The Rain is Back

Yesterday, the rain returned. The ground is so thick with fallen leaves that it sounds like a low drum outside the window. Michael stepped into the garden this morning to inspect the plants, finding some with traces of the small creatures that visit in the night. This afternoon, we'll ride our bikes to another rainy, but fun, football game. Hot cocoa and tri-tip sandwiches are on the menu, yum! We have the next week off school, so I'll be able to tap into my more creative side with the kids. Baking, bike riding and leaf collecting all sound so fun. I usually press leaves in a book for about a week then thread them together to hang in a window. Small oak or Japanese maple work beautifully. Insert a needle next to the stem being sure to tie a small knot to keep it in place before stringing the next one. The sunlight coming through the window brightens the colors of the leaves just beautifully!

A Loss

Yesterday, our community suffered the loss of a parent. It was sudden and unexpected leaving a feeling a shock and vulnerability in it's wake. As the primary care giver, he was adored by his two young girls. I can't imagine the loss his wife must feel. Once the girls were safely in their classrooms this morning, the parents began to weep. What was so important to us moments before, now no longer on our minds. My aunt Denise showed up for gardening time and I relayed our sad news. I decided to head out with the kids to get my hands in the earth, to ground and be present. Hands in the soil, sun setting painting a neon pink sky, I feel a sense of peace. Little rows of baby onions we will watch grow as we are watching our children grow. This is a gift, not an entitlement. The sun disappears and a soft mist holds us. A flock of Canadian geese fly overhead their calls ringing like church bells for a sacred mass, reminding me how precious our time here is. I love you all.

Weekend Festivities

Why no pesticides? Because then you can find cool creatures like this in your garden!

Oliver as a hunch back and Molly as skeleton last night at the festival

Penelope, Serafina and Molly decorate Halloween cookies. The goulash is bubbling and another pie sits upon the table. On the altar we have a gin and tonic for grandma and grandpa, some hard candies for my gran and Michael's grandfather, some sweet smelling rose petals strewn about and some mini pumpkins Oliver carved little faces into to light up the sacred space. The children have had a fun weekend thus far carving out many pumpkins and eating many sweets. I'm going as a witch and so is Molly while Oliver has chosen the skeleton for tonight's pumpkin lit walk through the Shire. It's so magical, even as an adult to walk these paths at night. All the trees, fallen leaves and crisp air. The smell of pumpkins lit by candles and knocking on the doors of friends, family and neighbors in the anticipation of yummy treats. Costumes can be so creative, especially the Little ones on their first trick-or-treat outing. Happy Samhain/Halloween to all!

Morning in the Garden

It's a spooky walk to the garden spot!

Here they come!

All the little seedlings are working hard! It's so exciting to see them popping up in their neat little rows of green. Before we know it, we'll have fresh radish, carrots, beets and parsnips. It's getting much cooler and it's almost time to put in our garlic and onions. Only one downside to having so much garden space.......WEEDING!

Family Farm Day

Michael contemplates the placement of the veggies!

Molly and cousin Elana sow the seeds.

Molly and Oliver working the beds with Auntie Denise

Up early with my tea and Molly home for three minutes, then off to the garden! Today, we planted rows of seeds, in anticipation of a bounty of beets (all varieties), an abundance of carrots, a river of radish and a plethora of parsnips. Out in the cool fall air, the family gathers to plant and to plan. No one shall go hungry here! If a little is good, a lot must be better!

More Pictures

Me and Molly with our ribbon at the Sonoma Vitage Festival.

Our shirts were a little bit big!

Michael in planting our winter garden.

Michael in the meadow, waiting for the stars

Drama, Gardening, and Stargazing

Molly and Oliver had the privilege of helping our friends Jeff and Lyndsay ready their actors for the Cool Davis Festival today. Jeff and Lyndsay have this great interactive business they started that educates children on the environment. It was so exciting walking into the theatre to see my kids on a stage in lights! Maybe drama should be included in our list of things I would like to provide for them. While they were "acting" Michael and I worked in the garden under the "instruction" of our neighbor Jillith (Jill). She did actually end up putting her hands in the dirt and the comic relief was well appreciated. The end result is rows of little green plants and lots of straw to keep the weeds at bay. We have planted a lot of chard, bok choy, cabbage and some brussel sprouts. Another thing I'm grateful for, my kids love greens. After the garden was done we headed out to Stebbins Cold Creek Canyon at the base of Lake Berryessa for our stargazing hike! There were probably about 40 people at this hike which is free with a suggested donation of only 10 dollars per family. We hiked about a mile up into the hills, laid our blankets in a dry meadow of wild oats and snacked on warm squash bread that Jill had just baked and our homemade pear juice. As the sun was setting, our guide told mythological stories about the constellations and soon we were staring into the Milky Way. What a beautiful night! The guide used her laser pointer to touch the stars naming the important ones for us. Molly and Oliver loved some of the funny names. Listening to the crickets Oliver fell asleep under Molly's legs and Michael began to drift. By about 9 we were hiking by flashlights back down the canyon occasionally gazing up at the great display from so far away.

Harvest

We've shook the almonds from the trees, canned syrupy fig conserve, turned our green tomatos and pears into delicious spicy mincemeat, and baked whole wheat pizzas with the last of the peppers, tomatos and eggplant. Now it's time to work the gardens and ready them for our winter crops! Working along side my Aunt Denise we are preparing the beds with rich soil and all the little plants are waiting to take root. Our friends in Winters gave us a large amount of fava beans to plant. I just love their tall green stalks and creamy blossoms with velvety dark purple middles. They're so good for the soil and delicious in risotto. We helped our friends harvest their vineyards and make their wine with all the kids. What a great experience! Once the kids were bored they spent the rest of the afternoon in the pond catching tadpoles and floating on a boat in the cool waters. Molly had purple toes for days and we all smelled a little like wine. We have really taken in the season and feel a strong connection to the changing light filtering through yellowing vines. I'm looking forward to cooler weather and lush greens pushing through dark winter soil. I think today we'll bake bread filled with our mincemeat and fill the house with the smells of fall.