A LITTLE SPOOKY GOOD FUN

While waiting for Silas, Hallie decorated the front yard of their house for Halloween. She took these pictures with her phone, and I thought they turned out well. The little Tudor decorates nicely for any holiday.

AUTUMN AT THE FARM

Earth-tone beauty

The drive along the Clearwater River as we traveled to the farm on Sunday (Oct. 24) was beautiful – lots of autumn yellow. And that yellowness continued on the grade. It was a beautiful autumn world.

Bush in question to left of center

It rained a lot Sunday afternoon. We spent the night but decided to return to town Monday afternoon, mostly because of the weather. The rain makes the ground muddy. As much as I’d like to spend more time on the farm during the cold months, it’s just not a pleasant stay when it’s chilly and wet. I don’t mind too much. I just stay in the house and enjoy the view, but Bess has to be cleaned every time she comes into the house.

Bush showing fall colors

I DID enjoy the autumn views, even though it's basically bleak. Looking toward the pond from the dining room window, I could see a bush I’d never noticed before. That is, of course I knew the bush was there, but I don’t think I’d ever seen it in autumn. It was red and yellow intermingled. I just had to get closer to see that bush.

Close-up of bush

So, before we left Monday afternoon, Bess and I took a turn around the pond so that I could take pictures, which I post here. Perhaps you can see that the leaves are yellow but the stems are red. The bush also has red berries.

Oh! You would ask for the name of the bush. I don’t know. I’m sure I could find out but not right now. I do know that Mike planted it, though. It's not an old timer. KW

The maple in the front yard looking spooky

AUTUMN PROGRESSION

It’s no secret that the vegetation suffered in the excessive summer heat. As we walk our town neighborhood, we see trees that appear to be dead. They say that this “warmer than normal” trend will continue. We’ll have to learn to work with it or quit trying, I guess. And it's not just here. The availability of fruits and vegetables will become problematic.

 

Our purple ash turns early and always gives us a nice display of autumn color. 

Here it is in all its glory. 

The purple ash leaves are gone now, while a maple in the neighbor’s yard still clings to most of its leaves.

 

Our little maple has yet to turn color.

 

 

And this “burning bush” at our front door is beautiful, but Mike plans to pull it out because it crowds the pathway.

 

 

[Posting this was difficult. Not enough words to balance the photos, I guess.] KW

 

PARTING -- SUCH SWEET SORROW

The time of leave-taking had come, so Hallie dressed Silas in his Halloween sleeper, and we took parting photos. He was fussy as she put him into his car seat. “I hate to think of you driving with him if he’s crying,” I said, but Hallie said, “He won’t be crying.” And the minute she set him in the car, he ceased complaining.

I was almost teary as I said good-bye to Hallie at the airport. It wasn’t just leaving her and Silas, but the airport seemed overwhelming. My bag was so heavy that we decided I should check it. After I found my way through baggage check, I found my way through security and then on to my gate. Sounds easy in words, but in reality, I found it daunting. But – I did it. I actually flew into Pullman with 80+ other travelers, and the next time will be easier. Hallie says there will be a next time.

Seattle from the air was beautiful, all dressed in autumn finery, especially yellow. We left Seattle 20 minutes late but arrived in Pullman on time. I saw Mike pull into the parking lot as I awaited my bag.

Now I’m home, and it’s on to “next things,” whatever those are. I packed my flannel scraps into a storage box this morning. That phase is over. KW

TIME TO GO HOME

Silas Fox at one week

I will miss little Silas, but I can’t stay here forever. The family needs their space, and besides, I’m not sure I’m all that helpful. I need to return to my own life – my husband, my house, my own bed, and my projects. Provided I make it through the airport and onto the plane tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 19), Mike will pick me up at the Moscow-Pullman Airport. I should be home by 3:00 p.m.

Someone reminded us the other day of the book, Silas Marner. I think I read it in high school. Hallie has ordered it from the library, and I downloaded it as an audiobook. How long has it been since you read Silas Marner? Do you remember the story?

Silas and Gramma Kathy, bonding

Our Silas is a pretty good baby. Oh, he has a temper, but he can also be quietly awake and take good long naps. Hallie is able to juggle his care with household chores.

