Indian Summer

We find a delight

in the beauty and happiness of children

that makes the heart too big for the body.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, how I love Indian Summer.

Just when I’d grudgingly given up, hauled out the sweaters, fleece robes, and heavy blankets in preparation for the cool weather ahead- the cold days ahead- Nature smiles upon me and warms everything back up.

74 degrees, golden sunshine, and best of all, the kids are in the middle of a four day weekend. We spent all day yesterday outside, “unplugged”,gathering leaves, running around, taking pictures, hunting up caterpillars, generally basking in the unexpected warmth.

The kids found a tire back in the woods and obviously, that meant that the Universe wants them to make a tire swing. I left them to it. I have no idea how they managed to wrap and secure the rope around the branch, but they did it, and they were very proud of themselves.

They took turns swinging for hours, taking a break long enough to pack up a snack and bring it outside to sustain them. When they finally came in, they were, oh my god, sooo filthy. But tired and happy.

This morning, the first thing they did was eat breakfast and race back outside. How wonderful is that?

And I bask, not only in the sunshine, but in their freedom and their reckless joy. I wish I could capture these days, bottle them, and live them over and over.

Thank you so much to everyone who left me birthday wishes, here on my blog and on their own blogs; who wrote on my wall on Facebook; to those who sent me e-cards, and those who called me on the telephone! Between that, and the fact that my family cooked dinner and cleaned up afterwards so that I could catch up on my reading, I had the best day and received everything I wanted.

Have a beautiful weekend!