In lieu of trying to belong to any number of societies: Chesterton, Sherlock Holmes, the Inklings, and so on: I propose and establish one of my own. Don your intelligence cap at the door; dust off your logic and imagination; did you bring your inspiration and encouragement? We are shapers, my friends; lit lamps; light-bringers. Bring quotes; poetry should be uplifting and thoughtful, or witty and clever, (or both). Humor is encouraged; laughter is invited back. Pull up a chair. Anyone for tea?

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Bright Blue Weather

I'm back in Minnesota, my friends! Enjoying the glorious clarity of October air, and the alternating cerulean brilliance with misty grey... There is truly nothing like the turning of color as the frosts creep in. Oranges, rusty reds and variations of greens and yellows. I took a walk the other day, following paths mown through gold-brown grasses, venturing up to the colorful trees, and ducking into the groves, under and over logs, crunching through the leaves. I filled my pockets and hands with crimson leaves fallen from the maples and oaks, and when I came home, tucked them between papers and heaped some weight on them so they'll be ready to decorate with in a few more days.
I was home for a couple of days before heading off to Rochester. A new opportunity to serve came up, so here I am in a lovely part of the state, continuing the day-to-day adventures of life. It's October, so of course I've made apple crisp, pumpkin cookies and bars, apples dipped in caramel, and various stews and squashes. I think a pumpkin pie is in order this afternoon. Just in time to chill in the fridge and come out for Sunday dinner. I had a chance to meet a new friend for Thai coffee in a delightful shop downtown. And amid the ups and downs and difficulties of the here and now, I have been able to enjoy the pleasant company of several aunties all in one place! Coloring and movies (like the sophisticated grownups we are ;) as well as cooking, singing and worship.
The days have been quieter here. Less music, more knitting and Sudoku. But that can be a good thing. And less time on the internet gives more time for thinking, reading, journaling, etc. Which is definitely good. And as always, through new experiences and old ones, through bounding life and throbbing joys, difficult paths, tough decisions, and tedious uncertainties... Prayer.
All-prayer is the armor that I must remember to don every morning when I get up--and then to keep tightening the straps as I jog through my day and my armor loosens like the autumn leaves...

Fly you leaves! And let my heart-strings be
Undo your ties and shudder through the air
Illuminate that beam of light for me
I'll praise your maker, rest my spirit there.

Burn! your flaming colors in this light
Shake off your summer burdens, raise your arms
Breathe in the wind, forget your stormy plight
Immersed in gold, put off the cold alarms

Run you chilly waters! while you can
Shine you sun! and turn the crops to gold
Foraging and storing is the plan
While flocks go over, chased by bracing cold.

Gleam and sing and dance in your fine dresses
Decorate the hills in russet glow
Loosen and let fall your leafy tresses
You've melted hearts; fear not the coming snow.

Adventure update


Well hello again, my friends! Is it October already?
Sorry, yes; I am again out of tune with the spinning of our little sun-centered orb. 'Clock moves so slowly, Time moves so fast' once again. The usual. Winds blow, cool evenings creep in, and here I am, struggling not to miss anything. Trying not to take for granted this, my very favorite of seasons. Chai, pumpkin scones, open windows, playing football in the yard.

Here where I am in the PNW, there hasn't been much chilly sweater-weather yet, but the mornings are lovely, and I'm soaking up the last warm sunny days. Of course the few misty, rainy days have also been perfectly delightful and Eyre-ish; with drifting fog that looked like wisps of white cloud fallen from the sky and lodged between the dark hills.
my little eyrie at Auntie's

and a couple of the hilarious cats that amuse me daily...

The above picture was me wishing Frodo and Bilbo many returns of the day~


crafts and party things, and pretty dinners

Off to Portland on a rainy day. (Got to browse in Powell's!)

(package from home)

entertainment and creative pursuits...

random selfies...
window-pretties

It is difficult, as always, to synopsize or incapsulate a month of extraordinary life. Pleasant outings, friendly conversation, delicious food; insightful sermons & scripture, new books and window-views, football and movies; parties and celebration, toast and tea, girl-time; brisk adventure, (more pizza and football), time for sketching and writing, (more coffee, chatter, laughter); crafting, and kitties, and babies...

Along with some great new experiences, there has been plenty of time for reading and writing and things. One of the projects I've been working on has been typing out/editing some stories of mine that I brought in the form of a stack of notebooks. Like C.S. Lewis, I prefer to write (first draft) by hand (long-hand with a pen--much more stimulating to the inspiration and writing experience). So it has been much to my surprise, as well as satisfaction, to find my word count is past 20,000 already!