Outside Glory

"Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag." Alexander Solzhenitsyn

"I have stretched ropes from steeple to steeple; garlands from window to window; golden chains from star to star, and I
dance." Arthur Rimbaud (French Poet)

Remember Sunflower Houses? Well, I like Hollyhock Days, too!

Sharon Lovejoy is a flowery writer and the watercolors in this book are VERY sweet. You can read Sharon's blog, too! It's full of nature and growth!

Hollyhocks are so simple, aren't they? Some people think the are unsophisticated. Isn't that a good thing?

Hello up there!

"There is nothing you can see that is not a flower; there is nothing you can think that is not the moon. " Matsuo Basho

I'm calling Jody over at Gumbo Lily, my moon sister. She writes about the moon. She lives on the prairie and she regularly looks up and feels very small. Isn't that poetic and WONDERFUL? I've said it before but I can understand why wolves howl at the moon. They must be saying, "YOU are beautiful, our own round rock that glows and changes, entertaining us over and over again!" Well, maybe THAT would be quite a long howl, but just the same, the moon IS lovely, isn't it? So, now I am going upstairs to look out my window, to check on the moon. I hope it will shine on me while I sleep. I graded my brains out today and I am ready to snooooooooooooooze.
Have a rollicking week, friend! I think you should have a scone and a little squirt of whipped cream. And you know those waxy (but tasty!) little pumpkin candies featured in the Halloween aisle at the grocery store? Yes, I think we need some of those. Do you need to find yourself a BIG basket of mums? I did buy a squash today. I don't know how to bake it and eat it, but I'm going to try. Night night.

Good September Earth

Last year, Carolyn at Love Stitching Red featured an intriguing Norwegian painter, Kristin Vestgard. I found her soft colors and fine lines enchanting so I drew this tree-head girl. I wanted to look at her again today. I am crazy about September and this is my September woman. The trees are still full of green leaves here, but the cool air of morning is blowing. I have the butterfly wing shawl around my shoulders and my fuzzy Norwegian slippers warming my flip flop feet. The breeze rushing through the window smells clean. Isn't September sweet? She is so hospitable.

Candles are so fitting in the fall. Don't you love the smell when you strike a match? If a fire in the fireplace isn't practical, a candle is a great substitute. Candles are a simple joy, I think.

This big puffy cloud was pink for a few moments just Monday evening. The night time sky changes so quickly. We've decided it is time to put the flannel sheets back on our bed. I'm craving the scent of warm apple cider, buttered popcorn, smoky night air. I hear the crickets. Time to read The Cricket in Times Square, I think.

I discovered that affirmation means "to make firm" and I hope you experience a little affirmation today and will feel a bit more firm as you go about your day, giving away your good life.

Fire

Sunday felt like fall and we rustled up some hats for the girlies, set off down the road, and viewed some splendor.

Buckled up.

We believe in pacifiers in this family. If you want to suck, suck away. Don't they look like happy girls?

"Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees
takes off his shoes."
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

My favorite tree.

"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree."
~Joyce Kilmer

This fall I do want to take off my shoes as I marvel at the beauty around me. Driving home from school yesterday, the rain poured down. I don't want rain ruining the trees' dresses. It doesn't. They say if you don't like the weather in Colorado, just wait five minutes. It's true. We go from hot to cold . . . FAST.
Off to school. Parent/student book club at Borders tonight. Cozy (cosy) and fun.
Have yourself a bowl full of fall today. It's free.

Fall Feelings

The weather has turned cold. Yesterday at school, we had a fire drill and stood out in the blustery rain while the "powers that be" checked safety procedures. Brrrrrrrrr! I hope the kids don't catch colds! Even my cave-like classroom has been cooler! So, even though things are busy - it's time to revel in the lovely vibes of fall!

One of my beautiful friends (Shannon!) gave me this book some years ago. It profiles some brilliant women writers. It's a graceful "coffee table" type book, inviting and sophisticated. I stored some leaves in it, so I took it out to show you some saved treasures.

Here's Virginia Wolfe with a lovely golden maple leaf!

Here's Vita Sackville-West's write up, graced by a stunning red maple leaf I found in downtown Littleton, seven years ago. Here is your red maple leaf, Carolyn!


Susan Branch, one of my favorite artists and favorite cooks wrote and illustrated Autumn. The pages of this book are pure inspiration!

A Sunday afternoon trip to the bookstore for a book the kids at school have been dying to read also required a purchase of the most recent (here!) edition of my all-time favorite magazine! You know this. I blab about it all the time. Images. I'm so thankful for images.

This week has been lovely with the eighth graders. They are so sweet, smart, calm and dear. Today they have Explore testing, so we'll have a different day. Tomorrow is their "Friday" because the real Friday is a teacher work day. Yes, a teacher work day on MY birthday! It's okay. I don't mind. Stay tuned though. I am going to have a give away for my birthday, because all of you are so fun and kind. Come see me Friday. I send BIG fall love your way, good blogger super stars! I'm so glad you popped in for a visit today. You are good. I like good people.