Indian Summer

Halloween came and the boys even got to make some trick-or-treat visits without their winter parkas on! We spent the afternoon with the kids in Minneapolis, visiting Great Grandma Cedarleaf, eating candy, and answering the door for the trick-or-treaters at mom's house.

It's been amazingly warm here all October and now into November. And believe me when I say that this is NOT the norm for the great midwest. It's 70 degrees on November 3rd - and while it's probably messing up the ecosystem somehow, I'm looking at the glass half-full and am just enjoying the Indian Summer.

We've been able to finish up some outdoor projects sans long underwear and winter gear, which is always a plus. The chicken coop is painted, new garden beds are being dug for next spring, and there is even laundry hanging on the line today.

And what is fall without a few tosses in the leaf pile? Ellis and Owain saw some serious air being thrown into the pile, emerging with leaves stuck to every sticky surface of their grimy, country-kid selves. You should have seen the bath water last night.

This week brings visits from Amy and Corrie - hooray!! - and Gaga and Boompa, so I imagine the kitchen will be busy and the house full of good food and good company. And this weekend there is snow in the forecast, so that long underwear won't stay in the winter box for long. I've got to get back outside and soak up these last few hours of warm weather! Cheerio!