The Cozy And The Bittersweet {Tea On A Tuesday}

 

Today, as I was sitting down to write this post, I looked out the window and the driveway was slick with rain.  I hadn't even noticed the clouds roll in.  It hasn't been a warm October by any stretch, but we are still getting rain rather than snow.  As the drops turn to a light drizzle and then stop, the sun pokes out from behind the clouds, and the whole world shines.  It's really lovely.  This has been the prettiest autumn that we've had in years, with the leaves changing gradually and in stages, instead of all at once, so the color lasts longer.  The sky has been a brilliant blue with cotton ball clouds most days, but when you go outside the air is just crisp enough to be invigorating.  I hope this goes on a while more before the frosts come and force the leaves to let go of the branches.  

We are planning on going a pumpkin patch and corn maze tomorrow - it's one of those autumn family traditions that we always manage to cram in before hunting seasons take over all our spare time.  We have a favorite corn maze on a small farm, an adorable little place with no Halloween paraphernalia and a field full of orange globes.  We'll probably let the kids pick out a couple small pumpkins to decorate their rooms.

Speaking of fall decorating, I was thinking about writing a whole post about it, but for now let me just say that my whole goal for fall decor this year is to make the house feel cozy and ready for winter.  My typical decorating colors are fresh and springtimey, so I'm switching out some of my pillows and throw blankets to include more wintry colors.  I'm going to be honest, I'm not quite happy with my living room yet.  Something is missing, and I have a sneaky suspicion that it might be a corner lamp (and a few more cozy-colored throw pillows).  We have a pretty large living room with a vaulted ceiling, so the lighting in their during those dark winter evenings is not great.  I've been wanting to get a lamp for the corner behind the couch for a year at least, and I think some warm light will make it nicer to be in there when it gets dark.

If you've been around a while you know that our family is a hunting family.  I grew up hunting for our meat, and Derek has hunted every year since we've been married.  I took a long break from hunting when I was having babies, but I put in for an elk tag this year, and since I had nine years of preference points built up, I drew a tag!  So this weekend I am going elk hunting with Derek, and I am feeling the pressure.  I really want to get something, because I spent nine points on this tag.  I'll take a spike bull, just don't let the tag be a waste!  We also could really use the meat.  Hunting for our meat instead of buying beef takes a huge burden off our grocery budget, and when we don't have a successful hunting year our bank account feels it.  So wish me luck, and say a prayer that I get one, if you think of it.

Also say a prayer for our dog, or for our family as we watch him fade.  He's a very old dog, but he's been eating very little over the last week, and my heart sinks a little more as each day goes by.  I know he doesn't have much time left, but it's hard to watch this creature you've raised from a puppy possibly begin the process of dying.  Death is a terrible thing, isn't it?  The worst when it happens to people, but difficult to watch with beloved animals too.  When he goes, I probably won't share on here - I don't like to share when my emotions are raw.  But I wanted to mention Harvey since his health is on my mind this week.

We're getting into that time of year when I really want to hunker down at home and bake, but I am forced to be out of the house for a bunch of activities that start up again with the school year.  It's a good and bad thing!  I've been eyeballing my bread recipe book, and I found myself drawn to a fall baking magazine at Sam's Club when I went grocery shopping last week (yes, I bought the magazine).  I was recently in a conversation on Twitter about the cheapest place to buy wheat berries, and now I'm craving some nice, chewy fresh bread.  I need to make more time for baking in my life.  First on the list will be cinnamon rolls, I think.  Have you done any baking yet this fall?

You know how sometimes kids come into their parent's room at night?  Most of the time when my kids come in, it's one of three things: they need some water, they can't sleep, or they had a bad dream.  Often, if it's a non-scared reason, we'll go tuck them back into their rooms.  If they had a bad dream, we usually get them set up with blankets and pillows to sleep on the floor next to our bed (because if one comes in, one or two more are right behind them, and we can't fit multiple kids in our bed with us).  Georgie came in the other night though, not really scared per se, but just needing something that she couldn't quite articulate - and instead of settling her on the floor as usual, I flipped back the covers and let her climb in.  She snuggled up right next to me in the fetal position and fell back asleep within minutes, and I was feeling really nostalgic for those tiny baby years when she did the same thing.  Where did all my babies go?  It's the joy and pain of parenthood, isn't it? Watching your kids grow up, cheering them on, being so proud of the kids they are and the young adults they are becoming - but missing the smaller versions of them all the time.

This post is pretty emblematic of how I've been feeling this month - happy and cozy but also a little sad.  We've faced no major changes this year, but alot of little ones, with more on the horizon. By the time January rolls around, our life is going to look pretty different from a year ago in alot of small ways, and that's sometimes hard when you're exiting an enjoyable season.  The next one may be just as happy, but you really don't have a feel for it yet, so you just hope all these small changes don't sneak up and become overwhelming.  The Lord is our anchor though, and always helps us find some equilibrium in the end when our eyes are fixed on Him.  I remind myself of that on those days when I start to get a little too melancholy.

How has your fall been so far?  Full of life and joy, or a little quieter and reflective (like mine apparently)?  

Drinking: Traditional chai this time, with cream and honey.