Who's That Girl??

Usually for weddings or some special event I will let the hairdresser wrangle with my curls, big round brush in hand and high heat setting on the blow dryer and have my hair blown out straight. Yesterday I was just tired of the tangles and quite spontaneously made an appointment at the salon before the boys got out of school. It lasted about as long as it took to take this picture and today all of the curls are back. It just takes the wind and the slightest bit of mist and shazaam...back to reality. But for a half a day at least, I have photographic evidence that it was straight ; )

today is brought to you by the number 10

How did he grow so fast to become so big and tall?

From my spot on the bleachers, these are the boys of Fall.

Back and forth like swift gazelles they chase after the ball.

5 pm, game time is done, for take out we will call.

it's that time of year

when the dancing ninja's appear!

and a one and a two and a one, two, three...

Love this Kid!

in winter, spring, summer and fall ; )

Jaguar Jog

Every year the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in the elementary school are eligible to participate in the one-mile Jaguar Jog (our school mascot) through the neighborhood. I live on the finish line of the race and always make a sign to cheer the kids on. My 4th grader
opted out this year...he joined the Chorus which, whaddaya know, just happens to have practice this afternoon.

frost around the pumpkins

on this chilly New England morning.

"..and the Berkshires seemed dreamlike on account of that frosting..."

sunshiney pumpkin kind of day

hazelnut coffee...cider donuts...girl talk...confidence boosting...sunshine...story sharing...pumpkins...laughing...FRIENDS!

Fair Days

Ronan and Lanie enjoying each other's company.

Of course, Ro wants to try for next year. Sure, I told him. We can give it a try.

Can you say junk? But the most delicious sort of junk. German fries with lots of salt and vinegar and a caramel apple with sprinkles. Oh that and a little space alien toy won as a consolation price when the giant Pikachu was what he really wanted.

Expert hands helping make a beeswax candle. This $1 station in the beekeeping house is the best buy at the fair!

who doesn't love a fair?

Topsfield Fair, 2010. How long have I been going, hmmm? Since about 1977. Is that a long time. Umm, yeah. But it's still a boatload of fun. The teenagers like to go at night, but luckily I still have my little guy who likes to see things in daylight.

This is the Haunted House. The props outside were enough to scare me, never mind going inside. Although I heard it was pretty tame.

This was a ton of fun, watching the ducks being herded into their pen. The owner had such amazing control over the dog.

Taking a break with fried dough. One can only take so much walking about without a proper fried dough break.

he will not bother me...

as long as I leave the kitchen door open and he can keep an eye on me. It may be a little chilly but it's a cheap babysitter.

another exciting Fall season...

ah, yes, Fall means football to many, but to the Band Parents, it means music! During the Fall the high school band not only performs at the football games but also and more importantly participates in band competitions. Typically there are anywhere from 6 to 12 bands who compete in different divisions depending upon the size of the band. Our high school is in the top tier, as we have around 100 band students.

Son Carter plays trumpet.

Son Brady plays drums. (left)

and the Color Guard adds so much to the performances in every band. It is a fun afternoon and the hot apple crisp at the food stands doesn't hurt a thing.

two things that are good for me

first of all - oatmeal. It does drop your cholesterol, mine by 100 points. I do not lie. I have grown to love it.

second of all, my new bathrobe. I seriously love my new, overpriced bathrobe. It is one of those clothing items that makes me think I should have been spending more on bathrobes all along. It is full-length, button front, soft like a bunny and a beautiful, flattering color. I would wear it out if I could. Now if I could just find one that is hip-length, I'd be at the soccer game in it this afternoon ; )

Morning Glories

I have to be honest about this, lest the gentle reader think that I took immaculate care of these babies from the beginning. Nope, I did not. I bought two little pots in May and just left them in the garden in their pots for one month. That's right, around 30 days. I watered them occasionally and it showed. They looked half dead.

Finally I got around to planting all of the "leftovers" - not sure if you have those, too, but there are always stray containers of plants that I never get around to putting either in a pot or in the ground. Sometimes they survive a sunny June, sometimes not.

These wilty, pathetic, yellowing plants were put in a terra cotta pot and then I took *really* good care of them. Plants can send you on guilt trips you know. Every day they got a gallon of water and every week they got fed with plant food. I waited and I waited and I waited. And tah dah...finally, the fruits of my watering. So pretty!!

Although they don't mind the cooler weather, I know my time with these morning glories is fleeting and so I shall enjoy them every time I pass by.