Right now

Album cover?

The big exciting event of the week was, as the title photo suggests, a visit from Liz and Pat.  The Halifax Pop Explosion was in full swing this weekend, and Pat came down to play a show, so naturally we turned it into an excuse to hang out.  Though it was a short little visit, there were loads of highlights: a fall walk through Shubie park, dinner at a new-to-us ramen joint in our old neighbourhood, and even a full-on trip to IKEA (though whether or not that was actually a highlight *may* depend on who you talk to).  

All "photo shoots" tend to devolve into this sort of nonsense at one point or another these days

And though Pat's show was on just a little too late for the kids, we did take in some rocking, loud, live music at a little warehouse-y venue just underneath the North End library. The kids were mesmerized - I have never seen Linden sit so still for so long (despite the energy and dancing and flashing lights).  As soon as we left, however, he started to wiggle a bit, then suddenly broke into some full-body, crazy dance moves of his own.  If only I'd known what was coming, I'd have caught it on video! Clearly, a whole new world has been opened up to him.

Linden, running ahead to "scout for dragons".  He decided, instead, to hide in the bushes, then promptly lost us entirely, and ended up requesting help from some woman he encountered along the trail.  Sigh.

Besides the visit, however, I have also been reflecting lately on every day life around here.  I am writing this post from our beautiful sunroom, which is lovely and warm, despite it being late October.  It overlooks our backyard, bursting with colour from the birches and maples that are still hanging on to their red, orange and yellow leaves.  I have been visited by a swarm of pine siskins, making a general racket and pecking for delicacies in the grass, a few blue jays playing with each other, and I am now putting up with the loud, grating cries of a murder of crows that swooped in and chased everyone else off.  Bullies!  I was also privy to the successful hunting techniques of the black cat that likes to hang out here.  After patiently sitting, then quietly stalking, it emerged from our neighbours' yard with a young, healthy rat in its mouth.  That cat is welcome anytime.

On our pumpkin-choosing adventure.  We attempted to grow our own pumpkins this year, but due to some unwanted seed foraging (I blame those same crows), and consequent late re-planting, our largest pumpkin is currently the size of a bouncy ball.

We have now officially been here a little over a year, and love it as much as we did at the beginning.  I think everyone feels nice and settled, with the exception, still, of me.  It is one thing to finish something as large and overwhelming as a PhD, but quite another to then figure out what to do with yourself after it is done.  Part of me is content to just breathe deeply for a bit and figure it all out in good time, but another (much more practical) part of me would like to be in a state wherein we are paying off debt, rather than accruing it.  Stupid academia.  

The one pretty spot I could find in front of the water that wasn't swarming with people undertaking professional photo shoots. Clearly, it was just that kind of day!

As far as parenting goes, I'm still trying to grasp the fact that I am mother to an 8-year-old and a 6-year-old. It seems as though some grand fast-forward happened overnight. They are both smart as whips, keen to be grown up, creative, and kind.  They are active, love to be outdoors, and are ready snugglers (especially in the morning and right before bed).  They are good kids.  They really are.  And though this is true, it is also a phrase that I find I have to repeat to myself daily as both a reminder, and a calming mantra.  

Now there's a pretty reflection!  And just off the beaten path enough to not be swarming with other photographers.

Because while they are, truly, all those things I just mentioned, they are also constantly a source of stress.  Right now, the biggest daily frustrations emerge from one of two things: fighting(/telling on each other/whining), and NOT LISTENING/making bad decisions (my euphemism for being complete and utter imbeciles). They will play so well together, and be each other's most hard-core champions one minute, and then scream at each other the next.  Juniper likes to control and boss every situation; Linden likes to try and be a little arse/pest.  You tell them they can play outside, as long as it is on our property, the next thing you know they've disappeared to the house across the street (because they "forgot").    They tell you they've brushed their teeth, and the brushes are still dry.  When Linden's energy gets revved up (for instance, if there's something really fun happening, or if people are visiting), it is as though he literally starts vibrating, and bouncing from place to place.  He rams into people with crazy hugs, scales trees, and leaps off high fences.  One day I got a call home informing me that he had bumped his head twice during the school day (once was a "music class accident", and the other was on the playground), but that he seemed fine.  So typical.  I just want them to remember to be kind, and to grow up to be good, responsible people, but holy moly, some days look like I should limit my expectations.  Also, though deliciously ironic, the point where I'm usually having to remind them to be good people, I am doing so in a voice that is neither kind nor patient. It can be VERY difficult, when emotions run high, to practice what you preach.

Linden, looking sweet and young while wearing Juniper's sweater and reading some Far Side comics post-piano lesson....

... and then giving a preview of his teenage years in the back seat of the car

Anyway, that is certainly enough by way of musings for one week.  I feel as though I should go start putting our garden to bed for the season (and also, to see if that neighbour's dog who got into our yard this morning and squatted determinately a couple of times left anything behind), but that black cat is now back, and I really don't want to disturb it.  It is doing some very important work out there, and has been far more successful than we have thus far.  Perhaps I could be persuaded instead to go hang out for a bit in my slowly evolving pottery studio.  See you next week!

Early morning mist rising of the Shubenacadie Canal