Leaves

I started to rake up the leaves in the back yard last week. Finished three piles, trimmed part of a lilac tree, put trimmings and one pile in a yard waste bag, and then stopped to pick up our little guy from daycare. When we returned, it was dark and I didn't finish. (With a dog there are certain... uh... biological hazards that can show up in leaves in the dark. 'Nough said.)

Then it rained overnight and everything was soaked. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day to finish it off. Then again, I think we might have a leaf blower. Either way, I'd like to get that finished even though I love fall and all its leaves. I wonder if I just feel this way because I want to sweep up so many other things that simply aren't tangible. Sweep up all of those things and tie them up in a bag.

Life isn't always that simple though.

And it sometimes comes with those "bio hazards" that I mentioned before. ;-)

Word of the Week: Gourd

Fall is in full swing. Leaves are making their gentle descent. The air has a distinct chill. The colors are beautiful - even more beautiful than spring. I can even hear the melodious opera of leaf blowers as I type this. Fall.

Speaking of which, David continues to impress me with his ever-increasing vocabulary. The other day we were looking at a display of fall-associated items. He, of course, points out the "punkins" and grins. Then he moves his little hand and points again. "Gourd." Gourd? I am not sure if I pointed one out in a book, in the cards I was stamping last week, or if he learned it at daycare, but I am impressed. Gourd.

I cannot help but wonder which vocabulary word will be next...

Temperatures

Yesterday the heat in my classroom was unreal for October. At one point it was in the 90-degree range. Blech. Way too hot for October, especially with restless seventh graders.

Today... ah... today... the temp was in the 70's and my students were so much more congenial. (All except for one young man who decided to speak up about the "d*** story" we had read. He spent time in the office after that, needless to say.) I enjoyed teaching more because the heat wasn't so oppressive. It's amazing what a difference 24 hours can make.

Then, on my way home, I saw a leaf blowing in the wind. I know, it's not a huge deal, but I finally felt as if fall had really arrived. The leaves started to change colors a few weeks ago, but now they are starting to FALL. Like the temperature, we are easing into a new season. I started smiling just thinking about it.

As I was picking up David from daycare, the woman told me that he had a temperature of 101.7. I brought him home and put him to bed, as he had been fussy. When we got him up a few hours later, his temperature had climbed to 103.3. :-( We called Bob's mom (a former nurse) and the pediatrician's office. I went out to get the suggested Children's Motrin and Pedialyte. Our little man's temperature has gone down slightly, but it just breaks my heart when he isn't himself. (I know, I know... compared to what some parents go through, this is nothing. But to us, it's still disconcerting.)

So here's to falling temperatures... in all of their forms.