We’re busy in the summer, don’t you find, because the weather entices us to get outside and do. . . but then the weather changes, and we’re tending to stay inside, so we begin to fill our calendars with socialising. At least, that seems to be the case around here, and it’s been Busy. and more Busy. Good Busy, but still . . .
We had two of the Littles for most of Saturday — their Mom is taking a much-needed short break and Dad had appointments and work on some term papers (somehow the man is squeezing in courses while holding down a full-time job and doing an awesome job of parenting). And even though November weather isn’t particularly inviting, particularly in the Rain City that is Vancouver, Littles always do better if they get outside for a while, and these guys had brought their rain gear for a visit to a favourite park a couple of kilometres away (Bonus: The littler Little has amazingly satisfying naps when he gets a hit of fresh air and exercise. . . .More time for me to read book after book after book to the bigger Little.)
Nana romped up a hill or two and scuttled through the tunnel as well, but I also wandered off with my camera. . . .
I love this juxtaposition of these November plantings, their last flares of colour emphasizing the beauty of their decay, against the urban architecture, their organic sculptural shapes beautifully exposed now, holding their own against the rectilinear structures of the city, their diverse textures so welcome in a world of concrete.
Loved it so much that I was eager to share it with you and had intended to do that yesterday, but oh, I’ve had such a fuss with the uploading and the downloading and the storage space and the device settings. . . . I think I’ve figured out the immediate problem (my older iPad Mini doesn’t have enough room for the iCloud Photo library, so there was a traffic jam). The longer-term problem is that I really need to go through the 3500+ photos in that library and do some serious sorting. There are probably fewer than 200 photos that I really want to keep, and those should be printed. Most of the rest could be deleted. A project for the New Year?
For the moment, I really don’t need another Should, so I’m just going to write that Task down and, perhaps, chip away at it when I find a few minutes here or there.
Unlikely to be finding them in the next few days, as I’ve got a richness of rendez-vous lined up with friends. Then a couple of very important birthdays for Littles who are insisting on becoming Bigger. .
Plus I happened to take a serious look at the calendar the other day and realized that I’m leaving in little more than two weeks. A haircut needs to happen in those two weeks (and I haven’t booked it yet — yikes!) and some packing.
All the more reason to slow down and breathe November in, right?
And to remember something the almost-Five said when I picked her up from Kindergarten yesterday to walk her to her after-school swimming lesson: “You’re so lucky, Nana! You get to pick me up from school and take me to my swimming class.”
Such wisdom, such confidence, such joy. . . .
Happy Tuesday! Comments always welcome, especially if they tell me how you find balance between the Busy and the Breathing, the uploading/downloading frustrations of life and its small bursts of pure contentment. . . . or if you have a secret for keeping up-to-date and organized with all your digital, online photos. Or, you know, just wave a Hello.
Always envy you your grandparent time. Sounds great fun especially in that beautiful park. We too are busy busy. Full week with school children next week at national trust house. A Victorian themed Christmas event with 7 year olds. Doesn’t sound like retirement to me! Then packing for a week in Oslo. Not sure where life fits in but it does. Good luck with your photo sorting. Always a nightmare :). B x
Retirement is full of surprises, isn't it?! Your volunteer work seems to bring so much pleasure (and exhaustion, happily earned 😉
Oslo! I've never been to any Scandinavian country — hope you'll post about your visit there.
…and I'm so lucky because you are my Mother.
(The book I brought for the plane turned out not to be a hit. With all that book free/Wi-Fi free time I managed to delete almost 800 photos from my phone!)
That's a good way to use that kind of captive time — you must have felt good getting that sorting done.
And I'm a lucky Mom 😉
I enjoy reading your descriptions of time with the littles. Really, they do grow up so quickly, and there is much to delight at each age. Busy days here, too. I find I must take time for me – exercise and reading, some handwork – in order to cope with all the rest.
Photos seem to pile up digitally much faster than the old printed ones. I sometimes feel a bit guilty when I delete one with people in it. Yet it needs to be done. Good luck with your photo sorting.
It's true — we really need to take care to replenish BEFORE the engine wears down rather than waiting for a collapse….
It's SO hard to delete photos of loved ones, but the photos are not all equally worthy, are they?
I think I'm in the "hello!" camp today. xoxoxox.
Lovely piece. Beautiful photos. You always give me lots to think about. Joining LPC in waving Hello. xo.
Waving back at you two. . .
Lucky you Nana :-)!
I make really perfect daily,weekly and monthly plans, completely balanced! Then usually others make their plans,serendipity strikes once,twice….ten times more and I'm in a complete chaos!!!
Dottoressa
Oh, that serendipity!
Or as I heard someone say at a talk many years ago, and have repeated often since, "Sometimes, life intervenes". . . .
What an adorable reminder of your good fortune! And it really seems like the year is slipping away especially quickly. I am in prep mode today before grown up kids/grandchild arrive for the Thursday holiday; I'm hoping that all will be able to stay into the weekend……
ceci
Wasn't it sweet?!
Enjoy your kiddos, both generations — Happy Thanksgiving!
Gorgeous. Out of the mouths of babes. Busy here too, but in a happy, Christmas-is-coming sort of way. Hoping to get out for a run before the week is out….
I managed one today, first run in ages!! Hope yours works out as well…
Busy day here too baking on a rainy day…love the days when we have our grandchildren over for a visit or an outing. Your pictures of the Fall decay are stunning!
Rainy day baking, so cozy! Thanks re the pics — November can be so gloomy, it's good to remember there's beauty to be found still…
Oh! I always think joy takes my breath…but it is breath-giving as well. Yes, yes.
Perhaps the breath-taking makes room for the fresh air that rushes back into the vacuum. . .
I love the little one's comment on how lucky you are. Made me smile! I am just taking things one thing at a time but feel as though I am drowning in paperwork….and wondering why I didn't retire a year ago!
Do just take it slowly, be gentle with yourself. . . .
Took me bumping into those kind of retirement thoughts over a year or two before I was ready to take them to the next stage. You'll know when . . .
Having a lovely peaceful day blissfully catching up with the house after a very busy month. Is that the secret of getting housework done, I wonder. Making a few pumpkin pies in solidarity with those over the ocean (and south of you, Frances) because I do love them.
And breathe…
I'm not one ever to love doing housework, but sometimes it does feel good to to catch up after a busy spell. . . I bet the pumpkin pies smell delicious!
Breathing . . 😉
Oh the deluge of digital photos… sigh. I've started deleting every day. Just a few. Some I think…oh… must save that one and then a few weeks later, get rid of it when I'm in a mood to be strict with myself. My problem is that when I upload to my desktop, and tinker with it for the blog, I end up with 4 or 5 versions that I then have to delete from my photo ap. I'm using the housework philosophy that came from a blog comment…something about how we can do anything for 15 minutes. So I'm currently using my 15 minutes to do photo stuff rather than housework. Ha.
P.S. I so miss Christmas pumpkin pies. But Stu hates pumpkin and I'd have to eat it all and then end up resembling a pumpkin myself:)
Just waving hello, because I'm in the middle of a month back in the city before heading north again for a much longer stint. So a month filled with "body maintenance" appointments (which I need to find replacements for in the north – tricky in a rural area), and catching up with our two children, and friends. But enjoying the pause here of appreciating distant seed pods and even grasses (not normally a grasses fan!). And noting your low levels of light. Gosh you are busy with your small people, but it must be immensely precious time.