Saturday - 232nd

 Last year, Halloween was bitter cold. There was snow on the ground, ice in the gutters. The kids were at the farmhouse after school and I took them sledding in the back of the barn. Evening trick-or-treating was slippery!

This year, Halloween is so different! You could say that it's been modified to meet the moment. My three grandkids are all dressed up in costumes, and I'm sure they'll sink their teeth in more than one piece of candy, but running from door to door and ringing doorbells is not happening. Primrose (aka Miguel from Coco) had a distanced outside Halloween meetup early in the day. Snowdrop (mermaid) and Sparrow (ghost) went back to the neighborhood of their school, where they were invited to trick-or-treat in homes that had chutes: cool long tubes that served as distanced transfers of candy, straight into your pumpkin or Halloween bag. 

What struck me was how clever people could be in creating something special for kids and still keep everyone safe. Outside. Masked. Distanced. Oh, how much easier this winter would be if those three words were markers of unity and determination!

Of course, here in Wisconsin, the weather more than cooperated. Lovely skies, gusty winds, and for the last day of October -- beautiful temperatures! (56F or 13C).

But let's go back a little. Early in the day, there was the usual walk, to the back, to the front...

 

And, too, I had a sweet FaceTime with Primrose! (Playing school...)

(constructing skyscrapers)

And today's breakfast? Late!

In the early afternoon, I go over to read and play with Snowdrop. Distanced and outside. 

She is in costume. Of course! She has been wearing it on and off for days!  (Jacket comes off. But not for too long.)

 

 

Today, she resists keeping her mask on all the time and given the fierce wind, I let her shed it, though I tell her I'll have to triple the distance between us!

Between the wind and our separation, my reading is more like me shouting into a hurricane, chapter after chapter. I'm surprised she catches my words. I suppose I got an assist from the wind!

Toward evening, Ed and I once again go for a walk in our county park. I admit it -- my step goals drove me to it! I'm not about to lose my October challenge on the last day of the month!

 

 

Night. Full moon, blue moon, somewhere out there, shining on us brightly tonight. On you as well, I hope. 

With love...