Friday, October 28, 2011

Goodness


It has been a really, really good week. As the light fades here this evening and I think about dashing off to the next long list of things that need to be done (making dinner chief among them, but then there's the laundry, too...) I realize that I should slow down just long enough to acknowledge how good things feel right now.

Dean took his very first ever standardized test -- first time with a sharpened #2 pencil, an eraser, and nothing else (or else!!); first time filling in the bubble completely and neatly, no stray marks, full erasures only; first time being timed; first time with those daunting, devilish multiple choice questions with at least two answers that sound so plausible. It's his high school entrance exam, and frankly one potential handicap coming from a progressive school (no grades, no tests) is having to quickly figure out how to face these things.

And he did. Aced it. We got his scores Monday and danced the dance of joy. Not because we now know anything more or different about him than we knew before, but because he's got this hurdle behind him and the results won't be a barrier to what comes next.

We've been super busy lately but it has all been working out. We've managed to be where we need to be (individually, in pairs, and all three of us, depending) and we've been there on time. Weather's turned cool (actually had a dusting of snow last night!) but the oil tank is full and we can bring in some wood for the fireplace now. My camera is back from being repaired, my sewing machine is back from being serviced, AND the pumpkin carving tool set I ordered actually arrived today -- before we carved the pumpkins.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Stationery card

Happy Season Holiday Card
Click here to browse Shutterfly's holiday card collection.
View the entire collection of cards.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

damn everything but the circus



...damn everything that is grim, dull,
motionless, unrisking, inward turning,
damn everything that won't get into the
circle, that won't enjoy, that won't throw
its heart into the tension, surprise, fear
and delight of the circus, the round
world, the full existence...

e.e.cummings