Time

Today marks exactly six months since Neal and I were married. Part of me hardly believes it's been that long already, and the other part feels like we've just always been together. My life married to Neal is blissful. Of course I knew it would be, which is why I married him in the first place! So, here's a shout out to my handsome bearded husband. :)

Don't you just love the time of year when the air snaps at you and the sunlight comes in streams through falling leaves? As Neal and I walked to and from church today, we kicked the mounds of leaves fallen from a particularly large Cottonwood tree down the street. I'm tempted to join the kids in raking them up and jumping in them. The brittle bits of gold make me feel so...old, or experienced. They mark the passing of time for me. In many ways this feeling of nostalgia is good for me. It makes me hold tightly to the things I love the most. I feel more grateful for a cup of cocoa or the coziness of a blanket. I want to take advantage of what may be the last days of sunny warm afternoons. At the same time, I always feel a bit like a slacker come fall. I realize that summertime goals fell a bit short, and my house needs spring cleaning a bit early. I realize that the year is moving toward its close. And I hate saying goodbye to a good year. They are so precious to me. 

When I was a child, I remember thinking that our family song was "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel." Maybe I've already mentioned this, but I so value the lessons in work given me by my mother and father, my sisters and brothers. I was never quite as good at working as the rest of them. I just had so much relaxing and reading to do! I'm still sort of that way today. I enjoy work, but sometimes I just want to be still more. I want to breathe and think and read. I want to stroll along the gutters cluttered with leaves and just listen to them crunch. And I don't have as much time for that right now. School and work crowd out other parts of my day. Even the doing the dishes has become a task that feels like a break from the hard stuff! Anyways, I don't really have much to say except, I love autumn and I love my life. And I look forward to a time when my days feel less frantic, even if that's not til I'm dead.

To Catch Up

Fair warning, this is a very picture filled post. Neal and I have been busy for the last month. Let's see. My thesis isn't done yet (I know, surprise, surprise). I actually felt too sheepish to blog for a while because I did not want to be the girl who says stuff publicly then flakes out. But...writing a thesis is hard to do. Much harder than any of my papers previous semesters. Maybe because I haven't had a semester of directed study first? I don't know. Anyways, as of right now I have 17 pages done. Well, done-ish. I have one more section to fill in, then buckets of research to add in. Then a revision before I dare send it to my thesis chair. Then the more directed work begins (hopefully). Last week I just had Neal drop me off on campus on his way to Ogden, then pick me up on his way back to Logan. That means I spent an average of 11 hours thesis writing per day. Geez louiz. My last 17 page paper only took like, two days. I'm losing my touch. I found out that working at home was way more enjoyable, but I got so much less done. On campus I sort of want to cry, sometimes I close my office door and allow a few tears, but I actually get things done. There you go, more than you ever wanted to know about how I'm writing my thesis.

On to everything else we're accomplishing. Neal is teaching and doing a grand job. I'm not even just saying that because I'm his wife. Really. Hopefully we can move to Ogden soon so he won't have to drive two hours a day. I'll just commute once or twice a week to Logan. I keep finding these adorable houses and apartments in Ogden. Unfortunately, most are the zone of sketchiness.

Let's see, we bottled tomatoes.

Also, we bottled a mixed grape juice from Neal's dad's grapes.

Those are actually pickles...I didn't get all the pickle pictures in.

The juice is simply lovely, but very different than the classic Concord juice I'm used to. Also, processing time is crazy long. It was a good General Conference activity. 

Then, we put the garden to bed. Here are the last images from harvest time. 

 These are banana peppers that we left on the vine. They are still delicious.

The view from our balcony is so lovely.

 Our most bountiful harvest from our CSA yet!

 The herbs had to come in to be safe from cold weather.

 This gourd is like a rocket ship. Neal picked it out.

I made this stein for Neal at girl's night. And by made I mean painted and had other people glaze and fire it. 

So, other than putting the garden to bed and a wonderful girls' night, I guess mostly I have just been writing. Neal has been working. And we have been living life and loving it. Well, I guess we're both reading a lot more. I should be reading strictly academic stuff, but just can't resist a good junk food novel sometimes. I mean, come on, what better time to re-read the entire Tamora Pierce Alanna and Protector of the Small. Also, some Sherwood Smith Crown Duel and Court Duel. Also, a lot of other books which have no relevance to school whatsoever. And they're in the teen section. That's me, stealing books from teenagers. 

On to some real thoughts. The idea of 'catching up' has been on my mind lately. I have many friends and family members doing incredible things. Here are just a few: buying a house, having a baby, getting an advanced degree, parenting, taking care of other family members, running marathons, etc. etc. etc. Sometimes I wonder how I will ever catch up to how amazing they are. I know it's not a competition, but I see their amazing accomplishments and want to, well, be cool like them. Call it little sister syndrome. But last week as I watched the General Conference for the LDS church I felt a semblance of peace with my life that has been absent since this whole 'get your masters degree' thing has come up. As I bottled grape juice and cleared away the dead garden plants I felt like I was clearing away the much that's been blinding me to how much good I have and how happy I could and would feel if I'd just give myself a break. Those who know me well know that this is not a new story for me. But something about the autumn air helped me take a deep breath. 

Life is good. I am growing in ways I had never realized I could and feel more loved for who I am right now than before. So, I wish you all a happy autumn season. May you harvest peace.