October 6, 2014 Photo (279/365): "Nesting"
As these autumn day get shorter and crisper, I start to crave the comforts of home and begin feathering my nest for the long Wisconsin winter. So lately, I've been...
...walking through the woods and parks in our area. The trees are just starting to turn and I love the smell and sound of dried leaves beneath my feet. (See yesterday's post for pictures of our hike through Lapham Peak.)
...bundling up. I love fall clothes -- cashmere sweaters and scarves, skirts and warm tights, comfy boots...I just feel more "me" at this time of year.
...stocking up on firewood, lovely soft yarns for knitting projects (I like to knit during Packer games), coffee, tea, cider, cocoa, and red wine.
...cooking comfort food, especially soups. Yesterday, I made a big pot of cream of chicken and wild rice -- a traditional, nothing fancy, grandma recipe. In the coming weeks, I look forward to roasting pumpkin seeds and maybe baking something with the season's lovely apples.
...reading Fisher & Fry's Better Learning Through Structured Teaching, along with the other district learning coaches; however, I'm craving a good, "can't put it down" book. Any suggestions?
...decorating with gourds and other natural items. I'm not one to go all out with Halloween decorations, although I always display the "Spooky Tree" that my mom gave me years ago. I enjoy pine cones, dried flowers, and this little nest, and I'm partial to miniature white "pumpkins." (Orange is not my favorite color -- more on that in a later post!) Today, one of my awesome colleagues/friends brought me a gift of homemade molasses cookies in a very fancy box that she decorated with festive skull. The card read, "Your desk is too clean. You needed a little holiday clutter!"
Festive "clutter" in my office (Merci, Nan!) & home (Thanks, Mom & Mother Nature!) What have you been up to lately?
