Yesterday we went along to the Elf's swimming lesson. She's come a long way since here . She didn't stop grinning the whole time she was in the water, showing off a little for me. She probably swims freestyle...that class -- so I just let her stay home. I am picking the Elf up at lunchtime, to catch the ferry to Rottnest at 3. It's a very nice day. I think it's going to be a lovely weekend in paradise.

...tonight, and there will be lots of walking involved... Ugh. I'm not used to real winters. I'm used to desert winters, and they don't really include rain. or cold. or wind.  I'm going to have to find winter clothes here at some point. My sweaters are those pretty puny ones that are barely thicker than polo tops, and I don't really have winter shoes. Hmmm. I'll have to see if I can unpack my jackets...

Take my hands, rake through snow covered, side street sidewalks, watching people who dot the landscape, covered head to toe. We at last see the imperfect beauty that lines these off-white streets. And...Embrace hips that fall into mine as we erase the traces of complace- ncy. As we taste each other, another dimly coated layer of orange snow falls to our feet and shows us the reason that we’re still here

We went to the Lakes today for a bracing walk up Helvellyn ( not to the summit) and returned to the first flurries of snow since the spring. Life is beautiful. Kit

The weather is crisp and the there is a serious bite in the air. The leaves are passed the glorious stage and moving on to leather brown and rich golds. And the apple tree is finally all harvested. ...up to a good 6-8 inches. As it is, it cleared over night and we woke to just as dusting and now the sky is bright and sunny and we're on the way to a Halloween of 60's, just right for fun. Kubiando

it is winter - 15 inches of snow before hallowe'en. all of those poor kids are going to be so traumatized. well, it's not super cold yet so the walks to campus are nice but i still need to invest in long johns. and leggings. need to stay warm, i don't have enough time to defrost on lab mornings and oc transpo is to be used wisely and with much suspicion. every time i look out the window i think that...

...- saw a few lonely snowflakes drifting through the headlight beam. Man, it's cold! Okay, I take that back, it's only cold if you're wearing (like me) a t-shirt, fleece and windbreaker, instead of actual winter clothes.  I somehow hadn't realized that October was taking it's big swing at winter today, so was wandering around acting like it's fall.  I hear it'll be nice by the weekend though, a great reassurance...

...and because I'm not ready for snow yet (yet I live on a frickin mountain), I'd much rather be doing this then thinking about snow: (and if you're literal like me, you'll know that "doing" most def means Eljiah...and drinking too [wink wink].)

I woke up this morning to a good 3 inches of snow! More is expected throughout the day! ROOOOAAAAAR! It's October! It is pretty to be sure but I'm almost certain that the snow is the reason why I'm so...me all day... Mumumumumummaaaa....mamamamamaaaa) This has given my husband more ammo in his slacking of fatherly duties. ("But he's calling for youuuu!") Hopefully I can catch a nap sometime today

...in large clumps all I can do is look up at the sky and be given an icy kiss.  I let the chill of the wind fill my body and accepted it instead of resisting.  It's surprising how well the cold will treat me when I just let it come.  Winter is coming, and that is my season.  The days are shorter and the nights are longer.  I think I will start walking to class instead of driving for this reason.