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Wherever you go,
no matter what the weather,
always bring your own sunshine.

-Anthony J. D’Angelo

Wherever you go,
go with all your heart.

-Confucius

Yesterday was a cold, windy rain, made especially not fun by an unrelenting wind.

I had to go retrieve the newspaper so that it could hopefully dry out before Jeff came home and wanted to read it (having fallen asleep and missed all the drama of the Phillies game being suspended). This was something I did with the utmost reluctance, I did NOT want to go outside at all.

I pulled my hood up, braced myself grimly against the elements, dashed up to the driveway, grabbed the paper, rushed back down the steps to find…

Cassidy, who had hurriedly thrown on her coat and boots to voluntarily splash around in the rain. She stood there, not affected at all by the cold or the wind, smiling smugly to herself, with her leaf umbrella.

I couldn’t help it. I laughed, I took a picture, I put on a proper coat and I sat on the porch (out of the rain, shielded from the wind, there is only so far I will go) so that she could splash in puddles. For a few minutes, at least. As Obama said, a little rain never hurt anybody.

As for the leaf? We saved it to show the boys, who were properly impressed. Look- it’s bigger than Maverick’s head.

Six months ago, I made a pledge to myself to find the good in things, to connect daily with nature, to seek out the everyday miracles. It is very difficult, sometimes; I’m not an optimist by nature, and as the weather changes all I want to do is hibernate and wait for Spring to come.

The kids have taken no such pledge, and are unaware of mine. They come by this naturally. It is amazing; all on its own, this is a miracle to be marvelled at every day.

Doubt not, so long as earth has bread,
Thou first and foremost shalt be fed;
The Providence that is most large
Takes hearts like thine in special charge,
Helps who for their own need are strong,
And the sky dotes on cheerful song.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The Titmouse”

The Tit Mouse are coming

They make a big screech

The Tit Mouse are coming

They don’t live at the beach!

-Maverick Elton, age 7
“The Tit Mouse” (2007)

The titmice and the chickadees are frantic- a cold rain is falling, and they are emptying the feeder with frenzied urgency.

Normally the titmice like to linger at the feeder and call to the cats, tormenting and teasing through the window, cocking their heads in feigned and amused bewilderment.

If I am near with my camera in hand (they don’t mind me on my own), they will scold and refuse to land. I think the autofocus light puts them off.

Today, however, they are all business, completely ignoring my camera at the open window, mere inches away; which makes me a bit nervous about the days ahead. Do they know something I don’t know?

I’m still not dealing well with the change in weather, I am grumpy and generally out of sorts, and I really feel for my poor husband, who is nursing a cold and a sore hip; he will be out in the rain and the cold and the 55 mph wind gusts all day.

The rain turns the construction dust into red clay, and when Jeff returns home he will look something like this:

photo via:

Only redder in hue and with two eyes. Also, holding a pink Igloo cooler.

The steadfast focus of the birds at the feeder make me think I had better turn my attention to readying my own home for winter. The blankets are already out, but maybe the woolen scarves and hats need airing; the heavy curtains need to be hung at the windows; the heavy coats and long underwear want washing. I need to inventory the children’s winter things, the snow pants and gloves; I think maybe Jacob has outgrown last year’s boots, perhaps his winter coat as well; back to Goodwill I go.

How prepared are you for the cold days to come?
What is on your fall to-do list?

I liked myself better when I wasn’t me.

-Carol Burnett

We’re very excited about Halloween over here! I love making costumes- I think I missed my calling there- but even more than that I love wearing the costume and playing a role.

Last year the boys were the Super Mario Brothers, and they were hilarious. They even recorded the music from the video game and would set it off each time they arrived to trick-or-treat at a new house. They spoke in ridiculous accents and jumped around really dramatically. It was fun to see kids being kids.

These were the easiest costumes ever- I just cut up a pair of Jeff’s old work jeans to make temporary overall bibs. After Halloween was over, I pulled out the stitching and voila, the kids’ jeans were restored.

Ditto for the baseball caps- the red one was reincarnated as a Phillies cap. (Hey- Phils won again last night! Unbelievable!)

The mustaches were part of a “mustache of the week” kit that the we got the kids for Christmas and is part of our extensive dress-up collection. Everyone, I think, should have extra mustaches on hand at all times. They make for really great pictures.

I’ve always hated pre-packaged Halloween costumes. They’re expensive, they’re uncomfortable, they’re flimsy, they reinforce gender stereotypes, they encourage girls and women to dress like trollops and they take all the fun out of Halloween. In my humble opinion.

Seriously, I can’t even take my kids into a Halloween shop, because I don’t want Cassidy to cower from the gore and I don’t want my boys eyeing up the “sexy nurses”. What happened to Halloween being about family fun?

All week I’ll be posting my favorite homemade costumes of Halloween Past and celebrating all things Halloween. Got a costume you’re particularly proud of? Or maybe a Halloween craft or decoration? Email it to me at simplegreenorganichappy(at)gmail(dot)com and I’ll post it too!

What was your favorite Halloween costume ever?
What are you- or your kids- dressing up as this Halloween?