Thursday is art class day

It's still warm out there. I feel I can deal with a very cold winter, because we've had such a long spell of autumnal bliss.

A slightly hurried breakfast...






A quick scattering of bread for the cheepers...






And then off to Snowdrop's home. In time to see her wake up.






After breakfast and a bath, we have a spirited round of play -- of the kind where she wanders off and then looks for me...






And on her own, she is increasingly practicing standing unsupported...





All that is fine, but what's most unusual about this day is that Snowdrop starts art class (for ages 0 - 3 years, which I think is pretty funny; btw, Snowdrop is exactly 10 months on this day).

The class falls on a morning hour and sure enough, every single child is accompanied by a (female) nanny or a grandma. We may lay claim to an egalitarian attitude of shared responsibilities at home and at work, but the wee ones, with rare exception, are being tended to by women.

Snowdrop has never held a crayon, but as one of the younger class members, she quickly darts a glance at the other children in the room...






... and reassures herself that it can't be all that bad.






I was proud of her at the art table, because she managed to sit on her own (unlike others in her age group) and with gentle redirecting, also managed to keep most of the collage items out of her mouth.






Of course, she loved the teacher and the other kids and so even in her tired last minutes, she was a happy camper. (The art creation was more grandma than her, but she definitely participated!)






As we drove home, I thought about how this little girl has already had swim classes, is on her second series of music classes, and now has started art class. For her, the thrill is in being with others her age, for her parents (and for me), the joy is in seeing her try new things. As I reenter this world of little guys (it's been a while since they've been in my everyday), I think about the various ways in which we prod and steer them and the ways in which they grow confident and strong. The world over, so many ways of essentially doing the same thing -- helping our young ones get a foothold and find a good place in this complicated world of ours.

Wednesday

It does appear like we're setting records with these glorious days of sunshine and warmth.

The morning wasn't cloud free. But if you have a crab as we do -- beautifully golden in these last colorful days of autumn, it hardly matters.






Breakfast, in the front room, has its own sunshine -- a bouquet of yellow flowers and Ed's rare morning smile.






Then I lost myself in my Great Writing Project and when I next looked up, the sun had taken hold and you wouldn't think of packing even a sweater to go outside.

I went to Snowdrop's home and played with her for a while (noting that the few photos I managed to take all had something in common...).



standing





shaking





...and rolling


And after lunch, which, these days is a joyous (even for today's peas, spinach and pears) and surprisingly neat affair...





... there was no question but that we would be going outside.

She is much better on the slide, but still unsure of anything else at the playground. They are not easy spaces for her to navigate and the free fall activities leave her feeling vulnerable. Still, she is happier today than she was yesterday and so we end our brief playground visit on a better note.

But the highest of high notes comes with leaf play. What child doesn't love to crunch and rustle and swoosh all the fallen flakes of gold?






Snowdrop is no exception here. What a beautiful afternoon! We had a gift of good weather and I had the gift of playing with leaves with my granddaughter. You can't top that.

Tuesday

Maybe it wont break any records, but surely this is one of the warmest, nicest November days ever.

I let the cheepers out just as the sun sets that golden tone onto the farmette.






The beloved farmhouse peaks out of a backdrop of sun dappled fall colors.






Breakfast is, of course, in the sun room.






As it's Tuesday, I rush off rather quickly to Snowdrop's home. I'm there just as she wakes up.





And so begins our day together. I don't need to describe the play routines. You've seen them before and in any case, toddlers the world over replicate these same developmental efforts -- standing, rambling, playing, swaying...


Of course, I have a grandma's perspective: this girl is uniquely grand and ready to take on the world...







But I do understand that first she has to pick up a few skills...






Including moving about on her two strong, but still toddler-ish legs.






In the afternoon, we go out for a walk. Of course we do -- it's 70F! But instead of merely walking her around the neighborhood, I take her to a playground that was just put into a nearby lakeside park. The equipment is for the younger set and I think this may be a good time to get Snowdrop interested in slides and swings.

 In fact, she is more interested in the other children there.





She loathed the idea of sliding down, at least on the first couple of tries (we came back again later and she fares better). And the swings? Well, in grandma's lap in the most gentle fashion (this wont do in the long run, Snowdrop, this grandma hates swings!).

For the rest of the walk, she kept glancing at me to see what else I had up my sleeve and she was delighted when the whole adventure was behind us and she could ramble around in her own home.





It's interesting how quickly kids develop a suspicious attitude toward new things. Snowdrop has never minded new people and she has become a terrific eater of new foods. I imagine once she understands the whole set up, she'll be clamoring up the slide with glee, like the bigger kids. If only the good weather holds long enough to get us there!

earlier than early

If I have an appointment to make, I try to do it in the predawn hours, so that it doesn't impact my schedule with Snowdrop. As a result, we were up so incredibly early today that I almost felt as if I were about to take a trip on one of those obnoxiously early flights.

