confessions on a tuesday eve

I am struck by the following on this humid tuesday night:

1. i never get tired of watching pride and prejudice.ever.

2. six years into home ownership and i'm starting to feel comfortable taking control of my space.

3. i can't believe july is almost over. 2009 was a conspiracy. it's come and gone with suspicious celerity.

4. my nephew, zachary, has stolen my heart. Actually, he stole it when I met him as a two-year-old, and i never got it back. i wish i could clone him. well really, i just wish he lived closer to his aunt amy. he left indy today and i am in a melancholy room.


5. when in a melancholy room, watching a comforting, familiar movie, thinking about renovating my home, my darling nephew and the rapid passage of time, it's important to drink beer, listen to wicked and memorialize what's on my heart in the form of blogging.

"trick or fruit"

so, my niece, lauren, spent the night a couple saturdays ago. one of our activities was decorating treat bags for the cousins, Zachary, Hope, and Leah as well as for Lauren's brother, Matthew. I hope they make it to Connecticut and California in time for Halloween. (Matthew, who lives with his sister in sheridan, indiana, called me from grandma's to say "i love my present!").

Lauren insisted on decorating one for me. she wrote my name and then added her own halloween cheer:

"trick or furot"

That's "trick or fruit" if you were wondering.

Maybe she was swayed by the large supply of apples I had on hand (she had been to the orchard that day with her family and they brought their vegetarian aunt/sister/sister-in-law a million apples):





no matter her inspiration, i LOVE her treat bag that she made for me and I've hung it in my kitchen to remind me of her sweet, humorous heart:

"trick or furot!"

being aunt amy

last night I had the pleasure of my 7 year old niece, Lauren, spending the night. rather- a slumber party, or "fiesta" as she framed it. I adore this little girl with all my being. especially when she's being sweet and affectionate like last night when we were carving pumpkins. even when she's being whinny and grouchy, like this morning when nothing was going to make her happy (although, I have to admit, the later scenario made it difficult to remember why I agreed to have her spend the night).

the reality is, this little one has been special to me since the minute I heard she was coming. seven years ago I stood looking through the hospital nursery window looking at her and lost my heart forever.

my wish for our relationship is that she will feel known by me. I hope to accomplish this one "fiesta" at a time.