And Nick is a “Silas whisperer.” Silas responds well to his dad’s firm handling. And a fussy Silas is calmed when Nick carries him up and down the basement stairway. “I don’t know why this works,” says Nick, “but it does.” KW

GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH SILAS FOX

Silas Fox, 4 days old

Our new grandson’s given name is “Silas Fox.”

“Why is his middle name 'Fox,'" I asked. “Is it a family name on Nick’s side?”

No, Nick and Hallie explained, they just like it. And they like foxes. Maybe it’s even a theme in their kitchen. And “Fox” appears on the list of name suggestions, they said, but they decided not to use it as a first name.  

Silas Fox, 4 days old

Hallie had planned that I would come to visit them soon after Silas was born, so on Thursday (10-14-21), I flew to Seattle. Silas was a rather unhappy camper that first afternoon and evening. Then he and his mom turned a corner in his care, and he began to sleep and also enjoy some quiet awake time. He’s a very good baby -- today anyway.

Not much to report right now. KW

LITTLE SILAS

 

We knew "Little Guy" was a boy, but his name was a well-guarded secret. Silas was born today (10-11-21) at 12:27 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. Everyone is fine. KW

MEANWHILE, AS WE WAIT . . .

 

We’re still waiting for Little Guy, but I hasten to post this because he’ll be here soon, or I’m not Gramma Kathy. 

Hallie, Little Guy's mother, has made use of the extra waiting hours to make these cute Halloween ghost ornaments for their yard. She did them all herself – drew the templates, cut them out, and painted them. I couldn’t help but think how much her little boy will enjoy such activities.

 

After discussion with Hallie, we agreed that she won’t need me for a few days yet, so Mike and I came to the farm today. I remembered to put the camera in the basket, but ironically, we almost left the basket behind.

 

As soon as we had unpacked, Mike and Bess went bird-hunting while I poisoned the gopher holes. We didn’t see much gopher activity during the summer, but they were obviously busy this week.

Morning rain was predicted, but it didn’t happen here. It was a mild 55 when we arrived. We had clouds and sun during the afternoon, making beautiful fast-moving shadows on the fields. KW

A MORE SEASONABLE OCTOBER ARRIVES

Temps are more seasonal now. The low was 38 yesterday and 44 today – chilly for our morning walks. I found my little gloves and warmer jacket, and Mike warmed the house with a fire in our little stove. The electric blanket is now in service at bedtime.

Mike says it could rain or snow on the farm on Monday. I see it all now: a sudden cold snap with temps in the teens will necessitate an early winterization of the farmhouse. It’s a disappointment not to be able to use the house more in autumn.

We’re still waiting for Little Guy. “What’s happening,” I texted to expectant Hallie. “Haha! Nothing,” she responded. But, of course, something IS happening, even though it might not seem like it, so I packed my bag with the clothes I’ve had stacked for two weeks. So that’s where my socks were!

I know this waiting is hard on Hallie. When you’re a person who gets things done, you don’t wait well. (I’m familiar with this because she’s so like her dad.) Some things just can’t be rushed, though, and it’s best if Little Guy comes when the time is right.

So, Hallie is uncomfortable but walking her dog and doing some light chores. I decided that I, too, cannot just sit and wait. After finishing some mending, I decided to work on a towel I’m making for Little Guy. I voted against bias tape and decided to crochet an edging.

Even though I vowed not to visit Walmart again until they finished remodeling, we needed some things and shopped there anyway. Being Friday morning, it was a zoo! Shoppers filled the aisles. Nevertheless, I found crew socks and a few boxes of regular canning lids. Yoohoo! I felt blessed! It IS a mess there, though, and stock is limited because of distribution issues.

“I have a ‘grandma’ thing to do,” I said to Mike as we passed the baby department, “so you go on with your errand and I’ll meet you over there.” I then tossed this cute “Peanuts” Halloween-themed sleeper into the cart. You know, I might never be a baby-grandma again. I just as well enjoy it. KW

FARM REPORT

As of this posting, we’re still waiting for Little Guy. We have to be coming closer, though, don't you think?

Mike was packing the car for our quick trip to the farm yesterday (Tuesday, Oct. 5), and as he lifted the laundry basket, I said to myself, “I must pack the camera.” Immediately another thought came in, and that was that – the camera was left behind. Photos here were taken with my phone.

