Our favorite place in the world happens to be a ditch, along a windy country road.  Every year, a local farmer collects his crop of fall lovelies and displays them in old school fashion

It's a "pay on your honor" kind of system and you can find just what you need to spruce up your home for autumn.  We love it...period.  Random people pull up, grab what they need and leave, but we seem to linger, as Axel absorbes the spirit of each individual pumpkin.

I am so anxious to bring the camera, every year my best photos come from pumpkin day.  Something about a pale child next to such vibrant colors is simply beautiful.  My tree hugging child is not much for photos, but he did find lots of smiles yesterday when he realized, for the first time, that he could pick out a pumpkin of his OWN!  

After finding just the right one for his room, he proceeded to find pumpkins for each of our rooms as well.  I had predicted going home with the biggest, ugliest pumpkins in the patch, the kind I would have wanted as a kid, but he went for the tiny ones, near symmetrical in shape and with a perfect "handle" for him to carry.

We came home with four pumpkins, one for each of us (Oscar of course gets his own).  Since he picked from the pile marked $0.50, we were indebted $2. I felt like giving them a tip, but then I remembered that this year we're getting off easy...next year he'll want a monster!  

...the tree hugging everyone's ok with.  The dog hugging needs work (at least thats what Oscar thinks).

Once again we're in a new semester, and Jahred has yet another new schedule.  Seriously, it keeps a Mom on her toes organizing clinical rotations, pre-school, gymnastics and yoga (thats for me).

Since Jahred is occasionally home during the day, he thought he would take it upon himself to document some of Axel and I's strange behavior (we had no idea normal people don't do these things).

First of all, we made an interesting new toy involving five vintage silk scarves from the thrift store and an old can from Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs.  Total cost of toy, $1.25 (it was 50% off day for the scarves).  Amazingly simple was the construction of this device: tying the scarves together, slitting the lid of the bread crumb container...you get my drift I'm sure.

Loads of fun with this game, pulling it out, stuffing it in, and most of all, running wild dragging an unbelievably long tail!

The other behavior apparently bordering abnormal is the fact that Axel thinks there is a whale in my mouth.  Yes, a whale.  It took me a few days, but I totally get why he might think this.  In several movies, books and folktales, people or fish get swallowed by whales.  It's fairly common.  And what do you see as you are about to become lunch?  Well, it's the same anatomy of our own throat; a pink bulging tongue, a round dark opening and a uvula right in the middle.  No idea how this game got started, but Axel simply loves looking for my whale, and although he has searched for whales in other peoples mouths, mine is the best...trophy anyone?

So there you have it, our dirty laundry and guilty pleasures.  Two and a half years alone with a child can seriously drive you mad, unless of course you have some cheap entertainment.

A picture story of another summer gone by. 

Check my Etsy shop for LOADS of new product and lower prices.  

I can feel change brewing, and not just in the weather...the next few months will hopefully be filled with positive new beginnings.  As life for my family moves on, I may soon be saying goodbye to Etsy...but in these next couple weeks, I plan to give my shop a huge booster shot for an incredibly fashionable Holiday Season!

Finding ourselves on a fault line between baby and boy, Axel and I took this hot summer day to dig in the dirt and harvest perhaps his favorite garden find, carrots.

Although our entire stock measured less than a bag of grocery baby carrots, he was thrilled with every pull, every un-earthing, every bite.

Almost all of the carrots ended up in his belly, not without an examination, a puzzled look and an exclamation of "deeeeliciousssss".  It was worth all the watering, the hauling to the balcony and the wait.

Today we received a call that Axel had climbed to the top of the Montessori waiting list.  After talking with the teacher, she invited us for an interview tomorrow.  Needless to say, although I am pushing for a break, for him to make friends and to see what he is capable of, tonight I feel protective.  My little carrot eater may be on the brink of his own ideas, revelations, and life.  What would I do if he were to be my only child?  Whether he will be, right now he is, and in all of his milestones I try to remember to be thankful, smile excessively, and eat from the garden.

