We finally got a little snow.
sadie loves snow
2 years
We’re in the process of remodeling our basement, basically gutting everything that was done by the previous owners and starting over. In Pioneer Woman fashion, I say “we’re” very loosely. Part of this involved tearing up carpet that was only a couple years old and in better condition than the stuff on the main level, so we figured we’d just relatively quickly get it re-installed rather than waste it and then move on with the rest of the basement. We didn’t want to get drywall dust all over the carpet and didn’t have any mouse-proof place to store it, so the basement work was held up until the carpet was done. The “relatively quickly” part ended up taking around 6 months because it took way more calls than it should have to find someone willing to call us back and schedule the job.
Finally, we got the carpet moved this week. And it only took the 2 guys less than an hour and a half!
Here’s our bedroom:I love the south facing windows and how the light comes in.
Here’s the front room we call the parlor because that’s what it was labeled on the floor plan of the house. It faces north and with the covered porch out the window it gets no light shining in. 🙁We also had the carpet replaced in our bedroom closet (which was a pain to clean out even though we haven’t been here that long). The empty rooms were nearly begging to be painted and I was tempted, but decided to wait on that until later, which hopefully won’t become never.
The nice part is having that new, clean, cushy carpet feeling. The not so nice part is moving stuff.
Note that Sadie found her chair:I’m still trying to reorganize everything, especially our closet. While it was empty, it was as good a time as any to fix a water stained area that resurfaced and was not disclosed when we bought the house. Sigh. (Using stain blocking primer in the winter when you can’t open the windows really stinks, by the way.) We still have no bedroom furniture other than our bed (I was using stacked moving boxes as a nightstand!) and I refuse to move the boxes back in, so I guess finding furniture is now on the list of things to do.
It was all very reminiscent of our big move, which was 2 years ago this week. Two. Years Already. We remembered having all our stuff piled up in the apartment we first landed in before this house and figured if we did it then we could do it again for a few days.
Postscript: I realize this probably falls into the #firstworldproblems category and that I am complaining a bit, but it’s what took up a big chunk of time this week (and stuff still isn’t all put back). Despite that, I truly am thankful to live where we do.
random thoughts
Some random stuff from the last month or so:
- There are no acorns this year. There were tons last year. I am not sure if the unusual weather affected the oaks or if they just don’t produce them every year. I’ll be curious to see what happens next year. Seemingly unrelated to acorns is the rather high number of ticks found on the dog this fall (the thought of which freaks me out by the way). But I read somewhere that ticks prefer mice and there are likely fewer mice around because of the lack of acorns. I wonder if the squirrels are going to go a bit hungry as well. Crazy how this circle of life stuff works. These are all things I would never have even considered before living here.
- The sound of a bird smacking in to a window is not pleasant. Unfortunately, it occurs several times per day.
- I like having flowers on the mantel, like these a friend thoughtfully brought over a couple weeks ago. Sadly they are on their way out now.
There is a red-bellied woodpecker that’s been coming to our bird feeder quite often lately, but it has eluded my camera, much to my frustration. I love the almost neon orange color of it’s head and think it should be called the red-headed woodpecker, but that name belongs to a different bird. And speaking of red, I like the cardinals, too.
- Halloween + 2 birthdays in one week = lots of sugar (and baking)! I made a cake, 2 dozen cupcakes, 2 pumpkin pies, and 2 trays of brownies for various school, work, and home festivities. I actually love baking, but cooking is a different story. Too bad desserts don’t count as real food/meals.
lost
It’s time for more fall photo therapy. I actually got lost in our “lost forest” yesterday. I should probably do that more often, especially since this will all be gone soon. I went out mid-morning when the sky was still gray and the ground wet from the previous days of rain. By afternoon, the sun was shining with no clouds in sight, making me want to go back out and do it all again (but instead I went to look at flooring for the basement remodel –> back to reality).This tree made me really dizzy looking up, but I thought the spoke-like branches were cool.
This is where I was when I decided I was lost. I even felt a moment of panic, then scolded myself for not bringing a compass, the one in the house hanging on a cord by the door meant specifically for such a time as this. I hadn’t intended to leave the path and every day things look different in the forest.
I couldn’t help but have this song running though my head (a song AP wrote for one of his sons, one of my faves from his latest album and still fresh in my head from seeing it live a couple days before. Not my video by the way, but I wish I had recorded more of the concert instead of only snippets here and there):
And some more leaves for good measure! I obviously found my way back. 😉
2nd fall
This is our second fall in the forest. Without going back to look, I’m guessing I posted similar photos last year. I’m not sick of taking the same pics yet!
seasons
With the change of seasons upon us once again, I am reminded of certain seasons of my life and of certain people and places whose paths have crossed with mine for only a season.
The length of a season may have been years or months, but the timing always perfect, not accidental. Then, circumstances change and people move on to new places, but hopefully not without leaving a mark, fulfilling their purpose for being in a certain place at a certain time.
I’m still trying to figure out what this season holds for me. I often feel stuck, like these leaves caught on a log while the water flows past. I don’t want the days to just pass me by and I am hopeful about who I may next cross paths with and where that may be.
fire
We didn’t spend much time at the fire pit in the forest this summer, opting instead for the little portable fire pit near the house, mostly because it was too hot at night for a big fire. But last night was the “season opener” so to speak.
On the way back, I crossed the stream while the sun was getting low.
Followed this path (technically the other way)……climbed a little hill and landed here.
A few friends joined us, here are the kiddos.
Hopefully this was just the first of many fun fall nights.
light
This morning, perfect timing,
a reminder of how I want to live,
both chasing and shining the Light.
If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light. Luke 11:36 NLTpretty peppers
bebo
(Note: This has nothing do to with the forest and I haven’t posted about many concerts here for that reason, but this one makes the cut for me.)
I’ve been looking forward to this show for months. Not only a chance to volunteer for Compassion, but a chance to see someone whose music I have been listening to for about 13 years. For free. In my current hometown.

The tunes. The oldest CD is from 1999, though there was an earlier (independent?) one. The latest, Ocean, I only have digitally and there are a couple in between that I am missing.

Gabe Scott plays with Bebo Norman a lot as well as many other musicians and can play just about everything. This night he played steel guitar, accordian, hammered dulcimer, keys, and a “plain” ol’ acoustic. I got to chat with him & get some directions while setting up the Compassion table.

Grand Haven Waterfront Stadium. Amazing place for a concert, smack dab in the middle of the boardwalk. I loved that it was packed out.
15 Compassion kids now have sponsors! I got to meet Bebo and Gabe! Perfect weather. Late night snacks with friends on the boardwalk. WOW!