fall...hair...kitchen...short weekend

Have I told you what a bummer it is to lose your hair?  Some days, it is extremely difficult to deal with it.  I think I need an anti-hair loss mantra today...I will try to think one up. In the meantime, the more fun stuff...hobbies, cooking, crafty projects, pumpkins, finishing a 350-page grant that might bring 5 years of funding to my position, and tea with friends!!

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama: {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

(this is obvisouly not from my week, but I am slowly recovering old slides from the 70's and am enjoying this one this week)

tired but grateful

I always talk about gratefuls...but it helps...Working this past Saturday was difficult, after an extremely busy work week which included getting up at 5am one morning and working until 8 or 9 pm several days, I mean nights.  However, I was able to get away and visit 2 farmers markets this week.  It had been a whole month without any farmers market visits! That is too long, especially now that we are in serious harvet mode.  So, working in my office Saturday was a little better since I was snacking on farmers' treats and had this guy on my desk to make me happy.

When I was walking into the office with my first pumpkin of the season (there will be many more), a friend asked what I was going to do with it.  I said I would be placing it on my desk for happy viewing!!

6-day work weeks will be my norm now and indefinately.  It is serious dissertation writing time, and the bulk of this writing is going to happen on Saturdays.  I will need to find things to make me happy, to get through! I envision treats, special tea, and more pumpkins...Oh, and coming home Saturday night to a home cooked meal by Mike, what a lovely surprise!!

to the kitchen

after vacation, i always crave some time in my kitchen.  eating out is good for only so long.  breakfast was in separate segments today, our last day of vacation.  first, baked chocolate donuts.  here is the recipe, very low sugar and i used even a bit less than called for.  just a tiny bit of icing and coconut on top. they were delicious while they were here!  i think these will appear in my kitchen again very soon.  next, italian toast with homemade peach butter.  i used a few recipes as a guide, one from august bon appetit.  a lovely article on perserving, take a look. hard boiled eggs to finish it off...coffee and tea throughout.  hmm, now it seems to be lunch time...

return to motion

mike and i took 2 weeks off for vacation.  this time included family reunion/60th birthday in cape cod, family visit in chatham, fleeing hurricane irene to the compound in RI, and finally to woodstock.  we: whale watched, sat by water falls, looked for sharks at the light house, hiked in the ri pine barrens, sat in a row boat, found turtles, walked on salt marshes, napped, drank lattes, ate dessert several times, ate some more, went to a county fair and watched declan on his first ride by himself, and had two hurricane parties.  Irene forced us to quiet down, settle in, unplug, and allowed for some impromtu visiting. we returned home with 2 days left of vacation.  i hope this time will help me ease back to work, life, grant writing, dissertation, cleaning the house, and finding time to enjoy the upcoming season.