our sweet October

October has come and gone in a flash of brilliant gold, and like never before I have reveled in its glory. Days nannying have meant the privilege of making leaf piles, snapping a million gold-hued photos, and gathering bushels worth of apples with the little ones almost everyday. Weekends have seen us traipsing about the city, picking pumpkins at the farmers market, in the fields on the sides of roads gathering the last of summer's late-blooming flora for the vase in my little kitchen. I have baked something sweet every single weekend of October. This  has been one of the loveliest autumns of my memory.

My husband is finishing his season of exterior painting. In January he begins his new full time "tent-making" job as a salesman and estimator for the same painting company, while continuing his Sunday pastoral duties as connections pastor. We are both so excited for the opportunities that we believe will come through his new position, and we are both relieved that the season of manual labor is coming to a close. I have felt more of the burden of domestic responsibility while his job has been so physically demanding. Having him back on a 9-5 type schedule, where he gets to do something in his gifting which gives him energy instead of just draining him is going to be such a relief to our day-to-day functioning. I'm excited to both get home from work around the same time again, and have dinner together every night. To have him take over bedtime for Roger regularly again. It's the little things. They add up and make such a difference in quality of life.

Tomorrow is that handsome man's birthday. Since it falls on a Monday, we will both be working all day. So I've made him his requested birthday apple pie this evening, and it's just finishing in the oven now. It will cool overnight and we will pick up some good vanilla ice cream after work tomorrow and serve it on top of warm slices of pie and celebrate together in our little apartment. Roger will probably run around and do cute things and we will have a low-key night together. 

November is starting so well, I can only expect it to be another wonderful month. But don't misunderstand; I can't tell you October has been perfect (or easy!) but it has been good. There are struggles everyday and I could have every reason to be discontented and want this next month to go more smoothly and have less stress, fewer nights of lost sleep and toddler tantrums, a better-kept apartment that is always clean, and all my desires and prayers answered in easy, direct yeses. . . But I am learning how much better I feel, how much more thankful, how much more I appreciate what God has given me in each moment, when I choose to see the good and trust that God has ordained my days and hours for good purpose. I have made practicing thankfulness a habit and I didn't really notice the difference it has made until this beautiful October. And I'm choosing to carry on in that habit and breathe. And notice. And enjoy what's before me in my simple little life.

autumn waves hello

Roger and I went on a walk to the farmer's market this morning. We set out at about 10am and returned at half past noon, him sleeping in his stroller, and I regretting my footwear.

The day is bright and clear and chilly like Midwestern autumn days are supposed to be. I walked past my dozen or so favorite houses in Sioux Falls on the way into downtown, and without Dave there to make fun of me, I took some pictures to try to capture their charm.

The camera lens is never a perfect conduit for the beauty taken in by the eye, but I try to ignore that. I did snap this one of the faded, white-washed brick house that Dave and I agree is our future home. You know, "someday."

I love the overgrown, careless charm of this house. And it's just as lovely in the winter.

We reached the farmers market in just enough time for me to snag the last of the arugula. So pesto is on the menu again, hurrah! 

Roger dropped his teddy at least twice while we walked. Thankfully I noticed both times and was able to retrieve it (having to backtrack and grab it from the middle of a busy street one of those times.) Most of Roger's favorite stuffed animals are actually from his daddy's childhood, so I had to get him a teddy bear so he has something that if lost on a walk, Daddy won't be heartbroken. Dave takes his childhood stuffed animals very seriously. His most highly-prized "friends" dwell on a high shelf in Roger's room so he can't ever reach them to ruin or lose them. (Dave is the sentimental one between us.)

I'm trying to decide what to bake today. I still have apples leftover from the ones I gathered from the trees at work last week (my nanny family lets me take all that I wish. It's another perk of my job.) Maybe a crisp or galette instead of pie like I made last weekend.

Although it's kind of hard to beat pie... I'll ask Dave and let him decide for me. I've got to fatten him up for winter.

Dave should be home soon; he's been volunteering on a charity paint project today and this afternoon we're going to go thrifting. Maybe I can even convince Dave to detour somewhere were I can gather more wildflowers for our kitchen table.

Gathering wildflowers is my F A V O R I T E . And Roger's nap is still going strong since I transferred him from stroller to crib. Today is already such a great day. I hope your weekend is going well too! Go outside, y'all!