another morning at the market

It was a Saturday morning exactly like so many others. And yet, as we loaded up the car to cross the bridge into town and shop the farmer's market, something felt strangely different.


Our friend Buddy was friendly as ever, but not quite like himself.


Bek says she's going to mount her prize escarole on the living room wall, just above the fireplace. ("That's all one head of escarole!!" says Bek.)


And Annie has visions of Swiss chard quesadillas for a South Texas Christmas.


Back at the house, we wondered over the kindness of the morning and the people with whom we shared it.


What was behind these strange things that left us feeling as if we shared a happy expectation throughout a mostly ordinary morning?


Time will tell.

And we shall see.



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Thanksgiving in G-town

Some family photo highlights from this past week at my folks', including The Many Furry Faces of the Large and Growly Bear and Annie's First Haircut.











The many furry faces of the Large and Growly Bear:








Grammy rescues Annie from the she-mullet.
Before:












After:





To Luling for an afternoon walk.





Last laughs before bed.








And then some old-fashioned family game time awkwardness (it was really, really fun).


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week in review: fun and some firsts

It's been a fun week of firsts for Annie and the Melton family: Annie played her first game of catch (!) and got her first taste of pizza (homemade), respectively; Bek and I had our first pumpkin lattes and peppermint mochas (peppermint's better); Rebekah had her first (and probably last) 29th birthday; Bek and I watched a movie together (not a first, exactly, but it's been a while); and just now we took our first walk with Annie's Ergo-Baby-parent-saddle. Along the way, Bek got sick (she's getting better), we huddled together for some Saturday football (Go Irish!), and we've done a lot of unexpected caring for each other. It's not always the way we draw it up, but I wouldn't trade it (except for the Bek puking part - that's just not fun). The challenge and gift of learning to love enough to be present is always that - challenge and gift. What a gift. We are grateful.


The epitome of random: this is the not-quite-to-scale wall around Jericho I had constructed for my turn in the children's classroom last Sunday. Good times.


Chillaxin'...


Peas in a pod.






Bundled up: staying warm is a challenge foreign to us, and we're all too glad for the practice.


This was before the walk. She was noticeably less terrified when we got back.


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for rebek on her birthday

I sing a loud song,

Glad, give thanks for baptized births

Your life, Christ’s love, one

I laugh a loud laugh,

God’s joy brings ours together

His own made complete

I pray a soft prayer

Gratitude: exploding love

Uncalled for graces

I sing a new song,

Song for the pilgrim path as

We find home in Christ.

Annie the Bear-moose and sweet trick-or-treats

Bek has been raving for the last two weeks about this Halloween number she picked up for Annie at some half-price consignment shop. Never mind that it's a little small - or that it's made for a climate decidedly more arctic than the one we inhabit - "it's just Annie," she said. And she's right. We call Annie "bear" or "bear-moose", and Annie laughs uproariously every time she puts the outfit on. So it fits, even if it doesn't.

The door bell rings have been few and far between tonight, leading Bek and me to speculate in the down time about the possibility of handing out Bible tracts next year. You know, in case the five kids who came are tempted to come back. The last crew, though, scored major points for ogling (at some length) our twin hand-carved pumpkins. Maybe we can keep a few full-size candy bars on hand for the best brown-nosers next year.





















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the Day that Begged for Pumpkins

As previously posted, pumpkin carving requires good friends and a pretty day. To live with my best friend is a blessing beyond words (I love you, Bek!), and today met the other half of the criterion with graceful ease. Without further ado, some pics from the Day that Begged for Pumpkins.















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Pumpkins!

Bek and I took turns carving pumpkins this afternoon. Pumpkin carving is probably an acquired taste; we acquired it among good friends six or seven years ago (tho both of us have childhood memories, too). Carving takes patience, and I'm not much for patience, but breathing deeply helps because striving - hurried efficiency - is an enemy of beauty. So it helps to have good friends and a pretty day. An autumnal beverage doesn't hurt, either.


The studio.








Master carver at work


with a beautiful smile


Bek's pumpkin


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