It was rainy and chilly when I picked up Rachael at the bus station on Saturday morning. We headed back home to meet up with the rest of the family and we plotted out our annual attack of the apple orchard.
After we worked out the logistics, we all headed off to the orchard - this year, as in recent years, in two separate cars. We got there first, so Sam fed the animals while we waited for his brother and sisters to show up. Fortunately, they arrived before long - and shortly after that, the cold rain stopped - just in time for us to go apple picking.
For the last several years - or maybe even longer - we've picked about a bushel of apples. This is about three quarters of a bushel more than what we really need. But by baking apple pancakes and making apple butter and cooking other various apple-based recipes, we almost always manage to use them all up. Almost.
Before we left the orchard, each of the kids got a pumpkin. This was the first time in many, many years that we bought pumpkins.
The night before, Sam and I had shot over to the grocery store for his usual Friday night meal selection. And while we were there, I asked him if he wanted to get a pumpkin carving kit. He thought about it for a while and decided that it might be a good idea - though he was on the fence about buying a pumpkin this year. I guess he changed his mind.
Back home, everyone carved their pumpkins in record time - and did a pretty good job, in my unbiased opinion. Maybe all those years of resting paid off.
Oh! And somewhere in between the orchard and the pumpkin carving, we celebrated my birthday. So, that was pretty nice.
The night before, Sam and I had shot over to the grocery store for his usual Friday night meal selection. And while we were there, I asked him if he wanted to get a pumpkin carving kit. He thought about it for a while and decided that it might be a good idea - though he was on the fence about buying a pumpkin this year. I guess he changed his mind.
Back home, everyone carved their pumpkins in record time - and did a pretty good job, in my unbiased opinion. Maybe all those years of resting paid off.
Oh! And somewhere in between the orchard and the pumpkin carving, we celebrated my birthday. So, that was pretty nice.
On Sunday morning, we managed to make it down to the flea market. Though with everyone’s different schedules and commitments, it meant that the six of us had to take three separate vehicles to get there.
I haven’t gone to the flea market at all this year, largely because it’s hard to think about looking at other people’s stuff when I have too much of my own. But that's not the main reason I haven't gone.
Like almost anything meaningful, going there is really about spending time together. It's about walking around and talking - maybe critiquing other people's junk, or commenting on how cold it is - or how warm it is. It's about pointing out the early morning fog as it rises over the autumn hills.
Still, needed or not, we managed to buy a few, perhaps unnecessary, memories - or maybe they're reminders of memories. I bought a replica metal toy rocket that I don't need. But I look at it and, for now, at least, I think about this cold Sunday, and about walking around together - and even if it doesn't last, that's worth the dollar I paid for it.
As we finished up at the flea market, Helaina and Jake both took off for prior commitments, while Rachael, Sam and I headed home.
I haven’t gone to the flea market at all this year, largely because it’s hard to think about looking at other people’s stuff when I have too much of my own. But that's not the main reason I haven't gone.
Like almost anything meaningful, going there is really about spending time together. It's about walking around and talking - maybe critiquing other people's junk, or commenting on how cold it is - or how warm it is. It's about pointing out the early morning fog as it rises over the autumn hills.
Still, needed or not, we managed to buy a few, perhaps unnecessary, memories - or maybe they're reminders of memories. I bought a replica metal toy rocket that I don't need. But I look at it and, for now, at least, I think about this cold Sunday, and about walking around together - and even if it doesn't last, that's worth the dollar I paid for it.
As we finished up at the flea market, Helaina and Jake both took off for prior commitments, while Rachael, Sam and I headed home.
Back at home, Sam got a bite to eat, Rachael packed - then I brought her to the train station for her ride back to the city.
Back home once again, I picked up Sam and brought him to the grocery store for a last minute visit with the Sample People - a crucial part of of his (and therefore, my) weekends. Then we returned home one last time, where we made the first of what will likely be many, many baked apple pancakes.
After dinner, I put in one more storm window and did another load of laundry - and then sat back and watched the rainbows on the wall and the fading golden sunshine of the late autumn afternoon - and I listened to all the quiet.
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