The Great Pumpkin Massacre 2009

The Mexican Ambassador watched the moon rise. Yes, this would be the night.

A night of rivalry…

… of levitating pumpkins…

… a clash between the House of Schwandt and the Mexican Embassy.

The Mexicans made a run for the border.

The House of Schwandt did not approve.

The battle was fierce.

Some cheered for the Mexicans (or maybe Italy?).

Some stood vigil for Schwandt.

Others remained neutral.

In any case, the pumpkin got the worst of it.

Good times.

“…I have ended in puzzles and contradictions.”

“Every Christian would agree that a man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God. But man’s love for God, from the very nature of the case, must always be very largely, and most often entirely, a Need-love. This is obvious when we implore forgiveness for our sins or support in our tribulations. But in the long run it is perhaps even more apparent in our growing – for it ought to be growing – awareness that our whole being by its very nature is one vast need; incomplete, preparatory, empty yet cluttered, crying out for Him who can untie things that are now knotted together and tie up things that are still dangling loose.”

- C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas…

I listened to my first Christmas song of the year today. Oh heaven.

(Finals week.. it can make you crack..)

Dishdriers

“Katherine had reached the awful pans that needed scouring now, and Martha went away and left her with them, as is the traitorous habit of all dishdriers.” -Edward Eager, Half Magic

It is enough.

The air tastes crisp. Leaves are drifting. The sky is all pale-blue high-flung vault.
Autumn. Cider, rain, books & comfy chairs, bright leaves, sweaters, long walks, soccer, spices, turkey, fireplaces, family. So many words wrapped up in “autumn.”

“I have perceived that to be with those I like is enough,
To stop in company with the rest at evening is enough,
To be surrounded by beautiful, curious, breathing, laughing flesh is enough.”
- Walt Whitman, “I sing the Body Electric”

Graciousness

“Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you.” – Elsie de Wolfe

I’m more of a gentleman than a scholar….

“A gentleman need not know Latin, but he should at least have forgotten it.” -Brander Matthews

New Home

Dad’s word of wisdom: “Never take something apart that you don’t remember how to put back together.”

Brumby the not-so-wild horse

Mom likes the neighbors’ chickens.

Goodbye Bonfire

Baseball

Snacks

Hacky Sack

Sword-play

Cristina advertizes Dr. Pepper

Football

Fire-building

Hot dog roasting

LOTS of hot dog roasting

Mysteries of hot dog roasting

Shutterbug

The Push-Cart Wars