We were off for the farm at 7:40, trailering the brand new 4-wheeler. Mike spent ten days customizing it. Attaching the blade was not easy, but he figured a way. Yay! And he installed a gun rack.

The last of the crop

Once at the farm, we set to work according to our individual lists. I visited the gardens and picked more ripe tomatoes than I ever imagined. Some were a little soft, but all are edible. The size and shape of the tomatoes varies. I found two largish zucchini, probably enough for four two-loaf batches, but the small ones I’d been watching were still small. And I picked two small honey crisp apples. Though small, they are beautiful, thanks to Hallie’s gift of netting bags. That’s the end-of- season bounty, and it’s not much.

An article in the latest edition of the Ruralite about the “Lost Apple Project” (info online here) explains that the hot, dry summer stunted the apples, and I think it’s probably true of other fruits and vegetables. We just can’t water enough to make up for that unrelenting heat and lack of rain. And it’s still very dry. Mike noted that he would ordinarily mow one last time, but there’s no point. Even the weeds are dead.

Discouraging as it is, we keep trying to grow something, and drought-tolerant is the way to go, even at the farm. No sense to dream of shady cottage gardens. A neighbor here in town has Russian sage, so I summoned my courage to ask if I might have some starts. “Have at it! Take all you want! I can’t keep up with it,” he said. So, I managed to pull up two with good roots, which I planted on the bank behind the farmhouse.

“I planted” – sounds so simple, but it wasn’t. The ground is hard, and I found the effort tiring. I mean, I was ready to just stretch out on the ground and go to sleep. Then I realized that I was having a reaction to the Pfizer booster I had on Monday.

But it was too late to rest. I had thawed serviceberry juice for jelly, so after lunch I made a batch. I have enough juice for at least two more batches of elderberry jelly, but now I’m out of lids. The shortage of lids for canning is a side effect of the pandemic. They aren’t available locally.

We left for town about 3:00. Supper was chili from the freezer. I fell asleep in the recliner and then climbed into bed for a long autumn’s nap. KW

STILL WAITING

It’s official! Little Guy will be an October person like his Uncle Clint. Mike hopes he’s born on Clint’s birthday, the 6^th, so that it will be easy to remember the date. As of this writing, we are still waiting for Little Guy, and the odds are still good for the 6^th. Hallie says she might be able to influence for the 6^th, but if she does, she thinks Clint owes her. (This sibling rivalry thing never goes away!)

Mike left Thursday (Sept. 30) with a motorcycle group for a ride into Montana. This ride is an annual event, and Mike has long wanted to go but opted to hunt instead. This year the hunting is poor (so many favorite hunting spots burned out), so he decided to make this trip instead. It was fine with me, but Bess moped. She’s restless in the fall, knowing it’s hunting season. Talk about a whiner!

As soon as Mike left, I took myself to my favorite shopping center – Albertsons, JoAnn’s, and the Dollar Tree – carrying my reusable shopping bags to each store. As of Friday (Oct. 1), Washington State law bans most retailers from distributing single use plastic bags. This is good. We have to do something about those terrible plastic bags! I for one am fully on board. The retailer is now authorized to charge the consumer for paper bags in order to defray costs. I’m willing to pay the price if I can’t remember my reusable bags. We’re all in this together, whether we want to be or not.

As I checked out at Albertsons, the clerk asked if I had added the coupon offers digitally, and yes, I had. She went on to say that that if a customer brings a physical coupon, they still can’t have the deal unless they enter their phone number. “It has not been a fun week,” she added.

Burp rags and afghan

I finished a small crocheted afghan for Little Guy. I don’t think he needs it, but I just couldn’t not make him one. It’s tradition, you know. How could I do it for all the other babies and not for him? Times change, though. When I see all the baby afghans in the thrift shops, I have to wonder why we bother. 

Machine embroidered onesies

It was hard to stay on task with the afghan during the hot summer. My mother advised that one should plan to deliver one’s baby in May and avoid pregnancy during the summer, but as we know, babies are born year-round.

Anyway, I had to hurry to finish the little afghan before the due date, and I was also pushed along because I wanted to make a “Spider Web” blanket, a pattern featured in Annie’s Halloween issue. It’s a circular afghan and coming along quickly. KW