A Sweet Surprise

Future Smithies?!

 

Yesterday the girls and I took a roadtrip to Northhampton to attend the Smith College open house! The vibe there was fabulous and I could see either one becoming a Smithie (especially Emma). Looking forward to seeing where they land! xo 

Light In The Darkness

 

With the heaviness of the world, Martinmas could not have come at a better time. 

In the word of Professor Albus Dumbledor: 

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, 

if one only remembers to turn on the light." 

Veterans Dinner

 

In which we make the parish hall ready for the annual veterans dinner. xo 

The Sassy Bun

 

Clover was in a rather spicey and sassy mood today and spent lots of time chasing Violet. Emma was able to scoop her up, to break the cycle and give Violet a break, but gosh is it hard to discipline that sweet face! xo 

Baby’s First Solo Drive

On Tuesday, in addition to it being Grace's first time to vote in a presidential election it was also the day that Emma took her first solo drive. And just like that both girls just feel all grown up to me! So very proud and impressed in her driving skills, abilities and confidence! Be safe out there, sweet girl! We love you to the moon and stars and back! xo 
 

The Day After

I got very little sleep last night. I was awake until about 1:30am and then abruptly woke up at 4:30am. When I had finally fallen asleep it wasn't looking good but I was hopeful that maybe, just maybe, things would shift while I slept and that all would be fine when I woke. Little did I know how not fine things would be. 

When I checked a couple of reputible pages on Facebook my heart sank. Just like it did in 2016, but this time it sank deeper and I was filled with even more dread than I was back then. I stared at my phone in utter disbelief. NPR and BBC were showing the horror of what had happened in the wee small hours of the morning as well. How could America choose such a horrible, hate filled man over such a kind, compassionate and experienced woman?  

Evidently, stating where you can grab women wasn't a deal breaker. Sexual assult wasn't a deal breaker. The insurection wasn't a deal breaker. Racism wasn't a deal breaker. Mocking the disabled wasn't a deal breaker. Antisemitism wasn't a deal breaker. Being a 34 time convicted felon wasn't a deal breaker. But you know what was?

 Being a woman. 

The two times he's won was against incredibly qualified, intelligent women. Our country clearly does not value us women even if we are more qualified and better leaders than a man. And what's worse, the sheer number of white women who cast a vote for him. I will never get over that demographic showing up for him. 

Never. 

And so, I spent the day vacillating between sobbing and wanting to burn the whole place to the ground. I will never forget what it felt like to watch Obama win in 2008. Grace was two years old. Emma was nine months old. Hope was palpabble and joy was bubbling over. There was an energy in this country that I had never felt before and I was here for it. As I held tiny, baby Emma and watched the Obama family walk onto that stage that night I thought to myself: "I am so glad that this is the world that our girls will be growing up in". Little did we know that eight years later I would be crying myself to sleep fearing for what was to come, and that I would be doing so again eight years after that. 

I am terrified and angry and disgusted and heartbroken.
Just like I will never get over the loss in 2016, I will also never get over this one. 
To those who voted for him in 2016, 2020 and now 2024: you have made it plainly and abundantly clear what you stand for, what your beliefs and values are, and the sheer amount of kindness and compassion that you lack. 
I hope it was worth it. 

First, the pain and then the rising. 
Today and tonight, we mourn. 
We grieve. 
We  cry. 
We scream. 
Tomororw we ride. 

XO

Baby's First Presidential Election

 

Well done, sister suffragette! 💙

Today After Church

On our way home we stopped by Moeshmallows brand new store front here in town! I have seen them the last few years at the holiday craft fair that NECC always hold and was excited to see that they had opened a store in Marlborough! The girls were super excited and we all had fun choosing which flavors we should try. While we were there we even picked up a gift bag (the one Grace is holding in the top picture) since it was made by the students at NECC as one of the vocational jobs they do! For those wondering, we loved all three flavors, but peach was the hands down most favorite! xo 

November Decorations

 

Halloween decorations have been put away and November ones have been taken out. First up is Martinmas (one of our most favorite festivals) and the lantern walk to bring light into the darkness. xo 

November Goals

 

Happy Halloween!

 

Halloween morning began with cinnamon roll mummies made by David for breakfast. 

In the late afternoon the girls and I carved pumpkins. It was such a gorgeous day and a perfect way to welcome Halloween night. 

