Fall Festivals and Little Dragons

(I think Finn must be getting a new tooth. Hence the crooked mouth.)

To Sara

A clever (if I do say so myself) metaphor for dating:

[Inner Dialogue whilst scanning through the radio stations on my way home from work]

Eh, this song is pretty good. Better than nothing, I guess.

-- 15 seconds of listening to said song --

Yeah, it's okay. 

-- 5 more seconds of listening to said song --

I wonder if there's anything better on, though.

-- Hit scan button once. Very next station plays:





I'm not saying always look for something better. I'm saying don't settle for "okay" in a world where "Dancing Days" is playing.


Today I'm thankful for: Sara's post (which made me grateful and humbled by the undeserving love and joy in my life.)

Mares Eat Oats, and Does Eat Oats... But I Don't!

The weekend snuck past me! Funny how the weekends fly by these days and the weekdays -- well, they fly by, too.

I'll make up for missing posts on Saturday and Sunday by listing three things I'm grateful for here.

1. A pantry and fridge full of HEALTHY foods. And the money to buy them. I started follow the Paleo diet again yesterday, and I already feel better. It's really amazing to me how fast my digestive issues go away when I eat what I should be eating (or more importantly, not eating what I know I shouldn't be eating.) So I'm not eating grains, dairy, sugar, or excessive carbs of any kind. I don't feel bloated or gassy or tired or depressed. It's a lifestyle I hope to totally adopt, but for now I'm taking baby steps and committing to two full weeks of Paleo.

2. The ability to SAVE money for once. Now that we have two incomes, we can actually pay down our debt and save a little bit for our move in April. This is huge for me. Huge.

3. Alpacas, goats, mini cows, llamas, bunnies, and sheep. We went to Ole McDermitt's Farm and pumpkin patch yesterday, and while Finn was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open, I found it quite the rush to feed carrots to the llama with enormous teeth.

via PuffinArt on Flickr

Texts

"Good morning!" texts from Mr. Barnes, first thing when I wake up in the morning, have to be one of the absolute best things ever.

Gee's Bend

For my mom's birthday in August, we gave her a little overnight trip. So last night, my mom, Finn, and I drove to Selma, Alabama, stayed there overnight, got up this morning, and headed to a place called Gee's Bend in Boykin, Alabama.

Gee's Bend is a community in (very) rural Alabama where women quilt in a very distinct way. Here's an example:

And this one is my mama's favorite:

Aren't they cool? So graphic and different. I love them.

You can listen to or read a feature on Gee's Bend on NPR.com here.

We drove to what really felt like the middle of nowhere. It was kind of awesome and intriguing but also disarming/freaky to me. There weren't houses or stores or anything for stretches of about 15-20 miles. Then there would be a cluster of houses or mobile homes, and then nothing for miles. It was beautiful countryside though with poplars (I think) and spanish moss.

We didn't know what to expect when we got there, but we finally found the Gee's Bend Quilter's Collective -- a little white building that must've been a church initially. And the door was locked. No sign of anybody.

Guess word of a visitor floated through the town quickly though, because shortly after we got there, a lady drove up and let us in. She was a black woman, probably in her 80s, who took an immediate likin' to Finn. She was so fun to talk to -- so friendly -- and if the sole reason we went was to meet her, it was worth it.

We bought small wall hangings and potholders that the quilters had made (which was about all we could afford -- their quilts are art. And justifiably pricey.)

Here's a photo of Finn outside the Quilter's Collective. Preview of the Nine Month Onesie!

We had an interesting day, and I'm so glad we got to spend it with "Nana."

W.I.C.

I'm not ashamed to say that we get W.I.C. vouchers every month for Finn's formula and baby food. Today we had to go to a class which I thought would be about nutrition for babies and children. But it turned out to be about 30 minutes of guided conversations about how to enjoy your children.

I don't have trouble enjoying my child, and it was clear that the other parents in the room don't have trouble enjoying their children either. Teenage moms, a single (and very young) father, and I all sat around a table and discussed what we do with our children that's fun.

It was that simple. I can't say it's convenient to hold a squirming nine month old that long, but I walked away with the belief that, as hectic and chaotic and stressful as parenting can be, most of us enjoy it and would never take it back.

It was a reassuring assessment of humanity, I tell ya.

Lunches with Pop

Finn and I try to meet my dad for lunch about once a week. Today we tried out Max and Henry's on the Carrollton Square, and it was just like eating at the old 302 South Street from about 20 years ago. Funny how certain tastes and smells take you back so quickly and easily.

Finn and I really enjoy getting to see and spend time with his "Pop" on those days. And today Finn got to eat Pop's french fries!