Currents | (early) October 2016.

I have a sense that "late October" is going to a lot different (Charlie's little brother is due October 28th, but Katie's doctor expects he'll be a few days early) - so I'd better document what's happening right now... right now!

the lake yesterday morning ~ 7:40 am

Loving - yes, really! - the later sunrises. I'm still getting up at the same time so having 2+ hours of "dark early" is making me feel like I've got a huge headstart on my day! Extra bonus - I get to see the lake at sunrise without having to leave the house before I've had my morning coffee.

Planning Thanksgiving. My mom is going to be here for two weeks and Sara will be here for a few days. Wanting to maximize "big family" and "small family" time, celebrate (and likely make new) traditions, and introduce Charlie to pumpkin pie.

Eating oatmeal. Cooked in the microwave with dried cranberries and/or raisins and walnuts and topped with almond milk.

Drinking chai tea (also with almond milk) and red wine. depending on the time (or my mood :-)

Knitting Stole 2.0 and Portis and planning to knit a tiny wardrobe of baby hats.

Watching Inspector Morse. I'm into season 5. and oh man do I love Netflix!

Reading - with my ears and my eyes (I love Whispersync!) - The Glass Palace. It's been a while since I've had an epic story (I can only hope it's a love story!) from the late 19th/early 20th centuries. This one is set in Burma and India. Simon Prebble Vance (thank you anonymous commenter for correcting me!) narrates; so of course I love listening to him tell the story. But when I want to know what happens quickly (and I have hands free to turn the pages), I can read it myself.

Listening to Vivaldi's Four Seasons (I'm sure I've written here before about loving that piece once there's a chill in the air) and opera. Especially the female arias. I've always loved opera, but mostly the tenors (Pavarotti especially). Thanks to Inspector Morse I have a new-found appreciation for the sopranos! I'm enjoying Cecilia Bartoli today ... and hoping my neighbors can't hear it because it's VERY LOUD and I don't think they're fans like I am.

Needing to prepare for my bible study lesson (I'm leading it - yikes!) on Thursday morning. We are talking about Jesus as seen through Matthew's gospel. I'm glad I didn't draw the month to talk about John's gospel, but whoa, Matthew is L-O-N-G and I wish I would've started this last week (at least).

Wanting to get some fall decor around my house. I dug up the spent summer pots a few weeks back and the porch seems bare without even those (dead?) plants. I hate to waste time (or money) on mums... maybe I should just get a nice-smelling fall candle and be done with it?

Looking forward to a sleepover with Charlie this weekend. Especially making pizza for Saturday night's dinner and pancakes or waffles (or maybe a bagel run with Poppa) for Sunday's breakfast. (I'm honestly a little nervous about the sleeping part in between those two meals ;-)

Enjoying my fall pedicure (OPI's Marooned on the Magnificent Mile from a few years back). and still being able to wear flip flops and sandals (but having cooler mornings for running).

Remembering those newborn days with Charlie.

Hoping his little brother comes into the world healthy (and happy).

Wishing all of us a season of thanksgiving.