Fall, Stall Here at Our House

Ha, ha, it's a little pun. And, it's a rather ironic statement. Really, if i wanted company, why did i move so far out into the country? Garmin doesn't even know where we are. I'm such a freakin' hermit crab.

It has been a beautiful month here though. Usually Sept and Oct are the beautiful months, but this Nov was gorgeous. And warm. I love unexpected warm weather.

Today the sky is crystal clear, the sun is low in the sky casting a warm amber glow on everything. I am so glad i didn't cut the seed heads on my Pampas grass, or move them to their new home yet. I will probably be regretting this decision in the spring; they cannot stay in my front flowerbeds. They get too big and send out too many runners. Next Spring I'll move them closer to the edge of the yard where they'll have all the room they need. But for now they look so lovely in the warm sunlight swaying in the breeze, their fluffy tan seedheads blending in with the browns of the trees in the distance.

Imagine my surprise yesterday when it started snowing! Woah, wasn't ready for that one. But it was beautiful in it's unexpectedness and my girls bundled up and went outside to play. It didn't stick around for long, but it was lovely while it lasted.

We also spent some time at a nearby state park. We had a little campfire going, and Bibi's pants stretched out by the fire, drying, because Bibi has the knack of getting her pants wet in various ways. The park ranger drove by, stopped, got out and started walking towards us. We thought for sure we were in trouble, maybe we shouldn't have started that fire. But he just came by to say how pleased he was to see families getting out and enjoying the park. Phew.

Smores! Yum!

Bibi looks so content.

Emmy. I can't get her to not pose for the camera.

Bibi and her Stick. She finds sticks wherever we go.

I think Fall might be my favorite season of the year...

Scenes from Fall, 2009

And 1/2 month later I finally get my lazy arse in gear and throw another post up. and it's a picture post to boot. lame and easy, especially when i could talk about hubby's iron distance triathlon and how he rocks, but there it is.

The story? The girls and I went walking with some friends a few weeks ago and the leaves were beautiful. We had a fabulous time. Enjoy a last taste of fall!

Blood, Gore, and Pumpkin Guts!

Yesterday at work was zany. It was our annual halloween parade, and our first ever Pumpkin Drop. Earlier in the week was the auditions for our talent show (another first, my bright idea). In between, I sandwiched more university observers, yet another new student teacher (male this time) and "fun" halloween lessons (using all the "cool" instruments). The kids were nuts all week.

The talent show auditions went surprisingly well. We set it up "america's got talent" style. Art, music and pe combine classes and the three of us, + new (male) student teacher, were judges. The kids in the classes were the audience. We had a lot of fun. I took my meds and got along surprisingly well with everyone else. The actual talent show will be in a few weeks, no judging then, just all fun.

Yep, i'm back on my meds. My anxiety, combine with hormonal depression, and a new feature, paranoia, convinced me that i've got a real problem and should not EVER be out in public without meds. Ever. At least, I should be on meds until menopause hits, or my baby making sack is removed, whichever comes first.

Yesterday, it was impossible to concentrate on anything after the Pumpkin Drop in the morning. It was the Art teacher's idea. Each class brought in materials to package up their pumpkin, hoping to insulate it in the best way possible. We brought in a crane and our principal went up in the bucket, 80 ft into the air and dropped the boxes. (one of the pictures i took here.) PP totally moved up to the "YOU ROCK!" level in my book.

Even the newspaper was there. They got the kids' names wrong, but they were there.

I snapped a couple shots with my camera phone, hoping to post on facebook, but was too mesmerized to do much more than send a confusing pic to hubby. I did shoot a ton of pics with my regular camera (as did a number of us) and that is posted on our school's web page. I took video as well, check out a link here (it's just like being there!). The kids were wired. We were wired. The kids knew they had a halloween party later in the day. It was a great and zany day.

The only picture of me, and it's my shadow. I was slightly spastic at the time, all that blood and gore and pumpkin guts.

Still slightly spastic, trying to figure out how to work my camera phone. I gave up and took 100 pictures with my regular camera.
...which are on my work computer...sorry. Check out the link for more pumpkin guts.

Happy Halloween!

Frosty Flowers, Goodbye

Frosted Flowers...and grass. The end of the growing season is here.

It was frosty and foggy this particular morning. I jumped out of my car on my way to work to snap these last photos of my garden in the end-of-it's-season glory.

Alas poor cosmos! I behold your beauty one last time this season.



How different you are from this...




Naked, cold and shivering...
You certainly know how to go out with a bang...



...or shall we call it a "brrr"....?



At least I'll get to enjoy you maiden grass, with your beautiful seedheads throughout winter.



Ah! Sweet hardy Coneflowers! Until we meet again! I'll see you next summer.
Goodbye.

3G part 2

Oh yeah, I found out I can tether my phone to my computer via Bluetooth and cruise the internet. It also is totally not allowed according to some fine print i finally found on at&t's website, after looking for hours and signing my lifeblood away with registrations and passwords. The fact that I may or may not have found it while tethered to my phone will not be discussed here.

Unlimited does not mean unlimited folks. That's why they have various levels of "unlimited" data plans. You pay for how "unlimited" you want "unlimited" to be.

Can't wait to see my first bill. Funny how they say my balance online will not be visible until after the 1st billing cycle. It's sort of funny. Except it's not.