beautiful autumn

" A spell of that extraordinarily beautiful autumn weather that always takes us by surprise, when the low sunshine is warmer than in spring; when the air is pure and thin, everything sparkles enough to sting the eyes; when you breathe deep and feel refreshed, drinking in the fragrant autumn air; when the nights are warm, and on dark, warm nights like these golden stars startle or delight us by scattering themselves endlessly down the sky."
{War & Peace}

Yesterday’s walk was beautiful, making me wonder why I don’t do this walk more often, as it is so close to our home. These mid-October days are my favorite.

food for thought

“In the middle of the night, things well up from the past that are not always cause for rejoicing--the unsolved, the painful encounters, the mistakes, the reasons for shame or woe. But all, good or bad, give me food for thought, food to grow on.”
― May Sarton, At Seventy: A Journal

Sunshine and morning dew are the perfect answer to a restless night and I get out early with my camera. Percy comes to play and the night time woes seem to vanish. We search for spider webs and eat the last of the summer popsicles on the deck after lunch.

tuesday

“But memories are time beings, too, like cherry blossoms or ginkgo leaves; for a while they are beautiful, and then they fade and die.” 
Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being

I spend most of the day with Percy. We sit on the floor of the library and read until I hear his stomach growl. After lunch we play made up games with his toys. Three times he crawls up into my lap for unsolicited cuddles. He moves in close, snuggling his head into my neck and I vow to burn this day into my memory.

Lightly my darling

"It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling..."

— Aldous Huxley (Island).

I find good advice in the quote above and see where it might be time to maybe lighten things up a bit. Enjoy more of life without wading through the questions every action and reaction may bring about. Lightly I tell myself over and over, hoping it just might sink in.

secret messages

“One of his favorite words now is “Pop.” There’s no question that it feels good in his mouth, but it’s not just that. In the way these things usually go in the house of family, Nana is wallpaper and Pop is a chandelier. “Pop! Pop!” he shouts now, searching for his grandfather.” 

― Anna Quindlen, Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting

We take him to the park to feed the ducks and play. He and Grandpa send secret messages back and forth and I watch the marvel in his face. He thinks the whole thing is magical, and I have to agree.

He runs to me for a snack, to read a story, or to help him find his boots, but it is Grandpa who points out the possibility of magic. Suddenly the world is full of so many new things to discover and I can’t tell you how fun it is!