The sun is rising on this peaceful Monday morning. We are lucky to have Indigenous Peoples Day off as a school holiday, and I think back to my childhood and learning of the Tlingit and Haida people in Southeast Alaska. It was important to understand that the land is a living thing, not something to be owned, and it gives to the people and there is a cycle of life that all of nature follows....including humans. Learning about these first people truly impacted how I view nature and the land and how we use it and how important it is for each generation of people. I am thankful for these teachings and continue to be in awe of the culture and art of these people, as well.
The mornings are noticeably darker when we rise for work and school...and also cooler. I am embracing the hoodie weather but also enjoy the option of a jacket in the morning, as many remind me of Juneau and have become warm, welcome friends as colder winds begin to reveal themselves and future intentions of Mother Nature. The Fall is a beautiful time, though...and also my favorite season here in the Midwest. There is something beautiful and stunning about the turning of the leaves on the trees in the neighborhood; tall, green giants that have been standing solum all summer suddenly explode into violent and thrilling reds that demand your eye when walking past! The sunrises, too, are fireworks that none can match...with bright blues and neon pink clouds as the sun stretches its golden arms across the gradient canvas of sky....yes, there is something to be appreciated on mornings such as these.
The fall season also brings with it a change in tempo as the first quarter ends for school. The girls are at the peak of competition season in marching band for high school, so that is all-consuming. This last weekend they won GRAND CHAMPIONS and first overall! I am always at a loss for words when it comes to pride and amazement. How can these two be related to me in any way? How are they so talented and coordinated? They are so dedicated and this year has been one of intense relationship building for the two of them, as Audrey is driving Violet to school every day, as well as to band. That is a lot of sibling time together....something that my sister and I never really experienced...and they have truly formed a fantastic relationship that has evolved. I am so proud of them both. They are committed academically to school, marching band, as well as full social lives outside of school. While I look back at all of my academic years fondly...especially high school and college....I am grateful to never have to be those ages and work through it all again.....but boy was it fun!!! :-)
The part about fall that I love the most is that it feels the most like Juneau in terms of temperature and feel...if there is even a slight comparison to be made there. The darkness...the damp of constant rain...the foggy mornings and cold that snaps at your skin when you roll out of bed or open the front door for the first time. There is also a part of my mind that leaps forward to winter and the inevitable darkness and cold that will envelope us for months on end. I know it is something for the Alaskan boy to whine about winter....but as I get older and my years are more...I have found a warmer climate to be quite enjoyable to say the least. Hawaii and Florida vacations have spoiled my senses and made me aware of possible scenarios where a state of chilled torpor is not mandatory. So while I finish raising my children here in the Midwest for the next few years, I am also eyeing adventures in warmer climates especially during future winter breaks! The idea of hiking a volcano after Christmas then enjoying a walk along a black sand beach in the evening before an swim is not a bad one to hold onto for future implementation!
But now the day is calling...and despite it being one mainly for leisure...there are always those little things that demand my attention and action if they are to get done...and the more of them that are done in the morning...the less my anxiety before bed. I do truly love working around the house (dishes, sweeping, cleaning, dog walking, etc) on the weekend mornings because it is productive and relaxing. There is a sense of accomplishment, as well...when later there is a clean (...er) house and I feal more at-peace and able to focus on work or whatever else needs my mental attention. There has been so much construction in the house for so long (since May!)...and the end is in sight! The basement is completely finished, as well as all of the wood floors on the main level, and the entire gallery has been painted and custom shelves installed! Our banisters have been custom built and the chandelier space floored-in to create an upstairs loft space between the children's rooms! We are waiting on carpet to be installed upstairs and all down the stairs (the last piece of it all!). Our master bathroom is 95% complete, and now waiting on installing counters and fixtures...then we will be done. While that is nice, we then need to hire professional cleaners for a complete deep clean of all of the construction dust and dirt. Finally, we need to hire duct cleaners to conduct (see what I did there?) and deep clean of that whole system so we are no longer breathing in the grime of all of the construction!
Of course there are always future projects: redo the girl's bathroom....a shed for out back....removing the playset that no one uses...sigh....but there is, again, something satisfying in knowing that we have built a house that is absolutely sturdy and quality and will last for another generation until we wither give it to the children or sell it! We are fortunate to be able to complete this work during this crazy economic time, and hope that we are really investing in this home and will enjoy these upgrades for years to come rather than having to give the next buyers credits.
OK, I have rambled long enough, and the sun is fully up. More coffee is in my immediate future and I can hear the beeping of the wash, meaning it is time to bump the laundry and then perhaps a dog walk before the rest of the house wakes up? Who knows....but what a great way to begin an extra day off! Cheers!
-a