Balcony gardening isn't for the weak! Hauling the dirt and containers up stairs and through your living room takes a bit of commitment.  Yesterday I picked and ate this lovely tomato all by myself, because thats how I hauled all this stuff up here...by myself!

In the background of this photo are the broccoli and carrots I was told by a master gardner I could "never grow" on a balcony.  Well mister, while you are worrying away about your plant eating pests and small mammals, my balcony is free of everything but sunshine!  So EAT IT! Ok, maybe a little harsh.  But just to rub it in...I grew them organically!

While inspecting the fruits of my labor (I actually prefer labour...like blonde vs. blond) I noticed that Axel is getting a few freckles on his nose.  I asked him to show them to me so I could take a picture, when it occurred to me that he hasn't actually heard the word freckle! He thought for sure they were in his mouth!  How incredible it is to actually teach things to a child for the first time!

Forth of July this year was spent with Buzz Lightyear.  Having an animated child really has its benefits.  Last week when I saw that for a small mortgage payment I could purchase a set of life-like Buzz wings, I took Target up on their offer!

Jahred presented Axel with the flight pack just prior to a B-day party on Saturday.  As if on stage, Axel snapped into character immediately and without hesitation, he knew exactly how to operate his first pair of electronically retractable wings.  With over a 3ft wing span, hallways are a challenge, stairs are interesting, but any small ledge/rock/book to leap from is thrilling!  The box clearly states "not a flying toy", but says nothing about bounding, soaring, becoming a playground idol, or claiming to be the REAL Buzz Lightyear.

Perhaps the highlight of the weekend were the public flights with wings in full extension, lights blaring and hands reaching for the sky.  He made several passes through the crowds in Hudson as he watched his first "Fires", not really his first...just the first he could possibly remember.

I love this picture taken without flash on Grandpas lap.  It's so very vintage Atlantic City.  In complete awe, Axel took in all the Fireworks had to offer and then some.

...ok, I know this last photo looks like a professional fireworks photo, but I really did take it.  This is the raw image, no digital alterations!  Huh, I guess I even impress myself a bit.

I grew up in a family with an unfair hate of bumper stickers.  While I agree that it isn't necessary to broadcast your opinions on your car, I do enjoy some comic relief during rush hour.

Even though I told myself upon purchase of my first car that I would slap on a bumper sticker, I haven't found just the right one.  Perhaps it's like anything else, once you start, you can't stop?! I have yet to break the seal.

After another weekend on the road, I'm inspired to try a few virtual stickers, get up the guts, and maybe someday wear my heart on my bumper.  These stickers along with THOUSANDS more can be found at Cafe Press.

From conception on, I have focused on having a creative child.  Most of our day is spent with the guitar (accompanied by full-contact egg shaking and rhythm sticking), reading (not always the words exactly on the page), creating snowmen from playdough, and/or watering our "gordon" (garden).  In-between times are often spent with crayon (the most sophisticated/washable art medium in the house).

Although I have NEVER stressed to color in the lines, and we mostly use blank paper, this child has somehow gotten the idea that one must stay inside the "box".  Perhaps part of our genetic code starts with following guidelines, and results in color contest winning.  I remember my brother actually winning a coloring contest (although I'm pretty sure I colored his page). It must have looked awesome for a 4 year old (the true artist being 8).  He won a gigantic gift basket from the local Hallmark store and I was so completely jealous that right then and there I quit letting other people put their name on my work.  Truly, thanks to the coloring contest, I never cheated in school.  Someone receiving a brilliant gift basket (or an A+) by way of me...I dont think so.

Upon completion of Axels latest coloring endeavor, I wondered if he may some day win a coloring contest.  From random scribbles in multiple colors to unprovoked concentrated scribbling in classic solids.  Although I prefer to see a child using his inner genius and not following lame sketches in dollar store art books, inner genius won't be posted in the window of the local Hallmark, they want their bunnies crayoned to perfection.

So ok, the kid wants to stay in the lines?!  Can I at least push for expansive, unrefined use of color?