cooking and cleaning and doing-of-your-laundry, I will."), I finally got to work.  I pulled out the pattern, and the fabric, and the sewing machine, and the thread, and the pincushion, and laid them all on the freshly cleared dining room table.  And promptly burst into tears. 

Daddy to the rescue.  After offering a strong shoulder to cry on, he went upstairs and had a pow-wow with the boys.  About 15 minutes later, he came down.  "We have a new plan."

And here are the pics from the week to prove it:

Can you guess what he is going to be?

(*History of Halloweens captured here.  And then last year too.)

beautiful day, before school, waiting

it's that time

fall foods: marinated beets and kale

Kale (blanched to bright green) + beets (boiled to just tender & peeled.)  Chopped and cubed. 

Plus a balsalmic vinaigrette.  Mix all of the ingredients below. 

4 T. Balsamic vinegar
2 t. Dijon mustard
1 t. dried thyme or 2 t. fresh
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 C. virgin olive oil
1/2 t. salt (or to taste)

Let the onions marinate for an hour or more in the dressing.  And then pour over the beets and greens.  Toss to combine.   Lovely.

This is one of my favorite fall foods.  Adapted from this recipe on Epicurious.  (Note: beet greens can be used in place of kale.)

Sunday walk in the woods with little brother

We were all crabby.  The parents had been trying to work.  It was Sunday morning.  There were interruptions.  Things were taking longer than anticipated.  We had promised the boys some time outside. But the work!  Boys were at each other. And then things erupted with big brother launching a rake -- metal side first -- at little brother.  Time out.  It just felt a mess.

So little brother and I headed into the woods.  I stomped and little brother pranced.  Because he was going to take me on a tour of the fairy grounds.  And so he did. 

And it changed everything.

These are pics from our walk.

                                    opening the fairy gates

                                            listening

                                    looking for fairy grounds

                                                    what we found

                and look who showed up (peeking there)

                                                for Hide and Seek

Thanks to the woods for saving our Sunday.