Pumpkin Time!

Oh, my boys could hardly wait to carve their "prize" pumpkin; the biggest one that we grew in our garden this year.  I was surprised how many big seeds were inside!  The boys didn't like the slime, but they loved the little sculpting saws and took turns cutting.  I liked hearing the familiar hollow scrape scrape of the metal spoon on the inside edges; making everything light golden and clean.  The boys helped separate the seeds from the slime and we toasted them with garlic salt.  Then we cut Donovan's design into the side.  It's on our front porch now with a candle in it, 'cause there's no use waiting for Halloween.  The sky outside started to match our glowing jack-o-lantern by giving us an orange glow on the incoming clouds, lying low with the warm Chinook we experienced today.  What a fun parallel.  God likes orange.  It started out all peachy and swoopy, like Northern lights Dave said, and he was right.  But by the time Donovan hit the bath the sky was on fire.

I look at Weston sometimes and I realize he's become his own person with his own thoughts and ideas.  I'm so proud of him.  He keeps asking how many days until Christmas.

Donovan is still twitchy when I we ask him to help, but I hope he will find realms of freedom within his responsibilities.  It must be a lot to be away from home for 8 1/2 hours a day.  Humm....  I'll look forward to my last few Thursday/Friday/Saturday nights with him this week.  Coming soon I will be doing shows during those times. 

It was a fine day in rehearsal, a bit short.  My voice wasn't delivering the way I'd love, but I didn't complain.  I'm pretty sure it's my lack of sleep and new antibiotics to blame, they make my mouth dry as cotton, even after three glasses of water!

Tomorrow we're in the theatre for the first time and we have press shots.  Here's hoping Kendra and I can get my hair done right, and in good time.  I'll wear my vibrant green costume, which'll be interesting because I've never seen it. -- I've only tried on a mock muslin one three times before they cut the expensive silk.

That's all for now.  Like the candle in the pumpkin and the intense color in the sky, moments of brilliance are fleeting.  And so will be my night and next day.

Soft Heart

Here's Weston trying out a new puddle.  He's been a pretty good helper lately.

Today I made 6 huge bouquets out of dried prairie grasses.  Some pink, some burgundy, some green, and many many shades of beige.  I had burrs all over me and I worked in the front yard until cattail fluff was everywhere.  We're having an awards ceremony here in Rosebud tomorrow and we needed some decorations.  Donovan wanted to help, but he got discouraged when I wouldn't let his bouquets be used as they were.  He loves to create.

Eventually he agreed to let me incorporate his into mine, but by then he had gone inside.

Later this evening we were over at the Hamm's rehearsing a vocal jazz tune for the event tomorrow.  We were singing this beautiful song "Butterfly" made famous by Rajaton.  Poor Donovan; as he colored nearby he kept hearing us sing "Love me, kiss me on the leaves.  Before we say goodbye.  Kiss me on the leaves.  Be my lullaby.  Tomorrow I die."  The poor guy had tears rolling down his face and sniffled all the way home.  He wouldn't tell us what was wrong.  Finally he said, "Dad, the reason I'm so sad, is that song."  He had thought it was a person dying.  Davey pulled him up into the old comfort niche on his lap and Donovan cried and cried.  Then he catch-gasped a few times, did a big yawn, and snuggled in under Dave's chin with his eyes closed.  --I'm so glad Donovan has a sensitive heart.

Back to new routine...

We're back now.  Back to routine and trips to Drumheller.  My pantry is full and I feel like a contented Mother Mouse.  Weston is asleep again in the day.  His pink cheeks show the warmth of an afternoon nap.  Thank God for the village trampoline and tomatoes still on the vine.  I wonder if we'll tire of blanketing them on these coming cold nights.  I love fall.  I know I'll love winter better with the first snow, but right now, all feels as it should be and I still want to make pie.

I bought a spaghetti squash today... we'll see if it really makes the whole meal.  Weston was a good helper at the store.  He brushes my hands off every time I try to steer the cart; he wants no help!   Of course he took out a sale sign and a few packages of noodles, but we made it round most of the corners.  Why is it 100% juice is more scarce every week?  Some of our favorite foods are disappearing.  Alas.  This once a week shopping is a bit of a headache.  I always plan, but then I'm faced with new stimuli I hadn't planned on and this forces new discernment.  Inevitably, I must rationalize in the end and pass certain items through Dave's approval, and then the bill always feels too high.

Borscht was good again today, and I bought new stock meat and ingredients for pumpkin pie.  

Coaching with Sammantha was great, but way too short.  Both of us will have to bone up on the back story for Aricia from Racine's Phaedra.  I love the story between she and Hippolytus.  It would be a definite bestseller romance novel today!

Oregon seems far now, and all those plane flights long ago.  Still wondering what to do about Christmas and when/if to travel.

I have so many plays on my shelf now, wish I had more time/desire to read and not just skim for characters and possible coaching monologues.

       Right now we're all reading Prince Caspian.   The boys love it, especially Trufflehunter and Reepicheep.  I hope we keep it up.  This is our fourth in the series.  We started with the Magician's Nephew, then Lion, Witch,..., then The Horse and His Boy.  

---Oooh yellow gold and black flashed by my window and that means Donovan is being bussed to the stop from school.  Time to wake the pink sausage-boy lying on my couch and welcome the 7-going-on-12 year old.