Which sounds like "Bringing in the sheaves" but isn't. In which we start putting down trees and leaves (and some pine needles) that will form the background of the finished piece. The deeeep background. 

I know – it has been a lot of family stuff. I think that is part of starting school and getting all the extra-curricular things restarted and slotted into place. But I'm back! With news!

I'm so pleased! Because Follow the River posted their list of artists for October.

I am listed as an area artist (which is true) and a fiber artist (which is true) and my work will be up in Forbes Library (again) which is lovely. How awesome is that?

We have to pick one of these for the year book. I have to admit all my instincts are to go with the b&w one, because it catches her face and intellect, and will print well and hold up over time, but it is up to her, in ways the entire rest of her life is her, and I am working so hard on that.

Long time readers (and friends who have visited me!) will recognize this doorway, although the enormous children in it might be less familiar. 

Aerin, headed off to her first day as a senior, which thought makes her flinch every time, and more awake than usual at this hour. We can't decide if this is our last first day, or if college first days count too. They probably won't be taken here, unless she decided to commute to UMass. You never never never know. That is the only sure thing with kids. 

Alice is headed into 8th grade, finally getting a chance to be the oldest in school. We moved her out of public school before she got a chance to be big there, and then she decided to go back to public school before the end of the Montessori cycle, so she wasn't the biggest there either. Now she gets to see what it's like. Even if she is the smallest, lightest kid in 8th grade. Al says she has the highest IQ per pound of anyone he knows, and we all think that is hysterical. 

We're fine, thank you! We had a very easy hurricane, and I am grateful for it. My heart, and some donations, go out to those who had a harder time, especially those in places that were not expecting anything much, like upstate NY and my friends in Vermont.

There were a lot of people in Irene's path, and many of them were inspired to write about it. Kate Messner invited people to contact her with links to the work they created as Irene went overhead, and she would collect them together. Her page is still being updated, but you should check it out now! You can go again later…

I'll admit to hurricane dreams last night

the trampoline took flight, the metal frame shrieking
the central black mat like a bat's black wings, held captive in the center
the whole cartwheeling itself into the neighbor's yard before flying away downwind

it looks suspiciously smug, and quite stable this morning
after its adventures in the dark of my mind

The big entertainment for this morning was throwing the goose and the gull (and later the coot) decoys over the edge of the porch, and hauling them in again. 

more pictures on Flickr. 

Finished, finally!

I'm on vacation for the next two weeks; first around home, then visiting my brother and his family, including the world's best nephew. I am known as Aunty Gravity. I get to be the bad aunt. This is really much better than it sounds. It means I can feed the boy ice cream before dinner and give him loud musical instruments for presents, and generally spoil him dreadfully. Which is, of course, such wonderful fun because his parents have such a firm grip on him otherwise. Honestly, the world's best boy. Well, except for whichever one you are closest to!