Walkabout

Where has the time gone, and why do I always feel as though I start my blog posts with this sentence? Fall break came and went,and I'm trying to adjust to life without a house full of rowdy boys. It's nice to have calm and quiet every now and then, but I miss my noisy gents.

A quiet house is a lonely one.

On Sunday, Derek and I took the youngsters on a walk to enjoy the warm sun and beautiful fall colors.  We spend a lot of time outdoors, but this particular outing will always remain at the top of my list.  We were missing one boy, who was busy working off his debt at Dee and Papa's.  It was strange not having him with us, and even more peculiar to be counting to four every time I did a headcount....which I do quite frequently.  Though we missed his presence, he jumped at the opportunity to duck out of yet another family hike.  The boy is growing up, and I am not a fan.

Our journey was filled with treasures just waiting to be discovered. One of the first, was a row of abandoned nests from the little mud swallows who have flown south in search of warmer temps. 

 

There were plenty of snake holes, trap door spider caves, and other miscellaneous

 crevasses to explore.

 

 

Look at this view.  I could stare at this picture all day.  In fact, I may.

 

 

We helped a few silk weeds escape their pods. 

They whispered 'thanks' as they blew away

 in the wind.

 

 

Another picture that I could stare at forever.

 

 

This was taken right before I made him step away from the cliff.  It may look as though he's right at the shore, but don't let it fool you.  He was teetering at a death-defying 12 feet above the water.  He was also in a trance and seemed to be mesmerized by his surroundings. 

Love this nature-lovin' boy of mine

 

 

Well done, kids.  You didn't cut our heads off this time.

 

 

A hike is not a hike until you find a hopper or two....or three or four.

 

 

Is it just me, or could you stand in this spot and quickly forget all your cares

and worries in the world?

 

 

This picture isn't nearly as beautiful as the actual scene in real life.  The glistening leaves that lined the path mimicked the yellow brick road.  I was disappointed to find that the wizard

was not at the end.  I'd like to ask him for a few things.

 

 

Some of us find walking sticks, while others say 'screw it' and take the whole damn branch.

 

 

(I took 97 pictures.)

 

 

It's all fun and games til someone steps on a cactus. 

 

 

He wouldn't tell me his wish, but I'd venture to guess it had something to do with a hot dog, a steak, or a slab of ribs.  The boy NEVER.  STOPS.  EATING.

 

 

Looks like this caterpillar was just as hungry.

 

 

Items not pictured are, a water snake, a pair of mallards, a hawk, one ginormous ant hill, and one 11 year old who is too cool for nature walks. 

ME time.

Yowzers, life is busy. I used to try to envision what life would be like once all five boys were in school. Though I'm not the lounging, bon bon type, I pictured myself getting caught up on all my little projects, in between the time I'd spend baking, decorating, painting, and writing.  Id put my feet up every now and then and get lost in a book, with a piping hot cup of tea by my side.

What the hell happened?  Granted, all 5 boys aren't in school full time, but I do have exactly four hours per week where I'm the ONLY.  ONE.  HOME.

Here's the part where I need therapy.  Those precious 240 minutes are spent cleaning, folding, organizing, running (think errands, NOT treadmill), doing, volunteering, and partaking in many other ing's.

Funny thing is, I'm having a blast!  Who knew it would be so much fun to grocery shop alone, run in and out of stores alone, fold laundry (music blaring) alone, and scrub the kitchen floor when there are no little feet eager to traipse through your mop trail?

Life is good.  Damn good.

The crisp autumn air is the cherry that sits atop this blissful life of mine.  (Have you any idea how much I adore the declining temperatures?)  Bye bye shorts and flip flops.  Hello jeans and tall boots...I've been waiting (very impatiently) for you.

In other news, when I'm not folding, cooking, cleaning, and/or running (again, no treadmill), I can be found volunteering at the boys' school.  I think I may start sleeping there.  It'd be much easier than this back and forth gig.  Last week, the boys had field day and the two littles and I went to cheer them on. 

Here's a snippet-

 

 

 

Happy Friday!

Best. Day. EVER.

Have a look at those leaves. It doesn't get more exciting. Fall has arrived, people! Today I am the happiest girl alive. It's pouring rain, and it's a brisk 55 degrees outside. I'm wearing jeans...did you hear that?  I'M WEARING JEANS, and sorting through my cookbooks trying to decide what I'll bake today. 

Today was the first day my boys have worn pants since at least March of this year. You know what that means -They all trotted off to school looking like the Cleaver's. None of them had pants that came past their ankles. Poor kids are bound to get 'the business' from their peeps today

My apologies, boys.

Look on the bright side.  At least you don't have a crazy Aunt Martha who demands you wear the short-pants suit she bought you to school.

 

 

Things could always be worse.