updates: or, i'm a bad blogger

sorry, blogging fell to the end of my to-do list for a moment there.

went to mexico, had wonderful time even though the hurricane missed us after so many days of rain and warnings. coconut ice cream topped with kahlua is a new guilty pleasure.

it's a bit late to invite, but we're reading Lark & Termite this month for book club. next month is already chosen and it is All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. apparently it is "less bleak" than some of his novels. however, if you've read back a ways in my blog, you'll know i like his bleak very much. if you have any interest in joining us for december's book, let me know - i'll get you on our book club email list in which we debate days and next book.

this weekend was a lot of family time. joe and i went to my parents house (with clementine in tow) early on saturday. the boys cut down seven or eight trees and we stacked the firewood. then, my parents, joe and myself (sisters and their men too squeamish), slaughtered our five chickens and rooster. i am seeing pot pies and dumplings in the near future.

i'll leave you with some pretty things from etsy - christmas shopping has begun and i'm going to try and buy homemade whenever possible this year. these are a few of my favorite things.

Bitter Yuck or, Lauren needs to learn to keep things out of her mouth

so, clementine, when frustrated, has taken to chewing on the corners of things. specifically, my wonderful arm chair and the carpeted stairs. to curb this, we invested in a product called Bitter Yuck.

while spraying it on the chair, i decided that i should probably taste it - just to see if it was actually going to repel a small, crazed puppy. WORST DECISION OF MY LIFE.

now, i don't claim to be the brightest bulb always, but really? i just had to taste something that has both bitter and yuck right in its name? several gulps of milk, cranberry juice, whiskey and a final gargle with listerine and i still dealt with that taste in my mouth for the rest of the night. i'm fairly certain that clementine will not be making the same mistake anytime soon.

also, go to the soap factory's haunted basement. my sister cried and forgot how to read. i'm serious.

awww

this is me at my absolute happiest thanks to an incredible man that has decided to hold on to me forever.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree [WB Yeats]

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

wishlist

a person or two have asked what i'd like for my 26th.

here is a short list:
earrings
plants for tiny to dig up
art
reading material

while this indian summer has been charming, i'm ready for fall. i'm ready for raking leaves, brandy and hot cider, trips to the apple orchard, bonfires, and a hayride.

does anyone know of a good hayride? ideally, one where i can have a thermos of said brandy and cider?

also,

reading The Dud Avocado by elaine dundy and thoroughly enjoying it.

have any suggestions for september's book club?

oh, the domestication.

this blog has been obsessing me.

weekend plans:
knit sweater
plant daffodils
make english muffins
patch pants
make jalapeno jelly with mom
state fair
see movie with joe
walk puppy

yes, i'm obsessed with a storage blog and my weekend plans revolve around making food and gardening. the house has me in full domestication mode. doesn't help that the tiny puppy has me/joe up at 3:30 and 6:45 for trips to the backyard/bathroom.