Saturday Sisters Fun

Yesterday me and my sister went to an outlet center in Maine. We had such a wonderful, not bad at all, very good, the best ever day. It was great to catch up with her since both of us had a Very Busy Summer and Fall.

 

Halloween decorations everywhere. We even saw many trick-or-treaters in Portsmouth where they did the sensible thing and celebrated Halloween a day early, not on a school night.

 

We were amazed to see blooming roses still.

 

And we tremendously enjoyed seeing the ocean.

 

Halloween

Just before going to our town's Green to do some fun Halloween stuff.

 

Jane is still ready for the Oscars but it is cold cold cold at the Green, did I mention the snow?, and later when we came back she changed into her 'Sensible Mom' costume.

 

On their way to tailgate trick or treating

 

And pumpkin bowling. Yes, Erik just threw that pumpkin. What is not to love about it? ^^

 

Happy Halloween!

 

 

 

 

Zen Beach

 

When we arrived at this beach, the beauty of it all took away our breath.

 

The rocks, the foliage, the water, the haziness, the rain, the wave patterns in the sand. Everything was just perfect. Not good enough, truly perfect.

 

It was like entering a Japanese zen garden and feeling calmness and mindfulness effortlessly entering one's body.

 

Pumpkin Carving

 

One of the highlights of this season. Big knives, pumpkin guts, pumpkin seeds, huge messes, what is there not to love about it?

 

 

The end result.

 

Dawn

 

Pictures taken by Jane.

 

Edited by Jane and Dawn.

 

Did I mention that my kids keep growing up? Even if I don't blink?

 

Dining Room Chairs

Last year, I got ourselves a beautiful dining room table. It has been wonderful to have this table and it has seen so many wonderful meals and good company.

 

It came with six chairs which were not in the best condition but good enough for then. The cats definitely did approve of the chairs. In the back of my mind I always had this little thought that I could re-upholster them. Some day. Next week maybe. Or next month. Oh, I have an opening in my agenda for 2014. Maybe.

 

Finally the big day arrived. A friend came over and we got started on learning how to reupholster chairs. The first one took us one hour and 45 minutes. Half an hour of which might or might not have been trying to figure out how to load the darned staple gun.

 

The second one took only an hour. I love the result.

 

Four more to go. I have some other chairs I might do now that I know it is 'ridiculously easy' as a friend said. That particular friend clearly had no idea how hard it could be to load a staple gun, or not reupholster OVER the holes that the screws later have to go in...

The Circle of Life

New maple tree next to old fallen down giant.

 

As an aside: Did I mention that Kate is allergic to maple??? The pollen, not the rest of the tree as far as I know.

Halloween Girls

 

One cheerleader.

 

And one girl on her way to the Oscars.

 

 

Caching in the Rain

 

Today was mostly rainy, but we found ourselves caching anyway. One of those days where you would stay home and tell yourself 'I am so happy to be nice and dry at home instead of being out in the rain.'

 

But the funny thing is that if you ARE out in the gentle rain, you find yourself enjoying the quiet, the vibrant colors, the sounds, the atmosphere, just everything about the hike.

 

And you realize 'Wow, I am so happy to be out in the rain!'

 

I am sure there is a life lesson in there somewhere if only I could find it ...

Troll Bridge

 

I love it when we find troll bridges like this in the middle of the woods. It makes me wonder why there is such an elegant bridge on a hiking trail.

 

The kids had tons of fun with the troll who lives under the bridge.

 

We might have found a cache too, but that was not as exciting as trying to evade the evil troll.