We didn't eat breakfast until after my appointments and that felt a bit strange, too.






In all, an odd beginning to a gorgeously warm and sunny day.

And you know if it's Monday, this puts Snowdrop right at the farmhouse and that's truly wonderful as I've missed playing with her here.

Yes, she seems older! Every week propels her closer to a new stage of development and today, I let her show me what she has been up to when I was away.






There was a mutual adoration moment to observe as well...






And since the day just couldn't get any nicer, we went out for a bit so that Ed could eat his lunch, Scotch could eat her bread and Snowdrop could again display her utter love for all the living things here at the farmette.






Willow play, too, remains a favorite..






And though she isn't about to take steps just today, Snowdrop truly does look impressive  up on her two solid little feet (even as her face says -- I am not that confident yet!)






Very impressive. And happy.





As am I -- it's so good to be back!

I return Snowdrop to her home. I linger for a bit. It's lovely to see her side by side with her mom.






I come back to the farmhouse after the sun has set, but then, we fell back this weekend and the sun sets at a very early hour.

Sunday

However was I so lucky to come back to such beautiful weather?

I'm up to let the cheepers out. Oh, the colors of Fall!







But look -- it's my Giverny corner! My gaura is blooming as hard as theirs!






And so are the potted annuals that line the walkway to the farmhouse.






Breakfast in the sunroom.






The girls run up to the farmhouse to see if I'm ready to share bread with them.  The pinwheels whirl and dance to my delight and their indifference.






In the afternoon, Ed and I go for a walk to our local arboretum. I would say that it is Madison's best park. And in the same way that Warsaw's Lazienki and Paris's Luxembourg Gardens delivered the colors, so does the Arobretum!






Here's a little girl studying the colors. Not Snowdrop, but a beautiful moment nonetheless.
















We need a selfie!












In the late afternoon I have the great fortune to meet up with my friend, who does not live these days in Madison, but comes here nonetheless because of family connections. By the time I'm done reviewing my past worries and dilemmas with her and she has put forth hers with me, the light has faded and the skies are very dark.






I come home to an ever patient Ed ("Dinner's going to be late tonight, honey") and a World Series baseball game. However much I love my bits and pieces of Poland, I do also appreciate a good World Series game.

the day after the return

It is thought that when you return from a trip, impressions from your travel days quickly dissipate and you find yourself thinking hardly at all about your recent adventures. Life takes over and pushes you forward.

But then, how do you explain these:

I wake up at 4 and because I am still in another time zone, I refuse to go back to sleep. For the rest of the day my tiredness will remind me that I have been traveling.

The very first thing on my to-do list is to give Ed a haircut. Talk about overgrown and shaggy! (What a difference a week makes!) Then, we have breakfast of course, even though the fruit supply is low. In fact, the food supply is low. But, there's never a shortage of oatmeal! And on the table, I place the pot of Giverny flowers...





(I do take note of the fact that my sister's oatmeal is better than mine. More lumpy. I plan on changing my oatmeal making routines so that I can more closely approximate hers.)

I set out to shop for food and because Ed is feeling a bit deprived of my company, he tags along. That hasn't happened in years. It's quite lovely actually, even if I then have to put up with him packing the grocery bags. He claims the grocery clerks squeeze in too few items in each bag. Can you tell whose side I'm on in this one?

At the store I buy buckwheat in bulk. Having it in Poland again reminds me how much I like it. It was such a Polish staple during the post war years...

I unpack the groceries. I place the bunch of parsley in a glass with water. I saw my sister do that. I just throw my parsley into the refrigerator where it promptly wilts within several days. Hers was nice and perky. Besides, a bunch of parsley in a glass is really attractive.

And then I really scrub the crevices of the burners on the stove. This, too, is the aftermath of staying at my sister's home. Her stove hasn't a spot on it. Though Ed claims I am a neat freak, I worry that surely my standards must have slackened because honestly there is no question about it -- her stove was even more fresh and shiny. As of today, mine is that way as well.

Yes, my trip is still with me.


Fall has truly set in. (What a difference a week makes!) It's a rainy day and so I don't spend much time outside, but I do step out just to smell that damp autumnal air.






The cheepers greet me of course and I am happy to see them, especially since our night prowler has not gone away. So far, we're winning the fight with whoever it is that wants access to them. May it stay that way.

And in the evening, the young family and the other grandmother are here for supper and that means I get to see Snowdrop! I stick pinwheels in the pathway to the farmhouse, because I know she likes to look at this spinning toy when we pass it each time we go for a walk. (Ed says -- They look a bit cheap and trashy! I like them!)






And now the family is here for our Sunday dinner (except it's Saturday and I am not yet ready to cook, so we do Japanese take out). And Snowdrop is lively and so very grown up! (What a difference a week makes!)






So tall, strong and able!