Back to "Normal"

Things have settled down a bit now!  We are officially moved into the new place and I love it, love it, love it!  Because  we're on the second floor, the surrounding trees add greenery and privacy to my every day view.  I used to be all about the nighttime, but I have officially fallen in love with mid-morning thanks to the way the sunlight filters through the foliage.  It faces the north, so I get amazing cross breezes blowing through.  And since the weather has cooled off, I haven't had the AC turned on AT ALL for the last week.  If only I had a second bedroom and some quieter neighbors upstairs, I'd stay here forever!

I have no finished unpacking all of the boxes yet though, and it may be some time before I do.  I'm trying to decide how I am going to decorate in some areas and until I figure that out, I can't unpack some of the boxes.  I also have to reorganize the bedroom closet.  We just started throwing stuff in there and I need to get it to a point where it's focused and less chaotic. But for the most part, everything is a notch above livable.

For my non-Central Texas compadres, fall has arrived!  The temps at night are in the 70's and it's barely risen above 80 during the daytime.  This is the time of year I love best here in the Hill Country - cool, but not too cold, and warm enough that you don't need to break out the winter gear.  It's just so darn comfortable.  And October is definitely my favorite month...let the countdown to Halloween begin!

This month has us going to several birthday parties, baking Halloween treats, going to the pumpkin patch with school, celebrating Uncle David's birthday, and of course, my personal favorite, trick or treating!  Stay tuned for more...Now that we're moved and mostly settled, I am going to start uploading pictures again.

Happy fall,
Kelly

Sweater Time

I've spent the day working from home in order to take it easy. Michael was sick earlier this week and yesterday it felt like the same thing was going to happen to me, so I've been at home napping on and off and doing what I need to do for work in between. The patio door has been open all day and I've been listening to the wind blowing, the leaves rustling, the neighbor's cat yowling, and feeling autumn creep into my bones. At this moment, I am actually cold enough that I have pulled a fuzzy brown sweater out of the closet to wrap myself in, whether from an early autumnal chill or illness, I can't decide. Either way, it's official: fall has arrived.

This is my favorite season. I can't pinpoint exactly why but I love the colors, the smells, the sounds, the feeling of fall. Some of my favorite memories involve cool evenings with the windows and doors throw wide open, warm fires lit to fight off the chill, the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg wafting from the kitchen, long walks home from class in October. As I lay on the couch taking in all of these things, I am keenly aware of something pulling at my soul. I sometimes wonder why I am so drawn to fall. I get these pangs of longing for something, and try as I might, I can't quite place my finger on it or put words to it. I strive to capture every feeling and emotion as autumn sets in and I fill myself full of them until I am fit to burst.

Fall marks the beginning of a busy season for me, what with the holidays approaching and baking to be done. The hundred degree heat is replaced by 60's and 70's and the cool weather wardrobe makes it appearance, and with the days shortening I have to work harder and more efficiently to get everything done before daylight fades. But I love and embrace it, just as my sweater hugs my body.

It's sweater weather at last!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

Can you believe the weather we've been having?! Ah-MAZE-ing! It's rained now for several days straight, and while it provided a minor inconvenience, it was an answer to many prayers and most welcome here in Central Texas. We need a lot more rain to end the drought but the drenching we got this weekend was much appreciated. Thank you Upstairs for listening...please send more! The temps have also been so refreshing after three months of triple digit heat, it actually feels like fall is on it's way, which is my favorite season of all. I love the cooler temps, the sweaters, the shorter days, and the cuisine.

And speaking of fall cuisine, I busted out the springform pans to make some pumpkin cheesecakes this weekend. Michael's childhood best friend Sonia was in town visiting and she'd never met me or Billa. She requested pumpkin pie, but I'm never one to settle for ho-hum, hence the pumpkin cheesecake. We stopped by her mother's house Sunday afternoon for tea and cheesecake (such a lovely notion...I wish I had more tea time dates!) and Billa and the cheesecake were a hit. Here are some of the pictures from our lovely visit:

Sybilla with Sonia and her Mom, Florencia


Michael and Sonia, friends forever!


Billa's shocked/scared face. I have to get a video of it, but it's hysterical because she trembles when she does it too!


Playing in the very full pool at Zeti and Tata's...true waterbaby at heart!

We also visited with Michael's dad and stepmom a bit, and Kellie and Anthony as well. We were also supposed to visit our friend John and Julia for their football extravaganza, but Billa was not feeling well at all when we were supposed to go and an unhappy baby makes for an unhappy party. Oh, and my brother Philip also stopped by briefly on Saturday night to say hello and visit for a bit.

It was a lovely weekend visiting with friends and family and now that the weather is turning nicer, we will definitely be making more and more trips out on the weekend, perhaps maybe to the Renaissance Festival in October or to San Antonio for a visit to the zoo and botanical gardens (thanks Anna for the idea!). Fall is here, lovelies and we couldn't be more happy!

Love to you all,
Kelly