Laowai

We ride our bikes to take Bea to school most days. It’s a five minute ride. Claire rides on the bike seat. 

Today I was on my bike, almost home, when my neighbor pulled up next to me in her car SUV. She asked if I had a car. I told her yes we have a car. I told her that we used to not have a car and it was intentional. She said Oh I just saw you in the rain the other day and then she offered to give Bea a ride to school anytime. Oh thanks. And then she said (she really said this) You are such an inspiration on your bike everyday. 

This woman is nice and I actually felt more of a connection with her than I do with many of the neighbors. But, it was such a strange exchange. It’s a different world here. The idea that she could not fathom a bike being a real viable form of transportation was just strange and… I don’t know strange.

Here’s Bea on her way to school back in August:

Bea’s favorite friend is Mabel. My Great Grandma was named Mabel and Brian’s Grandma was named Bea. Isn’t it a pleasing little coincidence.

It started pouring right at the time when we were ready to head out and start our trick or treating. Our neighborhood, as promised, was a really busy Halloween hot spot. The girls had to line up to get to many of the doors. Claire pushed through with all the big kids and got her candy. Umbrellas bumped into other umbrellas as we made our way along the streets. Costumes were soggy and obscured by rain coats. The candy wrappers and the candy got soggy and there was a colorful sugar goo on the inside of the trick or treat bags. Wet, wet, wet – but everyone still had a great time.

After Claire got out of her wet costume she lined her candy up in a long line on the kitchen floor – it was exactly what Bea did three years ago:

One more photo – Claire on the far right – with her preschool class. She’s looking a bit scared, but oh so cute.

The wallpaper removal has begun. I’ve started taking down the striped wallpaper in our TV room. I guess it’s going allright. I’ve only gotten part of the room done and I think the walls will need lots of wiping to get all the paste off, but I’ve made a start. The walls will be a brighter white and I’m trying to choose a gray that will eventually cover most of the trim throughout the house. 

I like those paper bags that you get apples in.

I like the sound that the Foley Food Mill makes.  

I like the smell of apples and cinnamon simmering on the stove.

…and I’m not talking about those cheeky monkeys in the foreground.

“How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?”
-Dr. Seuss

Look at that excitment. The girls were bouncing off the walls all morning before my Mom and Dad came last weekend. We made some cookie dough that morning and then decorated them later with Grandma.

I looked through our photos from last weekend and I realized we did a bunch of fun stuff. The one thing I have yet to photograph is my first big home project that Mom helped me get started on. My Mom will listen to me go on and on about my house for hours. She is the only one that doesn’t get tired of talking about floor plans and paint colors and appliances and shrubs – ever. It’s so nice to ponder the future of my home with my Mom at my side. So nice.

We went to get the girls their pumpkins at the Wagner Farm:

Claire and Grandpa side by side having some screen time. 

We had a nice walk along the lake:

We found a wooley bear – two in fact. When we came upon the first one everyone was going over to it, gathering around and getting a closer look. Claire walked right over and stomped on it. She has this violent streak when it come to nature. After that my sensitive Bea was really shaken up and sad that the wooley bear was (possibly) dead. We found another one and I had to make Claire keep her distance.

Dad fixed my leaky bathroom faucet. The girls spent a lot of time jumping into my Mom’s lap. We bought our Halloween candy. And Bea walked around with a big bag on her head. Brian went for a long bike ride. That sums up the weekend.