Fall in the South

When we arrived in Texas in the summer, I thought it would never cool down. I actually remember thinking, 'What a pity that Bud and Ashley have such a beautiful backyard, because the weather never allows us to enjoy it.'

And then, at long last, came October. Suddenly the humidity disappeared from the air, leaving the mornings and evenings definitionally "chilly" and the afternoons pleasantly sunny. It is autumn! This means that we are outside more than ever, on unicycles, bikes, the scooter, the longboard, or simply walking, drawing with chalk, playing at the park, and sitting in the backyard. I have also started appreciating the flora here, such as live oaks, crape myrtles, magnolias and orange trees. 

I myself have picked up longboarding since being here. I had never really put any serious effort into skateboarding as a youth, and I had never even heard of a longboard before. However, I find it extremely satisfying and I love to feel my progress as I am able to steer, turn and control the board. It's exhilarating - and I find myself at several points throughout the day running outside just to cruise one more time down the street. Neighborhood children have commented on my progress, including one girl who said, "That's awesome that you can do that. Most moms can't skateboard." The longboard is also a great way to keep my speed even with Misha on the unicycle and Sebby on the scooter. Meanwhile, Misha has learned to ride the full-sized bike, although his legs are not long enough to allow him to sit down on the seat. It's a bit of a leg work-out for him, but he loves the speed.

Something about colorful laundry drying in the backyard makes me happy.

Hibiscus

Finding rock treasures at the park

Misha's chosen rocks. 

Oranges ripening.

A beautiful pine.

Zooming along

Great fall weather for unicycling!

Longboarding self-portrait

Wheeling around at sunset

Me and Sebby on the go

Kisses from Daisy, whom we are dog-sitting

So affectionate!

And useful, too!

We have also swept off the roof of the porch, which we can access through the children's bedroom window, to make a spot where we can sit and read. (It's not high off the ground.) From there, we can enjoy a beautiful view of the yard, which is enclosed on all sides with big, overgrown, leafy trees, providing nice privacy.

"When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet (up on the roof)
I get away from the hustling crowd
And all that rat-race noise down in the street (up on the roof)"

Chalk fun:

Misha's dragon attacking the castle.

My sea monster

You'll see that we even wear sweatshirts and long sleeves at times!