Friday, October 28, 2011

Signs of Fall


I know that one of these mornings, very soon, I'm going to wake up and look out the window to see my raised garden beds dusted with snow, the tire swing hanging stiffly in the cold, and a quiet in the forest that only winter can bring.

It seems like just yesterday we were licking popsicles and tossing a Frisbee while barefoot in the grass, yet Fall has been sending her signals that summer has gone.

Here are a few of the signs from the past few weeks that clearly show Autumn is indeed here to stay.


This was the first sign. A new uniform, a new grade (1), and my heart broken all over again at loosing him every day.


An entire shelf in the refrigerator became devoted to homemade pickles. Pickles with garlic, with lemon, and a particularly successful batch of Bread & Butter.


Thanksgiving came and went, with its seasonal pies, turkey dinner and family-centered focus.


Fall produce and foliage made it's way to the sideboard in the dining room, replacing the summer flowers and bowl of tomatoes.


Apple picking - in shorts, no less. That may have been the last really warm day we had.


And after apple picking, then apple pie, this one made of entirely all-natural ingredients, conforming to our October Unprocessed eating exercise.


Pumpkins, all of them.


And finally, the beautiful changing color of the leaves in our back yard, and the crunchy carpet on the forest floor.

I'm ready to welcome winter, and hopefully usher in a quieter season for our household. It's been a busy summer.

Perhaps I'm looking forward to winter because I know it will bring me closer to meeting our little girl, due in March. Seems like the perfect motivation to help get through the colder days of the year.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Third Time's a Charm


Yesterday brought about the sweet, sweet discovery that I'm carrying a baby girl. She'll be joining big brothers, Noah and Mateo, in our growing brood and will probably rule the roost someday if she's half as charming as most little girls I know. I hope she likes cars and Legos, otherwise, we've got some catching up to do around the home as far as little girls are concerned.

When the technician gently shared the news with all of us - yes, my 20 week ultrasound was a family outing - an incredulous "Really?" exploded out of me in a sob that seemed to stem from my long past days as a six-year-old doll-loving girl. Although a healthy baby was our main desire, apparently, deep down, I ardently wanted a little girl. I was weeping on and off for at least an hour afterward.

We never expected a girl. A family of strapping boys was predicted and presumed as there hadn't been a girl fathered by a Bourque in over 4o years. Danny has seven brothers. They just don't do girls. Until now.

So Danny is walking very tall; I'm emotional, yet at peace; the boys are delighted. Noah reached for his sketchbook the minute we got home and documented the family news in the artwork photographed above.

We're feeling incredibly blessed, and are tremendously excited to meet this little flower.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Homesick


This photo puts both a smile on my face and a weight on my heart at the same time. It's my mother's Thanksgiving table set from last Monday. She told me she spent an hour putting it together.

I love the mismatched chairs, the light coming in, the antique water glasses, and colorful Denby dishes. Most of all I love that she is there in the kitchen, slicing homemade pies (made with fruit from her own plum tree) before the guests arrive.

I'm sad that I wasn't there. I can't remember the last time we celebrated Thanksgiving together. It's easily been ten years. Sure we celebrated the holiday here in Montreal (twice, actually), but there is nothing like being with your own family and knowing you are loved. Despite everything.


I love you, Mom. Don't ever change.

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