Grace painted her adorable nails herself. It took her three hours but it was definitely time well spent! 

Once the pumpkins were finished, Emma got ready to go trick-or-treating with her friend Lucy.

 Emma's costume is inspired by a character in a game she plays. She knitted the giant hairbow. 

After dropping Emma off, I made dinner (turkey chili as per usual) and then Grace and I went over to the farm to check out their annual pumpkin display. We have had such an illness filled October that, sadly, Grace was not able to hekp carve pumpkins for it. It was such a beautiful night made even more magical by the gorgeous display! 

When we returned home, Grace and I enjoyed our turkey chili and watched Ptactical Magic. From start to finish this might have been one of the best Halloween's ever! xo 

About This Month

 This month was an unusal one for us, as it seemed that some combination of the girls and I were sick for the entirety of it. As a result we didn't do all the things on our "October to-do list" and other events or projects or activities (or dissertation writting) was put on hold or not able to take place all together. At the start of this month (given that it's our most fave) I had all intentions of posting in this space each day. Alas, our bodies had other plans. 

And so, in an attempt to share some of what we were able to experience or do as our bodies allowed here are some pictures from what actually happened in between/during illnesses. 

We added these sweet Halloween houses to our decorations. 

Picked up this gorgeous dahlia bouquet (from Broken Pot Farm) during a recent trip to the co-op market. 

October 16th was so chilly that I had the heater under my desk  on. Clover and Violet wasted no time finding a spot near the heat! 

On Saturday October 19th we had tickets to Phantoms by Firelight at Old Sturbridge Village, Grace was still so sick and  not feeling up to going (though she really wanted to) and Emma was worn out from a very busy day at the orchard. Not wanting all four tickets to go to waste Dave and I decided that we'd leave the girls home and go just us two! 

It was a rather chilly night, and I took very few pictures, but we did get to see the comet on our way there (and once we arrived) which was pretty magical too. 

Lucy invited Emma to come to the Keefe Tech Homecoming dance with her. Thankfully, Emma was feeling much, much better by then, but due to Grace and I being so sick we were not able to go dress shopping with her. Thankfully, David is such an awesome girl dad and didn't mind being the one to go with her at all! 

The day after HoCo, Emma took her drivers test that morning and then the four of us attended Morgan and Justin's wedding that evening. It was another gorgeous October day and easily one of the most beautiful ceremonies ever. 

Earlier this week was very chilly, but since the end of the week was destin to be much, much warmer we held off on turning on the heat. Instead we wore cozy sweaters/hoodies, snuggled under blankets and enjoyed warm milk, tea or hot chocolate.

It's hard to believe that October comes to an end tommorrow and that there's only a couple of months left of 2024. This year sure went by fast! Fingers crossed it ends on a very, very, very good note! xo 

The Final Rose of the Season

It was quite a surprise on Sunday to discover that a rose had bloomed! 

My constant battle with rose sawflies seems to be never ending. They have done such a number on the leaves and I cannot seem to find anything that works to deter them. xo
 

Dorothy and Glinda Go To Church

 

In which the girls dress up as Dorothy and Glinda for church (followd immediately by trunk-or-treat after). Violet filled hte role of Toto, though we left her home since it was so chilly you today! xo 

Mission Accomplished!

 

Early this morning we added another driver to the family! Emma passed her test with flying colors and our days of driving lessons are now over! Well done, Emma! We are so proud! Be safe out there, sweet girl! xo 

And So Begins Halloween Week at Dance

 

In which the elf and Nostalgia head to dance. And so begins Grace's "last first" Halloween week at the studio (and yes she crocheted her glasses chain). 

The seniors all dressed up as the characters from Inside Out 2. They totally slayed! xo 

Tonight

 

The Northern Lights paid us a visit tonight! The sky was simply magical and totally took me back to my childhood when they appeared in our backyard in Bethany. The colors and clarity of the stars and planets are something that will just never get old. Thank you Mother Nature for sending such beauty our way! xo

Welcome, October!

 

Picture taken in 2015 when Grace was nine and Emma was seven-and-a-half. One of my most favorites of them ever. xo 

Lesson Snack

 

Apple cake and warm apple cider. The perfect lesson snack on a chilly autumn day. xo

On International Rabbit Day