October's Light

For my non-Arizona inhabitant readers: You know that wonderful, deep down feeling of joy you experience sometime in the end of May (sometimes in June!) that is inspired by the knowledge that winter is most definitely over? You feel parts of your soul emerge from hibernation. You are happier, calmer; life is more joyful and you notice beautiful things again. The extended, dark and frustrating winter is finally ended.

In Arizona our extended, hot and frustrating summer is finally ended and I feel like I'm coming back to life again. I want to be outside, soak up the sun and take everything in. The flowers are more beautiful and the songs of the birds have never been lovelier.

I was doing dishes last night, my hands warm in the water and my neck cooled by the breeze blowing in from an open window. Through our back window I watched the neighbor's tree sway in the wind and I thought, "My goodness, even the light is more beautiful."

It made me think of an afternoon earlier this month in Logan Canyon when I had the same thought: My goodness, this light is beautiful.






Don't you agree? Isn't October's light the prettiest?

Directions for a perfect fall afternoon

1) Begin with a hand cart. Watch your smallest child climb in the back while the two older children attempt to pull. Soon the older two will release the handle and the back will drop to the ground and the youngest will land with a thud a roll out. Strangers may come running.





2) Storm the barricades! Or summit the hay fort and be the first to dare to jump.





p.s. It always helps when an uncle says he'll catch you and then he doesn't.



3) Don't worry if the train ride is out of commission for the day. There's always this old farm equipment to pose by.



4) The secret to having fun in a corn maze (with or without kids) is to control the map. Periodically show your children the progress you are making. But really you've gone in about 1/5 of the way, turned around and exited at the entrance. Win/win for everyone!



5) The final requirement for a perfect fall afternoon: getting buried in hay and then bursting out like Frankenstein awakening.



And there you have it! A perfect fall afternoon. Thank you American West Historical Farm.

The birds and the bees

Last night, after a long and busy day, I was in the girl's bedroom helping #3 into her pajamas when Spouse arrived home from work. I heard the front door shut and then heard #1 and #2 greeting him and making surprised sounds. They followed him as he found me back in the bedroom. He was carrying a lovely bunch of flowers which he handed to me as he bent over to kiss me. It was quite romantic (and thoughtful, given my stressful day) and Spouse must have seemed the perfect hero to his children. They were happy for me and liked seeing Spouse surprise and please me.

In all her joy, #3 exclaimed, "Now you can get married and have a baby!"




Done. And done. That's how all this trouble started in the first place.