Hangtown Halloween.

Halloween in Downtown Placerville means that the store owners close shop but stay "open" to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters. Thanks Dee Dee, Shannon and John for meeting up with us.



The bell tower.


Treating.


Checking out the loot.


A ladybug.


2 Princesses. Doesn't Kristi make a smashing Cinderella?


Isn't this costume CLEVER? It's a wheelbarrow!


BOO from the Bottings!

Love.

You see this tree? I love this tree. When we first moved into this house, it was quite small. I never much noticed it because of it's puny size and odd location. I had thought about taking it out when we put in our sprinkler system and lawn. It just didn't seem to fit in. For some reason (like my Dad talking us into keeping it), we left it to grow where it was. Every autumn it DUMPS these tiny feather like leaves and makes a complete littery mess all over the backyard. While raking, I cursed it's existence. One early morning four years ago while I was nursing baby Savannah, the sun came up over the house and out the living room window my tree looked like it had caught fire. It's leaves had changed into the most rich red color, it looked like fireworks. Ever since that morning, I have grown to respect this tree and the pleasure it gives me in every season. In the summer it provides shade for my honey hut, in the autumn it tells me the weather is getting colder by changing its colors, in the winter it allows the sun to shine through so we get more sun to warm the house and in the spring it is the most amazing chartreuse color with little caterpillar-like pods lazily hanging from it's branches. I still curse it for all the raking, but I love this tree.

Princesses.

Last night we went to see Disney's Princesses On Ice. It was a fun show and the girls loved it. Our girls were some of the very, very few children not dressed up as princes or princesses and so I think the girls actually believed that the children waiting in line for the bathroom or at the concession stands were part of the show. All morning long Savannah has been asking me to play "princesses on ice". I'm not quite sure how we would play this but she seems to have a very good idea. Thanks to Tim's parents for the gift of the tickets and the gift of taking our girls out for a night on the town!

Saucey.

When you live in Apple Hill and are raised on homemade applesauce, the jars on the market shelf look pretty sad. In early October my dad and I picked the apples from five trees with the intent of making our sauce. My dad has a sweet set up for canning and he knows everything about the process from years of experience. We did a batch shortly after we picked the apples and then finished on Monday. And now I am so pleased as I look at my pantry shelf and smile at the juicy sauce inside those jars. I feel as productive as a pioneer or Ma from Little House on the Prairie, storing up the apples for the winter.


Coring and peeling the apples.


Apple Juice + Apples + Cinnamon Sticks =


Sauce.


Cooling off for the pantry. YUM.

Art Parliament (formerly known as Stitch and Bitch).

This past Sunday for Art Parliament, my sweet friend Rebekah and I got together to make a costume for her daughter Hannah's school performance in The Wizard of Oz. She plays both Glenda and a munchkin. Hannah's brother Taitan is cast as the Tin Man. I'm so excited to take the girls to see Hannah and Taitan sing solos and act their parts, we are going twice! Hannah had a very clear vision of what she wanted her munchkin outfit to look like. Here she is modeling both the final apron/tutu she will wear as a munchkin plus her Glenda crown. Savannah saw that crown and looked very longingly at it as it is the epitome of a princess crown.


Rebekah has always been the mom I have looked up to most second to my own Mom. She is fun and warm and kind and reasonable and silly and loving and patient and firm when she needs to be. She really knows her kids and respects them and their ideas. She encourages them to be as creative as they want to be. She answers every question and gives reasons why or why not. Her children love and adore her and so do I. She is the same in her friendships. I am so blessed to know her. And besides all that, she calls me "dolly". I love it.


(Art Parliament is a creative gathering between my friends Shannon, Rebekah and myself. Stay tuned to this blog for future postings about said gatherings.)

Nevada City Birthday.

My little sister Dee Dee turned 27 on Saturday. If you know Dee Dee, you are so lucky. She is super intelligent, funny, open-minded, loving, entertaining and easy-going. She is beautiful. She and I headed up to Nevada City to celebrate her special day. We wandered the town, rambled through book stores and other specialty shops. My favorite was at the top of Broad Street, a place called My Favorite Things. I had the best day laughing and talking with Deeds. Happy Birthday Beetle Bug!








So Fancy.


I love these little guys!

Playmates.

One year ago we dressed up the girls and headed to the Harvest Festival. Earlier that night I took the first photo of the little girls playing together, not next to each other but together. At that moment, the difficulty of having little ones close together in age vanished. I hope they always hold each other close and become best friends like I have with my sisters and brother. They are each other's playmate. Nothing is better than that.


Ivy, and Savannah with a certain Turtle they LOVE!

By the way, Savannah is going to be in The Nutcracker. Let me know if you want tickets!

Zoo Day.

We had the whole Sacramento Zoo to ourselves today. It was crazy fun. We ran around (without a stroller!) to all our favorite animals and took an extra long ride on the carousel. At one point both girls were happily holding my hands and I had to take a moment to revel in the joy that moment brought me. Such sweet girls.






Flamingos are our most favorite.

S'mores Party

On Saturday night we went to a really fun S'mores party. Isn't that a great theme for an Autumn party? The night was so romantic and the decorations were a great mix of Halloween and Harvest. My favorite was the candy/treat/dessert table. Savannah and Tim made quite a few S'mores (or as she calls them, S'morfs) by the pit fire and Ivy enjoyed playing with the toy cars and bikes. For me the night was reminiscent of Harvest Fairs long ago except geared more towards adults. I loved it.

Apple Hill

Today the little girls and I went down the street to one of our favorite bakeries here in Apple Hill. Well, I should say we started off at the most popular bakery but then ended up like we always do, at Millview. No lines, traffic, gimmicks, weird crafts or stress, just the basics (i.e. apples baked in many scrumptious ways into many delicious baked goods.) Plus the view from the deck is unreal. And the pumpkin patch was a perfect size for Savannah and Ivy. Then we popped by a dear friend's house for some swinging. It is a beautiful Autumn day.


Pumpkin Patch at Millview.


Ivy Jane.


Swinging Bliss.


Waiting turns is not fun.