Every year, my father-in-law grows pumpkins, and as they're just starting to form, he carves the names of each of his grandchildren into the individual pumpkins. Some years they work brilliantly, and some years they don't. This year, Aidan and Cole's most definitely did.
When the kids were smaller, he would hide their pumpkins down on the farm where he and my mother-in-law live in Southern Minnesota. We'd bundle them up and send them out into the fields to choose a pumpkin to pick. It was pretty magical the first time, when they got out there only to find pumpkins with their names on it.
{Aidan in the meadow at the farm, finding her first pumpkin, at age 2}
Speaking of things that have gone, and things that are here, I'm so happy that Papa still makes the pumpkins for my now 10- and 13-year-old kids.
I can guarantee you when they walk through the door after school the magic of seeing their names will still remind them not only of what an awesome and creative grandpa they have, but of how much they are loved.
And the shrunken head apple faces he made aren't too shabby either:
I'm posting a giveaway tomorrow, so check back! I wanted to wish all of you a safe and happy Halloween a bit early.
And thank YOU Papa, for such an enduring and endearing tradition.
A few years back, i read an amazing book, as did a lot of scrapbookers: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. It inspired me in so many ways, as a woman with a voice and a story. I even made a class about it for CKU.
I just got an email from the wonderful author, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, (who I've never met but I think I would like very much in person) and she sent me a link to the following. Please watch, enjoy, and think about participating. When I get home from Phoenix, I know that I'm going to participate in some way shape or form.
No. I'm not getting all Oprah on you... wouldn't do that. But I wanted to post about some of my favorite things (and refer to myself just this once in third person!) that don't cost any money. Well. Okay. Maybe some will cost a little. But this one? Not a dime, and right now, it's one of my most favorite things.
1. Cole's drawings
He's way into drawing right now. WAY into it. He is also WAY into space conservation, squeezing the majority of his artistic endeavors into the bottom two horizontal inches of any given space.
He makes tiny drawings. Page after page after page of tiny illustrations. OH. MY. HECK. (Side note: I have to say 'heck' now, because Aidan thinks I swear too much and that is a post for another day.) Every single time I see a finished drawing, I want to squeeze him, just like John Malkovich squeezed those puppies in that particular version of "Of Mice and Men."
And most of the drawings are re-creations of various World Series victory celebrations. Page after page after page. Tiny World Series' celebrations. Krakatoa! Seriously. The cutest livin' thing you ever saw.
So the next time I'm moody, and sad, and generally feeling unpleasant and sorry for myself, i need to remember to go look through his stack of tiny illustrations. I mean, anyone (namely, me) who looks at the little guys, with their little arms upstretched in victory, and doesn't stop for even a split second to wonder what it's like to paint the world this way, is a robot.
2. This set of lists from jonlajoie.com. (Please do not click if you are offended by non-pc humor. I'm just sayin'.)
And a further note: I just saw some stuff by this guy (not included in this link), and it is very, very not for kids, or, not for adults who are offended by swearing or humorous portrayals of violence and drug use. However, considering I am on the verge of being banned from swearing by my own child, and seeing how I haven't smoked a cigarette in nearly two years, I am SO justified in enjoying listening to inappropriate humor. Right? Somebody? Anyone? Back me up? No? Okay. Sorry.)
(And a further note, if you're not offended by excessive swearing AND rap music, "Everyday Normal Guy" under his video links, made me laugh out loud. (thank you, Krista!)
3. Raising Sand. This one will cost you money. I am mesmerized by this collection of songs. Especially this (not a real video) song, Killing the Blues. Who knew they would be so magical together? It's no Kashmir, baby.
4. And finally…I STILL can't not watch this and fall in LOVE with simply being alive and having internet access:
…that I had nothing to do with, but get to have complete and total fun with. And the idea that is making me feel creative and happy right now is a cool concept for a gratitude journal by Emily Falconbridge. Having just spent a little time with Emily, and seeing how cool her handmade albums are in person, when I saw this idea, I thought: I can frickin' do this, man!
So last night, I started pulling a bunch of scraps and things together, along with my three hole punch, and gathered most of what I need to prepare my album for 2008. I'm calling it, "It's a Wonderful Life," and I plan to record, each week, the things that I'm grateful for. (You should read what Emily wrote on another website about the impetus for the album. Damn, Emily, you're a good writer, too! What don't you do?) So here's where mine is right now:
I still have to stamp/add numbers to my various pages. I'll do that over the next few weeks. I loved pulling little bits of this and that together to add to the pages. Emily suggests using the largest piece as the back of your album. Mine is chipboard, and measures roughly 8 x 8. Everything else is trimmed down. I need some matching jump rings, and then it's good to go.
Then i'll sit down with it once a week and write out what I'm thankful for in an effort to curb my "woe is me" tendencies, and any other bits of complaining that always seem to simmer just below my surface. I need a reminder of gratitude. Every day, really.
And on the subject of gratitude, I'm grateful for the girls weekend i had just over a week ago. Made a page with a fabulous picture taken by Tara (who just layed that big assed camera of hers on the old sidewalk and set the timer to shoot. Love that.) The only thing missing from this page is Lisa McG, who had to take off by the time we shot this. It makes me smile. Love the little Noteworthy clips , the curvy, lined Making Memories paper and the My Mind's Eye Out&About paper (which the whole collection is gorgeous!) And yes, currently, i am, in fact, scallop-edged crazy. I seriously love my Fiskars trimmer, and all the interchangeable blades. Never thought I'd love anything other than my X-acto knife and metal ruler.)
And last but not least, on the subject of "Things that i am exceedingly happy about"… my new computer came in over the weekend. After 24 days of single processor powered work, I'm truly feeling the dual 3.0 GHZ love.
But I guess you could, at some point or another, say that for all of us, now couldn't you?
To see someone fulfill their wildest dream…to make a career out of a passion. To use their gifts to give breathtakingly real slices of reflected life back to people…well that's just cool. Chris Ford did a beautiful job executing this vision.
If you have a chance, you should check it. The photo galleries will make you sigh, and smile.
