Life on the Farm

In honor of pretending that we actually have an Autumn season in the beginning of October, all five of us made our way to Oma's Pumpkin Patch. We learned about cow births (one every day!), hung out with itty bitty baby goats, waved to inanimate objects, took awful pictures in those head board things, and realized that this is where people come to take pictures of their 3 month old alien babes nestled in a bundle of hay. Saw a lot of that, and I guess we did the same thing last year. Sometimes it's hard to remember little Bear as a little blob, especially with him being able to throw away my trash for me (if I ask nicely) and pointing to everything and knowing its name. Shower is shower, screens are shows, and juice is juice. Are we already almost approaching his 20th month of life? You're closer to 2 than 1, Mr. Bear, so I guess we'll stop counting your life by the months and start checking off the years. My new goal is to write you letters--something a little more formal than this electronic journal we've got here (which I hope you enjoy reading one day), and something a little more tangible. Until then, I hope to document the little things. Cliche, yes. But also important, I think. Even though I've got some weird memory, a good one at times, I still forget about moments, and, more importantly, milestones. I guess this is just a hope to give you what I wish I had for myself. We could say that this is in part for me as well, and it definitely is, but those parts of myself that you are involved in. And, these days, those are some of the best. 

P.S. We got the prettiest pumpkins that we have no intention of carving. 

October & O'Hara

Another month has been greeting us with its chilly winds and hopeful season ahead, and we're embracing it with mini pumpkins on sticks and candles that smell up the whole house with nutmeg and cologne. We're getting in shape over here, we're making soup over here, and we're all "working for the weekend," even if some of us don't really even have weekends. There has been less TV and more porch times-- these filled with Miley buns, novels both long and short, organ aches, falls, and a failed quest at meeting more neighbors.

Barrett says 'puppies' perfectly, the government decided to cool its jets for a while, and we're really hoping to boost our Scrabble skills with 5 & 6 letter words. One day we'll start tallying the scores for the Ultimate Champion, but for now, let's just try to remember that walking around City Heights with a Scrabble board in hand is the true way to make new friends. 

A fistful of moments (a lot of them): 

 

 

 

 

 

A day in North Park followed by a rest in South park | dinners of soups, potatoes, and salads, and a breakfast of baked pumpkin french toast | not many guests, but a few that matter most | a little glimpse at home as it is forever changing | and, as usual, the great life of Barrett sprinkled throughout. 

September brought me a beautiful appreciation for the banality of dailiness, and the routined weeks sped by, but the steadiness was comforting. And now, here we are--onto the next one, I say! Soon, I'll be thinking about wrapping paper, yet 75 degrees on the coast reminds me that San Diego is in limbo, and I think some of us can resonate with that.  Routine is a comfort, but it's also a terror, and I am constantly battling against the feeling of wanting more and hoping for simplicity. 

And on a completely unrelated note, here's some pretty O'Hara. Partly because I can't stop listening to this, and partly because I love his hairline: 

We Will Need Them All

"Don't wish me happiness. I don't expect to be happy all the time...It's gotten beyond that somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor. I will need them all." --Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Changes are upon us, but not much feels different. Independence for some, new companionship for others, and there's a feeling that it's all going to change in a year. And it's definitely going to, but we also need to pause and let it just happen. Or maybe that's just me. 
There are the dates that we're waiting to arrive, like September 23: the day Meghan starts her new job. Let's pause, breathe and celebrate that. We're proud of you, but, more importantly, you're proud of you. I think you've got most of the changes already behind you, or just waiting for you on the threshold, and that's exciting and exhausting at the same time.
How about September 26: the day I start my third Senior year of college, and the final one at that. Patting myself on the back, wiping the sweat from my upper lip, and picturing Barrett standing next to me in my cap and gown. Along with my three best ladies, of course. If that doesn't get me through these next nine months, at least pictures of Norway and the Italian coast will. I'm hopeful of that. 
Or how about October 23: the day Brit flies 3,000 miles to face her beloved New York, New York, reunite with those of past shenanigans, and meet The Case. We're proud of you, and I think when you step off the plane, it'll almost feel like nothing's changed. But, you'll see. We'll see. Obviously everything has tilted on its own axis, reversed, turned the other way, and pushed you forward into a completely different world, but that city's still home in some aspects. 
Or, finally, how about Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the day Barrett says "I love You", a new year, Alex's store's opening (it's gonna happen, lady!), or the moment the Magnolia tree in our front yard finally decides to give our house a huge, wall-breaking hug? Or maybe, just maybe, the day we realize that we're in "it" and that there's nothing better than what we're doing, simply because we're just doing it? Maybe we'll never get there, or maybe we're in it right now and we're just too focused on getting out of right now to see it. Either way, we're in it together, guys, gals, shit-heads, cats, and the homeless, so let's keep doing what we're doing. 

Life Moments | September 7- September 13

Barrett played model.

Except nothing is as beautiful as a naked window greeting at the peak of the afternoon. 

Or these other moments we've been livin' lately.

 

Meghan and I went swimming in new bathing suits and went to a wedding in a church--all in one week. We're growing up, folks! But we'll never be too old for a match of mancala outside of Twiggs. And yes, Molly is married. Guess we're not the only ones growing up. 

September, keep doin' your thing. We'll be here doing ours. 

P.S. Thanks for the 70 degrees today. Keep it up. 

More Relevant Than Ever

“Fall will come in San Diego. Eventually. It will fake us out for a while. And it may feel inconvenient when it does make an appearance because we’ll be wearing shorts and sandals. But heck. Let it come when it does. The sketchbook will be there, and if it doesn’t get love every day, there will be times later when I’ll be glad I have all the extra pages. I think. I hope.” -Kelsey Brown 

Life on a Sunday | Life Lately | One Year Anniversary

 It's officially September, and it's officially Summer. The humidity and high temperatures have left us with perma boob sweat and Barrett in nothing but a diaper for the last four days. At least the sunsets and orange evenings have kind of made up for the fact that there is no point in showering. Kind of. We've been stalking Alex's head for lice and the cats are out calling their frenimies to come play. Well, Bowie is. Let September 1st mark his second great escape into the backyard to find Mr. Black cat. This time, through the laundry room. Sneaky, sneaky fella. 
Let September 1st also mark our one year anniversary at Pennsylvania Ave! Cheers to us, ladies and gentleman. And here's to another year of modern family-ing. Let us pretend we are celebrating at the North Park Theater and enjoying the raspy voice of our dearest Tallest Man and wine in plastic togo cups like we were doing this time last year. 

Alex, Barrett, and I fought the heat and helped our city out by venturing to the farmer's market just before closing. Flowers, veggies, croutons, and lots and lots of nectarine samples. And a couple, "Oh my god, his eyes!" moments with local Grandmas. Tonight we're in for a home-cooked meal by madam Alex and some crazy smiles from Mr. Bear. He's been extra cheery today. Always the happiest when playing chase and pretending to get hurt. It's been "ow, ow, ow" until we kiss his fake boo boos. Little drama king. Pretend tickling has taken the place of hits to the face, so thank you to Auntie Brit for finding a way to save our noses. 

Megh was a little dead these past few days, so it's been nice to have her around today. Even got a brunch in the sun at Empire House. Tots are the cure for all things bad. And lucky for her, no work tomorrow! Brit'll be stylin' and I'll be babysittin'. That's okay, though, because we're all together tonight for a Sunday dinner. 

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And now for a few Barrett moments we shouldn't forget:
[8/26-8/31]

Go us...finally using the fire pit!